Large Cube Cases

Le_Petit_Lapin

Le_Petit_Lapin

Le_Petit_Lapin

Soldato
Joined
5 Sep 2005
Posts
11,742
Location
Northern Ireland
Large Watercooling Cases

currently in the PC I'm using at the minute I'm using a YY-0420 Server Cube as a case, and despite the fact that it does pull the arms off me when I have to move it about, mostly when I lift her up to the kitchen worktop to fill/bleed the watercooing loop, I do love it.

Theres something about having a case thats both sturdy enough for you to ride about the house on (it has wheels), use as a thing to stand on when changing lightbulbs (got a slight creak from the wheels but nothing worse), and be usable as a coffee table when your PC desk is otherwise cluttered (which has reduced my lovely paintjob to scratches and coffee stains, but I cant fault the case itself). On top of that, you can put a PC inside it! :p

So, intending to start working on a Conroe system over the next couple of months, and the first thing I need to order really would be a case to put it in, as I'll need to get to work drilling holes, sanding, priming and painting it. Given how much I love my current case, another server cube sounds like a good idea.

So....in the world of Cube PC cases what do we have available? Would there be something similer to my current case, but that uses aluminium instead of 1.2mm thick steel? It was something of a pain to cut holes in last time.

I was looking at "That Rather Tall Craggy Peak Modifications Website" ;) and some of their cases are good looking and wouldnt require me to do as much chopping, but then again, considering I picked up my current case for £50 or so off the bay, they do seem a bit expensive.

However, as this is a long term project over a couple of months, I guess cost is not so much of an issue, and would consider any case if its highly reccommended. One thing is that I do intend to get either a 120.2 or a 120.3 Radiator on the inside of the case, so it would need to be able to accommodate that.

So....suggestions? :p
 
Last edited:
Mountain mods UFO case, simple, job done.

Does everything you want and more, built really well and plenty of room for rads, but they are big beasts. :)

There is a Lian Li cube in a thread probably three below this you should have a look at, although I think it is overpriced, but I have not seen or used one yet so can't really comment.
 
Urgh. Lian-Li's are not to my taste.....remind me too much of a Mac. :p

The UFO-U2's are about ~£200 arent they? Still definately worth considering, you can buy them pre-cut and ready to go, but what other options are there?

How about a Full Tower ATX case, is there any large enough to accommodate a 120.2 or 120.3 radiator, with modding?
 
Most certainly, a few large towers can hold 2x 120.2 if you are up for a lot of modding.

Lian Li G70, Akasa Eclipse, Gigabyte Aurora 1, Thermaltake Armour, Chieftec Dragon, Lian Li PC7* the list goes on!

Any particular styling you are after? Would narrow it down, and Lian Li cases do not look like macs! Only the v1000 has a slight resemblance to one. :p
 
Yewen said:
Most certainly, a few large towers can hold 2x 120.2 if you are up for a lot of modding.

Lian Li G70, Akasa Eclipse, Gigabyte Aurora 1, Thermaltake Armour, Chieftec Dragon, Lian Li PC7* the list goes on!

Any particular styling you are after? Would narrow it down, and Lian Li cases do not look like macs! Only the v1000 has a slight resemblance to one. :p
Click to expand...

No, no particular style. No door on the front. My current case has one and itbangs about all the time. Looks daft also if I take it off as it leaves a protruding plastic surround at the top and bottom of the case.

Tempted to do a tower now, for a change. If I did and without using a Radbox, where would I put the radiator? If I mount it on top of the case then surely, having it above the Res will leave air bubbles in the Rad?

Edit: Oh jesus, not a Thermaltake case. Did their designers have guide dogs? Not to my tastes at all!

LianLi G70 isnt bad actually. Needs a window chopped into it though. :D
 
Last edited:
Never thought about bubbles, but an awful lot of people do it so I can not see it being a problem.

G70 is about the best case for it.

copperg70nx1.jpg


Just, erm, if your going for the case pictured make sure you have deep pockets!

Silver is much cheaper, but Phil's copper one is just oh so nice looking.
 
Yewen said:
Never thought about bubbles, but an awful lot of people do it so I can not see it being a problem.

G70 is about the best case for it.

Just, erm, if your going for the case pictured make sure you have deep pockets!

Silver is much cheaper, but Phil's copper one is just oh so nice looking.
Click to expand...

Very nice! Is there a shot of the inside somewhere?

Edit: Actually....that Chieftec Dragon case is massive! Pleany of room over the PSU in the top enclosure for a Radiator. Cheap to....hmm...where do you get them though?

Edit 2: Meh. Its got a door. Bugger that.
 
Last edited:
Deviating from the large cube case idea I found this:

Aerocool Bay Dream

Plus Sides:
1) No door
2) Looks roomy inside
3) Exceedingly cheap
4) Already got a window cut in the side. (Lazy, I know. :) )
5) With the HDD's mounted in those wee sideways mounts, I should be able to get a 120.2 Rad in the front of the case, up-right agsinst the front grill. Its only the CPU and NB getting watercooled.
6) That grill at the front could look good if I get the internal lighting right.

Downsides:
1) No idea what the build quality is like.
2) Cheap might also mean crap.
3) The bare metal interior needs a spray.
4) Hard Drives dont look like they get a lot of airflow.
5) To get the rad in that space the upright supports that the 5.25" drives mount on will probably have to be dremmeled a bit.
6) That grill at the front could look supremely crap if I get the internal lighting wrong. ;)

What do you reckon? Should I go for it? Its only £40 :D

Edit: Actually I reckon I could definately get a 120.2 rad between the drive bay mounts at the front. Look at this image:
img1872fi4.jpg

That fan mount is for a 120mm fan.....might just be able to squeeze a rad in that gap without any cutting.
 
Last edited:
Its made by Aerocool so it is not going to be oozing out quality.

It looks like a old stacker sort of copy, for the money I would go with a Chieffy Dragon, as that case looks slightly on the cheap build side of things especially with the Aerocool badge, I have not used it however so I could be completely wrong. :)
 
Yewen said:
Its made by Aerocool so it is not going to be oozing out quality.

It looks like a old stacker sort of copy, for the money I would go with a Chieffy Dragon, as that case looks slightly on the cheap build side of things especially with the Aerocool badge, I have not used it however so I could be completely wrong. :)
Click to expand...

The Chieftec Dragon Server Case? Looks like the Antec PlusView II?
 
Actually, its the other way around. ;)

Classic design, that is still copied today.

It has a door yes, but you could do a really nice mod on it though! Aerocool cases are basically generic ones, much better ways to spend your money.
 
They have them in usually when supply permits.

You can find them cheap if you look around. You have to buy the side window separately usually mind.
 
Where did u get £400 from on the OCUK website the G70 is not even £200.

Or are you talking about another G70 case.

nvm just got the whole copper thing.

I swear this heat is making me really slow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom