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Looking for a workstation case

C

carlmart

Gawd
Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
691
I am trying to find a case that might fit my needs for video workstation duties, but there are so many options available that I might need some help from you.

My present case is an Antek P180, which is the first "lower" case I've had in a long time. It does have some practical solutions but others are not so much.

Things that I need:

1) Side inserting HDDs. This is something I had on my previous case and I do miss that very much. It's a LOT better than the usual insertion from behind/inside the case, which I don't know how is it called or described.

2) Plenty internal space and ventilation fans for cooling HDDs and mobo chipset. I can't understand why that is not taken care of in the Antek P180.

3) Reasonable price. That probably eliminates all aluminum cases and many fancy types.

It's quite likely I will have to go back to a taller and/or deeper case, like my previous Cooler Master case was. Unfortunately I can't remember the model it was.
 
What size mobo - for atx the corsair 650d has lots of space and 7 side loading hdd bays
 
Thanks. The Corsair is awfully expensive where I live ($300) and it's also a bit too tall.

The CM690.2 looks very interesting. Still a bit tall, but worth looking into.

Any other "shorter" options?
 
Corsair 300R. Shorter by 2". However, only holds 4 hard drives unless you start using up the optical drive bays. Budget case and can be had for cheap (<$60 USD). You won't get much smaller without going with a micro/mini case.
http://www.corsair.com/carbide-series-300r-compact-pc-gaming-case.html

HAF 912 is shorter by 1", but more drive bays. I don't know how many you need.

EDIT: Actually, you can get another 2 hard drives in the 300R:
http://www.corsair.com/en/parts/cas...rays-and-secondary-hard-drive-cage-parts.html

So it supports 6 HDDs, is only 18" tall, and is relatively cheap.
 
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You raise some very good questions.

The Antec P180 can't hold an ATX mobo, only micro-ATX, because the upper fan needs space for it. What should be good thing, has a bad point against it. So it is tall, but not large.

The two internal cases holding the HDDs arrangement, which are a good thing, also prevent using fans for the HDDs and chipset, which usually get quite hot. To install a front fan you need to remove one of the cases.

As a result, the internal space is minimum, probably limiting long GPUs from being suitable, and I believe that air circulation might be compromised.

So what I thought that on paper looked like a good design, now I'm not that sure.

So no, I can't get smaller than 18" tall, 19" or 20" is good. Also deep and width should be large in order to make things work.

One thing that's not so good on the 300R is that there's no provision for a side fan. So fans for front, back and side, minimum.

Pity cases characteristics are not available as selectable options at Newegg, so you can choose exactly what you need and end up with the models that fill those.
 
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You're right, it does take two side fans.

The price seems reasonable here too.

Perhaps it's now a question of handling this one and the CM690.2 at the store to make up my mind.
 
Actually, on paper I'm convincing myself that the 300R is the better case. It's newer with USB 3.0 ports, removable drive expansions (which the CM 690 cannot do), and smaller footprint overall. CM 690 will have more fan ports, probably sturdier, with a hard drive docking station on top. I guess it comes to whether you want the extra connections on the CM 690 or you'd rather have the simpler 300R.

Check both out.
 
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