[LiveBrianD]

compnovo, on 12 December 2011 - 10:49 PM, said:

My case is WAY too conservative for bragging rights, the only reason I'm posting images is because I just finished installing the new Corsair H80 H20 cooler and I wanted to show it off. I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but if my case (Sonata III 500) had been any smaller I wouldn't have been able to get it in. The H80 has two fans and a cooler, and they're a LOT bigger than they look on Newegg.

Right now my core temp (according to Speedfan) is idling at 29C; after playing Batman: Arkum Asylum for a while it was at 33C. I have it on the lowest (quietest) setting and haven't stress-tested it to see how it handles a real load --- any suggestions for an app that can do that? I think it's interesting that my tower is quieter now with the two fans that replaced the Antec fan the case came with --- I always kept it at the middle setting.

Try prime95 to put it in torture (or IntelBurnTest to REALLY torture it). Another thing - use something like Any Video Converter, make sure you set it to use all the cores, and let it render a video. I really like the design of your case - just plain black. I don't see the point of hiding the ODDs behind a door though. Those tend to break and then it just looks bad.

[compnovo]

LiveBrianD, on 13 December 2011 - 04:00 PM, said:

I really like the design of your case - just plain black. I don't see the point of hiding the ODDs behind a door though. Those tend to break and then it just looks bad.

If you check Newegg you'll see that door the single biggest complaint about this case. It's a nuisance to have to open it to turn on the computer, too. I took it off once to see what I thought and decided I liked it better with the door on, it looks cleaner. Other than that one quibble I really like the case too.

[LiveBrianD]

compnovo, on 13 December 2011 - 04:12 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 13 December 2011 - 04:00 PM, said:

I really like the design of your case - just plain black. I don't see the point of hiding the ODDs behind a door though. Those tend to break and then it just looks bad.

If you check Newegg you'll see that door the single biggest complaint about this case. It's a nuisance to have to open it to turn on the computer, too. I took it off once to see what I thought and decided I liked it better with the door on, it looks cleaner. Other than that one quibble I really like the case too.

Not bad! I'm fine with this case, but am curious about other ones - this isn't the quietest (it uses 80mm fans), and I had to shove some soft material into the back end of the case door to absorb vibration (it came with the motherboard's packaging). That samsung HD seems to be causing the vibrationThe VSK-2000 looks interesting. It's got top mounted USB ports, power button, etc (this case has a firewire port, though I only have a 1394 PCI card that I've never used, and 2 usb ports that don't function properly no matter what). It looks like it has more front case vents; also a 120mm rear fan and space for two 120mm fans in front blowing at the HDs. I doubt I actually need a rear case fan (since my CPU cooler's fan blows at the back of the case, it has heatpipes), and I only have 2 HDs, so I don't really need 6 3.5" internal bays. I DEFINITELY like the plain, matte black design (blue LEDs don't really appeal to me, and transparent case doors seem a bit useless unless you are always showing off your stuff). I just noticed - "Not to mention it's Antec and assembled in the USA." on one of the reviews. Made in the USA? Man, that's a rarity.

[compnovo]

LiveBrianD, on 13 December 2011 - 04:34 PM, said:

That samsung HD seems to be causing the vibration...

You can't see it in the image I posted but the hard drive holders have silicon mounts to help reduce vibration noise. Another thing I don't think you'll like about my case is all the glossy black sheet metal, it is truly a fingerprint magnet.

Here's a case I first spotted on MaximumPC. They gave it good reviews, and so does Newegg...
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811352007
I think it's a good looking case and it seems nicely engineered. Kinda spendy, though.

My true favorite is one I mentioned in another thread...
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811139007
...I lust after that thing.

This post has been edited by compnovo: 13 December 2011 - 05:13 PM

[Rommel]

compnovo, on 13 December 2011 - 05:10 PM, said:

My true favorite is one I mentioned in another thread...
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811139007
...I lust after that thing.

Buy it....




I really like it too compnovo.

This post has been edited by Rommel: 13 December 2011 - 05:38 PM

[Rommel]

@ WJ

Thanks for sharing your pictures.
It's like getting a glimps into the mad Dr.'s labratory.
Where the OCing and technical advances take place.

Your antec case reminds me of a slight mod I did on my 900 I had.
Being I had no intention of mounting a side fan I removed the plastic.
That creats a nice mesh opening for better air intake.

