What cases do you guys have?
 

Sorry, not a thread related to the game, but I'm just curious as to what cases (chassis) everyone is using and why you chose that particular case.
Any potential upgrades on the horizon? Any pictures of your rig?

At the moment I'm using the HAF 932, had it about a year now. I really wanted a Corsair Obsidian 800D but although an amazing case, I wanted to run an air-cooled setup and also the price (at the time) was about three times that of the 932. My previous case was the original CM Stacker, also by Cooler Master.

For air cooling the 932 is a great case, with oodles of space for cable management, additional drives, fans and can take the biggest cards and coolers on the market. Installing optical drives and disk drives is a snap.

My only two gripes are that although it's functionality is excellent, I'm not wild about it's looks. I prefer undrstated looks generally.
The other thing is that it's a dust magnet because of the large fans, and it has barely any dust filters, so it needs to be cleaned fairly regularly.

I generally keep my cases quite a while, but when I upgrade again I will probably look for anothe case by CM or maybe Corsair.

I can recommend the Raven 2. Heaps of fans, an unconventional design in that you turn a regular PC 90 degrees on it's head, so cool air is drawn from below and blown out the top. I bought this case mainly because I only do air cooling and needed a big enough case for my Crossfire set-up.

My only gripe - the hard drive bays; if you need to replace a hard drive, you need to dismantle the PC, pulling out the mother board out to gain access to the bays. I had to do this recently but looking at it positively it gave me the opportunity to do a major clean out of dust :)

If you go to LAN parties don't get this case, its very solid and heavy.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=16179

Edit: Having just looked again, I didn't realise the Raven 3 is out, it looks like they have improved the design.

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=17240

I prefer Lian Li cases.

Case? ;-)

http://www.alza.sk/thermaltake-vk600...ts-d120549.htm

this one. It is nowadays not at therlmaltake´s site, but there are other comparable cases. Big fans up and on the side, and 1 fan aft and front with possibility to install more. HDD rack can be mounted so that you can put hdds from the side. GTX 480 and noctua nh-D14 fits ok.

If you are happy with your 932, I suggest getting the improved HAF X.

I have that one, it's spacious and I could easily fit my Corsair H-70 liquid/air cooler :) It has filters making dust less problematic, and room for loads of fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLFbjR97moM

I have the Aerocool Lubic MATX. I've had this case since 2003 and I'm yet to find anything I want to replace it with. All the Lubic stuff was discontinued a long time ago and now is quite sought after. It was sold as various kits or in single items so you could add or build from scratch. It was the meccano of computer cases being as adaptable as your imagination. It's so nice to work on once it's built it too. I can slide the mother board straight out of the case by undoing a few thumb screws. The aluminium frame work is of exceptional quality.

They came like this and took a few hours at least to build with the included special gloves if you got acrylic kits:

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/1511/boxopenj.jpg

Mine currently looks like this but has looked very different over the years:

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1714/igp6317.jpg

This is how it looked in the last of the AMD single core days:

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/4278/oldpc.jpg

Some people really took them to the extremes:

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/8274/lubic44.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/884...viaoanenud.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7...rocool9544.jpg

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/8...eaf3244a63.jpg

It was cheap too IIRC I paid about £40 for my MATX case!

Cheers

Corsair 700D - nicely understated and lots of room.

RedToo.

CM storm scout for the new rig, the old recently retired box was a Lan Li, both good cases, though i like this CM due to the 4 usb ports at the top front of the case.

Craig

Recently bought a Fractal R3 for my new rig and must say I love it.
Plenty HDD trays ,good layout ,good cabling options , great soundproofing, nice but not flashy finish etc.
But most of all I love how all the intakes have their own filters, was amazed how much dust they had gathered after 2 months of use.
Pricing is very reasonable aswell for it's quality..unlike some other brands.

http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=...gory=2&prod=52
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJt61...eature=related

Great responses guys, thanks. Keep 'em coming.

This one:

http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/chassis/scout/

My current one is a Thermaltake Matrix VX, which is modded slightly to accommodate different fans (Swapped out all stock fans with Noctua 120mm's, and cut away parts of the aluminium framework in order to get a more uniform airflow).

My current project is refurbishing and modding a Thermaltake Kandalf LCS, but need new parts for the liquid cooling system due to the old CPU-block cracking and thus causing a rather spectacular short of my old motherboard and vidcard. Also have other plans for the Kandalf in terms of modding, but that'll have to come after the LC-parts are aquired.

Interesting case. Any idea why there was never a replacement?

The HAF X has gotten very good reivews, and it indeed looks a step up from my model. (I especially like the black interior, rubber grommets and side window.)

The only negative aspect I can see is that with all those fins and bits of angular plastic, it looks like a sod to clean. :)

Oh yes, how is that H70 working for you?

