The Case Crusade

b2k_kings

b2k_kings

b2k_kings

Associate
Joined
19 Jan 2006
Posts
24
Hi,

First time posting on these forums but i have been reading topics for the last year. You guys seem prety clue'd up on cases so i thought i would ask your opinion.

I am a great fan of the old Praetorian (don't know the associated product number) but as we all know it was discon'd. For this reason i am searching for a case that meets the same quality and styling as that of the Praetorian but is still available today. Silverstone seem to be the only company that comes close to filling the shoes as it were but they still seem to be missing something. I really like the Eclipse but it looks like the designer ran out of time when it came to the last Inch at the front of the case. Thermaltake was my other hopeful but from what i've seen of them they look very tacky (sorry if you own one).

I'm really unsure as what to choose as i'm mainly after looks but obvously performance is a decider to. I hope to install an SLI rig with watercooling so space is an issue aswell. Any opinions would be very welcome as i keep adding cases to the shopping cart then removing them with another case, havent as yet had the confidence to press "confirm cart".

Cheers

Mike
 
If its the Prae that looks like a ATCS 201. Then quite simply one brand you need to consider: Lian Li.

The PC7+ is a stunning case, and in my opinion the best sub £100 case.

If you check on the user reviews on my website: www.yewen.co.uk and see if the 201b is along the lines of what you liked; then we can go from there :)
 
cheers for your response,

I've looked into lian li and can't say i see anything special about them, the one thing i liked about the coolermaster is that it has a polish finish which looks ace. The Lian Li V1000 on the other hand looks good in pics but have never seen one in the flesh so i'm a little wary of them considering the high price of them. Is the V1000 on the site yours?

Nice Site by the way.

Mike
 
Yeh it is my v1000+. I also have owned a v1000 (non plus) before.

I consider them the best case on the market*

They look a awful lot better in real life than in pictures, the grill really does not photograph that well.

The price point is a bit of a issue; but there is a v600 coming out soon which should be the happy medium between price and the awsome build quality of the Lian Li.

Also it is worth considering the second hand resale value of the Lian Li's. You can usually say they will go down by about 15% for being second hand if in mint condition.
(In case terms the V series is the best for depreciation).

I am going by my own experiences by this case; but the 9 people who have bought the v1000+ (or another v series) have all been blown away by the quality. The fact im here today and nobody has broken my legs from recommending them and the PC7+ is testemount to there quality.

The special part of the Lian Li is that the case never gets old, the PC7+ for the money is such a steal it is unbeleiveable. At the price point I challenge anyone to get a better built case; or for twice its price even. (Excluding other Lian Li's)

And the * bit; it is because the Silverstone TJ07 could indeed be a better case, but you would have to question its value for money.

On the word value, it is what the V stands for, Value Series and it is indeed good value for money!

If you have any more questions or need more info I will be happy to tap the keyboard for you :)
 
I was very tempted by the silverstone one but like you say i cant justify spending £230 on a case. Whats your opinions on the Eclipse because i have access to a full workshop so i could if i wanted rebuild the front. Apart from the front is it a sound case as it seems very good value for money.

Oh do ocUK have a showroom in stoke as i'm only from lichfield so wouldnt take me long to get there. Always prefer to see things in the flesh first and could save myself postage :D

Cheers

Mike
 
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The sig is a problem dude, need to make it stick to the rules.

But they have a shop, but last time I was there (2002) it was tiny and just a front end.

The Eclipse is a very good case and regarded very highly, and does look slightly better in the flesh.

Would not be a bad purchase, you can also get different side panels for it :)
 
Sorry bout the sig, will do without lol, not that bothered about it.

I think i will probably go with the akasa as it is cheaper and the quality is high. The lian li cases are nice just i think i will get the same standard from the akasa but for cheaper.

The only problem is that i'm gunna have to re-think my desk as it is to long.

Right next i need to plan whats going in it. Thinking a Hiper Black PSU, any experience with them. I know its not in the right forum but i might aswell ask while i'm here.

Cheers For all your help, been very useful in making the decision.

Mike
 
No Worries!

I have a Hiper and no about 5 other people who have them.

Most now have upgraded from them to Tagan Easycon's due to either peices of metal falling out of them or them just not being that stable.

When they work they are fantastic PSU's same as all of them, the reason why I changed mine is it is nowhere near silent.

They are good PSU's just if you plan a quiet PC maybe consider the Tagan, these are always quiet.
 
Right just ordered off OcUK the following :

1x Akasa Eclipse-62 Case
1x Tagan Easycon 430w PSU
2x Akasa Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan
1x Crucial Ballistix 1gb

Cheers for your help, went on your suggestion on the psu, a bit concerned that i chose the 430w and not highier but it should do what i need it to do. Got to wait a month now till i can afford the mb,cpu, gfx cards

Mike
 
The 430w should have enough juice to power anything.

X2 4400 (2.6/2.6)
7800gt
Nec 4550
WD Raptor 74gb
WD Caviar 250gb
Audigy 2zs

Runs that without batting a eyelid.
 
Nice kit youve ordered there mate, i have the eclipse and its a great case youll love it. Hey yewen i read your review on the v1000, im just curious to know what rebrushing the power button is?.

mark
 
Just altering the finnish on it thats all.

Mine is of a higher polish than the standard one, call it my version of 'case bling'.

Its hard to get in pictures, but it looks more shiney in real life. :)

I will try and capture a picture to show it a bit better if you like.
 
Well the rig i'm hoping to finish with is this.

AMD64 3700 1mb cache
Asus A8N-SLi Premium nForce4 SLi (Socket 939)
*2gb Ballistix
*Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 10 NCQ 250GB 6V250F0 SATA-II 16MB Cache
*Fatality Sound Card
2x Geforce 7800GTX 256mb
*Akasa Eclipse-62 Case
*Tagan Easycon 430w PSU
*Akasa Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan
*Crucial Ballistix 1gb

Everything with a * i have got already. Hopefully by next month i should have the rig working. Then i'm installing water :D:D

Cheers guys for your help
 
I will try and capture a picture to show it a bit better if you like.
Click to expand...
Only if its no trouble mate, it looks good from the picture.

Nice kit there mate, ill be getting similar spec when i upgrade hopefully, should look nice in there with the black asus mobo and black pcb soundcard.

Mark
 
Nice spec, however the 2x Grpahics cards will be seriously CPU limited there.

My 7800gt CPU limits a 2.6/2.6 x2 at 1280x1024 resolution; what monitor will you be using?
 
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