• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Whatever happened to desktop cases?

Z

ZoNe

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Messages
1,046
You know real desktop cases that monitor sat on? Makes sense since it wastes less space since you monitor has to occupy that space anyway, raises monitor for those with no elevation adjustment on monitors, and makes it so USB plug ins and DVD is right in front of you. So what happened?

I did a search at newegg for micro atx desktop and only came up with ONE what I'd call a real desktop case. Rest are squares and stuff.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...inPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=548:8292
 
No point anymore. LCD screens are flat and don't take up room at all. Back then, the CRT monitor could use so much space, the desktop case made sense.

Have you looked at HTPC cases? Might be what you want. Look at the Antec nsk2400.
 
Yeah, HTPC is sort of the new breed of desktop case. Though I doubt most could safely support the weight of a decent sized LCD, absolutely not a CRT.

In my office one of the computers is setup just as you are talking about (see picture) with a 22" monitor perched on top. But it takes up a lot of space on the desk, no room for the keyboard in front it. It's only temporary. It is nice to have the USB/cardreader/DVD right there, but it's not like other desktop placements are that much further away ;)
IMG_0577.jpg
 
Here's another. Slim micro ATX case. The keyboard is in a drawer under the desk top. The PC case isn't like that any more because it's nice to have a work surface right in front of the monitor. The type of case that takes full height cards is a little to high for a monitor to sit on. At least for me anyway.
 
Last edited:
Thin flat panel LCDs just look funny on top of a box with the surface area of a pizza box. Desktop cases are also better in the OEM market where people pretty much never open up their cases. For enhusiasts, its kind of cumbersome to have a screen sitting on top my computer and when I want access to the internals, I would have to relocated the monitor in order to open the case up.

But anyways, they are out there, but its just the demand for them is so low.
 
They stopped supporting monitors on top for several reasons:

1) Standard monitor sizes grew and the weight became too much for cases to hold (back in the days of CRTs)

2) With larger monitors (20" and above) having the monitor at desk height is optimal for ergonomics

3) Cases became thinner and lighter weight, unable to support monitor weight without adding bulky reinforcement bars.

4) With LCDs standard there isn't much if any saving. Usually an ATX mid tower and LCD has a smaller footprint than an ATX desktop case with monitor on top.
 
I know I saw a thread with a convertible case, may have been a Cooler Master 360.
 
Desktop cases are horrible because they tend to hold the heat in a lot more than a tower type case.

It is a lot easier to get heat out of a tower case then it is with a desktop case.

Heat rises. where is it going to go in a desktop case where the power supply is on one side?
 
The ATX and MicroATX form factors killed desktop cases. Note how most old systems used LPX and others. ATX works best in a tower.
 
It didn't make sense at any point ever. Back when I had to work on desktops, I loathed having to pick up a big heavy ass CRT and set it aside in order to work on the machine. I don't think it makes much more sense now. HTPC cases have their place of course, but I've always found that anything in a desktop form factor to have a pretty horrid layout and sub par cooling.
 
Dan_D said:
Back when I had to work on desktops, I loathed having to pick up a big heavy ass CRT and set it aside in order to work on the machine.
Click to expand...

sounds like warrior need food badly. (and more push ups)

have you seen this case?

it was this case that got me seriously thinking about my current case build.
 
Essentially you are trading vertical space for horizontal space. Most of the time you can stack it as high as possible within the limits of your roof. While the surface area of the top of your desk is much smaller usually. I have a good 5 feet from my desk top to the ceiling, but only have like 2 feet by 4 feet of desk space. Its just trading one thing for another.
 
xjmtx said:
sounds like warrior need food badly. (and more push ups)

have you seen this case?

it was this case that got me seriously thinking about my current case build.
Click to expand...

I'm plenty strong enough to move monitors. It's just more effort than was necessary. Not to mention quite annoying especially when people have too much crap on their desks. As for that case, it looks like a pain in the ass to work on.
 
Dan_D said:
I'm plenty strong enough to move monitors. It's just more effort than was necessary. Not to mention quite annoying especially when people have too much crap on their desks. As for that case, it looks like a pain in the ass to work on.
Click to expand...

It took me a moment to look back and think about what it was like, and you're right. That shit was ridiculous. I spent my "modern" computer years (98-04) in Alabama and people either piled shit upon shit on their desks and cases or, they broke the release hinges to get inside the case. worse yet (or better not sure) my pre modern years (88-98) that I had Apple Mac Plus, Plus SE and the accompanied 8mb harddrive, and those are annoying as well
 
Soo a 12mm duct to the cellar with a blower or vac and all's good? I saw that.
 
xjmtx said:
sounds like warrior need food badly. (and more push ups)

have you seen this case?

it was this case that got me seriously thinking about my current case build.
Click to expand...

That looks like a pretty sweet case and one I would not mind having provided it has enough room inside for good cable management.

Of course it would still need 1 or two 120mm blow holes in the top to cool really well.

edit: Newegg has this case - the design is a great idea, but the actual implementation of it by chieftec basically sucks. No place to hide cables, poor cooling, etc.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811160030

This gives me a great idea though....
 
Last edited:
xjmtx said:
sounds like warrior need food badly. (and more push ups)

have you seen this case?

it was this case that got me seriously thinking about my current case build.
Click to expand...

Would be cooler (aesthetically, probably hotter heat wise) to replace the side panel of a case with a 19" 4:3 or bigger if possible.
 
CrimsonFury said:
They stopped supporting monitors on top for several reasons:

1) Standard monitor sizes grew and the weight became too much for cases to hold (back in the days of CRTs)

2) With larger monitors (20" and above) having the monitor at desk height is optimal for ergonomics

3) Cases became thinner and lighter weight, unable to support monitor weight without adding bulky reinforcement bars.

4) With LCDs standard there isn't much if any saving. Usually an ATX mid tower and LCD has a smaller footprint than an ATX desktop case with monitor on top.
Click to expand...

5) Your Eyefinity setup would look funny with the middle monitor 6" higher than the others. :D
 
For the systems typical to these forums I would think noise would be an issue as well. Having the case right out in front of you will make the fan noises worse, versus having it has a tower off to the side or under your desk further away. Another thing would be being able to open up the case and tinker with it without having to move your display. I for one would also get annoyed by the blinking lights on the case if it were right in front of me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top