High End Cases

[jbh129]

I think that I am giving up watercooling and my ghetto cheiftec 601 and am looking to use an aircooled setup. In that regard, I am trying to decide between several cases, the mountainmods twice7, ufo, the stacker, the lian-li v1200 and the lian-li v2000. They all seem to be good cases (with positive reviews) and I dont really care about the cost differences between them but I'm not sure which one to get. I would appreciate any input from you guys on the above-listed cases or any others that I should be considering.

Thanks

 

[Spike]

Well, I personally stick with the $100 area cases and thus like the Antecs but there are many here who would reccomend the Lian-Li's in a heatbeat. Just ask Akira, he is practically in love with his Lian-Li 1100b and is expecting offspring sometime soon.

Of the cases you listed I would go with the Lian-Li 1200 as I have always liked it's looks and size.

-spike

 

[Cawchy87]

Since you are going for air cooling there is no practical reason to get the stacker. It won't fit anywhere.

 

[jbh129]

I have room for all of the cases listed except maybe the UFO which is 18" x 18". You are right though, the stacker probably is overkill

 

[akira34]

yeah, but it's love in the good way... You better be careful of the offspring too, they might look plain, but will pack one HELL of a punch.

It's true, I do... [dare I say it] love my Lian-Li case. In simplest terms, it's the very BEST case I've used to date. I've gone through Antec cases, Coolermaster cases, worked with other cases, and not one even comes close to the Lian-Li in quality. Some people might go after all the bling and flash on cases. I go for hard core quality. Quality that will last until the form factor changes, or the size standard moves to something that won't fit anymore. Even after removing the side panels over a dozen times, they are still TIGHT to the case. True toolless side panel removal, even with the screw in place, is a wonderful thing.

Best advice I can give... If you have the cabbage, find the Lian-Li case that will hold your rig the best and get it. In addition to the v1200 and v2000, look at the v1100 and v2100. I like the v1100/2100 because of the door that covers the front. That covers the entire front and helps to cut down on the noise level you get. Leave the wheels on, and you'll have a cool running rig inside one sweet case.

 

[Spike]

Just out of curiosity, what are the wheels for? Is it simply for moving the case or are their intakes on the bottom as well?

-spike

 

[jbh129]

Thanks Akira. Is the 1100 the same dimensions as the 1200 or is it shorter like the 1000?

 

[Tiamat]

jbh the V1200 is the only model in the mid towers that is longer. The 1100 is shorter just with front door.

If you have money to blow:
LianLI v1200 would be near the top of my list.

I am intrigued by the soon to be out Antec P180.

If you want simple, yet effective which doesnt shout "PLEASE ROBBER, STEAL ME, MEE!!!!" check out the Antec SLK 3000A.


The casters on the LianLi's do add hight clearance from the bottom. I believe there are intakes underneath the PSU section, but dont quote me on that. Also, one instance where casters = awesome is when you have it underneath your desk. When you need to do maintainence on it, you just roll it out. When Cases have hardware loaded into them, and they are on the floor, and you have a typical computer desk (not table) its really hard to get under your desk to lift the computer up a couple inches to move over to the open floor area.

 

[akira34]

It's between the V1000 and V1200 cases...

V1100 dimensions:
Size (W x H x D) 210 x 490 x 550mm

V1000
Size (W x H x D) 210 x 450 x 490mm

V1200
Size (W x H x D) 210 x 490 x 625mm


They are all the same width, the V1100 and V1200 are the same height (about 19-1/4" tall) with the V1100 being between the others for depth. The V1200 can take an extended ATX mobo, while the V1000 and V1100 can only go up to ATX. If you wanted, you could fit a microATX mobo in there, but I think that would be a bit of a waste.

Here's a link to a site where you can get metric/standard conversions and such. I use it to convert case sizes so that I can tell what the sizes really are.

As for the wheels on the V1100, they keep the bottom of the case up off of the surface enough to allow the vents on the bottom of the case to do their job. While you can remove the wheels, I'd leave them on. The case ships with rubbers to go over the metal wheels to give them good grip on whatever surface you'll be putting the case on. If you're going onto carpet, leaving the wheels on is an even better idea.

 

[Spike]

Man, wheels would be nice... dragging my case around with it's rubber feet is a pain on the carpet.

-spike

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
If you want simple, yet effective which doesnt shout "PLEASE ROBBER, STEAL ME, MEE!!!!"

If a robber wants your computer, he's going to take it no matter what case you have. Unless he sees a large 'D' on the side and the symbol for a p2 on the case, he's going to take it, if he can lift it. The V1100 is not a featherweight case. The full 2mm thick side panels and other solid fabrication points make it weigh more than those other aluminum cases you've seen. Now that I think back, it's heavier than many of those Antec cases I've seen raved about here. While I wouldn't want to lug it around all over the place, the weight does have advantages. One of them being the strain it puts on the robber's back. The size of the case will also make it difficult on him...

Depending on where you put your case, and what else you do with it, or have running around it, he might not even hear it running and will just walk past it...

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: Spike
Man, wheels would be nice... dragging my case around with it's rubber feet is a pain on the carpet.

-spike

It does help when you need to pull the case out from under the desk before working on it... The rubbers on the metal wheels means you won't mark up the surface either... Just the extra finishing touches that Lian-Li puts on this line of case... Also another reason I'm in love with it. :Q

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Spike
Man, wheels would be nice... dragging my case around with it's rubber feet is a pain on the carpet.

-spike

also not healthy for static

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: Spike
Man, wheels would be nice... dragging my case around with it's rubber feet is a pain on the carpet.

-spike

also not healthy for static

Lol, I did not mean to imply I actually drag it along (the rubber prevents that), I more meant to say that to move it I actually have to so some work (aka lift it off the ground) and since I am an engineer and by definition lazy, I try to avoid as much work as possible.

-spike

 

[akira34]

You and me both bubba... I'm a systems business analyst. By the very nature of my position, I'm at a desk most of my day at work. Good thing they have a gym where I work (inside the buildings)... Might mean I have to lay off some of the goodies though. :shocked:

 

[Mucker]

Antec P180 looks great...just a question of when it's going to hit the streets.......http://www.silentpcreview.com/news452.html

m

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: Mucker
Antec P180 looks great...just a question of when it's going to hit the streets.......http://www.silentpcreview.com/news452.html

m

About 20 seconds after I toss it out the window...

 

[smoothness]

you purist. i hope that case does well, in terms of acoustic muffling. looks nice too.

 

[Mucker]

Originally posted by: akira34

Originally posted by: Mucker
Antec P180 looks great...just a question of when it's going to hit the streets.......http://www.silentpcreview.com/news452.html

m

About 20 seconds after I toss it out the window...

Not everyone here can afford the high end, and I question the ones that can and flaunt it. There is nothing wrong with the P180 AND you don't have to bend over as far to plug in your front mounted I/O devices, as is the case with the LL-1100. Looks like a major design flaw in my estimate.....couldn't get them much closer to the floor....

m

 

[Mrvile]

Damn that Twice7 case is 400+ dollars??? Might as well get that Zalman passively cooled case...sheesh.

Anyway I have a V1000B, and I love it. Although it is somewhat loud (open holes, you really can't do much about it) and since it's the smaller version is can get cramped, it has more goods to outweigh the bads. The BTX, the location of the CPU right next to the exhaust, and how the HDD and PSU are in seperate compartments (although I'd like the PSU to be open so it sucks hot air away from my CPU) make for good cooling in both.

The wheels. They don't rotate, therefore serving almost no function besides lifting the case off the ground (there are cooling holes on the bottom for the PSU and HDD). You can take them off, but I don't suggest it.

Otherwise it's a great case, a bit pricey (200, 250 for a window), but will last you pretty much forever. I spent an extra 18 bucks for a top 120mm blowhole, I regret it because a top blowhole is largely useless in this case. Oh well I guess it lets be reset the CMOS a bit easier.

 

[jbh129]

I thought alot about the Antec 3000 as well. I like the CPU fan duct but unfortunately it only seems to be on budget cases. I wonder why this is? Also my MSI K8 Neo2 has the CPU in a weird place and I dont think it would line up correctly. I guess that puts the 1200 in the lead as like the extra room for the psu (I have a PCP&C 510 express)

 

[jbh129]

any other recommendations