This post has been edited by Rommel: 13 December 2011 - 05:44 PM

[compnovo]

Rommel, on 13 December 2011 - 05:36 PM, said:

Buy it....

One of these days...
Unfortunately I just blew my Christmas money on that cooler, and I'm not too eager to pull it all apart for a new case...
...maybe....

[Rommel]

Hi GetsugaSSJ

Thanks for staring this thread.

Your full tower is beast.
It probably will beat my Durango 0-60 in a drag.
Great gear in that thing.

I am like you, love messing with my case and have no problem painting them or drilling holes.

My current case is a Lian Li Lancool K62 Black.

Only to mads on the case.
1. The side plastic was moved inside instead of outside where the plastic lapped over a 1/4"
2. No 3.5" face adaptor for that size device. Some careful messuring and a dremel took care of that.









Running on onboard here.


My old Antec 900. Painted interior white and drilled holes for wire management.





And a cooler master scout case with a red painted interior.






My current specs:

Not near impressive compared to some of you but for me this is meeting my needs and gets the job done.
Nice and stable.
I love all aspects of this build.

CASE: Lian Li Lancool PC-K62 Black
CPU AMD Phemon II X2 550 3.1 BE ( unlocked 2 cores, OCed 3568 )
RAM: OCZ 8 GB BE 1600 8 8 8 24 ( RAM and CPU are both Black Edition, made exclusively for each other )
VC: His 5770 Turbo ( factory OC ) IceQ 5
Tuner: Hauppauge HVR-2250 TV card. Great HD
HDD: 2 WD 500 GB Blues in RAID 0
MOBO: MSI 880GMA-E53
PSU: Seasonic SS 560W Gold, Modular
Cooler: Zalman 92mm
Monitor: 23" HD Dell

This post has been edited by Rommel: 13 December 2011 - 06:20 PM

[waldojim]

OpSec39, on 13 December 2011 - 12:03 AM, said:

I saw one of those types of cases whilst I was there with the Glowing tubes and see through parts and the guy only wanted £20 but I just didn't feel like making a PC that glows in the dark also I side with coastie and steer clear of water cooling as I just don't trust water and electricity.

A little over a year ago, I was experimenting and had a PC running completely submerged in mineral oil. It was a freaking blast, and ran pretty darned well too.

Though I can say that plastic don't much care for it, as such I wouldn't torture a high end PC that way. This is one of those projects I fully intend to revive though once we move into a house. Just on a much larger scale. I have been thinking of a getting a 20 gallon tank with little "fish" in there, and everything!

Anyhow, done correctly, I don't worry too much about the liquids themselves, I just don't trust most of those kits to keep working. Especially if I have a heafty OC.

[waldojim]

Rommel, on 13 December 2011 - 05:43 PM, said:

@ WJ

Thanks for sharing your pictures.
It's like getting a glimps into the mad Dr.'s labratory.
Where the OCing and technical advances take place.

Your antec case reminds me of a slight mod I did on my 900 I had.
Being I had no intention of mounting a side fan I removed the plastic.
That creats a nice mesh opening for better air intake.

I would actually like to seal that off with a solid sheet of plexiglass. But that will have to wait. Taking air in the side neever seemed like a good answer to me. If there isn't enough airflow, then I need better fans. LIke another Orion or two!

[waldojim]

Rommel, those machines look sharp. It is fairly easy to tell that the extra time was taken on them. Very good job.

[SnyperTodd]

Here's one of my machines, it no longer exists in this form, I'm more showing the case than the machine itself. A house fire last July damaged several of my computers, and this one was the worst. I totally stripped it down, drilled all the rivets, set the soot stains with alcohol, and painted everything. It's all flat black, even the places you can't see, and there's not a run or blemish anywhere. It's a Raidmax Smilodon with all Gelid and Xigmatec fans, even though they're 80mm the machine is dead silent. The last two pics are before the fire:


I've got nicer machines in nicer cases (nothing like yours though, GetsugaSSJ), but this is the case I'm most proud of because of how bad it looked after the fire and how good it looks now. It's got a lot of hard work in it. I've also got an Antec 900 that Rommel built with a custom hand-built fan control system built into it. Rommel does great work modding cases, his 900 is another one I'm proud to own.

[Rommel]

waldojim, on 13 December 2011 - 07:28 PM, said:

I would actually like to seal that off with a solid sheet of plexiglass. But that will have to wait. Taking air in the side neever seemed like a good answer to me. If there isn't enough airflow, then I need better fans. LIke another Orion or two!

