Looking for a case with a obscure feature

[SunSamurai]

Inside the case, the hard drives are mounted with its interfaces pointed twords tghe user, rather than twords the motherboard.

If anyone knows what I?m talking about, can you recommend a case? Preferably under $150, thanks: D

 

[RalfHutter]

This is a fairly common feature these days. It seems to have originated with the Antec Sonata. Several other Antec cases are configured the same way, SLK3700BQE, P160, Super Lanboy. Other manufacturers that I'm aware of are Silverstone and Thermaltake. There may be others as well.

 

[akira34]

Are you talking about facing front or to the side? Side mount is common now. I've not seen any setup for front facing ports. Probably because the cases with the drive cage set like that typically have fans in front of them which could cut into the cables and cause more than a few issues for you.

 

[SunSamurai]

I guess I should look at more places than newegg. Or maybe Im unluckily clicking. Thanks for the info!

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: akira34
Are you talking about facing front or to the side? Side mount is common now. I've not seen any setup for front facing ports. Probably because the cases with the drive cage set like that typically have fans in front of them which could cut into the cables and cause more than a few issues for you.

Sorry yes, I mean faceing sideways.

silverstone has some awesome cases, but I dont see any that have side fit drives.

 

[akira34]

Many case makers have models with drives set that way. Look at some Lian-Li cases, such as the V1000, V1100, V1200, V2000, V2100, etc. I have the V1100b case and the drives are facing sideways in it.

 

[ty1er]

this is one of the main reasons that i picked up the Antec P160.

pic 01


pic 02

 

[SunSamurai]

Thanks! I'll take a look at all those models.

 

[akira34]

I'm not a fan of the p160 case. But, for your budget, it might be the best you can get.

I have no regrets in getting the Lian-Li V1100b case... Simply put, it beats the CRAP out of the p160 and all others.

 

[Woodie]

Ditto on the Antec Sonata...I bought a pair ($99 each) last year...I'm thrilled!
Relatively quite, hd's mount on sleds w/ rubber grommets (for silencing)...and I can put the drives either wires first (looks cleaner, but difficult to get to the cabling) or wires out. I prefer wires out, since I run at least 2 drives in each case, mixing SCSI, IDE and SATA.

Also, the drives are mounted to the trays...so you can attach the drives outside the case, and then just slide them in. CLICK. They're in. Then just attach the data and power cables and close it back up. Tool-less entry to the case, add an intake fan next to the HD rack, and you're ready to go.

 

[doublejbass]

Originally posted by: akira34
I'm not a fan of the p160 case. But, for your budget, it might be the best you can get.

I have no regrets in getting the Lian-Li V1100b case... Simply put, it beats the CRAP out of the p160 and all others.

The P160 is much more attractive to me than the V1100b.,

 

[Nessism]

Many of the cases that mount the HD's sideways, like the Antecs, have poor airflow due to the mounting rack. They cut holes in the side of the rack but this can't make up for the rack in the first place. Not a deal breaker, but something to consider.

Ed

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: doublejbass

Originally posted by: akira34
I'm not a fan of the p160 case. But, for your budget, it might be the best you can get.

I have no regrets in getting the Lian-Li V1100b case... Simply put, it beats the CRAP out of the p160 and all others.

The P160 is much more attractive to me than the V1100b.,

The silence of the V1100 compared to the p160 is a great thing... Plus, don't think (for a nanosecond) that removing your mobo from the case is going to be easy with the p160. Once it's in, it might as well NOT be on a tray. I've seen better trays in high school cafeteria's in the south. :Q

As for the looks of the V1100b case... Since I have it under my desk, I prefer to have something that tries to hide itself, not screams out "look at me!!" If you ever get a chance to actually see one of the Lian-Li V1100 (or any akin to it) cases, you'll be attracted to the quality that goes into it. Simply put, you cannot get that from an Antec case. I should know, I've owned/used enough of them. The all aluminum Coolermaster cases come close to the same quality, but even they cannot match what Lian-Li does for their cases.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: Nessism
Many of the cases that mount the HD's sideways, like the Antecs, have poor airflow due to the mounting rack. They cut holes in the side of the rack but this can't make up for the rack in the first place. Not a deal breaker, but something to consider.

Ed

Yeah I was considering that ever since I realized the alternative HD confirguation. I figure I can slightly mod a fan behind the drives (with the wire side faceing out) in true nerd fasion. I actually did something similer to the case Im useing right now.


Here is the case I am looking at right now. I may have to buy longer cables here and there but thats no thang.
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...tion=11-163-031&DEPA=0

 

[Zepper]

The new Athenatech A600 series has side-saddle drives too - some models have a $5. instant rebate on Newegg. Not much but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick...
. Looks like a pretty neat case and a couple of other variants are "on the way". Newegg carries several of the A600 series. And the PSUs are the Fortron/Sparkle budget line units (Power-Q or some such) - haven't heard anything bad about them.
. The side-saddle arrangement works best for SATA or SCSI drives - try to put one HD and one Optical drive on the same, normal length PATA cable with that arrangement. Have to alternate them in the 5" bays using 3.5 to 5.25" adapter brackets...

.bh.

:moon: