I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where? -- William Park <opengeometry@yahoo.ca>
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:51 PM William Park via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm - - - my beef is that case design seems to convey that the case is a work of art, absolute male bovine excrement, I waant a functional box but I hardly ever look at the thing. That means that I don't want blinky lights, that pretty glass covers really aren't necessary (unless they help cooling - - - which is very doubtful) and functional is what I most desire. I tend to look across that funny line in the sand and also check out what is available south of us and that seems to open up some options. Rather than giving a specific case - - - I'll offer my methodology. 1. how many hard drives (size of drives is sometimes important) 2. how many gpus (size is very important and some newer cases offer vertical mounting) 3. the particular mobo I'm specing for (some variation here that needs to be accomodated) 4. fan placement I prefer cases w/o fans as I would be using noctua fans as I like their lower noise, very high air flow and very long life. Then I would be looking for a case that fills my needs list. (Most offerings have too much bling!) HTH
On 19/09/2019 07:51, o1bigtenor via talk wrote:
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:51 PM William Park via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm - - - my beef is that case design seems to convey that the case is a work of art, absolute male bovine excrement, I waant a functional box but I hardly ever look at the thing. That means that I don't want blinky lights, that pretty glass covers really aren't necessary (unless they help cooling - - - which is very doubtful) and functional is what I most desire.
c'mon, only 15kg: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16811853056 - you know you want it..
Son has this Antek Nine Hundred gaming case. It has 4-5 fans. You can unplug the LEDs I think. Not too fancy, only a bit of plexiglass. So far it is reliable. https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811129021 I'm not into gaming rigs, so this may be old and not usable for you. On Thu, 19 Sep 2019 at 08:22, Jamon Camisso via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
On 19/09/2019 07:51, o1bigtenor via talk wrote:
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:51 PM William Park via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm - - - my beef is that case design seems to convey that the case is a work of art, absolute male bovine excrement, I waant a functional box but I hardly ever look at the thing. That means that I don't want blinky lights, that pretty glass covers really aren't necessary (unless they help cooling - - - which is very doubtful) and functional is what I most desire.
c'mon, only 15kg: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16811853056 - you know you want it.. --- Post to this mailing list talk@gtalug.org Unsubscribe from this mailing list https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
On 2019-09-19 8:22 a.m., Jamon Camisso via talk wrote:
c'mon, only 15kg: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16811853056 - you know you want it..
That is one of the strangest CPU cases I've ever seen. Do the 4 outer pods accommodate a CPU board each? ;) -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ | "Nerds make the shiny things that https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens | distract the mouth-breathers, and | that's why we're powerful" Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
On 2019-09-19 8:22 a.m., Jamon Camisso via talk wrote:
c'mon, only 15kg: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16811853056 - you know you want it..
That is one of the strangest CPU cases I've ever seen. Do the 4 outer pods accommodate a CPU board each? ;)
Resembles a GE-425 mainframe from the late 1960s. But it took all four bays to hold one CPU back then. Bottom right, there on the cover .. <https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/GE/GE.GE-400.1968.102646147.pdf>
On 2019-09-20 10:07 AM, mwilson--- via talk wrote:
On 2019-09-19 8:22 a.m., Jamon Camisso via talk wrote:
c'mon, only 15kg: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16811853056 - you know you want it.. That is one of the strangest CPU cases I've ever seen. Do the 4 outer pods accommodate a CPU board each? ;) Resembles a GE-425 mainframe from the late 1960s. But it took all four bays to hold one CPU back then. Bottom right, there on the cover .. <https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/GE/GE.GE-400.1968.102646147.pdf>
I think it's closer to the Cray. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cray-1 Regardless, there is a lot of STOOPID looking hardware these days. Here's my first computer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMSAI_8080
On 2019-09-19 7:51 a.m., o1bigtenor via talk wrote:
If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? [snip] Hmmmmmmmmmmm - - - my beef is that case design seems to convey that
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:51 PM William Park via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote: [snip] the case is a work of art, absolute male bovine excrement, I waant a functional box but I hardly ever look at the thing. That means that I don't want blinky lights, [snip] I would be looking for a case that fills my needs list. (Most offerings have too much bling!)
I would check for the number of drive bays, cable management, location for power supply, is it set up for water cooling (if you prefer water cooling), and the width of the case. Location of the supply and height of the feet are important if you want to use water cooling. I don't like the idea of having a power supply with its fan on the top side if water cooling is being used. I worry about a possible leak dripping right in to the guts of the supply. Case width is important to allow use of some of the taller CPU coolers. I want to upgrade the CPU fan in my system because the stock one doesn't seem to be working that well. I can't use the cooling fan I really want because my case is 9mm too narrow. -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ | "Nerds make the shiny things that https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens | distract the mouth-breathers, and | that's why we're powerful" Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 11:51:25PM -0400, William Park via talk wrote:
I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where?
