Cleaned up my case a bit last night.

[alkemyst]

My set up is at my system page.

I originally had 4 optical drives over SCSI (CD, CD/RW, DVD, DVD/RW) because I had the CD and CD/RW I just added to it. I also had two hard drives.

I found myself never using the Plextor 40 Ultra wide or Sanyo BP-4 writer because my DVD setup was faster.

When I went for a new HD to replace my WD 1200JB (died almost exactly 5 year and 1 week after it's born on date), I opted for a 750GB and I'd move my 330GB Seagate 7200.8 to pure backup duties externally.

This freed up both my IDE channels to have one dedicated to my LS120 and the other dedicated to my Pioneer DVR-108 (I was previously running it as a SCSI drive with an IDE to UW SCSI bridge).

minus 2 opticals and 1 HD allowed me to rearrange things to make for much more room around my CPU and a cleaner case.

My pics:Chiapet Pics.

I did not go overboard and custom splice all the cable to the exact lengths, but almost everything is tied to the front drive cages or the motherboard tray. In the pics the cable along the side of the CPU are all against the far back of the case although they look like they are closer than that.

Å

 

[RKS]

wow, I have the same case. I am actually considering replacing it with the RF case. Let me know if you ever want to get rid of the casters.

 

[alkemyst]

What's the RF case?

Also Addtronics can sell you the luxury caster kit. I think every component can be bought separately.

 

[aigomorla]

mmm....

can you tell me the name of that case?

im getting very very bad ideas with it. [meaning, i think i found my next case]

4x80mm fans = 320mm so im guessing with some modding you could front mount a 120x3 easily.

Also that top seems like a good height to mount another 120x3 radiator onto it. That middle partion/bracket will allow a sideways 120x3 mount.

Tons of 5 1/4 bays for hotswap SAS drives. ... ARGH.

See bad bad ideas.

Originally posted by: alkemyst
What's the RF case?

Also Addtronics can sell you the luxury caster kit. I think every component can be bought separately.

The infamous rebranded Lian Li Rocket Fish Case at bestbuys. You can pick one up for as cheap as 49.99 -> 119.99 YMMV!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
mmm....

can you tell me the name of that case?

im getting very very bad ideas with it. [meaning, i think i found my next case]

4x80mm fans = 320mm so im guessing with some modding you could front mount a 120x3 easily.

Also that top seems like a good height to mount another 120x3 radiator onto it. That middle partion/bracket will allow a sideways 120x3 mount.

Tons of 5 1/4 bays for hotswap SAS drives. ... ARGH.

See bad bad ideas.

Originally posted by: alkemyst
What's the RF case?

Also Addtronics can sell you the luxury caster kit. I think every component can be bought separately.

The infamous rebranded Lian Li Rocket Fish Case at bestbuys. You can pick one up for as cheap as 49.99 -> 119.99 YMMV!

Ahh...

The case is an Addtronics 7896A (my system rig link mentions what I have in it).

This is an earlier model...the later ones are a bit nicer as instead of an 80mm and 60mm on the back panel they do a 80mm and 90mm. The front of the newer ones takes a 120mm fan. I think you can fit 2 there.

Here is a link to modifications to it: CoolCases.com 7896-120-90 home

Their mods

I had thought about doing a dual 120mm up front, but I don't think I'd gain much. With the sides open my case temps don't change much at all.

I have 3 80mm in, and an 80mm and 120mm out.

 

[alkemyst]

I checked out that rocketfish...the only thing I'd be concerned with is with larger CPU coolers having the optical bays right to the side of it can cause crowding. If you look at my pics page above you can see how the 3.5" hard drive hanger interfered with the heatsink. They just touched it so there was no pressure on the fan assembly, but it also blocked cooler and added the heat of the HD's right there.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
What's the RF case?

Also Addtronics can sell you the luxury caster kit. I think every component can be bought separately.

I tried to contact Addtronics as well as Jim at Coolcases but was never able to purchase the caster kit. I am actually going to try the route of 2 120s in the front. I also want to try to build a HDD rack to hold additional drives. Currently I have then in spare 5.25" slots, cooled by 4 90s?

I have had mine painted black, put in a blowhole and put a custom window on the case. The steel has held up well but the plastic front need refreashing.

 

[alkemyst]

Jim is great, I have an email he sent me back in 2001 that told me for free all the things he would do and how to do it. Mine case is still considered the lowest noise of the group and I'd say the fan on my 6800GT is the loudest then the mini chipset fan...my case is still pretty quiet.

 

[Zepper]

Yeah, I was looking at the Addtronics cases back when I was first getting enthusiast leanings - too pricey at the time. I liked the big adjustable leveling feet you could get as an option.

Yup, Rocketfish by Lian Li - very large, light aluminum box for low bux. Catch my thread here and aigomorla's and the thread in HotDeals. Can't imagine you missed out on the hoopla... Believe me nothing is near anything in the Rocketfish - it's 22.5" by 22" sans bezel - that's an EATX mobo pan in there - over 13" from the back of the slot plates to the edge of the pan.

.bh.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Yeah, I was looking at the Addtronics cases back when I was first getting enthusiast leanings - too pricey at the time. I liked the big adjustable leveling feet you could get as an option.

Yup, Rocketfish by Lian Li - very large, light aluminum box for low bux. Catch my thread here and aigomorla's and the thread in HotDeals. Can't imagine you missed out on the hoopla... Believe me nothing is near anything in the Rocketfish - it's 22.5" by 22" sans bezel - that's an EATX mobo pan in there - over 13" from the back of the slot plates to the edge of the pan.

.bh.

Leveling feet were stock (at least on the 7896)...the casters were an addon. They had standard ones which just screwed in like the feet and then a luxury set which widened the footprint for stability.

Here was the rig I bought at the time,:
Celeron 300A $160.95
Abit BX6-2 $135.00
Crucial 128MB PC100 CAS2 $225.00
WD 18GB Expert 18000RTL $396.99 <--HOLY CRAP
ASUS V3400/TV AGP-V3400TNT/TV $115.05
Addtronics 7896A $153.00
PCC TurboCool 300 ATX $89.28
Logitech Mouseman Wheel $37.43
Diamond Monster MX300 $78.30
Plextor 40x Wide $163.69
Tekram 390F SCSI Controller $76.93
Windows Win98 Upgrade $85.54
Shipping $55.79
Total Price: $1,772.95

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

WD 18GB Expert 18000RTL $396.99 <--HOLY CRAP

I bought a bunch of those from (now defunct) tjt.com for $320 each. Blazing fast drives at the time. They were actually IBM's relabeled as WDC. I also have a 14.4GB 7200 ATA33 part with WDC label also made by IBM. Those drives at the time were worth it as they offered excellent capacity AND speed. To beat both required laying down MUCH more cache - over a thousand easy. The good ole days. Now you can get nearly that big for under a $100 that you can put in your pocket. :Q

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Jim is great, I have an email he sent me back in 2001 that told me for free all the things he would do and how to do it. Mine case is still considered the lowest noise of the group and I'd say the fan on my 6800GT is the loudest then the mini chipset fan...my case is still pretty quiet.

QFT.
I've dealt with Jim before as well when I bought my first "custom" case...a LX-6A19 w/the Mods 3A. He took the time to answer questions personally over the phone when I called & was quick to e-mail answers to my questions as well.

 

[RKS]

Anyone know of a way to add a HDD rack in the front (by the 3 fans)? Any suggstions for a cheap HDD rack that can be modified to put into theis case?

I currently don't have any fans but was considering adding 2 off-set 120s ion the front.