So while I wait for a few details of my life to sort themselves out, I have some time to plan my PC. I was looking at the Haf XB due to it accepting an ATX board and lying it flat. I shift house often and want a case where the main weight of the system (cards, water or big air cooling) wasn't hanging off the main board. And then my mind wandered and took a look at Mil Spec cases, which are all rack mount. 6 and 8-U being common. There is also 4-U, although it looks a bit tight for a two 240 rad setup. There is also the issue of the power supplies, IIRC the rack mounts need a different PSU then a standard case. Anyone have any experience with these? Any suggestions for a case that can meet the needs of a modern system, and still be fairly rugged? I am open to modding, but would ideally start with a sturdy consumer case.
Because it's not flat. And it can't be flipped onto it's side. There is also the matter of the plexi window, which I have never really been keen on. I just found this, which looks to have acres of room. Granted, it's heavy. But with the drive cages removed, I see room for a 240 and 360 rads. Then it's just a matter of modding the front USB 2.0 to 3.0. It would give me the expansion for dual graphics, a Thunderbolt card and an m.2 SSD. And it does use a standard PSU. Hit it with a coat of coyote or OD, and we're in business. Still, I'm hoping for something more like the Coolermaster with 20% more room. It's a shame that all of Lian-li's cubes are using a vertical MB tray.
Wait, so... what are your requirements exactly? ATX Board Desktop-style Must fit 240' rad? Length of card? Budget? Can't you just take a Corsair Air 540 and lie it on its side? Might want to stick some feet on the 'right side' that would form the bottom.
While I do like the Corsair Obsidian cases, turning a case on it's side is a rather inelegant solution. Before I do that, I'll weld up a desk frame, paint it glossy red and install the system there with a glass top from Ikea. Which is starting to look like a rather good idea.