What does 'full tower' mean to you? Almost all my machines are in Silverstone TJ04 or TJ04-E cases (the newer -E is much improved in fact). Those I would consider a mid size case. I have eight 4TB WD RED drives in a TJ04-E, which is how many 3.5" drive bays it has. The specs claim there is room for another 3.5" drive somewhere in the case, but I haven't looked. It also has mounting for six 2.5" drives as far as I recall and of course four 5.25" drive bays. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to buy them these days. I can only find them at insane prices online it seems. By insane I mean over $300, rather than the $150 or so I recall paying for them. Sundial Micro in california has them for $150 US, so perhaps that is the "reasonable" price these days. For a real full case, I have used a TJ09 once. Lovely case if you need the space and cooling capacity. Not nearly as much capacity for drives though. I think it is discontinued years ago though. For totally insane large case, the TJ11 looks like a fit. Not sure what one would do with nine 5.25" drive bays and dual power supplies. I guess one could get some of their FS305 adapters and turn the nine drive bays into 15 hot swap 3.5" drive bays. I used to be able to get silverstone cases at canada computers. They still have some, just not the models I want. -- Len Sorensen
On 9/19/19 12:58 PM, Lennart Sorensen via talk wrote:
On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 11:51:25PM -0400, William Park via talk wrote:
I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where? What does 'full tower' mean to you?
Almost all my machines are in Silverstone TJ04 or TJ04-E cases (the newer -E is much improved in fact). Those I would consider a mid size case. I have eight 4TB WD RED drives in a TJ04-E, which is how many 3.5" drive bays it has. The specs claim there is room for another 3.5" drive somewhere in the case, but I haven't looked. It also has mounting for six 2.5" drives as far as I recall and of course four 5.25" drive bays.
Unfortunately, I have no idea where to buy them these days. I can only find them at insane prices online it seems. By insane I mean over $300, rather than the $150 or so I recall paying for them. Sundial Micro in california has them for $150 US, so perhaps that is the "reasonable" price these days.
For a real full case, I have used a TJ09 once. Lovely case if you need the space and cooling capacity. Not nearly as much capacity for drives though. I think it is discontinued years ago though. For totally insane large case, the TJ11 looks like a fit. Not sure what one would do with nine 5.25" drive bays and dual power supplies. I guess one could get some of their FS305 adapters and turn the nine drive bays into 15 hot swap 3.5" drive bays.
I used to be able to get silverstone cases at canada computers. They still have some, just not the models I want.
The only warning I would give you is that you if your building new is that of trying to get a front USB 3.1 type c. There don't seem to be that many options and having one of those would make the case much longer lasting with most devices either coming that way or already. Nick
On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 02:23:02PM -0400, Nicholas Krause via talk wrote:
The only warning I would give you is that you if your building new is that
of trying to get a front USB 3.1 type c. There don't seem to be that many
options and having one of those would make the case much longer lasting
with most devices either coming that way or already.
Well lots of devices come with a USB-A to USB-C cable, which is good enough for 5Gb USB. Interestingly, I can apparently upgrade my TJ04-E to have a front USB-C if I want using this: https://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=748&area=en Neat product to offer. -- Len Sorensen
On 9/19/19 3:26 PM, Lennart Sorensen wrote:
On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 02:23:02PM -0400, Nicholas Krause via talk wrote:
The only warning I would give you is that you if your building new is that
of trying to get a front USB 3.1 type c. There don't seem to be that many
options and having one of those would make the case much longer lasting
with most devices either coming that way or already. Well lots of devices come with a USB-A to USB-C cable, which is good enough for 5Gb USB.
Interestingly, I can apparently upgrade my TJ04-E to have a front USB-C if I want using this: https://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=748&area=en
Neat product to offer.
Speed wise yes but what about 100 watts of power. So missing that the power increase is from 5 watts to 100 which can make charging or using high power devices possible. Nick
On Thu, Sep 19, 2019 at 04:16:40PM -0400, Nicholas Krause via talk wrote:
Speed wise yes but what about 100 watts of power. So missing that the power increase
is from 5 watts to 100 which can make charging or using high power devices possible.
I haven't seen a motherboard that allowed that. It wouldn't make sense for a motherboard to try routing 100W of power through itself to a USB power. Even a PCIe slow is only allowed 75W. 100W also requires 20V at 5A, while PCs only have access to a decent supply of 12V, so that means at most 60W. It also means adding all the circuitry for voltage swiching to the USB port on the motherboard. For a motherboard it doesn't make sense to support any more than 5V 2A at best. Everything else is too complicated for very infrequent use. USB-PD seems to be a thing for chargers and docking stations only and hence the adapter from silverstone is perfectly good the way it is. I don't want to have to leave my PC on to charge a device. I have dedicated USB chargers for that kind of thing that are actually good at it. -- Len Sorensen
On 2019-09-18 11:51 p.m., William Park via talk wrote:
I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where?
