Boring, functional case required

TheLastMan

TheLastMan

TheLastMan

Associate
Joined
14 Feb 2003
Posts
116
Location
UK
I get confused with mini, midi, and full size, but I think what I want is a "midi". In any case (pun intended) it must have the following but I don't want extra external drive bays - I want it big enough but no bigger:

Vertical format for sitting next to a desk.
2 x external CD/DVD drive bays
3 x internal hard drive bays
Rear facing 120 fan blowing out
Mounting points for a front 120 fan (blowing in) and a side 120 fan.
Dust filter on the front fan mount.
Fitted front facing 2 x USB, mic and headphone ports at least halfway up the case or on the top. Don't want to have to bend down to the carpet to plug in a headset as the kids will just tread on the cable and bust the ports (as has happened on the current case).

No PSU as I just got a new one for my current case

Steel but with nice rounded seams - fed up with cutting myself up on my current case.

Black and anonymous (no LEDs or flashy nonsense). Sort of squat version of the monolith from 2001 a Space Odyssey (for those of you old enough to remember it!).

Budget around £40? Tell me if this is unrealistic.

Finally it must be in stock at this fabulous emporium!
 
I'd go for the Akasa Freedom Xone. Built a system for a friend a few weeks ago and was amazed at how good it was for the money. Need to add in a fan at the rear but should still be able to hit the £40 mark, front fan is white LED though.
 
Last edited:
A nice looking case but the top mounted fan is a problem. Space is tight in my tiny study and the top of the PC is where I keep a phone, router and 8 port network switch!

As well as that there are tiny fingers that would poke things through the grill to see what would happen to the fan, I am sure.

I like the top mounted ports (why doesn't everyone do this?) but I don't like the PSU mounted at the bottom.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

paradigm said:
I'd personally spend a bit more and get the Antec 300.

It's the case that houses my server, and TBH I can't fault it.
Click to expand...
 
Another good one to consider. Not sure what it adds for the extra £15 though.

Just looked at the Zalman web site. I would prefer the audio and USB slots were at the top facing forward rather than the top facing up, and they are not colour coded, but a small point. The modular hard disk mount looks a good idea.

I quite like the fact that the Xigmatek is anonymous. Not sure I like the big Zalman logo on the front of this one.

Thanks for the heads-up.

cook001 said:
Hi
You might want to check out the Zalman Z7 plus
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-033-ZA&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=736
Looks good value for money at £41.99
Check the vids for it on youtube
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
 
Follow up point.

On my current case I have the front/bottom fan blowing in via an air filter and the top/back (80mm) fan blowing out. The PSU has a 120mm fan blowing out. The case only has small side vents but dust build-up in the case has been horrendous.

I want to avoid internal dust build-up so it is important that all air going in is filtered.
Bearing in mind that most cases have large grilles and fan mounting points on the side, how do you set it up?

I will have a stock Intel HSF on an i5. Does this blow down onto the processor or blow up, drawing air from underneath?

I might want to put a single 120mm fan in the side of the case roughly over the processor. Should this suck out or blow in?

If I have three fans (incl. PSU) blowing out and one blowing in, this is likely to reduce the air pressure in the case and draw dusty air in through any open grilles. Can I cover these with some kind of filter? Do OCUK supply this (will have a look now anyway). And if not does anybody else?

Thanks.
 
I don't think you need to worry about side fans, from what I've read they can tend to interfere with proper air flow inside the case anyway.

For the budget the Akasa Freedom Xone is great. The NZXT Beta Evo is also pretty good IIRC if you can live with the styling, and includes a front and bottom dust filter. As for the top fan bays, I'd just suggest blocking them off with black card if you don't really want to use them.

For the side fan grills use some fine foam/steel mesh or tights to allow air but not dust to pass through.

Good luck deciding on your purchase :)
 
Very nice!

Fits my original specification except for the use of expensive aluminium.

Reading the Lian Li web site blurb, it can be made shorter through an unusual air flow in at the back and venting out at the front. This allows the PSU to be mounted at the bottom front so that it can be shorter by the height of the PSU. This requires a special power bypass cable routed from a socket at the back to a special right-angled plug at the front to connect to the PSU.

This also means the PSU isolation switch is behind the front cover. However I rarely use it as when I want to disconnect the PC I unplug the cable anyway.

If it were steel it would be a no-brainer, but it adds a not inconsiderable £49 to the budget. As I am trying to assemble an i5 based rig for under £400 (re-using hard drives, OS and PSU) this takes me quite a bit over.

I think I can sneak £380 past the "household expenditure committee" but any more than that and she might notice and divert it into the interior decor budget! Who needs lampshades anyway?

johnny sublime said:
how about this little thing Lian Li AO5N
Click to expand...
 
Stripes said:
I don't think you need to worry about side fans, from what I've read they can tend to interfere with proper air flow inside the case anyway.

For the budget the Akasa Freedom Xone is great. The NZXT Beta Evo is also pretty good IIRC if you can live with the styling, and includes a front and bottom dust filter. As for the top fan bays, I'd just suggest blocking them off with black card if you don't really want to use them.

For the side fan grills use some fine foam/steel mesh or tights to allow air but not dust to pass through.

Good luck deciding on your purchase :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the airflow tips! Just the sort of information I need.
 
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