I considered that too.
Being this was a free mod, just felt it looked better without the plastic with a blow hole.

Thanks for the complement in your other reply.

[LiveBrianD]

compnovo, on 13 December 2011 - 05:10 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 13 December 2011 - 04:34 PM, said:

That samsung HD seems to be causing the vibration...

You can't see it in the image I posted but the hard drive holders have silicon mounts to help reduce vibration noise. Another thing I don't think you'll like about my case is all the glossy black sheet metal, it is truly a fingerprint magnet.

I've looked into rubber grommets and such for the HD bays. The thing is, for me, it makes the whole case vibrate (again, I found that sticking a bit of that soft packaging material in the back of the case door, I can stop the vibration). I definitely do NOT like glossy finishes and such - I specifically was looking for a monitor with a matte finish when I bought this (well the bezel is glossy, but at least the actual screen is matte), and I want to avoid the fingerprints and (on a screen) glare.


@Synpertodd - ouch! Was the PC in a desk/cabinet at all or just sitting on the floor? Were any of the components actually damaged or was it just the case's outside? (since the inside of the case likely has metal) I wonder how hot it gets in there, given that most things can normally take up to 50C (ok, not good for the HD, but it can take it).

[waldojim]

Rommel, on 13 December 2011 - 08:57 PM, said:

waldojim, on 13 December 2011 - 07:28 PM, said:

I would actually like to seal that off with a solid sheet of plexiglass. But that will have to wait. Taking air in the side neever seemed like a good answer to me. If there isn't enough airflow, then I need better fans. LIke another Orion or two!

I considered that too.
Being this was a free mod, just felt it looked better without the plastic with a blow hole.

Thanks for the complement in your other reply.

Very, VERY good point.

EDIT: Oh yes, forgot to add - you are quite welcome. I really am impressed. One day I hope to have the free time needed to do that type of work. I would be even more impressed if I could do it that well!

This post has been edited by waldojim: 13 December 2011 - 09:39 PM

[Fatbot]

Here are some shots of my machine, Lord Dagon. GetsugaSSJ built this destroyer of worlds.



And some shots into him:

[GetsugaSSJ]

Found this one before shipping [censored]ed with some of the cable management, lmao

[coastie65]

GetsugaSSJ, on 14 December 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

Found this one before shipping messed with some of the cable management, lmao

Looks good. Sure did fill up the space or so it looks. First one I've seen with Green Lighting. Most seen to be either Red or Blue.

[SnyperTodd]

LiveBrianD, on 13 December 2011 - 09:08 PM, said:

@Synpertodd - ouch! Was the PC in a desk/cabinet at all or just sitting on the floor? Were any of the components actually damaged or was it just the case's outside? (since the inside of the case likely has metal) I wonder how hot it gets in there, given that most things can normally take up to 50C (ok, not good for the HD, but it can take it).

It was on top of a filing cabinet next to my desk. The problem is, the power went out shortly after the fire started, but the computers were on UPS's. That made them continue to suck in smoke for quite a while, and everything was just covered with this black, sticky, resin-like sheen. Most of the machines were on the floor or enclosed somehow, and suffered less inhalation, but this one was higher up and in the thicker smoke. It was all smoke damage, no heat or direct fire damage.

[LiveBrianD]

SnyperTodd, on 14 December 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 13 December 2011 - 09:08 PM, said:

@Synpertodd - ouch! Was the PC in a desk/cabinet at all or just sitting on the floor? Were any of the components actually damaged or was it just the case's outside? (since the inside of the case likely has metal) I wonder how hot it gets in there, given that most things can normally take up to 50C (ok, not good for the HD, but it can take it).

It was on top of a filing cabinet next to my desk. The problem is, the power went out shortly after the fire started, but the computers were on UPS's. That made them continue to suck in smoke for quite a while, and everything was just covered with this black, sticky, resin-like sheen. Most of the machines were on the floor or enclosed somehow, and suffered less inhalation, but this one was higher up and in the thicker smoke. It was all smoke damage, no heat or direct fire damage.

But it didn't pull any soot and crap into the PSU, or did you clean that? It sounds like the actual fire didn't spread to that part of the house then, right? btw, what actually caused this? (I'm almost starting to wonder if getting a UPS is worthwhile now... though I currently don't have one and the power is pretty reliable here.)