Anyone ever get bored of their case?

auntjemima

auntjemima

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I have a Corsair 800D, and I like the minimalistic look. That said, I have always wanted one of those square cases but haven't built a second system to take advantage of them..

Anyone here move all their existing components to another case?
 
Yep.
Converted a dining table into a low slung coffee table to house a PC.
Awesomeness.
Big, quiet, easy to fiddle with, hides the wires, better cooling + cooling options and cant see the PC.
PC Table inside.jpg


PC Table.jpg
 
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I moved 2 systems this past winter.
Moved my 4790k setup from a Corsair Air 540 to an Air 740 and moved my dual Xeon from an Intel Chassis into the Air 540.
I then used the old Intel chassis to house my Plex server.


air540-air740.jpg


xeon-intel-to-air540.jpg
 
Seeing I kind of busted my mobo and need to replace it, I will rebuild in a new case, my current phanteks enthoo primo is way too big and accessing the top USB slots is a pain as it is too close to my desk for comfort. It was also not my first choice, wanted an enthoo deluxe but after 1+ month of ordering it, it still did not get in the shop so I changed to something in stock, it suited me better back then as I had a different desk, but that changed after moving.

I got a fractal design define r5 blackout with window ready. It's kind of hard finding a case with enough HDD bays USB front panel (see already a bunch with only 2 USB 3.0 only) and DVD drive mounting space.
 
I'd love to get a new case but I have a marked preference for the rotated motherboard layouts (I currently use a Silverstone Raven RV-02) and there aren't that many out there.

The Thermaltake Core P7 TG looks interesting but I have 2 cats - pets and open cases do not mix well...
 
Zepher said:
I moved 2 systems this past winter.
Moved my 4790k setup from a Corsair Air 540 to an Air 740 and moved my dual Xeon from an Intel Chassis into the Air 540.
I then used the old Intel chassis to house my Plex server.
Click to expand...
What differences did you find between the two cases? I love my Air 540 case and always thought the front of the Air 740 was rather fugly.
 
I have a huge Rosewill Blackhawk Ultra. I likely couldn't fit in a half height square case.
 
ir0nw0lf said:
What differences did you find between the two cases? I love my Air 540 case and always thought the front of the Air 740 was rather fugly.
Click to expand...

I actually like the look of the 740 even though it looks like a space heater, lol. The 740 has the 3.5" hard drive cage on the top right of the case, right behind the power button and three 7200rpm drives sandwiched together get rather hot with no active airflow.
I moved my 2 black drives to the bottom of the motherboard area like in the 540 but they are just sitting there not mounted to anything and they are much cooler.
Other than that, they are pretty much very similar (minus the two 5-1/4" bays the 540 has)
 
All the time. Actually I more than once switched cases just for kicks. My home server is a great example of this:
  1. First it was a plain ugly cheap plastic codegen case.
  2. Then it was an old 80s VCR converted to a computer case, unfortunately I've misplaced the pictures of that setup. But this was the VCR I used as a donor.
  3. After that I stepped up the game and got a Thermaltake Bach VB8000BNS
    This was my first kind of hi-end case, the front panel is matte brushed aluminium, it weighed a ton. And I think it looked great. Not very practical though. The case was as big as those old desktop AT cases from the 286 era. And still it didn't have much expansion options.
  4. Then I switched to an Aerocool M40, much smaller footprint, and I loved the double deck design, much more expansion options. Unfortunately the front panel was cheap plastic.
  5. My next case was a point of view M2 station. Very weird case layout wise, terribly fragile, and cheap looking. But I liked the experiment it was the smallest desktop case with full ATX support it was barely larger in footprint than most MATX cases.
  6. Then a generic matx desktop case, I have no idea what make.
  7. Hold on, it's still not over, an Antler Mi-100 mini ITX.
  8. And last but not least Fractal Design Node 304, also mini ITX, but holding a whopping 9 3.5 drives and a 2.5 SSD.

I replaced the outside more times than I replaced the insides. This was all in the past maybe 12 years. But right now I'm content withe the Fractal I'm not thinking about replacing it anytime soon.

My main PC had seen a few cases as well, not for any particular reason, just to try different setups. But not nearly as many as my server. But I'm starting to itch for a new one, the Huge Coolermaster HAF is almost empty after I retired my raid setup from it, it's sompletely unwarranted. And I like the idea of a small(ish) gaming PC, so eventually I might try something, but I haven't though about it yet.
 
