Looking for a kick-ass case
 

Well, it's been a while since I upgraded and I've decided to do this one in style. I've researched the hell out of mobos, CPUs, etc, but I'm a bit stumped when it comes to the case I want to put this bad boy in...

Has anyone got suggestions for a case with plenty of USB in the front (realizing the number of inputs in the back is completely dependent on the motherboard), flashy but not ostentatious (i.e. a see-through window and maybe a little lighting, but nothing like a skull carved into it or anything) and ideally something that doesn't cost a fortune?

(PS: Don't tell Yoshi about this! I haven't gotten budgetary approval from the spousal unit yet.
:lol: )

My only rules for a case are -

As much (silent) PSU as you can afford, you want zillions of power connectors.

Many many drive bays. The snap-shut type is good, dont need screws.

Lots of space for extra fans, heat extraction is paramount.

I agree with you on the extra USB on the front.

Errm, thats kinda it. I dont give a damn what it looks like.

lian-li are great, but a lil expensive

Re: Looking for a kick-ass case
 

What's your budget? Do you want a PSU with it? Do you want it quiet? Lightweight? Extremely durable? Cases differ greatly in these areas. Personally, I would get a Lian Li case from what you've desribed so far with a 450w Enermax PSU. Expensive, but silent and worth it.

-Lasereth

I have a Lian-Li case and I wouldn't trade ir for anything!
Pic below.

http://www.boomspeed.com/sixate/DSCF0095.jpg

Here's a Lian-Li PC-75B $219.00

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...112-207-01.JPG
http://images10.newegg.com/productim...112-207-06.JPG
http://images10.newegg.com/productim...112-207-07.JPG

Need more front USB?
Get a Lian-Li PC-601B $148.00

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...112-027-01.JPG
http://images10.newegg.com/productim...112-027-08.JPG
http://images10.newegg.com/productim...112-027-07.JPG

Need a window for the second case. Get it here.

Get a nice ole Antec 1080... solid as a rock, witha nice powersupply.

Hey, sixate what are those knobs?? And where did yo get em'??

That's my fan controller.
I got it at CoolerGuys.

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...001/100600.jpg http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...ry_Code=C1-ALL

I always go for the cases that close in front so you never have to color coordinate.

Thermaltake
http://images10.newegg.com/productim...133-105-04.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...133-105-08.JPG

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...133-105-01.JPG

$125

I like the Antec Sonatas if you want a nice case to use for home use and if space and noise are considered. Its very quiet, looks good and is fairly small compared to other towers I have seen here. If portability is a big thing for you then take a look at the Antec Lanboy. Its VERY cheap ($125cdn and it comes with a $89 PS), its aluminum, and its a tough fella. The only downside to it is that it is a bit smaller then some would like.

go for thermaltake, they have the best cooling. but for looks, get lian li :)

say no to Xaser, ugly and overpriced.

Agreed. I think they're ugly as hell.

Be careful with those fan controllers. My brother ordered one from Xoxide, and all of his fans worked perfectly on it -- except for the fact that they all ran at 60% of the full RPMs with a 450w PSU. Some might not notice it, but they simply don't run at full speed when on a fan controller. Maybe it's just the one that my brother bought, but it was a popular one.

-Lasereth

I agree also

I'm thinking of getting a lian li for variety. I have an antec soho case. both i recommend

I have a Superflower 464T2 - cost about £20; has USBx2 on the front, windows, and a few flashy lights but not much...

i have a Xaser case i like it, i got it because its got lots of quiet fans, a decent sized PSU and lots of drive bays.

I wasn't that interested in getting a ricer case, but it seems like thats pretty much all frys stocks in high end cases.

thats interesting about the whole fan controllers thing. i was going to get one but now im thinking not if theres even a chance that it will make them run at 60 %

I've never heard of that problem before.
Mine works fine.

This is kick-ass:

My server!
http://www.simmalugnt.com/filer/1.jpg

My "desktop"
http://www.simmalugnt.com/filer/2.jpg


My appartment is my case.

So where's the case? :p

Nad Adam
thats awsome mad but dont you ever worry about bug laying eggs on your circuit boards and such like that?

Naahh, the server is hanging about 2,5m up on the wall and the stationary is in a staircase that noone uses. Having your computer like that is actually illegal in Sweden since there's nothing to screen of the electromagnetic fields that can fuck up radiocommunications.

I bought another Koolance for my desktop so I have a Lian-Li PC-65b for sale. Cheap.

reed_henry@yahoo.com

If you're looking to get an Antec case... don't. They're too expensive.

Instead, get a Chieftec. They're the same cases (literally. No differences, except for the Antec case badge and a piower source if you get a model that comes with one), and they're an awful lot cheaper. All the signs point to Antec simply being a distributor of Chieftec cases, essentially.

Dragon (Antec 1080):
http://www.chieftec.com/images/Dx-01bd1.jpg

Matrix:
http://www.chieftec.com/products/Mxbk.jpg

Dragon with window and lights:
http://www.chieftec.com/images/spx-02-blue.jpg

Edit: All models are available with front USB and Firewire. Forgot to mention that before.

well thats your problem, I used to be an admin at Xoxide. Current Profile

Customer Service there is a bit sketchy, we could never get anyone from the store side to post on the forums and deal with customer complaints. They did for a while in the beginning, but now, they don't even look, the new admin makes a point to tell anyone with a complaint that thier case will be deleted simply because they dont wanna hear it because no one on the forum actually works for xoxide, they dont answer their emails, they dont do international customer service (they recently closed down the international orders so they dont ship there anymore) one guy got caught in the middle of the shut down and lost something like 300$ on an order. Xoxide never helped the guy.
They inflate thier shipping rates on purpose, I ordered a fan from them and they charged me in excess of 20$ for shipping to idaho.

I'll stop now. I have so many problems with that company its not even funny.

How is it my problem? No, it's Xoxide's problem. They sent a bad fan controller. They've also had good shipping in the past and quick service. That was the first time anything had failed. Hell, it might just be the manufacturer's fuck-up. No one else has had a problem with it.

-Lasereth

http://www.xpcases.com isn't too bad of a site.

they have quite a few different styles.

Lian Li cases are VERY nice cases.

http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/frozencpu/index.html -- Frozen CPU has even more top of the line equipment including...

http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/fro...nu_search.html

Real Wood cases.

http://www.frozencpu.com/images/prod...res/cas-94.jpg

I agree with MooseMan 3000.

I've got a black Chieftech Dragon case and it kicks ass

http://www.chieftec.com/images/Dx-01bd1.jpg

You can get it with a full window in the side panel as well.

I, too love Lian-Li cases. They are stylish without being flamboyant like others are. I would take a PC-6089 if I was to build a new machine now.