I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke, I don't drink soda - but I do build a ton of PCs just for the fun of it! It's my addiction I have just finished building my Killer Panda Z370 rig in my sig, actually still need to do like 1 or 2 updates on it before that thread is done. But as I build it I got an idea for a new experiment. I want an old school raw power machine! But there is 1 part I'm really in doubt about and hope you can help me out 1) If I should use a case, what case should it be? 2) Do I even need a case, or should I just place it on a piece of cardboard and call it a day? 3) Or should I fabricate my own case? I am good at woodworking according to my wife and kids who see me build stuff around and in the house all the time, so to put something together to setup like a small test bench out of wood would not be that hard to do. I already have some of the hardware bought, just waiting for it to come home: Those 3 pieces so far should be a pretty epic combo! If I go for an actual case, then I would like it to be from the period of 2010-2013, like the hardware is. Let's see what ideas you have
From that kinda of era - Antec One/Three/Nine/Twelve Hundred Antec P180 Silverstone FT02 Cooler Master HAF 912 Fractal Design Define R2/R3
Dang I would love a Silverstone FT2! But boy they are expensive.... Actually, I think I have now found the one I want - the HAF 912 Advanced. It's kind of ugly, it's kind of cheap, it really looks like a gamer case and it supports just the things I need it to support and nothing more. This is not going to be very fancy but just raw power. thanks for the suggestions
IIRC the HAF was popular because it was cheap... and decent enough than most people didn't care too much that it was fugly... ...see also the Antec 900.
What's with all these new-fangled ATX cases?! How can it be old-school unless it's AT or older? How about a PC XT, or a NeXT cube?
The Thermaltake Versa C23 might seem like an ok choice, its a newer case but priced to sell. I built an old ROG Striker II Formula up and can see the nice retro parts inside.
Still using one today Not the most expensive or stylish of cases admittedly but lots of room, well built and even 5+ years later the LEDs on the fan still work lol.
Yup I had a couple of Dragons. My Area 51 2005 is a Dragon internally My original one had a Silicon Graphics SGI 550 board and dual 1ghz P3 Xeon 1mb. I had to cut it about inside to get the board in lol. Only issue was it was RDRAM and it was super expensive. One of Alienware's cases (the most elusive...) is a rebranded Dragon. Both inside and outside.
I may be interested in said case. I did some things to my 182 that are now contrary to revised plans.
I'll let you know when it comes out of the loft. It may be a while though, trying to find a new house to buy is taking top spot of 'things to sort out' at the mo I'll let you know though, or give me a prod if your plans move before mine Curious as to what you did to your 182...
It look me a long time to design and plan it originally, but now I've moved to an itx board it will get very lost in what is quite a large case, especially if I just adapted the original plans. A complete and drastic rethink has occurred and some initial sketches and plans drawn and a general idea set, but there's still a lot to figure out.