I just build a graphics workstation recently and used the Fractal Design Define R6: https://www.newegg.ca/black-fractal-design-define-r6-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811352091?Description=frectal%20design%20r6&cm_re=frectal_design_r6-_-11-352-091-_-Product I don't know where the cutoff between "Full tower" and "mid tower is" but this case is pretty big. It can fit most long video cards and tall CPU coolers. My needs were: 1. Low noise. This case has integrated sound dampening (bitumen infused foam) 2. Room for 185mm cooler. 3. Mounts for 4 - 3.5" hard drives. This case has trays for 6 4. No windows - no LEDs except for Power/HDD. All my builds are plain black cases. 5. Top mounted USB slots, because the case is under a desk and I need to see the slots 6. Front panel USB C. A want not a need, (thinking of future proofing) The integral sound dampening attenuates mainly low frequency noise (spinning hard drives etc.) The high frequency noise from fans and airflow can be reduced by choosing large fans, which can move the same air as smaller fans at lower speeds. The R6 comes with 2 - 140mm fans (2 front intake 1 rear exhaust). I was a bit leery of not being able to pick my own fans but the supplied fans turned out to be pretty good. The CPU cooler I chose is the Noctua NH-U14S: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16835608041?Item=9SIAB984BD8391 which comes with a 140mm fan. In normal operation the 4 fans all spin at about 600rpm (nearly silent) Overall I am very pleased with the result. The case was one of the trickiest components to choose, mainly because it has to accommodate all the other previously made choices. My only real disappointment was not with the case, but the Mobo. The board specs claimed USB C support, and it does, but only on the back. To connect the cable from the front USB C slot to the Mobo I will need an adapter to connect to the USB 3.0 20Pin header on the board (about $30 on eBay). I won't do this until I have something that plugs into USB C. I paid $200 not the $220 Newegg is asking for this case now. A bit more than I was planning to spend on a case but features such as lots of drive slots and the sound dampening add to the cost.
On 2019-09-18 11:51 p.m., William Park via talk wrote:
I built all of my computers, last one being a basic i3-4170. There is one part that I was never satisfied with, and that is "computer case". Selections at Canada Computers and Newegg are disappointing. If you were building a full-tower computer, which case would you buy? And where?
I just build a graphics workstation recently and used the Fractal Design Define R6: https://www.newegg.ca/black-fractal-design-define-r6-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811352091?Description=frectal%20design%20r6&cm_re=frectal_design_r6-_-11-352-091-_-Product I don't know where the cutoff between "Full tower" and "mid tower is" but this case is pretty big. It can fit most long video cards and tall CPU coolers. My needs were: 1. Low noise. This case has integrated sound dampening (bitumen infused foam) 2. Room for 185mm cooler. 3. Mounts for 4 - 3.5" hard drives. This case has trays for 6 4. No windows - no LEDs except for Power/HDD. All my builds are plain black cases. 5. Top mounted USB slots, because the case is under a desk and I need to see the slots 6. Front panel USB C. A want not a need, (thinking of future proofing) The integral sound dampening attenuates mainly low frequency noise (spinning hard drives etc.) The high frequency noise from fans and airflow can be reduced by choosing large fans, which can move the same air as smaller fans at lower speeds. The R6 comes with 2 - 140mm fans (2 front intake 1 rear exhaust). I was a bit leery of not being able to pick my own fans but the supplied fans turned out to be pretty good. The CPU cooler I chose is the Noctua NH-U14S: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16835608041?Item=9SIAB984BD8391 which comes with a 140mm fan. In normal operation the 4 fans all spin at about 600rpm (nearly silent) Overall I am very pleased with the result. The case was one of the trickiest components to choose, mainly because it has to accommodate all the other previously made choices. My only real disappointment was not with the case, but the Mobo. The board specs claimed USB C support, and it does, but only on the back. To connect the cable from the front USB C slot to the Mobo I will need an adapter to connect to the USB 3.0 20Pin header on the board (about $30 on eBay). I won't do this until I have something that plugs into USB C. I paid $200 not the $220 Newegg is asking for this case now. A bit more than I was planning to spend on a case but features such as lots of drive slots and the sound dampening add to the cost.
participants (10)
-
Don Tai -
James Knott -
Jamon Camisso -
Kevin Cozens -
lsorense＠csclub.uwaterloo.ca -
mwilson＠Vex.Net -
Nicholas Krause -
o1bigtenor -
Scott Frederick -
William Park