Microscope me a case

growse · 7 Oct 2006 at 01:46

I'm possibly looking for a new case, but have absolutely no idea what's on the market as I've only ever owned two cases, and I bought my current one 4 years ago.

Currently I have a Yeong-Yang server cube, in black. I like it - it's a good size, it's on wheels, it's heavy, yes, but being a cube, it's pickable-upable. For those that don't know, it's got a divide down the middle, so the motherboard sits in one half of the case, and all the drives etc sit in the other half. Google it if you don't know what I mean. Whilst this logical separation of delicate stuff from not-so-delicate stuff is fantastic, it does have a few problems. Cabling on the drive side is a mess, because that's also where the psu is. To get any cables from one side to ther other, they have to pass over the top of the divider. Annoying when trying to work on it. Also, I don't like the way you have to attach rails to any 5 1/4" devices you want to install. It's a pain. Also, I've run out of space. I need at least 7 5 1/4" bays, and it's only got 6. So, given everyone's infinite knowledge of cases here, could I have some suggestions as to what might be suitable. Here are some requirements:

Size - in terms of cubic volume, the YY is quite big, but it doesn't feel it, because it's a cube. It's not particularly high which is a good thing for tucking away under desks etc. It's widish, but I don't really care. It's shape makes it easy to move it around. What also makes it easy is......
Wheels - The YY has wheels. This is really really really really useful.
E-ATX capability - A must. I have a dual opteron motherboard, and these things aren't small. A lot of cases won't take EATX size motherboards, and it's vital for any future case to be able to accommodate this.
Ease of working on - Both sides of the YY hinge outwards and are removable which makes life slightly easier when working on it. It'd be nice to have a good level of access, and as few annoying small losable screws as possible please.
Ability to be quietened - My current case has only 1 fan which is a case fan - an 80mm at the front, and temperatures are great. I'd like to not need to fill it with fans to achieve the same thing. I like to hear my scsi drives whine
Black - yes please
Price - difficult one to judge. I'm on a budget, would rather not spend more than £100, but don't know how realistic that is. The YY was £136 I think, so that sort of ballpark.

Things I don't care about:

Weight - If it's on wheels, I'm not bothered if it weighs a ton.
Front USB ports etc - Whilst nice, I don't care about them.

So, any suggestions? I'll have a dig around the intarweb and see what I can find and see if that matches up with what people are saying

*edit* the cheapest option would be to fill up the current bays with my hotswap bays, and then just shove my dvd drive inside the case somewhere. Will have to open the door to get at it, but then again it is cheap to do.

growse · 7 Oct 2006 at 02:04

First impression is that the LL PC-V2100B might be worth a look - pricey and too tall, but the right sort of idea.

Also, the enlight EN-8950. Cheap. Cheerful.

Arthalen · 7 Oct 2006 at 09:49

Coolermaster Stacker 810 any good to you ?

rpstewart · 7 Oct 2006 at 10:14

growse said:
First impression is that the LL PC-V2100B might be worth a look

Certianly wheels, 7 bays and EATX compatible but I think it might be a bit of a squeeze if you filled all the 5 1/4" bays and put a big mobo in there. Also there are no external 3 1/2" bays if you need a floppy as well.

Messiah Khan · 7 Oct 2006 at 11:00

How about the Lian Li Modular Cube Case? I know you are likely to have the same problem with wiring etc, but this cube case includes 18 5 1/4" bays and options to mount 3 1/2" bays in fan slots at the back. It also comes with loads of options to mount windows etc.

Yewen · 7 Oct 2006 at 12:57

He said e-atx.

That does not have it, and is why I say its a rubbish case.

Nobody believed me when I made the point in the original thread, the point in huge cases like that is a server cube, e-atx!

Messiah Khan · 7 Oct 2006 at 13:12

Sorry, I just assumed that a case of that size would have e-atx.

Yewen · 7 Oct 2006 at 13:37

So did I until I read the spec sheet.

Be worth reading the old thread on it.

growse · 7 Oct 2006 at 15:57

Is the big cube not eatx? I just assumed it was because the small cube is. However, I think it's a little *too* big for my needs.

I've looked at the stacker, but again, fear it might be too tall. Most towers tend to be more than 50cm tall, which seems taller than "chuck-away-under-the-desk" size. Maybe I'm being too fussy.

Yewen · 7 Oct 2006 at 18:13

With that many drives you need a full tower or a cube though, you wont get that in a normal tower really.

growse · 7 Oct 2006 at 19:29

Been looking more closely at the EN-8950. Seems to tick all the boxes, it's not that tall, but it is twice as long as my current case is wide. Still, it comes in black and is cheap - a log of people on 2cpu swear by them.

Hmmm..........

Messiah Khan · 7 Oct 2006 at 20:27

Only got 80mm fans, so might be a bit noisy. Have you considered a rack mount system at all?

Edit; Not that a rackmount system is likely to be quiet either, but hey.

growse · 7 Oct 2006 at 20:36

The enlight is a 5u, and rackmountable. Proper rack cases tend to be expensive, noisy and very heavy. Although they have the advantage that they're not tall, just wide and long. Although i don't know any that'll take at least 7 external bays...