Thermaltake - windowed tower case - 25 cm side fan - armor va8003bws - black
http://www.pc-look.com/boutik/Images...ml?language=en

This is my beast:grin:

Some of you may find this interesting, if you haven't seen it already.

http://www.azoft.com/spotlight/2011/...ter-cases.html

It was released in a time when there was a plethora of poor quality unclean able Acrylic cases flooding the market so by the unknowing it got tarred with the same brush. Due to Aerocool being a small company with few products, poor advertising, very few distributers and VERY poor instructions it was not well known. Most people thought lubic was the aeroplane shaped case and few knew a tower and midi tower were manufactured. I myself bought it from a picture that was far less pleasing than the real thing. It was one of those rare occasions when I was considerably more pleased with my purchase than I expected to be. :grin: (Even though it took hours to assemble.)

So they phased it out and now manufacturer what are IMO tacky plastic gaming cases that look like jet engines and the like. I don't feel a replacement design is needed it already does everything well. Maybe some more colours and replacement instructions would have been of more benefit! There really is no case with more access than this. You can get to and remove anything in seconds. It's very sturdy and very quiet too, if not a bit heavy.

My only regret is not buying the full size tower and some spare parts when the were selling off discontinued stock. They did these cases in smoked black also which is easier on the eye for many.

I'm still always searching for spares and NIB cases but this stuff goes for good money now.

Just another one of those items where demand is higher once its gone. :(

Cheers

Very interesting

Obsidian 800D

Some stunning cases but suprising to see there's no mineral oil ones there. I don't know who came up with this crazy idea but it's fairly popular. Certainly not fun when you need to do an upgrade. :grin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sP45...eature=related

Coolermaster Haf 912+. Nice to look at, at least somekind of filterin in the main fans, big inside (Noctua NH-D14 and 6970 fit right in without any problems), good cable management, black interior, quite quiet even with three extra fans, cheap but not cheaply made and has a good airflow. My only complain is that filter cleaning means that I need to open both sides and lift the case up.

This one!

Mountain Mods Extended Ascension
Because it fits so much cool stuff!


http://w7sp5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...5/IMG_1968.JPG

http://w7sp5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...X/IMG_1981.JPG

http://w7sp5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...H/IMG_1978.JPG

http://w7sp5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...V/IMG_1969.JPG

http://w7sp5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...Z/IMG_1986.JPG

Wondered how long it would be before you showed up in this thread Phat with that monstrosity...

This thread is for 'normal' cases only....not those NORAD types :rolleyes: :)

Most of my PCs sit in lian Li cases...
but for the new build, I went with a mountain mods pinnacle 24.
Mainly for the XL ATX form factor.
ITs a pretty big case. all aluminum... and its american made.
Expensive as hell though. But I like it.

The Godzilla of PC cases...I like it. :)
Any idea what it weighs?

I asked for pictures. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking pride in one's system.

I bought 3 Chieftec Dragon cases back when they cost about £40 each and my wife still uses one. Of the other two, only one still survives and is now holding a rig I built for a friend. The third was seriously cut up back when I first started water cooling and was eventually put in the back of a car which was going to the breakers. It had served well for 11 years - RIP.
Those cases were well made from good steel, with rolled corners and well reinforced. When we moved to our new house I used them as decorators trestles with a couple of 12 foot scaffold boards run across them, after draping bits of blanket over them, and was able to paint right up to the ceilings in our attic rooms. The staging was so solid that I also used it as a saw-bench too :D I saved a good few pounds by not hiring trestles and, once the wrappings were taken off, the cases were as good as new. Plug and play in fact, I was back playing IL2 on the night we finished the last room.

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pub...FXR4etVSyauDR8

Most recently I picked up a Hiper Anubis as the box for my gaming rig to go in. It's black, aircraft quality aluminium (so they claim) and it does the job just fine.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i3...2/DSCN0030.jpg

They even supply a brush for cleaning out those fins on the top.

Not only are you jealous you also cant read and arent too bright huh? :rolleyes:
Check my signature.
There are 24 fans for the 4 radiators, 6 per radiator in a push-pull configuration.
There are also 2 dedicated Exhaust fans + one of the radiators is at the back also exhausting air.

By the way if you insult me one more time Ill just have to find you and cut you down to size on a server. Some how I dont think there is anything wrong with my appendages (is that word too big for you?) I have 5 kids and a very happy wife to prove it.
Are you going to insult me about the expensive car i drive or the expensive house i live in or my beautiful beach side holiday house? Some of us are just fortunate enough to indulge our passions because we are successful and work hard. And I dont appreciate being told because I have a good life that im somehow trying to make up for something. Seems to me your the one feeling a bit inadequate here! Now get back in your box AND STAY IN IT!!
:)

Besides this is a hobby and half the fun is in the building of something like this.

http://w7sq5a.blu.livefilestore.com/...638.JPG?psid=1

Under construction....
http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...922.JPG?psid=1

http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/...772.JPG?psid=1

Not mine(I wish...) but incredibly cool:

http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/gal...elweiss-00.jpg

http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/gal...gnus-x1-00.jpg

http://www.million-dollar-pc.com


To: Phat

You should apply.

