My never-ending search for the right case...

No matter how much I search and search, I seem to never be able to find the "perfect" PC case (without *some* sort of modifications, which I am going to be doing anyway, but I'd like certain specs to *start* for various reasons)....I've searched high and low, and every case seems to not quite meet one of my specs somehow. Anyone know of any cases I may have missed? Obviously, this is for a water-cooled PC, and so some of my specs are based off my own prefs for using such...but in any case...

Ideal case specs:
a) Mid-Tower (height & width)
b) All aluminum
c) 1 120mm front fan
d) 1 120mm rear fan (or 2 120mm rear fans)
e) Large clear side window (no tinting and no obstructive/small shapes)
f) No side panel fans or blow-hole fans
g) Available in black
h) IEEE 1394 + 2 audio + 1 USB (or more) in front or on top
i) At least 4 external 5.25” bays and 1 external 3.5”
j) Under $175
k) eATX support preferred, but not necessary
l) On wheels/casters or “legs” would be nice, but not necessary
m) No included PSU and limited included fans (would prefer to buy separate)
n) Weight under 17lbs.
o) Must fit an ATX motherboard

(don’t really care about tool-less design…)

These req.s are to obviously varying degrees. If a case is a couple of inches bigger than a standard mid-tower, no big deal. If it doesn’t have a side window (e), but it is not hard to add one, that is ok (as long as the case doesn’t somehow *prohibit* such). Slightly flexible on the price (j). And I really would just like a “long/deep” case, but actual eATX support is not the main goal (k). If the case has a very unobvious blowhole (f) (like the Chenbro Gaming Bomb II), that’s ok…….. and so on…

Also, other requests, like (b) and , are obviously inter-related to some degree. Then there are other things I just don’t really care about, like “tool-less” designs, and such.

Every case seems to fail one of these criteria to some degree! Some of the closest I’ve found so far:
- ThermalTake Tsunami Dream: fails e (sort’ve), f (also, k, l)
- Chenbro Gaming Bomb II (unavail):fails j (f, sort’ve)
- Antec Peformance I P-160: fails g (also k, l)
- Lian-Li V1000: fails j, n? (also k)
- Lian-Li V1200: fails j, n?
- Silverstone Temjin TJ03*: fails j, d, n
- Silverstone Temjin TJ05*: fails j, b, d, n
- CM Stacker 810 (not out yet): fails a, n? (maybe j?)
- GigaByte Aurora 3D (not out yet): fails e (also k, l)
- Akasa Eclipse-62 (unavail): fails h (sort’ve) (also j (sort’ve))

(note: This is off the top of my head, so it might not be perfectly accurate.)

The Akasa Eclipse, Chenbro Gaming Bomb, TT Tsunami Dream, and Gigabyte Aurora seem the closest, but the first two can't be easily found to say the least, and the 4th isn't even out yet! (I suppose the Antec P-160 isnt' too far off either, but it just seems perhaps a bit cheap to me...but maybe I'm wrong?) The Lian-Li's & Silverstone's are nice, but expensive as all hell...and still not perfect...

I've looked at hundreds of other cases (obviously not listed here), but on the off chance I've missed one, anyone got any other recommendations?

Aside from that, anyone got any comparative comments about any of the above?

Any advice is much appreciated!
Xylo

(BTW, anyone got any links to any interesting pics of water-cooled Gaming Bomb II's or Akasa's?...or maybe even the Silverstone's?...and I don't think I've seen anything more than a 1-rad setup in a Tsunami -- anyone know of any pics of more?)

This doenst meat all your criteria, but I will throw it up as a suggetion anyways....


I think my chenming 602 is great for watercooling. Its a full tower, but that means lots more room to work in. Also a big thing is its got a removable mobo tray, which helps alot in getting the mobo in if you just have blocks dangling from a leaktest. It is also not aluminum, and it uses 80mm fans intead of 120mm (2 front 2 read). It does meat the rest of your criteria though, and at $80, its a damn good bargin.

the chenming 601 is more suitable for water cooling imo, double heater core fits in there like it belongs (with a little manipulation of course)

The Lian Li v2000 cases come pretty close to all your criteria, and IMO simply excellent for modding, be it minor or more agressive.

Toonage said:

The Lian Li v2000 cases come pretty close to all your criteria, and IMO simply excellent for modding, be it minor or more agressive.

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good point but dont they cost like $200

well, ever heard of this phrase? "you can't always get what you want"

a solution is to make your own case, then you can put whatever you want in it

There is a Lian-Li that MIGHT fit what you want. The only thing it doesn't have (IIRC) is the eATX support. The rest is perfect for you. Go to Performance-PC's, and take a look at the PC-6075.
-Ghent

Okay the one the only the best..... Ha Ha there is none. Make your own

The Akasa Eclipse 62 is a rebrand of the Globalwin YCC (google search). It has a PCI slot at the front so anything it doesn't have stock, you can put it in there and hide it away when not needing it (USB / firewire headers from motherboard etc), it's VERY big for your eATX needs and is light and comes on casters. I'm buying this case (Although it's the Savrow SR-71 version). I think you'd be VERY happy with this.

Only thing is to find it. Plus, the removable tray is AWSOME!!!

there's a GREAT review on the Akasa Eclipse 62 on Hexus:-

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=907&redirect=yes

hope this helps

neo out

the aurora is out now.

Have you looked at the Lian Li PC-7 ? Coolerguys.com has a version with 120mm front/rear. It has no side window fans, solid aluminum, most everything you listed.

http://coolerguys.com/840556060840.html

-Chris

Coolermaster Stacker.






PLENTY of room for H20.

LINK

Scroatdog said:

Coolermaster Stacker.

PLENTY of room for H20.

LINK

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An excellent case no doubt, but it does not appear to be what the OP is looking for. Some problems with the stacker would be: not mid-tower, no window, over $175, not on wheels, and too heavy.

HiJon89 said:

An excellent case no doubt, but it does not appear to be what the OP is looking for. Some problems with the stacker would be: not mid-tower, no window, over $175, not on wheels, and too heavy.

Click to expand...

Only thing it doesn't fit is the "mid-tower" specification he called for. Also, you can get a side panel window for the Stacker, it does come with wheel casters (like he wants), it can be had for $158.50, and it's available in black. So the ONLY two areas not in compliance are the full-tower spec, and the weight. Everything else meets' OP's wants.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119039&ATT=Cases+Computer+Cases&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r

FWIW, I ended up getting the Silverstone Temjin TJ-05...It had all my specs pretty much except for all-aluminum (it has alum. front, and rest steel)...and it was $50 less than some of the other similar cases...