Computer Cases

[Estes]

I moved my computer into this: http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-blackout-edition

Soon I will be moving it again, as I am building myself a new desk which will incorporate my computer into it, along with my file server.

At the risk of invoking the skuzz for bumping an old post, I gotta give this one a thumbs up as well damn thing is whisper quiet even at high settings for the case fans. I seriously can't hear it over the hum of the ceiling fan in here. I feel really dumb for not getting one sooner but man, great bang for the buck even though I bought it locally at a brick and mortar. Plenty of extra screws and what not too.  I even opted for the model with the side panel because it was the only one in stock at the time still amazingly quiet and the filters are literally the best thing since sliced bread.

[BoilerDown]

A worthy bump, this thread is worth seeing occasionally.

I purchased this case a while ago, when I built my Sandy Bridge system originally:

http://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=200

Thought it far outshown any other case I've owned or seen anyone else have either.  So when I built my Haswell system, I bought another one of the same design (except updated for USB 3.0).  Now I have two of these cases, no regrets.  I'll be using them for decades most likely.

I recently built a dual-cpu xeon system for myself, and the motherboard wasn't going to fit into a standard ATX case like above.  So I needed to buy a new design instead of the known reliable one.  Felt no need to get as spendy on it as that Silverstone, so after some research got this one:

Phanteks Enthoo Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811854003

A few weeks after completing the install, my conclusion is that this is easily one of the most well designed cases I've ever seen.  And the $100 price point makes it that much sweeter.  I never route cables in my cases, other than to keep them from blatantly blocking airflow.  But with this case, its actually harder to not route the cables.  My install was super clean and very easy.  If 30 years of IT experience with good and bad prosumer computer cases could be distilled into one case design at a reasonable price point, this would be the result.  I'm super impressed.  At $100 it at least equals my Silverstone cases and does it at ~$140 less.

[Gman]

I've had good luck with Corsair, I've had 6 different cases from them now.  I like the C70 due to the spring loaded rubber handles on the top, makes it easy to move it around if you go to lan events or such things, probably my favorite mid sized.

I too have a 750D and it's elegant and simple - I've had both the "other" 2 full size Corsairs, the 780t and 760t.  780 looks better, but the 760 has a nice hinged door to get at your PC internals. 

Someone mentioned the Cosmos 2- our 5960x box is in that..box.  We got it on a black friday sale for 220$ CDN, which is a huge steal, and I'll never sell that case.  It just isn't all that practical for moving around a lot I find, but once it's in position it sure looks cool.

Fractal makes very elegant and simple (not in function just looks) cases too.

Bequiet is my next "test", I'm going to try out their 800 with my Kaby Lake or Broadwell E, whichever comes out first (grrrr).

I have found over the years that I much prefer full size to mid size - micro size is fun to make cute little project systems, but when you are constantly upgrading and playing around with your internal components, a full size, or at the very least a well designed mid sized makes life much better, just IMO.  I also run SLI most of the time, although I've done this in the C70 with ease, and it's a mid size.