Case Labs M8 - A Proper Case :)

dazzerd · 14 Jul 2011 at 13:55

I have a Case Labs M8 being built in right now and should be with me in the next week or so. Will not be doing a full build log but will post pictures of the case and accessories and completed build so you can get an idea of the sheer quality of this thing.

Going in it for my old rig will be:

GB Z68-UD4
i7 2600k
8gb Corsair Vengeance
2 x 480gtx
2 * ocz vertex 60gb

Cooling will be:

3 x Koolance CU1020VS 360mm Triple Radiator
2 * MCP655 with Koolance pmp 450 top
16 * Zalman ZM F3
Lamptron FC2 Fan Controller
Koolance 370 Waterblock
2 * xspc razor 480gtx full cover block

Watch this space (but don't tell my misses

)

dazzerd · 18 Jul 2011 at 09:24

Cheaper than you may think: case with a number of accessories was about£250.00. Add £100.00 deliver and we're talking circa £350.00 which is cheaper than picking up an xspc cube in the UK.

I still will probably have to pay VAT when it arrives in the UK (unless I am very lucky) so add another 20% and total is £420.00. I have been told there is no import duty so that's a bonus.

Expensive in total yes but I don't expect to need to upgrade for a very long time. Hell in the past 3 years I have had 2 lian li cases and a corsair 700d which in total have come to much more than that and I was not satisfied with any of them.

The thing is built to order (by people) as well so not some mass produced box and quality of manufacture is supposed to be something you need to see to believe, but I will make my own judgement on that.

Damn thing is delayed at the moment though so may not be able to pick it up till next week which is a pain as I have already took my main rig apart so stuck on a laptop at the moment.

dazzerd · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:33

shadowscotland said:
Looks a bit like high end meccano - but with millions of optional non-standard extras
It is a good example of 'MAYA’ design (Most Advanced Yet Acceptable - Raymond Loewy)
As it's more aesthetic that a 'form follows fuction' or ugly but uber efficient design of other hand build cases.

Hope it's every thing you want it to be - enjoy the build when it arrives

I have no idea what you are going on about

but thanks

dazzerd · 18 Jul 2011 at 13:51

Charming I'm sure

dazzerd · 20 Jul 2011 at 22:01

Yes the m8 can take xl-atx boards whilst the m8 can only take up to e-atx.

Too bad I have no idea where the case is have had no updates since it left the shop......

dazzerd · 21 Jul 2011 at 08:07

Should be no import duty on it according to another UK buyer but will get hit with VAT if it is stopped. As it's usps who are delivering it and due to the size of the thing it is likely to get stopped.

dazzerd · 24 Jul 2011 at 07:57

Yeh sorry case is in the UK now just a) either waiting for it to be delivered or b) waiting for the letter from the vat man. Should be here this week so will post some pics as soon as it arrives.

dazzerd · 27 Jul 2011 at 21:27

Yes it's arrived at my local depot so need to go down and pay my VAT and it's mine!

Will be pics up by weekend.

dazzerd · 31 Jul 2011 at 17:17

Hi guys case arrived finally on Friday and after an epic 2 day build I have some photos to share of the case as it arrived and with my bits in it. The build was epic as I have a very bizarre motherboard which necessitates having to take the cmos battery out every time I change a component on my board else the damn thing doesn't start and spent a while trying to diagnose a nic problem as the bios cannot even find my onboard.....

Anyway one thing about this case the build quality puts my last lian li to shame which compared to this feels like a tin can. The alu is seriously thick in this case feels twice as dense as the lian li.

Size wise its not as high nor as deep as my 700d obviously it;s wider but I seriously was still struggling to find room for everything as you will see. Cable management was acceptable but to be honest trying to hide 14 fan wires, fan controller, 2 pumps, 8 sata cables and molex's ain't gonna be easy in any case.

Hard drive cages are excellent no vibrations whatsoever mounting for rads as you'd expect is perfect, one thing to note about the case though is that all holes a 6/32 unc so do not take standard fan screws, fortunately I have loads of rubber screws so used those instead.

Enjoy and ask any questions about the case if you have any as this is not really a build log, more a before and after.

cheers

Front of Case:

Rear of Case:

Mobo Side:

PSU Side:

Some of the gear which went into it:

Mobo going in on Mobo Tray

Mobo Side Complete:

PSU side Complete:

And Front Complete:

dazzerd · 31 Jul 2011 at 18:32

joxang said:
Whoo pics at last! What a case lol. Can you post some temperature screenshots so we can see what those three triple rads are doing?

Mobo sounds like an RMA job...surely there's warranty on it ?

Will do, yes board has warranty but cba sending it back atm, will do eventually though