I got my big old case cool and quiet...now I'm afraid to upgrade cases!

[MichaelD]

I've had my Antec 1040, ugly ass beige case forever. It's got a new TruPower 430 in there, but other than that, it's all original. I've had about 6 (that I can remember) different rigs in there. The case is huge, fits everything, lots of room to work, etc.

Just the other day I finally got around to swapping out the Vantec Stealth fans for all Panaflo L1As. I've even got a 92mm Panaflo on the SLK900.

Last summer I bought a LianLi PC65B. Black w/a window. It's a sweet case. I like the filter...the 1040 doesn't have one. But the inside of the case is SMALL compared to the Antec.

I can only imagine the cabling mess that will be in there with:

Two SCSI drives
One IDE HD
Two Optical drives
Front panel USB ports
Front panel card reader
and a floppy

I'm also concerned about cooling...I don't think there's a case made that has better cooling than a 1040 variant.

What to do?

 

[beatle]

Cut a hole in the side of your Lian Li. I did this with my Coolermaster case and I haven't looked back. Cooling is still just as good as my InWin Q500 that it replaced, and the CM is much smaller.

My cabling isn't neat, but it's good enough for airflow. This is just one reason I don't like windows.

 

[MichaelD]

In retrospect, I shouldn't have gotten the window. Especially not w/all the crap I put into my main (gaming) rig. :roll:

I actually did buy some blue neon tubes and flex-braid though. I may make it real pretty anyway.

I have a newer PC65; it has the fan in the top of the case. So, two in front, one on rear, one on top. Should be OK, no?

 

[zodder]

It shouldn't be too bad. I have a Lian Li PC-65 with the following in it and it stays cool enough in there that I've never had to use the top blowhole. It looks a little full in there, but it looks great, too.

Two Raptors
One IDE HD
Two Optical drives
Front panel USB ports
floppy
cold cathode light
zalman 7000 hs/f

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: zodder
It shouldn't be too bad. I have a Lian Li PC-65 with the following in it and it stays cool enough in there that I've never had to use the top blowhole. It looks a little full in there, but it looks great, too.

Two Raptors
One IDE HD
Two Optical drives
Front panel USB ports
floppy
cold cathode light
zalman 7000 hs/f

Hmm, a testimonial from an actual user with as much crap as me! Nice. Thanks!

 

[Anubis]

i have teh PC 65B and i have
2 opticial drives
floppy
5 IDE HDs
3 HDs are running off a PCI IDe card
font USB
Rear USB
all thoes fans going that came with teh case
antec tru 430
Slk900a with vantec tornado

 

[EeyoreX]

I can't recall which exact model I have off the top of my at-work head. It is a PC-6x. No blowhole, so whatever model that is. I have

2x 13GB hard drives (5400rpm)
2x 200GB hard drives (7200rpm)
2x optical drives
floppy
front panel USB
3x 80mm fans plus heatsink fans
I also have a window with a biohazard symbol cut out.

The insides are nice and neat. The fans run at about half speed (via Sunbeam rheobus) and cooling has never been a problem.

\Dan

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: EeyoreX
I can't recall which exact model I have off the top of my at-work head. It is a PC-6x. No blowhole, so whatever model that is. I have

2x 13GB hard drives (5400rpm)
2x 200GB hard drives (7200rpm)
2x optical drives
floppy
front panel USB
3x 80mm fans plus heatsink fans
I also have a window with a biohazard symbol cut out.

The insides are nice and neat. The fans run at about half speed (via Sunbeam rheobus) and cooling has never been a problem.

\Dan

Man, I'd love to see a pic of that. I have found that it's easier to make a case neat with regular flat IDE cables than with rounded ones. They fold easy.