The perfect case under $100?

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Originally posted by MrDigital
I'll say. That wave master is the only one of those cases I would consider to be attractive. The XPS has some style, but the others look like every other 'biege' case out that have given PC's a bad name since the 80's.

More functional perhaps, but far from stylish.

-MrD

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Fair enough. I guess I'm just trying to get across that Lian-Li ain't all things to all people, especially at that price. To rail on someone for choosing something other than Lian-Li just don't seem right to me.

I think it's because of the simple yet elegant approach. Personally I really like the classic PC-65 line of Lian-lis. They're very minimalistic. No weird curves, no flashing lights, no protrusions. Just nicely constructed cases.

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Originally posted by Chuck232
I think it's because of the simple yet elegant approach. Personally I really like the classic PC-65 line of Lian-lis. They're very minimalistic. No weird curves, no flashing lights, no protrusions. Just nicely constructed cases.

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They certainly aren't for everybody. It's not that I'm bashing them, but by no means do I look at those cases and think they are the best things out there. Not by a long shot. To me they are overpriced and overhyped, in general. But that's just the negative side of me coming out. Bad, bad, me...

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Originally posted by Bearded Kirklander
They certainly aren't for everybody. It's not that I'm bashing them, but by no means do I look at those cases and think they are the best things out there. Not by a long shot. To me they are overpriced and overhyped, in general. But that's just the negative side of me coming out. Bad, bad, me...

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From a purely functionality standpoint, while they're definitely not bad, they're certainly not the best. However, where Lian-Li shines is quality of construction and aesthetic design. They're some of the best built cases out there, and many prefer the sleek industrial design over the majority of "riced out" cases that are being sold nowadays.

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Originally posted by talldude
From a purely functionality standpoint, while they're definitely not bad, they're certainly not the best. However, where Lian-Li shines is quality of construction and aesthetic design. They're some of the best built cases out there, and many prefer the sleek industrial design over the majority of "riced out" cases that are being sold nowadays.

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Good point, that. Build quality is important, and they do seem to have a very high level of fit and finish. Expensive, yes, but I guess you get what you pay for.

My antec case may not be the prettiest out there, but at $67 when I got it, I think it is a great combination of function, features and form. Slap in a solid Enermax PSU and I'm loaded to bear for less than half the cost of some of the Lian-Li cases alone.

Still, I can appreciate their attempts in terms of design and understand why some people feel so passionate about them.

That said, I do think the Wavemaster Coolermaster case stacks up quite well against them in terms of overall looks and function.

I'm glad we have so many choices, that is for sure. :)

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Originally posted by Bearded Kirklander
Fair enough. I guess I'm just trying to get across that Lian-Li ain't all things to all people, especially at that price. To rail on someone for choosing something other than Lian-Li just don't seem right to me.

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BK-

I don't mean to rail on anyone. I apologize if it came off like that. I like Lian-Li because they capture a sense of style I find very pleasing, that is "understated elegance." There are really the only cases, other then Macs I guess, that I would really call elegant. I mean, they are not very cost effective - but they are the only non-Mac cases I have ever seen that I would really define as tasteful. There are probably higher performing cases out there; I guess rather then saying they are the Ferrari of cases, more like the foie gras -- very nice but maybe not suited to everyone's tastes.

Jakedeez out.

I'm down with that. :)

Wavemaster Coolermaster is purdy though, ain't it?

http://beardedkirklander.spymac.com/coolmst1.jpg
http://beardedkirklander.spymac.com/coolmst2.jpg
https://www.sharkyforums.com/

Plus you can turn the top USB port area into an 80mm fan exhaust. Nice...

Regardless of the case, keep things cool and keep on gamin! :)

Look at that wave master... it doesnt even make since to only have 1 fan on the back... its centered. and stupid.

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Originally posted by rabidmoose171
Look at that wave master... it doesnt even make since to only have 1 fan on the back... its centered. and stupid.

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I agree, 2 back exhausts would be a better option IMO.

Noobs. *shakes head*

You have to buy your own PSU, a good one for a good case like that (I have one), they come with intake and exhuast.

My case has an ambient temputure of 27 C, How many Fans do you need before they become a hinderance to cooling or irrelevent.

You must like this;

https://www.sharkyforums.com/images/...2005/09/62.jpg

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Originally posted by Freddy_Kruger
Noobs. *shakes head*

You have to buy your own PSU, a good one for a good case like that (I have one), they come with intake and exhuast.

My case has an ambient temputure of 27 C, How many Fans do you need before they become a hinderance to cooling or irrelevent.

You must like this;

https://www.sharkyforums.com/images/...2005/09/62.jpg

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ROFL! You're kidding right?

