Looking for a case that will hold dual socket 771 xeon board

[Vilandra]

Ive putting together a dual xeon E5420 system (LGA771) and im having a little trouble finding a case that will work with the board.

Ive seen a few cases that will work, but they dont look at that great. I was hoping for something more than just a regular looking case.

I dont need all the fancy lights and digit read-outs, but something other than a flat black slab of plastic and metal would be nice.

Are there any companies that make a server case thats not rack mounted that looks nice and has good cooling effeciency?

Thanks

 

[EarthwormJim]

This thing cant take e-atx motherboards.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1183160363476

An amazing deal for a re-badged lian li case.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

I'm pretty sure you just need something that does extended ATX or SSI motherboards... Like the Cooler Master Cosmos S.

 

[MarcVenice]

I just ran into the Cosmos S as well, and noticed it could take E-ATX mobo's, ran here, and saw BlueAcolyte mention it. The cosmos is a pretty decent case, but it's said that the airflow in it isn't that good. The Cosmos S might have fixed some of that though, and I saw people mention the HD area in particular. The case ain't cheap though, for 250$, but it's a solid case for sure, and in black I think it looks pretty good, because I disliked the regular Cosmos.

 

[Vilandra]

I'll have to take a look at them and see what they have to offer.

 

[Zepper]

Yes, the rocketfish/Lian Li at BestBuy is a huge case and most stores are clearancing it for $72. or less - amazing bargain - it would be at least $200 in a Lian Li labeled box - it for sure is OEM for BB by Lian Li (LL is doing a lot of OEMing now with the Modular Cube and the Lancool boxes, etc.). Be careful when picking it up, you could get a strain from your brain telling you it should be a lot heavier than it is. If that is too flippin' big, there is the m998 from CompUSA.com, PC Connection.com, TigerDirect.com - all about the same price. Not as big as the Rocketfish, but will hold just about any assortment of components you can throw at it. The Silverstone Kublai KL03 is a nice case for server mobos as is the Enermax Uber Chakra or the Gigabyte Aurora 3D 570. For something different, there is the XClio Windtunnel (WT) or the Tagan Monolith (both are the same case) but you'll have to get CPU and other cooling to work with the sideways airflow rather than the normal front to rear. Lots more out there if one of those doesn't float your boar. At least from looking at those and checking reviews, you'll have a better idea what you do and don't want in a case.

.b.h.

 

[Vilandra]

Hey Zepper, where did you see the rocketfish for $72? I couldnt find it that low.

Ive looked at the others you mentioned, and I like the m998 at compusa.com Another case I was looking at was this one for $75 ARK case

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Vilandra
Hey Zepper, where did you see the rocketfish for $72? I couldnt find it that low.

Ive looked at the others you mentioned, and I like the m998 at compusa.com Another case I was looking at was this one for $75 ARK case

LOL

some best buys has it on clearance.

i paid one at 120, the other 72. But i think my admin might end up getting the second 72 dollar one. :T

But yes there great cases.

 

[Zepper]

You have to call around your local stores and do a price check on the SKU number. Some stores are blowing it out for 47.99. The ARK case looks decent. It is based on the ancient ChenMing design that you found in Antec, Chenming, Chieftech, Tt, Apevia, etc. etc cases for years. At least they updated it with 120mm fans f/r and some rubber anti-vibe grommets for the HDDs. Being only 17" deep, a part of any EATX (13" deep) mobo will have to tuck in behind the drive cages, so some EATX mobos may not work depending on the height of stuff on that end of the mobo. Given a nice compatible mobo, it should do fine. But when you can get all-aluminum Lian Li for less...

I've done a cursory evaluation of the Rocketfish and I'll be posting it in a separate thread here shortly.

.bh.

 

[Vilandra]

I like the cooler master cosmos, but it kinda looks like a suitcase, but I still think its nice. The rocketfish and m998 are really nice deals too.... choices, choices... what is a guy to do? lol

 

[Zepper]

Better to have an excess of a surplusage of choices than to have too few. It's up to you to define your needs more tightly and choose accordingly. I know I can't do that, but that's how she's supposed to be done...

.bh.