Are case windows going to go out of style in DIY gaming rigs?

[zandor]

Last weekend I dropped by my local Best Buy which is under construction. The place is a wreck and I had no idea what was where, which resulted in my wandering through the pre-built gaming PC section of a Best Buy. Normally I don't pay attention to pre-built gaming desktops. All of them have windows now. There were HPs with a weeny little GPU and brightly lit up Kingston Hyper-X Fury ram. There were mATX boards in ATX cases. Even some PSU cables in traditional colors.

You know how fashion trends go. Once everyone is doing it whatever it is ceases to be cool.

 

[Burticus]

I remember when tiny windows in side panels were a thing 20+ years ago...... then the RGB disco light revolution set in for a long time.... now it seems like.... the PC case companies cannot make up their minds with all the glass and LEDs or not and mesh or whatever

 

[travm]

The shit inside sometimes costs more than your first car.... Why would you not have a window?

Fishbowl style windows are the new thing (maybe not that new, I am old)

 

[emphy]

The most amusing trend with all those windows is the one where the components get covered up again with shields and this "cableless" thingy manufacturers are pushing for a "clean look".

If I wanted such a clean look, I'll just have the windowless side panel thankyouverymuch.

 

[travm]

The most amusing trend with all those windows is the one where the components get covered up again with shields and this "cableless" thingy manufacturers are pushing for a "clean look".

If I wanted such a clean look, I'll just have the windowless side panel thankyouverymuch.

I just built my first system with one of those a few months ago, I was wtf happened to cable management, we'll just stuff everything in here...

 

[LukeTbk]

If I wanted such a clean look, I'll just have the windowless side panel thankyouverymuch.

This is very different look than a solid side panel

It is obviously wanting both the inside of a PC and clean at the same time.

They offered both for a while, if they are all with window panel now the market a spoken and loudly I suppose.

A sign of that is when you buy a case now it is barely or not cheaper to go for the solid option often and it is because you actively not want it like me believing it will have better sound retention stats.... true or not.

 

[Darunion]

lots of people were cutting windows in beige cases in the late 90s. Im thinking it probably is gonna stay. Inside the pc looks cool, even after all these years for me. I dont have things bright like i used do (acryllic black light case) but i do still show the side. Rather have something to look at than a blank panel.

 

[Mr Evil]

I'd like it if they did. I don't mind case windows, but I do mind the effect they have had on component design: heatsinks with no fins; plastic covers that block airflow; RGB everywhere; the loss of colour-coding for cables. I want things to look nice too, but not if it makes them functionally worse.

I see no sign that the fashion will change though. With PCs now popular among a wider audience than just nerds, the technical aspects will remain less important than aesthetics.

 

[pendragon1]

nope, people want to see what theyre spending money on.

 

[LukeTbk]

It is possible trend and what not and maybe case themselves astheatic will become really cool, the hardware really small or some cheap and really good cooling solution will not look good at all.

Apple for example, is in a way quite trendy and cool, been a long time since they had clear case.