I feel like cases are things that you'll always want to switch up every once in a while just due to getting used to the look of whatever you have. Its unjustifiable to me though, as I don't have anything I could repurpose the old case to and theyr'e not even worth selling due to the prohibitive cost of shipping when you're not a major online retailer with volume shipping rates.
 
Cases are super subjective choices. And yeah - many people upgrade them out of boredom, or for something new.

My favorite case I ever saw was a windowed Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 and a very slightly modified/updated 1010, and I own it now.

I recently saw the first case I might like better than the 1010. It's a Corsair 570X

Here was my first nice PC case. It was a Thermaltake Xaser case. Very nice, sturdy, solid case offering. It attended a LOT of LAN parties with me. Post 5. A bit racerish - but I was pretty young at the time, and went to LAN parties, and the LED lights and such were like tricking out your car. I cut out the window, added the graphics and ghost flames and stuff. https://hardforum.com/threads/post-your-thermaltake-cases.1435047/#post-1034361463


Here is my current Cooler Master Cosmos 1010 case which I've had for a close to a decade now. It's just a super attractive, solid, high end (IMO), classy case. The only negative I have with it is all that black gloss plastic has started to have some markings on it by this time. Even things like USB cables moving over it eventually mark it up. :(
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z472/jvonengeln/Cosmos 1010 PC Tower/PC092368.jpg

Here is the Corsair 570x that I really like and am considering swapping to. (it looks better in person than the online pictures I've seen). The smoked, tempered glass all around looks REALLY sharp. Dust is in my only concern -- seems like it could be a dust magnet on the glass and require more periodic cleaning to look its best --- but my house is pretty clean, (no inside pets) so it'd probably be fine. No 5.25" bay for a bluray player/ CD/DVD though is ALMOST a deal breaker...!?!?
maxresdefault.jpg
 
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Was looking at that same exact case for the aesthetic appeal of the tempered glass all around. If I wasn't shooting for something a bit more SFF, I would have gone with it. Looks marvelous!
 
Usually do case switches as part of a new MB purchase. Been a while since I swapped cases. Current one does the job. Judging by the stickers inside the door, my current Antec quiet case was new sometime back when Core2Quad was fairly new.
 
bamavooHF said:
That is awesome. That gives me an idea as well. Convert the top drawer of my computer desk to a case like your table. I love it.
Click to expand...
Nice idea if its a big + tall drawer.
There may be a few differences that could cause you a problem.

1) The rear of the table has been removed to allow ease of air movement in.
You can do similar with your drawer by removing the rear drawer panel and bracing it with thin wood struts or metal.

2) There is nothing above or behind the table that causes air pooling.
Any air drawn in comes from lower down where it is cooler.
Any air that leaves can float to the ceiling which helps draw more cold air in.
Nothing is recirculated, warm air easily makes its way upward due to the extra headroom above the PC.

3) The underside of the table lid has an inch gap the whole of the way round except for a strip of wood down the centre (as viewed) which the lid rests on, and 2 small pieces of wood inserted at the edges after the lid is fitted to stabilise it.
The inch gap makes a huge air outlet allowing hot air to exit vertically of its own accord, drawing cooler air in through the back over the motherboard.

4) The graphics card fans are fed with 2x140mm quiet fans + ducted cool air drawn from under the table.
This prevents the gfx card recirculating any hot air.
This was a problem before fitting the ducting causing an unnecessary rise of around 10C.
The ducting directly to the gfx cards fans is a master stroke, it knocked just over 10C off load temps with the lid off, 20C with the lid on.
ie it doesnt matter whether the lid is on or off now, the temps no longer rise when then lid is on.
It would probably knock more off a card with a lesser cooler that vents into the case.
Mine has an Accelero Xtreme III fitted to a 1080ti FE which alone knocked 20C off load temps as long as the table lid was off.
Total temp reduction of the new cooler and ducting is 30C approx. Max gaming temps are low 50's.
The Xtreme III cooler also made the gfx card very quiet all the time.

Moral:
Beware small spaces, low air flow, lack of cool air and a small ventilation exit area.

However
If you have a gfx card that doesnt exit air out of the rear of the case you have a good cooling option.
Remove the front of the drawer or leave it open a fair amount and turn it into a wind tunnel.
Feed air into the underside/rear of the drawer cabinet with a large silent fan.
Block all air exit routes so it is forced upward to the rear of the PCs drawer (with the drawers back removed).
Great air flow through the drawer and very little air recirculation.

