Gamers of [H]ardForum: What do you guys think about a "desk-TOP" PC case like this?

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Shazim

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What is it?

Battlestation One is an upcoming watercooling/aircooling PC case for enthusiast and focuses on design.

The case is built to be placed on a desk and provides a massive plexiglass to show the internals of the PC.

This case is being made through community suggestions/requests and we are asking for your input on what features you would like to see and how we can improve the design.

http://www.battlestationlabs.com

This is general idea of what we want the case to be, please note that the monitors are high on my setup because I am tall...the image below does not represent actual case we are trying to show, just an example of how it COULD look.
rXpr7.jpg



Some pictures of current case design!

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6yOcJfm.png


cBtnlmJ.png


naDypNw.png


B92PmDf.png


vnc6BfM.png



eoFpDb6.png


Full albums can be viewed below

Watercool Setup:
http://imgur.com/a/kQYx5#0

Aircooling Setup:
http://imgur.com/a/n67ug#0

Empty Case Setup:
http://imgur.com/a/skcAq#0

Cable Management:
http://imgur.com/a/GpB2f#0

Example on how to place on desk:
http://imgur.com/a/rvMBW#0

Specs and features of case:

Physical Specs:
Specs:
  • Physical Specs:
  • Dimensions: 38" x 11.1" x 7" (length, width, height)
  • Case material: Steel
  • Front Panel and Top Panel will be removable
  • Underground layer for cable management/hiding cables (will be removable)

General:
  • Power Supply: ATX
  • Motherboard Support: ATX and MicroATX
  • Room for up to 3x 11" long graphics cards
  • 4x Internal 5.25" Bay (removable) - Good for reservoirs/pumps
  • USB 3.0 / 2.0 on front, headphones and mic jacks

Watercooling:
  • Support for 2x240mm radiators (with exhaust on bottom)
  • Up to 3 intake fans (120mm)
  • Up to 3 internal fans to move air to motherboad compartment (120mm)
  • Dual-loop compatible
  • Can fit 2 water pumps
  • Can fit various size of reservoirs (see screenshots), mounts for 2 cylinder/hanging reservoirs
  • Aircooling:
  • Low profile heatsinks only (max height must be 150mm or less).
  • Up to 3 intake fans (120mm)
  • Up to 3 internal fans to move air to motherboad compartment (120mm)
  • Bottom cutouts for radiators could also be used for intake (up to 4 120mm fans).

What are your thoughts on a case like this? Suggestions to improve appreciated!
 
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So those lights are essentially eye level. That's got to go.
The case is huge. Something that big should be in a closet or off to the side. Couldn't you stack the cooling chambers for better use of real estate? Just an observation. The idea is good, the execution..... I wouldn't stack a case that big on any desk. This is definitely not ideal as a 'desktop' setup
 
It seems like sticking your monitors on top of that would make them way to high. A lot of monitors out there aren't height adjustable. And for the ones that are, not all of them would drop all the way to the base, which is where I think you'd want to be.
 
LeviathanZERO said:
So those lights are essentially eye level. That's got to go.
The case is huge. Something that big should be in a closet or off to the side. Couldn't you stack the cooling chambers for better use of real estate? Just an observation. The idea is good, the execution..... I wouldn't stack a case that big on any desk. This is definitely not ideal as a 'desktop' setup
Click to expand...

Well the first image posted is an example of what we are aiming for and that is much larger than the renders, but I do agree with you on that point!

Battlestation One is an enthusiast case designed to accommodate the most extreme system builds, supporting configurations including multiple radiators as well as extended-size video cards. All these components demand a lot of space!

The enclosure is designed to be an extension of your desk, acting as a platform for your monitors as well a showcase to visibly display your high-end build.
 
I will say that I am biased.
I don't like anything between the keyboard and monitor, naturally that would include a box in the way :p... My ideal setup is no computer in sight. (hidden away, maybe in a closet.)

Don't let my opinion discourage you, however.
I'm probably not your ideal market since I hate anything on the desk, but, whatever you do say no to neons! (especially blue ones, I really hate blue ones...)

I was thinking, if you could mount it BELOW the desk in that one picture.... Keep a clear desk... That would be cool, but then again, hidden away, which may not jive with what you are trying to do.
 
LeviathanZERO said:
I will say that I am biased.
I don't like anything between the keyboard and monitor, naturally that would include a box in the way :p... My ideal setup is no computer in sight. (hidden away, maybe in a closet.)

Don't let my opinion discourage you, however.
I'm probably not your ideal market since I hate anything on the desk, but, whatever you do say no to neons! (especially blue ones, I really hate blue ones...)

I was thinking, if you could mount it BELOW the desk in that one picture.... Keep a clear desk... That would be cool, but then again, hidden away, which may not jive with what you are trying to do.
Click to expand...

Haha, sure I understand; I know this case a niche product, so it won't appeal to everyone :)

The lights in my build are actually UV, and honestly they are almost always off (unless I am trying to impress someone heh).
 
Big and clunky? Most enthusiast afaik either mod a case or build one, like this guy. BS1 also seems heavy on the "Desk" part (Check the first pic the desk seems curved due to heavy load: case+monitors).
 
LeviathanZERO said:
I will say that I am biased.


I was thinking, if you could mount it BELOW the desk in that one picture.... Keep a clear desk... That would be cool, but then again, hidden away, which may not jive with what you are trying to do.
Click to expand...

that what I did. I have my PC mounted below my Ikea desk. twin 240 radiators, a 750 res and no worry about what will fit. for a while I even had a glass top on it, but when I changed the desk orientation that went away. pull 4 pins and it drops out from underneath for easy component changes,
 
Do not like. At least as a desktop unit. Too bright too distracting. If it was something you wanted to show off I could see it on a secondary desk I.e. where your printers or peripherals would go.
 
So here are some updated images that may give off a better understanding on the case:
B92PmDf.png


and

rXpr7.jpg
 
Hmmm, interesting idea, I'd never do that though because...

1. Desk space is kind of wasted. I frequently move my keyboard around so that I can have a notepad or something to write on.

2. I think on almost any desk the screens would be way too high. I'm most comfortable when the top of the screen is about eye level. There's a reason people dumped the idea of putting monitors on top of computers back in the 90's, it's really not the best.
 
Maybe including a VESA mount to allow users to mount their monitors at eye-level. That seems to be the biggest complaint. I use VESA triple-arm mounts for my PC, abd I think it really helps to position the monitors to exactly where you want them.
 
I think it looks cool, you would probably need a crane to move it though
 
Hate it. Your pc should be in a plain black case and tucked away under your desk. :)
 
I'm a minimalist, so this would be the polar opposite of what I would want. Completely.
 
yeah, not a fan either. Don't get me wrong, It's pretty cool like many custom builds, but it's not something that I would ever use. Just too flashy and moving the displays that far up is a no-go

I'm, like a lot of people here apparently, in the camp of wanting to hide the case whenever possible (less is more et al). I can certainly appreciate the idea though. I like the symmetrical layout.
 
I'm all for that, looks amazing. Everyone seems to be very conservative here in the thread. I'm in the minority though, where my PC desk is ONLY for gaming, and worrying about fitting other shit on there or cluttering papers all over the place was never the plan.

I'd rock this sucker for sure.
 
Id put this puppy on one of those L shapped desked.. have that monster box off to the side and the monitors lower on the desk... you sure would need a monster room to put that in.
 
I like the look of it, but all of the fans, LEDs, and lighting would be a major distraction...especially when they're right below your monitors.
I wouldn't mind it if it were located somewhere else instead of right in front of your face all of the time.
 
Domingo said:
I like the look of it, but all of the fans, LEDs, and lighting would be a major distraction...especially when they're right below your monitors.
I wouldn't mind it if it were located somewhere else instead of right in front of your face all of the time.
Click to expand...

Well you could install a LED switch for lighting that way you could keep it off when gaming and what not.

Another option this also possible is kinda shelf-like setup similar to this (above or below desk):

zUSkAYn.png


What are your thoughts on this type of configuration?
 
It's just a gargantuan box, man. That's why people don't like it. The trend in tech has always been make it smaller and more efficient. That box is everything but small and efficient.
 
Shazim said:
Well you could install a LED switch for lighting that way you could keep it off when gaming and what not.

Another option this also possible is kinda shelf-like setup similar to this (above or below desk):

zUSkAYn.png


What are your thoughts on this type of configuration?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how that makes things better. It alleviates the neck pain dealing with moniters almost a foot too high on the desk, but why have such a huge case for the thing? I'm not really following....
 
Here is why the case is large:
Q: Why is it so big?

A: Battlestation One is an enthusiast case designed to accommodate the most extreme system builds, supporting configurations including multiple radiators as well as extended-size video cards.

All these components demand a lot of space! The enclosure is designed to be an extension of your desk, acting as a platform for your monitors as well a showcase to visibly display your high-end build.
Click to expand...

We could make it smaller (in length) cutting away the excess room for radiator and bay drives, but I believe it loses its "edge" on what we are trying to aim for.
 
I like the core concept, but do not fall within your target demographic. I also like small clean looking black boxes under the desk.

However, I think if you tone down the LED action and reduce the overall footprint a little bit, you could hit a solid niche.
 
I like it, I sit taller so I don't mind the added height (my personal monitors sit on a shelf to bring their height up anyway).

I can see how people would be concerned with the hardware being distracting, personally, I like viewing my hardware but agree that it would be distracting to have it *right there* under my nose like that. I imagine a solid panel would alleviate this issue.

One thing that would be cool, is if all the components could be accessible from the front. Say the front panel could be removed and the equipment trays could slide out allowing fairly simple upgrades/maintenance to be performed. Plus, being such a behemoth, I wouldn't want to have to move it around much.
 
Shazim said:
Here is why the case is large:


We could make it smaller (in length) cutting away the excess room for radiator and bay drives, but I believe it loses its "edge" on what we are trying to aim for.
Click to expand...

What edge are you talking about? What are you trying to aim for? It's literally a box with a window on one side. There are tons of wasted cubic centimeters. If you are trying to just show off the components, there are much better ways to go about this that don't compromise on space and efficiency. I honestly question basically every single decision in the design. Not trying to be a douche, but it is just a bad design.
 
Neat but it would raise my monitors too high or push them to far forward. Maybe a stand to position it above the monitors would work or something. But mostly it just seems like a really long inefficient use of space.
 
The niche market you're going for likes to take their boxes to shows, LAN parties, etc to show off. I'm guessing they're not going to want to have to lug that thing around. I could be wrong though. I'd do a lot of research before I invested too much money into this project.
 
Bulky, clunky, and it's kinda funny but that looks like a real shit mouse and keyboard for gaming :p

I would venture a guess there's not too many skinny nerdy kids that can carry that tower.
 
While I don't doubt that some people would be very interested in a form factor like this due to placement constraints, it feels very much to me like trying to jam a round peg into a square hole. If you're at the point where you're building shelving units to overcome placement limitations, there are probably better solutions already available to you.
 
SeymourGore said:
One thing that would be cool, is if all the components could be accessible from the front. Say the front panel could be removed and the equipment trays could slide out allowing fairly simple upgrades/maintenance to be performed. Plus, being such a behemoth, I wouldn't want to have to move it around much.
Click to expand...

Yep, the front and top panels will be removable.

LeninGHOLA said:
I like the core concept, but do not fall within your target demographic. I also like small clean looking black boxes under the desk.

However, I think if you tone down the LED action and reduce the overall footprint a little bit, you could hit a solid niche.
Click to expand...

Hmm, the only way to reduce the footprint any further is decrease the length, which would essentially wipe out the 3 bays and 240 radiator on left compartment.

We basically kept the top of the case completely flat (no fan holes/vents etc..), with the idea that you would be putting things on top of it. I have speakers, couple of USB, headphones always sitting around the top of my case.

I also believe that the space under the monitors is not really usable either. The case spans the length around 2-3 monitors, in essence in-terms of desk space, this case is simply raising that area the monitors would be using anyways.

I agree 100% however someone that loves a minimalist design wouldn't fancy this case, but we are targeting those guys that enjoy a bigger and more flashier case.

leeleatherwood said:
Its interesting, but it looks like a really sore neck.
Click to expand...

As for the height of the monitors I believe the best way to combat this issue is to include VESA monitor mounts so you can adjust the height of monitors as low as possible (if your monitor height isn't adjustable)....this is something we will definitely take into consideration/include since so many people have pointed it out! Thanks :)
 
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Kinda odd that you posted this for opinions and then continue to try to change our opinions....
 
I think the case itself looks great and I can see it working for the target you're aiming for (massive computer builders who focus on power and multiple cooling/long video cards, etc)

However I am not the target market, I try to build my computers to be as quiet (which means not near my head) and tucked out of sight
 
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