Whoa, I think Hell just froze over...

[CurseTheSky]

I'm a computer case addict. If I had the money, I'd probably buy a new case every 3-4 months or so, just so I could build it all up again and see how it turns out - that's the part that I enjoy the most. Seriously, I'd be upgrading to a new case more often than I upgrade my CPU, graphics card, or memory...

Anyway, I've always loved aluminum cases, and especially ones with great attention spent to detail like the TJ-07. I've heard people rant and rave about how great the build quality of their Lian Li case is, but they've just never appealed to me. They always seemed behind the times in functionality, still using 80mm fans when virtually all others had switched to 120mm, or utilizing a layout that just looked like a pain in the ass to work with. Don't get me wrong, their cases always looked very elegant and the quality even shows just from pictures, but I always felt like I'd be getting worse airflow, worse convenience, etc. Maybe it's just me.

I've been searching for something to eventually replace my P182 SE - it's a great case, but the air flow is a bit too anemic for my taste, and the noise level is still a little more than I'd like (since I have to run medium speed fans in order to keep things cool). I toyed with the idea of a TJ-07 (somewhat outdated and very expensive, but still one of the best looking cases ever, IMO), ATCS 840, Antec 1200, HAF 932, Corsair 800D, and even some that are seemingly impossible to find, like the Hiper Osiris. I really have no business buying a new case; the money could be better spent on other projects (see signature 😉) and I already have several in the attic collecting dust. Bah.

Finally I stumbled across this review and was quickly afflicted with "upgrade-itis". It's full of great features, looks great, and should have excellent cooling. I can't really find a down side... oh yeah, the price. 🙁 The front blue LED fans would have to be swapped out for ones without lights, of course.

So, anyone want to buy me a present to celebrate?! 😛

 

[manimal]

Its a shame those rocketfish cases are all gone from best buy. I grabbed 4 of them on clearance and they were the best purchase I have ever made, I use one for my server, 2 for the dual box mmo setup that sits there collecting dust, and one sitting in a box waiting for me to build a silent water setup.

If you ever see one in FS grab it!!

sadly I am too attached to them to ever sell.

that case looks very nice, for that kind of money I would still get a TJ07

 

[CurseTheSky]

Yeah, those things were a real steal when they came out, but unfortunately I never made it to my local Best Buy to check. 🙁 I'm also toying with the idea of getting the Aplus Black Pearl, since it's also a cheaper, re-badged Lian Li. Neither appeal to me quite as much as the PC-70B though.

I agree that for $280, that's approaching TJ-07 territory. However, I've read several reviews claiming that the TJ-07 arrived with warped panels, the side panels bow easily, some screws didn't fit unless forced, etc. Silverstone claimed that it was due to abuse during shipping, which is very possible. For such a high-end computer case I'd expect it to be absolutely perfect; for $330ish, if it's getting warped during shipping then upgrade the packaging! The dual 92mm rear fans are also somewhat of a turn off, and I've read the removable motherboard tray can be a pain to get back in.

If either case was around $200, I'd grab it in a heartbeat.

 

[Quiksilver]

I prefer the A70B more than this case you've seen.

 

[mmnno]

The A70 is nearly the same thing except without the mobo backplate cutout, toolless mounting, HD trays (it has the rubber washer system, but no trays), and a smaller PSU support. I have one, it's nice and has lots of room. However, I got it off ebay for $130. Any case over $200 should really have top exhausts. I don't care if it messes with their finely tuned airflow system, it should at least have the option.

 

[Zepper]

If you don't really need a full tower, take a look at the Silverstone Fortress. Supposed to be a second model in that line (FT02) coming soon, but IDK much more about it. Must be something, as I've already seen mention in some forum somewhere.

Perhaps the "Black Pearl" is another option. Widely found (under several different brands) at decent prices for an aluminum case. OEM by LL, the ABS (a newegg division) version is under $100. at the Egg right now... You can also find it under the Tagan and APlus brands and perhaps others here in the states. It has its quota of LL's strange design ideas that you will have to figure out how to mitigate - opening on the right instead of left is just the first of the batch... Some of the tips in the Rocketfish threads may be helpful.

Top fans haven't proved to be very effective - counterintuitive, but there you go, and they create entry points for spilled beverages, etc. Murphy's Law: Given an opportunity, catastrophes occur... Obviously someone has been sucked in. IAC, the Black Pearl has two top fan mounts if you want to use them - I'd probably block those grilles off (and the bottom vents any I didn't block off, I'd filter with AC foam... You could read the threads here on the Rocketfish full-tower, aluminum case as it is/was very similar. There is a thread about a mod based on the Black Pearl just down the page from your thread.

.bh.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Hmm, I'd be really interested in seeing an FT02. I was interested in the FT01, but it didn't really seem to have a lot to offer feature wise for the $230 price point. Just like the TJ07, it'd a VERY nice looking case, though.

Edit:

On second though, maybe not: http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=18719

They followed the Raven design, which I'm not a fan of. 🙁 It also looks like the top panel (normally the back) is steel rather than aluminum. I'm guessing it doesn't have a removable motherboard tray as well.

Too bad. Other than a few quirks and the price, the FT01 was a very attractive case.

 

[Zepper]

The FT01/02 are supposed to have a heavy aluminum frame like the TJ07/10... Most won't be up for the $200+ price tag though. The $100. Black Pearl is much bigger and all aluminum. IDN what shipping costs are on either of 'em.

.bh.

 

[Leyawiin]

Right after I bought an Antec 300 for my new build I saw this while perusing Newegg -
Lian Li PC-A05NB

There's just something about it that makes me want to pick it up and take it home (and put a bowl of milk in front of it like a fluffy black kitten). And I never succumb to "cute" when buying gear! 😱

 

[imported_Scoop]

I like it as well, though I think it's too tall. What's the point of having that room up there? Is it work some WC purposes?

I don't see the need for overly tall cases at all. Who has more than two optical drives in a consumer level system? Same goes for HDDs, I'm never going to use more than two slots and I'm thinking of replacing my two existing drives with one drive that's bigger than these combined. An SSD can sit at the bottom of the case or whatever.

Overall I think a case only has to be as tall to contain a bottom mounted PSU and the motherboard. Of course if you gotta stuff something else inside there, your opinion may vary.

 

[Zepper]

Bottom PSU boxes don't have to be tall, they just have to invert the drive bays as well: optical bays bottom, HDDs on top.

.bh.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: Scoop
Same goes for HDDs, I'm never going to use more than two slots and I'm thinking of replacing my two existing drives with one drive that's bigger than these combined.

A lot of people will use upwards of 5 during the lifetime of a computer, especially if you want the capture any part of the RAID market. You will see lots of 5 disk systems because that gives you two for the primary OS to make a mirror, and 3 for a RAID 5 for mass storage. Anything less than 5 will lost a large portion of the enthusiast market, which is pretty much all the cases are for anyway, since the general population will simply by a Dell or HP which already has a case...