Best Open-Style Case

[Elfear]

After years of using different conventional cases I've decided I want something more easily accessable and better set up for frequent parts swaps. These are the three platforms I've been looking at:

HSPC Top Deck Tech Station
Pros: Less expensive then other options
Cons: Poor cooling options, no power/reset switch

DD Torture Rack
Pros: Cooling, aesthetics
Cons: Price, no power switch

Antec Skeleton
Pros: Excellent cooling, USB ports on front
Cons: Not enough room for big heatsink, short case wires, somewhat chinzy add-on card support.

I'm pretty much resigned to eliminating the Skeleton because of the limitation in heatsink choices. Anyone know how easy it is to modify so that I can fit any size cooler in there?

What do you guys think? Any first-hand experience? Any other suggestions?

 

[Corporate Thug]

this is my fav:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/miba101clmoc.html

but limited availability and incredibly high price tag

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
this is my fav:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/miba101clmoc.html

but limited availability and incredibly high price tag

Ouch. Yeah, I've seen that one before and it looks really nice except for the price tag. $150 is about as high as I want to go.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
this is my fav:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/miba101clmoc.html

but limited availability and incredibly high price tag

sexy.

 

[Corporate Thug]

On a side not, and not to thread jack, is EMF exposure an issue with these types of cases? I have my side panel removed anyway, but still curious

 

[faxon]

only if you're an audiophile and your hardware you have on your desk is unshielded. have had some issues with my video card giving off enough EMF radiation to mess with my sensitive headphone amp so it gets a bit of distortion. resolved that by moving my amp a foot farther away from my case though. i run my case door-off as well since i like to be able to look inside or dust it whenever i need to

 

[Gillbot]

or you can save $ and get an original tech station and mount the top deck on the bottom and the bottom vice versa to make a top deck type station.
see here, that's what I did: http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...howthread.php?t=217263

You can order another set of legs to move the PCI bracket up top right from HSPC, or you can get the "longer legs" kit and re-use the original set for the top level so you can use the PCI bracket.
http://www.highspeedpc.com/Mer...TechStationAccessories

You only need to replace the "back set" of screws with some threaded rod from lowes to hold the PCI bracket legs on the top shelf. Or just get some 1.5" or so screws and cut the heads off after you screw them into the bottom legs, then twist the top legs onto them.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
or you can save $ and get an original tech station and mount the top deck on the bottom and the bottom vice versa to make a top deck type station.
see here, that's what I did: http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...howthread.php?t=217263

You can order another set of legs to move the PCI bracket up top right from HSPC, or you can get the "longer legs" kit and re-use the original set for the top level so you can use the PCI bracket.
http://www.highspeedpc.com/Mer...TechStationAccessories

You only need to replace the "back set" of screws with some threaded rod from lowes to hold the PCI bracket legs on the top shelf. Or just get some 1.5" or so screws and cut the heads off after you screw them into the bottom legs, then twist the top legs onto them.

Thanks for the info Gillbot, I'll have to check that out. What did you use for power/reset switches?

 

[aigomorla]

Elf once i show you my DD torture rack its game overs. :X

So view at your risk!

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AIGOing YOU
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.


Miyuki DD Torture Rack:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1339.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1341.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1340.jpg

When i need to get the board out i can tuck the tubes behind and get full access to the board:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1342.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1337.jpg

The water scaring ya?
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1123.jpg

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
Elf once i show you my DD torture rack its game overs. :X

So view at your risk!

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AIGOing YOU
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.


Miyuki DD Torture Rack:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1339.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1341.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1340.jpg

When i need to get the board out i can tuck the tubes behind and get full access to the board:
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1342.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1337.jpg

The water scaring ya?
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1123.jpg

Lol. Thanks for the warning Aigo. I've seen enough people claiming the dreaded condition of being "Aigoed" that I know better. I have been tempted to go back to watercooling but then I remember what a pain it is to change out components or reach anything on the board. I guess the Torture Rack would make it easier in that regard though.

I'll have ot check out your pics when I get home. Office computer blocks them all for some reason. How do you like your DD- TR compared to your Banchetto?

 

[daw123]

Aigo, I thought you had a couple of "open-sided" style cases (not just the DD Torture Rack).

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: daw123
Aigo, I thought you had a couple of "open-sided" style cases (not just the DD Torture Rack).

no i didnt get a banchetto.

I saw raid's design on his rack and decided to get another go at it.

The rack with symetry is absolutely speachless. Elf is definitely going back on water after he sees those pics.

Also haruhi's is way over budget... i think i had to build her from scratch instead of a simple rebuild.

Elf, if you need help in how to setup a rack so it really is a rack let me know. I can point you to all the new stuff we got for H2o. Its nothing like it was 1 yr ago, we got uber spoiled now compared to the old days.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: daw123
Aigo, I thought you had a couple of "open-sided" style cases (not just the DD Torture Rack).

no i didnt get a banchetto.

I saw raid's design on his rack and decided to get another go at it.

The rack with symetry is absolutely speachless. Elf is definitely going back on water after he sees those pics.

Also haruhi's is way over budget... i think i had to build her from scratch instead of a simple rebuild.

