ThermalT Spedo Full Tower Case questions ..

[imported_trajan]

I've been looking for awhile to upgrade my case to something larger, cooler, sharper looking and with cable management options. The Antec 1200 sold me on features and feedback but the vanity/aesthetics factor wasn't quite enough for me.

For some reason I really love the look of the three front fans on the Antec 1200, though. I saw the Thermaltake Spedo and figure I might be able to replicate the 3 fans with that, and I liked the overall look better. From what I've seen, it only has two mounting brackets in the front - bottom and middle - but I think there's room to finagle a third one in at the top, and hopefully it would look good (equally spaced etc. from the front) and leave room for an optical bay.

Does anyone have any experience with the Spedo? Any owners with feedback? Its gotten positive write ups from reviewers and the only major negative feedback is that the deluxe version (with transparent side) has a very loud side fan. Also a lot of the trim and top are plastic, which is definitely annoying.


I've also got a general question for case enthusiasts here, if anyone has any thoughts they would share! When I looked at Spedo in person, I noticed the case is almost 100% porous. There are all kinds of unfiltered, large sized grills -- covering most of the top, most of the bottom, and both sides. I keep my computer up off the floor but I still am concerned about:

(1) What all those holes will do about dust
(2) I was hoping to do a positive pressure, but would that work with such a porous case?
(3) How is air flow going to be? I'm just a little concerned air is going to flow out everywhere and not move in predictable ways. The deluxe version has dividers to try to compartmentalize but I've read some things about how they don't fit well and I don't want to depend on those working.

Sorry for the large post and all the questions, I really appreciate any advice!

 

[imported_wired247]

Dust will come in through the holes... you better believe it

Fans hardly create much pressure in the first place, you will not be able to notice a significant positive pressure inside the case with those holes.

Air flow is fine for most purposes in most cases as long as you have 1 fully functioning intake fan and 1 exhaust fan.


Keep in mind, you CAN close up pores, but it won't necessarily look pretty.

 

[Zepper]

I just looked at the spedo. You might be able to make it Positive Pressure with a 250mm fan modded into the side panel, but those compartmentalizing panels would have to be stored instead of used. Too much gimcrackery for my taste... I also can't understand a case that large not being able to handle EATX mobos... Must be the typical Tt form over function mentality.

.bh.

 

[RallyMaster]

Why do you crave all them fans?

 

[imported_trajan]

Thanks Wired and Zepper for the advice, I appreciate it! I am thinking I might try to do something to close up some of the holes, in places where it won't look too bad (e.g. the bottom), but yeah, a lot will remain...

Rally, I think its just aesthetics and personal coolness factor? Definitely not rational. I was trying to come up with a name for the new build (prior to even thinking about case) and was struggling, but after a few days of on and off pondering I had a stroke of inspiration and thought of Cerberus (three headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld in Greek mythology). I love classical mythology, I've named a lot of my computers fierce/predator names, and I love dogs, so it was perfect. It was AFTER I settled on the name that I saw the Antex 1200 with the three fans and the look with the three large front mounted fans just seemed too perfect.

Its still tempting but having gone over a twelve hundred in person its not quite the look that I want, although its a very very well built case. I'm a little worried that the Spedo won't actually be able to mount the three fans though. I saw brackets in the front for two (one bottom one middle) but there was no bracket for mounting a third at the top. I'm hoping to work one in there.

I might also talk to a metal working friend of mine about some other aesthetic mods, although I *am* a little concerned that the steel case is going to be a lot harder to modify than an aluminum case would be.