New Case... what to buy? Created 17 years ago2007-04-03 09:25:05 UTC by alexb911

I've been after a new pc case for a while now to accomodate my next system with a complete watercooling setup. Atm, I have a mid-tower that is ageing which came with my first pc (about 4 years ago)

Obviously there's no shortage of decent manufactures around, but I'm having trouble avoiding tackiness! I don't want lumps of plastic sticking out my pc, I want a completely flush, plain, but extreme looking case. Lian Li have some which fall into that catagory, but I refuse to pay ?150+ for a bloody case! I wana spend max ?90-110.

So if any of you have a case that you could recommend for its room and style, please help me out. I was looking at Silverstones TJ series but they are pricey and have had some bad reviews. Although thermaltakes armor and kandalf series are affordable, they borderline of tacky!! I need a full-tower to accomodate water-cooling.... and black!

example of tack >>example of style >>Cheers

The second one looks like a refrigirator. Where are the sockets for the CD-roms? Probebly in some place inconvinient and pretty difficult to find... like the top.

The first one looks like an avrage computer, and you understand it is when you look at it for the first time. So it's tackky and disgusting but it also has a nice handle on top that makes it easier to carry. Could do with a bit organization with all those buttons and holes at the buttom. Why can't they be in a single file...

These are just examples of what I'm saying - I want something simple without bits petruding out all over the place. Btw, the bottom one has a front-opening door with conceals the drives.

All the gaming cases I've seen look like s**t, they look like toys. I want something serious which doesn't look like a 4-year olds star wars case!

Browse some Antec cases. They're kick-ass. And the 2nd case you posted looks god-awful, please don't get something like that.

I think the second case looks pretty sweet.

Simplistic and not all stupid LEDs and plastic.

the second case is an antec

i have an antec lanboy, it's great. the motherboard tray is rather small and there are some clearance issues with the power supply sometimes, but if you get a normal sized case you shouldn't have any problems.

antec/lian li are the kings of simple yet functional case design, imo.

yeah, i'm not keen on the second one either

Antec's are sweet but they don't have that great a range. Silverstone has some great ones like I said, but they're just nothing special, they're just better build than cheaper alternatives imo.

You mentioned the Thermaltake Armor and Kandolf, but what about the Shark? Would you consider it too tacky? That's what I have, and compared to most cases these days, I would consider it fairly modest. Other than some trim around the bottom and top, and that thing in the side, there's no exposed plastic (it's entirely plastic behind the door, although it's not outlandish at all.)

If you don't like the blue lights on it, you can always unscrew the LED on the door, and replace the single lighted rear fan.

Oh, and Elon fails yet again for not knowing that case doors exist.

I have this old case by MSI (I think). Its solid steal and weighs about 20 pounds alone empty.

I love it so.

I dont see why someone would want a fancy looking case. The only thing that matters to me if the specs are decent.

yes, the second case is not only ridiculously expensive, you have to open a stupid little door to put a cd in the drive. whoever thought of case doors is a retard. they have no purpose!

Oh, alex, I think I've found the perfect case for you!ROAR!!!1

Penguinboy: They're actually extremely useful, if you have your computer sitting on the floor and it's at risk of being kicked, or you have chair that swings around and bangs against it, like me. However, they're only useful in this sense if they happen to be metal.

Also, server cases almost always have a door with a lock on them, for obvious reasons. I'm thinking it was brought over into the consumer market from them, for applications such as LAN parties...

Oh noes..... that case!!! My eyes!! Who would honestly buy that?!?!?

I think I might just go with a Thermaltake Armor Full Tower... and then maybe remove the 'doors' on the front. I'm also not sure about side windows, I do have some lights and what with watercooling it would look pretty good, but I don't want to be watching a DVD in a dark room but with my PC illuminating everything!!!!

Lian Li's 'cheap' cases are over ?150!! They look great but WHOA! - it's just a case!!!

You do know they make a version of the Armor without a window, right?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133032

Strangely, it's more expensive than the one with a window.

that dragon case screams "i have absolutely no penis!"

Go with Tt

Yeah, thanks srry - I noticed it on the website but couldn't actually find it in the stops. Thanks for teh linky!

Benefit with TT Armor is that its hugeNet Weight - 16.2kg

Dimension 530 x 220 x 560 mm (H*W*D)

Hmmmm.... Decisions, decisions....!!! :

Jeantech offer a good range of cases, but personally I went for the NXZT Lexa. It looks good and its got plenty of space on the inside too!

Ugh. This thing?Tackiness in its truest form... Apart form that dragon case and the ones that look like they have headlights on them. D:

Who would honestly buy that?!?!?

A better question is, who would steal it?

I have that second case, the Antec P180. It's a very nice case and it has great cooling. Very stylish, too.

Yah, I dig that second case. Minimalism ftw.

Actually Srry, my case isn't tackiness in its truest form. I admit that is your opinion that it's tacky, and I respect that, but just because you dont like something doesnt automatically make it tacky and shite. That Dragon case you pulled up has its good and bad points, but you dont hear me calling it tacky.

That case is pretty tacky. Not as bad as the dragon one, but still... Rounded front? What the shit, lulz. Horrible.

Well, as long as I like it I don't care a fuck what anybody thinks of it. Back to the topic we go.

The Dragon case is an abomination.

Alexb, I have one very similar to the first pic posted. without those god-aweful curves on the front. The handle has come in hand sooooo much for me, transporting to school, or Lan Parties, or even just lifting it out of the way to clean my desk. I liked the second one cuz it was very simple, and functional. also you could put stickers on the door!

A want / need to stick a 250mm XSPC Resovoir into the case which is why I need extra height and possible depth so that the space between the MB and optical drives / HDs is bigger. Pump isn't an issue with space, and the radiator... well, I need to think a bit about that. Might end up having to mount it externally.

What are people's views of mounting radiators?!?!?!

CoolerMaster Stacker. Hands down win. They are huge, easy to work in, look nice and have plenty of drivebays for those who either have alot of drives or have some kinda multiple disk copying pirate thing setup.

I was gonna suggest that one too, since it's like an Armor without useless flaps on the front, but I personally don't like the look of them too much, and alex said he wanted it to be black.

That Dragon case you pulled up has its good and bad points, but you dont hear me calling it tacky.

It has good points?

No, to be honest.

I like my Thermaltake Shark, Its a bit old though.

I paid $300 AUD about a year ago.

It doesn't look that great but I like it.

Seriously, go for an Antec.I payed $220 for that and i love it. You can pop the door hinge out and swing it all the way around to the side of the case if you're constantly using the CD drive(s) or lock it up when you don't want anyone tinkering with it.

The cooling is very good as it's divided up into chambers inside - the PSU, mobo and hard drives all remain seperate. Some say it looks like a fridge, but think it's the pinnacle of minimalism.

That case looks awful, seriously.

I suppose you'd like some mangled atrocity with a gaping hole in the side where you can see the wires. The P-180 is clean and crisp with defined lines and colours, it looks great on my desk.

Those gaping holes can be nice to check up on your hardware, and they're not ugly if your wires are organized correctly. Unfortunately, most people's aren't. In fact, I'd say they promote case cleanliness and good airflow, since you don't want to be looking at an unkempt and dusty mess.

I have my case under my desk so honestly I don't give a shit how it looks. The case cost about 200 SEK (~30USD) and it's awwwwwright.FTW.

Yeah well.. i've got the money to spend on a nice quality case. LOL.

Yeah, although proper air-cooling isn't necessary as I'm watercooling - I will have an intake / outake fan. I liked some of Lian Li's and Silverstone's cases which had the PSU at the bottom and an entire chamber sectioned out dedicated to it... that would be good. I'll just have to made do!!

My PSU does get very hot (Antec 550W TPII TruePower) when gaming, but other than that, I just wana be OC major hence the water!

I might just strip down an Armor... those doors just seem a bit, well... pointless?!?!? ...apart from what srry said about things hitting it, which never happens to me anyway.

The only this annoying is the depth. - I don't really want it to stick out that much, and my current mid-tower does by about 1 inch.... :