Elf, if you need help in how to setup a rack so it really is a rack let me know. I can point you to all the new stuff we got for H2o. Its nothing like it was 1 yr ago, we got uber spoiled now compared to the old days.

**** Rubs mystic ball **** "I see a very expensive water cooling loop in your future".

Joking aside, if Aigo has this case, then buy it and he will know how you can get the best out of it (including a water cooling set up)

 

[Elfear]

Wow. Those pics look awesome Aigo. Seriously. Very clean and uber cooling performance. What rads are you using by the way? I didn't know they had quad-rads out. I really like the reservoirs too. The one I made for my last rig looked fairly similar although shorter and with an uglier cap.

I think I've been convinced. Now to talk the wife into letting me buy a new case....

 

[Zepper]

And yes, you are responsible for controlling the RFI/EMI radiation from your equipment such that it doesn't interfere with your neighbors' stuff. Else the FCC's van may roll up your driveway one day...

.bh.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Elfear
HSPC Top Deck Tech Station
Pros: Less expensive then other options
Cons: Poor cooling options, no power/reset switch

You need to read the specifications better.

Power the PC On/Off and monitor HDD activity: Plugging directly onto the motherboard, The ATX Control Kit takes the place of the computer case power and reset switches, power and hard disk drive activity lights, and system warning speaker so that PC hardware can operate totally independent of a standard computer case.

There's even a picture of them. Basically, everything you get with a normal case, just mounted nearly directly on the headers.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Elfear
HSPC Top Deck Tech Station
Pros: Less expensive then other options
Cons: Poor cooling options, no power/reset switch

You need to read the specifications better.

Power the PC On/Off and monitor HDD activity: Plugging directly onto the motherboard, The ATX Control Kit takes the place of the computer case power and reset switches, power and hard disk drive activity lights, and system warning speaker so that PC hardware can operate totally independent of a standard computer case.

There's even a picture of them. Basically, everything you get with a normal case, just mounted nearly directly on the headers.

Doh. You are right Zap.

I just read a review that says the Control Kit doesn't work all that well in practice as the switches tend to bend when pushed. It's not that big of a deal as the real hesitation I have with it is the lack of cooling options. Looks like there is only the one spot to mount a fan.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Elfear
Wow. Those pics look awesome Aigo. Seriously. Very clean and uber cooling performance. What rads are you using by the way? I didn't know they had quad-rads out. I really like the reservoirs too. The one I made for my last rig looked fairly similar although shorter and with an uglier cap.

I think I've been convinced. Now to talk the wife into letting me buy a new case....

Those rads are The Fesser Company XChanger 480's (TFC or Feser) and the reservoirs look like EK RES400's. Very nice setup. I've been Aigo'd a few times.

 

[aigomorla]

Miyuki is the torture rack you saw.

Her rad's are fesser 480's.

Pumps are DDC-3.2 /w XSPC tops + Magicool 400 res's + EK tops. My res combo is a bit more complex'd.

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1334.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1335.jpg

im telling you its the symetry.

something out the human eye and always wanting symetry.

 

[WoodButcher]

If I wanted a rack I'd build it using the Banchetto as a model, many of the parts needed can be bought from different sources, mobo tray, drive racks, odds and ends fabricated from goodies at home depot or lowes. I scavenge case parts from recyclers and dumpster diving:Q but there is no way I would buy one even if I could afford it.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Elfear
I just read a review that says the Control Kit doesn't work all that well in practice as the switches tend to bend when pushed.

Yeah. My "trick" is to hold the switch between my index and middle fingers while depressing the button with my thumb. Works well. The reason that the switches "bend" is that basically the two "wires" used to connect them to the header are just stiff pieces of solid wire. They look thick in the pictures, but that's just un-shrunken shrink wrap around the two wires.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Elfear
I just read a review that says the Control Kit doesn't work all that well in practice as the switches tend to bend when pushed.

Yeah. My "trick" is to hold the switch between my index and middle fingers while depressing the button with my thumb. Works well. The reason that the switches "bend" is that basically the two "wires" used to connect them to the header are just stiff pieces of solid wire. They look thick in the pictures, but that's just un-shrunken shrink wrap around the two wires.

That makes sense.

So how have you gotten around the lack of fan mounts?

 

[aigomorla]

wait what confuses me is why would you need buttons on the header when its an open bench rack?

Most boards that you would want to pair the rack with have the power button directly on the board.

 

[Rubycon]

Who needs buttons? I've been doing the same thing for years - using a pair of tweezers or sometimes even a screw to short the power on and reset pins on an open board. More recently boards include switches on the board itself. The EVGA classified even has a CMOS reset switch on the board and on the back panel! :Q

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
wait what confuses me is why would you need buttons on the header when its an open bench rack?

Most boards that you would want to pair the rack with have the power button directly on the board.

My board (Gigabyte X58 UD3R) doesn't have a nifty power button on the board. I can jump the pins of course but seems like more of a hassle for a computer I'd use everyday. Normally I just put the thing to sleep and never use the power button, but a combination of Win 7, motherboard, or videocards is not allowing it to sleep. Plus if my better half ever uses this rig she will want something slick and easy. She'd give me the evil eye if I told her to "Just short the pins Sweetie".