Hot computer cases?

[macphisto]

Hey folks, been reading here for the last hour or so and this looks like a
very helpful, attitude-free community...kudos on that! Anyway, I'm going to
be building a new system soon and I'm having a tough time deciding what case
to use. I've been looking at the Chieftec ATX-601AE which I like because of
the side window w/ fan and the abundance of space to work with inside, but
it /is/ a little bigger than I need as I don't see myself with any more than
two optical drives...hard drive space, on the other hand, I'll take all I
can get. So basically what I'm looking for is an aluminum case that looks
sharp with an acrylic window and good cooling that isn't so over-the-top big
like the Chieftec. Any suggestions?

 

[Muttly]

I think that he ThermalTake Xaser III (V2000A) is one of the nicest and
coolest cases I've seen. I'm waitin until I can afford it and I'm gonna get
one.
This information is for the V1000A but its pretty much the same except the
1000 is black and steel and the 2000 is silver and alu.
To see most of the cases check this
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/Products.ASP?CatID=7
This is to buy the 1000 http://web6.scan.co.uk/Products/Info.asp?WPID=57354
And to see a review http://www.pcextreme.net/xaser3.php
Also I just found the VM2000A it might suit you better as its a bit smaller.
You'll have to buy a psu with it any of them and so you get a price hike but
at least you don't pay for a psu you gotta change straight away. Let me know
what ye think.
Martin.

 

[S.Heenan]

Hey folks, been reading here for the last hour or so and this looks
like a very helpful, attitude-free community...kudos on that! Anyway,
I'm going to be building a new system soon and I'm having a tough
time deciding what case to use. I've been looking at the Chieftec
ATX-601AE which I like because of the side window w/ fan and the
abundance of space to work with inside, but it /is/ a little bigger
than I need as I don't see myself with any more than two optical
drives...hard drive space, on the other hand, I'll take all I can
get. So basically what I'm looking for is an aluminum case that looks
sharp with an acrylic window and good cooling that isn't so
over-the-top big like the Chieftec. Any suggestions?

Lian Li manufacture a large line of cases.
http://big008.com/subCatPage.asp?catid=CI01010200

These are a few examples.

 

[kony]

Hey folks, been reading here for the last hour or so and this looks like a
very helpful, attitude-free community...kudos on that! Anyway, I'm going to
be building a new system soon and I'm having a tough time deciding what case
to use. I've been looking at the Chieftec ATX-601AE which I like because of
the side window w/ fan and the abundance of space to work with inside, but
it /is/ a little bigger than I need as I don't see myself with any more than
two optical drives...hard drive space, on the other hand, I'll take all I
can get. So basically what I'm looking for is an aluminum case that looks
sharp with an acrylic window and good cooling that isn't so over-the-top big
like the Chieftec. Any suggestions?

Chieftec cases, like Antecs, are relabeled Chen Ming cases. Most
often the Antecs comes in the smaller size you want, though to get the
side window you may have to buy that side-panel separate, there are
some made not just as an acrylic window but pre-installed in a new
side-panel for the specific case, but I don't recall where to buy
them. The only model I'm aware of that's both smaller and has the
window is the Antec "Lanboy", but it's not that much smaller. There
are a few pictures here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-129-126


Dave

 

[macphisto]

Chieftec cases, like Antecs, are relabeled Chen Ming cases. Most
often the Antecs comes in the smaller size you want, though to get the
side window you may have to buy that side-panel separate, there are
some made not just as an acrylic window but pre-installed in a new
side-panel for the specific case, but I don't recall where to buy
them. The only model I'm aware of that's both smaller and has the
window is the Antec "Lanboy", but it's not that much smaller. There
are a few pictures here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-129-126


Dave

Thanks for the awesome recommendations, guys! This is going to be a really
tough decision...I'll let you know.

 

[John]

Chieftec cases, like Antecs, are relabeled Chen Ming cases. Most
often the Antecs comes in the smaller size you want, though to get the
side window you may have to buy that side-panel separate, there are
some made not just as an acrylic window but pre-installed in a new
side-panel for the specific case, but I don't recall where to buy
them. The only model I'm aware of that's both smaller and has the
window is the Antec "Lanboy", but it's not that much smaller. There
are a few pictures here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-129-126


Dave

I have one of the smaller Antecs and Ive seen the side panel only with
window selling I think at Newegg. However it was like $35 just for the
side panel . I bought my Antec which is I think identical or similar
to the Lanboy w/o side panel window for $49 w/power supply after
rebate at Compusa and there are prices close to that at Newegg
sometimes so the side panel seems to be ridiculously high priced.

Also I was down at compusa the other day and was checking out their
cases again - they had a decent deal a few weeks ago on a chieftec
tower for $79 - avg price where you live but great price around here.

Anyway - I complain about the super thin tin foil like metal sheeting
they used on the Antec I bought - they dent very very easily and the
paint chips off and some of them use a very difficult to match paint
color - like bronze metallic.

I noticed theyve started to carry similar Antec cases with thicker
sheet metal and more mainstream colors - black etc so they dent less
easily and are easier to match.

Watch for those two things - super super thin metal - which makes it
lighter , a good thing but easily dentable - bad. And hard to touch
up colors.

 

[kony]

I have one of the smaller Antecs and Ive seen the side panel only with
window selling I think at Newegg. However it was like $35 just for the
side panel . I bought my Antec which is I think identical or similar
to the Lanboy w/o side panel window for $49 w/power supply after
rebate at Compusa and there are prices close to that at Newegg
sometimes so the side panel seems to be ridiculously high priced.

Yep, for $35 it's too expensive... You can get an entirely acrylic
case now for $68, though I don't know what quality:
http://svc.com/clearaccasat.html

Also I was down at compusa the other day and was checking out their
cases again - they had a decent deal a few weeks ago on a chieftec
tower for $79 - avg price where you live but great price around here.

Anyway - I complain about the super thin tin foil like metal sheeting
they used on the Antec I bought - they dent very very easily and the
paint chips off and some of them use a very difficult to match paint
color - like bronze metallic.

Yep. I have an Al Chieftec that is a bit disappointing, IMHO an Al
case needs to be thicker than same steel case, and 1mm is too thin for
a large Al case. They don't mention that the bezel is painted instead
of colored plastic either... On mine the plastic is a dary blue-grey
plastic, not close enough to black or dk. grey for any of the paint
choices to conceal any scratches... don't know that it IS scratched
yet, but haven't really looked.

I noticed theyve started to carry similar Antec cases with thicker
sheet metal and more mainstream colors - black etc so they dent less
easily and are easier to match.

I just wish all cases clearly stated the metal thickness. I'd really
like to find an affordable Al case that's 0.06", 1.3mm thick, but the
price just about doubles for most thicker Al cases.

Watch for those two things - super super thin metal - which makes it
lighter , a good thing but easily dentable - bad. And hard to touch
up colors.

I don't even think lighter is better at all... if the case is being
toted around to lanpartys or whatnot it'd be good to get a small
enough case that the weight difference is negligible, but I still like
the "Can you stand on top of it?" test, keeping in mind that the
heavier the person, the more able they should be to carry it.


Dave