A down side.
A power PC that is not fully enclosed makes fan/wind noise even with quiet fans, especially when close to you.
If the drawers opening is pointed toward you the noise will be much louder.

I am sat about 2m from my PC and most of the noise hits carpet or the rear wall.
It is pretty quiet but I want it even quieter so am going to line the inside of the table with carpet and put some on the wall at the rear.
The big roll of carpet inside the table is my cheap way of cutting some of the noise, I will do a better job.


Oh yes, downside 2 if you have a high definition audio system with PC USB input.
The open air PC made my USB sound connection harsher.
I hoped the lack of EM shielding (no metal case) would work out ok but it appears not.
For now, for critical music listening I am using optical. When my new DAC arrives I will probably play music directly on it. I'll give network access a shot as it may be less prone to PCs EM interference.

ps yep, digital audio signals do get fucked up, its not just 1s and 0s that matter - although thats part of the problem. Timing is critical on a hi def setup as well.
 
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Wow. Thanks for the super response. Sounds like theee is a lot more going on than it looked.
 
I had my Enforcer since 2012 I actually bought a backup last year on ebay for cheap I have no idea why now it's just takes up space. I'm waiting for Coolermaster to come out with something good to jump on the current MasterCase series is good internally but looks boring from the outside. I like the MasterCase 6 but worried about airflow even with the transformer like panels that pull apart.
 
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Archaea said:
Cases are super subjective choices. And yeah - many people upgrade them out of boredom, or for something new.

My favorite case I ever saw was a windowed Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 and a very slightly modified/updated 1010, and I own it now.

I recently saw the first case I might like better than the 1010. It's a Corsair 570X

Here was my first nice PC case. It was a Thermaltake Xaser case. Very nice, sturdy, solid case offering. It attended a LOT of LAN parties with me. Post 5. A bit racerish - but I was pretty young at the time, and went to LAN parties, and the LED lights and such were like tricking out your car. I cut out the window, added the graphics and ghost flames and stuff. https://hardforum.com/threads/post-your-thermaltake-cases.1435047/#post-1034361463


Here is my current Cooler Master Cosmos 1010 case which I've had for a close to a decade now. It's just a super attractive, solid, high end (IMO), classy case. The only negative I have with it is all that black gloss plastic has started to have some markings on it by this time. Even things like USB cables moving over it eventually mark it up. :(
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z472/jvonengeln/Cosmos 1010 PC Tower/PC092368.jpg

Here is the Corsair 570x that I really like and am considering swapping to. (it looks better in person than the online pictures I've seen). The smoked, tempered glass all around looks REALLY sharp. Dust is in my only concern -- seems like it could be a dust magnet on the glass and require more periodic cleaning to look its best --- but my house is pretty clean, (no inside pets) so it'd probably be fine. No 5.25" bay for a bluray player/ CD/DVD though is ALMOST a deal breaker...!?!?
maxresdefault.jpg
Click to expand...


It looks good because you can watch the fans spin ect....
 
I always get buyers remorse about a month after getting a new pc or case. I like my s340 elite but hate its basement.
 
ever since I got rid of an Inwin A500.... nothing has seemed anywhere near as bad....

45167_2254_draft.jpg


full C-Shell case design, et all... it was a nightmare to work in....
 
I have a Thermaltake V21 which is actually a great case. I'm trying to like it. There is no reason I shouldn't like it.

It's like a Honda Accord - perfectly serviceable and nice in it's own way but if you keep looking at sports cars or 4x4s, you're never going to be happy with it.
 
Yes but no. Ncase M1 here. The only other cases I'd even consider replacing it with are the Sentry or Dancase A4. Which are ultimately somewhat similar in form factor/what they fit etc. If not more restrictive. Then I remember what I paid for the original M1 case and re-think spending that kind of money on a case again, so I made do :p.
 
ReaperX22 said:
Yes but no. Ncase M1 here. The only other cases I'd even consider replacing it with are the Sentry or Dancase A4. Which are ultimately somewhat similar in form factor/what they fit etc. If not more restrictive. Then I remember what I paid for the original M1 case and re-think spending that kind of money on a case again, so I made do :p.
Click to expand...

The want for a Dan A4 is strong though right... I feel it... o_O
 
Chapeau said:
The want for a Dan A4 is strong though right... I feel it... o_O
Click to expand...
It is. :(. But other priorities exist! I also want the Sentry for my HTPC to replace my oversized Silverstone ML03.... The Sentry if available I'd probably buy straight away, but I suspect next run won't be til next year if at all. Didn't know I needed one til after the kickstarter or whatever ended. XD
 
Archaea said:
Cases are super subjective choices. And yeah - many people upgrade them out of boredom, or for something new.

My favorite case I ever saw was a windowed Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 and a very slightly modified/updated 1010, and I own it now.

I recently saw the first case I might like better than the 1010. It's a Corsair 570X

Here was my first nice PC case. It was a Thermaltake Xaser case. Very nice, sturdy, solid case offering. It attended a LOT of LAN parties with me. Post 5. A bit racerish - but I was pretty young at the time, and went to LAN parties, and the LED lights and such were like tricking out your car. I cut out the window, added the graphics and ghost flames and stuff. https://hardforum.com/threads/post-your-thermaltake-cases.1435047/#post-1034361463


Here is my current Cooler Master Cosmos 1010 case which I've had for a close to a decade now. It's just a super attractive, solid, high end (IMO), classy case. The only negative I have with it is all that black gloss plastic has started to have some markings on it by this time. Even things like USB cables moving over it eventually mark it up. :(
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z472/jvonengeln/Cosmos 1010 PC Tower/PC092368.jpg

Here is the Corsair 570x that I really like and am considering swapping to. (it looks better in person than the online pictures I've seen). The smoked, tempered glass all around looks REALLY sharp. Dust is in my only concern -- seems like it could be a dust magnet on the glass and require more periodic cleaning to look its best --- but my house is pretty clean, (no inside pets) so it'd probably be fine. No 5.25" bay for a bluray player/ CD/DVD though is ALMOST a deal breaker...!?!?
maxresdefault.jpg
Click to expand...
I love this case but I like having an optical drive. It's the only thing keeping from getting one.
 
I used a Thermaltake fulltower a long time with those funny half doors on the front. I moved to the Rosewill Blackhawk Ultra and have never looked back.

Its about time to buy another Blackhawk I have had it a long time and beat it up.
 
Vader1975 said:
I used a Thermaltake fulltower a long time with those funny half doors on the front. I moved to the Rosewill Blackhawk Ultra and have never looked back.

Its about time to buy another Blackhawk I have had it a long time and beat it up.
Click to expand...

Wow, that case is glorious - like a Hummer Limousine.

Six USB ports up top
HDD dock on top
At least 4x 200-230mm fans.

Even if I had the desk space, my computer would look like a toddler on a bar stool in that thing.



You could run two of these 200x400mm radiators:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/phobya-xtreme-400.html
 
I had a TT Chaser for 3 years that I just kept under the desk and didn't care about it. Then I got into building and upgraded a few bits and swapped the rest into a Core X9. I could see changing at some point in the future but I'd likely replace the CPU and associated pieces.
 
DoubleTap said:
Wow, that case is glorious - like a Hummer Limousine.

Six USB ports up top
HDD dock on top
At least 4x 200-230mm fans.

Even if I had the desk space, my computer would look like a toddler on a bar stool in that thing.



You could run two of these 200x400mm radiators:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/phobya-xtreme-400.html
Click to expand...


heheh, yeah, When I originally got it I was using twin power-supplies with 5 video cards. 4 way sli+ physics. Been a long time since that worked. Today I just run 2 cards and 1 psu. However, I do have a C-O Drive so the drive bays are handy.
 
BOught a Phanteks P400STG in June. Already bored of it and purchased a Thermaltake Core P3 Snow. Now repurchasing all white components >
 
ALL the time. Cases are the one thing I change up more than anything else. Been contemplating replacing my 250D with a NCase for ever and finally pulled the trigger today. Super excited about it. Just wish I would have made up my mind yesterday as it would have shipped on the 16th instead of the 23rd :(
 
maclem8223 said:
ALL the time. Cases are the one thing I change up more than anything else. Been contemplating replacing my 250D with a NCase for ever and finally pulled the trigger today. Super excited about it. Just wish I would have made up my mind yesterday as it would have shipped on the 16th instead of the 23rd :(
Click to expand...

You shall not regret! Hoping it takes you a while to get bored of the NCase :p.
 
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