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/prod...jQwNA==&lan=us

i also have 3 HF 932 and stay very cool but i love my DF-85 super quiet and very cool inside and easy cleaning the fans. dont think ill ever leave the 85

I think you'll find we are in different timezones. Im at work right now.
There's a difference between bragging and sharing a passion i think, but I'll leave that to the others to decide. Maybe I will see you in the skies one day, you probably won't see me though ;) To quote a famous Klingon, "Today is a good to die!" But it wont be me thats doing the dieing ;) If you read one of my other threads you will see I have logged up a few hours with 10:0 K/D ratio after a 2 hour session.. So i think I get enough killing done. :) perhaps you will be my next victim. :-P (ok so now im bragging, so shoot me...... if you can)

I should mention then that was all kills in air combat sometimes up against 3-4 opponents at once. And im under no illusion that I cant be shot down, im just no easy target. BTW Im GMT +10 in Australia.

He he... maybe... Those are both very sexy, mine is a bit more brutish force with function rather than style...

At least 20Kg I think, havent tried lifting it. Its on wheels so thankfully I dont need to.

Antec Skeleton

I love it. It looks like a cool custom modded case, without all the effort of cutting up and modding a case myself. I need to take some decent pictures of the finished rig. :cool:

The skeleton isn't a good idea for anybody with children or pets in the house, since everything is exposed. Also not the case to take to LAN parties, for the same reason. If you're a disgusting slob who routinely spills things near computers, this isn't your case. For all the rest of us, this case is great.

Before I put my rig together I was a little worried about dust buildup in this thing, since it's so open. Turns out not to be an issue at all; the skeleton moves so much air that barely any dust has a chance to settle. What little dust does collect in the corners is very easy to clean out, since there aren't any walls in the way.

For air cooling, it doesn't get any better. And the fan makes a good nightlight too, so I don't stub my toes on furniture in the dark.

What kind of asshat are you?
This IS the case-brag-thread.
Now, since you're such a computer wiz - why tf you put a H70 on a 965 which only runs at riduculous 3.6?
Also:2x5770 sure justify seven fans, how much do they draw? 220W?

Send them pics.

Funny cause the computer i have was a acer x3300 ( micro ATX )with a 220w PSU got it cheap and never knew the PSU was a custom fit only

For $30 bucks for a cheap case and a few added fans I run Clod with no problems see specs below

The cases of our users are of a high standard, impressive stuff guys. :)

Guru3d have a 'rig of the month' competition. I think you should submit yours; it beats a lot of the rigs that have won.

i have a bigtower case from 1999...since 1999.....because its only the case....

That was the point, more or less.
Neither the GPU nor the CPU generate any relevant amount of heat.


Btw: there's this huge mofo called bitfenix survivor next to my desk - but I'm way too lazy to move my cute lil' PC(mATX, currently on the desk) in to that thing.
Someone motivate me!

A Chenbro Gaming Bomb circa 2003! A well made solid case that I constantly get ribbed about, but more than adequate with some additional custom ventilation. It's also almost completely dust-proof, the down side being that the filters require regular cleaning, but since they're in the detachable front panel it's not too much of a pain.

I've heat-tested in summer, running Prime95 and FurMark with the cpu at 4.0GHz and 55⁰C (CoolerMaster 212 plus ) and my previous HD5850 at 75⁰C, so the cooling is sufficient since I don't usually OC. I thought that I would need a new one when I got the HD6970, but after relocating one of my drives and cutting a slot in the lower drive cage, it fitted just fine. So it soldiers on.

I have just ordered a CoolerMaster Elite 335 for my daughter, which appears to be nicely made and equally dust-proof, but I will know next week. it was cheap, too.

Didn't those disappear with the dinosaurs, Tony? ;)
Just kidding man...:-P I appreciate the fact that you've never seen the need to go out and buy a newer case; to me it means you made a wise choice when you chose it.

That Elite looks like a sweet little case too.

Maybe it will, but its not finished yet. I have to finesse the fine details of the beast now. Cabling will all be sleeved and tidied up and some UV lamps to illuminate UV blue water and GPU blocks. A blue filter and black face plate for the Aquaero controller too, and paint the BRDVD matt black.

I was also toying with putting 2 x 1000W koolance water cooled PSU's in it as the single 1250W makes a lot of fan noise compared to everything else now, and it's right on the limit of reliability. I can trigger a PSU overload hard shut down with OCCT load testing CPU and all GPUs at once. Thankfully nothing drives everything that hard all at once in real use.

I have just ordered the Fractal Define R3 to replace my old Antec case.

I got one last January, very satisfied with it. Cables tidy away brilliantly too.

Hello CicoMick, may I ask what fan setup you have? Do you use the side fan and if so does it make a big difference to noise lvls? I have a GTX295 which runs at pretty high temps so would like to use the side fan, ty.

Cooler Master Storm Scout here, i like cause it is non extravagant

Hi mate

I just have one top fan and one rear fan attached to water cooling radiator. I was originally thinking about getting perhaps another one for the side but it seems to have the temps under control as it is.

Just a head's up for anyone having issues with dust, as I do.
I stumbled upon this site earlier this week, and have ordered a full set of filters for my case.

http://www.demcifilter.com/gallery.php

I'll update the post once I have the filters in hand and can give more feedback.

Hmm ... those look useful. Would really like to know your opinion once you have them.