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Originally posted by rabidmoose171
Look at that wave master... it doesnt even make since to only have 1 fan on the back... its centered. and stupid.

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I would prefer that as well, but the top exhaust should help make up for it.

No it doesnt. THe grill blocks a lot of air, the holes are very small. I can barely feel any air coming out of it even when I crank it up.

But like I said, how many case fans do you need?

Case fans are to keep the air in the case cool by replacing it.

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Originally posted by Freddy_Kruger
No it doesnt. THe grill blocks a lot of air, the holes are very small. I can barely feel any air coming out of it even when I crank it up.

But like I said, how many case fans do you need?

Case fans are to keep the air in the case cool by replacing it.

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Don't use the grill then?

I have 5 case fans, plus the two in my PSU and life is very good indeed. :)

Here's how I would have my case configured, if I could design one:

LARGE intake holes in the bottom front of the case with a removable filter. Intake fans are pretty much useless, so no rack for them. Optional fan housings in the HDD rack(s) a'la Antec. HDD rack(s) behind that intake. 120mm back exhaust, 80mm top blowhole. All fan slots come with wire grill, none of the punched crap that cases utilize now. A couple of low speed fans and done.

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Originally posted by talldude
Here's how I would have my case configured, if I could design one:

LARGE intake holes in the bottom front of the case with a removable filter. Intake fans are pretty much useless, so no rack for them. Optional fan housings in the HDD rack(s) a'la Antec. HDD rack(s) behind that intake. 120mm back exhaust, 80mm top blowhole. All fan slots come with wire grill, none of the punched crap that cases utilize now. A couple of low speed fans and done.

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I dont know the science behind intake fans, but I would have thought it was a great idea to have them. I wish the wavemaster hand removeable filters too.

I think my front intakes are always getting plugged with cat hair, so there is lots of air going through there.

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Originally posted by Freddy_Kruger
I dont know the science behind intake fans, but I would have thought it was a great idea to have them. I wish the wavemaster hand removeable filters too.

I think my front intakes are always getting plugged with cat hair, so there is lots of air going through there.

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From my experience, they do zilch for cooling. Given that you have a mostly unobstructed pathway for air in the front, the rear exhaust fans will pull air through the front. Adding a fan to that equation would just disturb the airflow. Fans in the HDD racks could be useful for HDD cooling though, if the rack was full, as air takes the path of least resistance (a crammed rack would provide a lot of resistance).

I actually attempted this with a 3700BQE with and without a 120mm Enermax Adjustable in the front. When I put the fan in on the lowest setting, HD temperatures went down by about 4 degrees and CPU temperatures went down by about two. When I turned the fan up all the way, HD and CPU temperatures went down by another two. This is obviously an isolated experience, but the other benefit of having slightly more exhaust (as the exhaust fan on the case is very low CFM) is very little dust in the case even after a year.

I go by what the MFG says and what their diagrams say and so far, so good. :)

Two intake fans on the front, one on the side, two exhaust fans out the back, plus the PSU. Nice low temps, nice performance too. :

I heard that a side fan screws every thing up, and stunts air flow. Plus, more fans equal more noise. I wish I didnt need any.

I would think that as long as your case air is relativelly cool the most important thing would be the device cooling your CPU. I have a giant Zalman cooler but when I go for an upgrade (mad64 3500) I am going to try umm... (forget what its called) that one mikeysg has. (I got it written down somewhere)

I was going to try water cooling, but soon as someone mention "maintainence" I cooled on that idea.

btw, I can't, not, use that top grill or mesh screen or whatever it is, bucause my cat likes to sit on it.

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Originally posted by Freddy_Kruger
I heard that a side fan screws every thing up, and stunts air flow. Plus, more fans equal more noise. I wish I didnt need any.

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Don't think side fans screw up anything if done right, and with Fan Controllers, you can certainly adjust for noise.

I have my PC down on the floor under my desk, so I guess the fan noise doesn't bug me much, thankfully.

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Originally posted by Bearded Kirklander
Don't think side fans screw up anything if done right, and with Fan Controllers, you can certainly adjust for noise...

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It's actually pretty rare that someone says that the side fans help their cooling any. From a lot of posts I've read the side fans have screwed up their airflow.
Am I generalizing? Sure. Does it depend on the case/design? Absolutely.

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Originally posted by AstroCreep
It's actually pretty rare that someone says that the side fans help their cooling any. From a lot of posts I've read the side fans have screwed up their airflow.
Am I generalizing? Sure. Does it depend on the case/design? Absolutely.

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I have side fans on 2 cases here and in both instances, adding that side fan helps reduce heat by a few degrees Celsius or more. Don't think so many MFG's would be adding them if they did not serve a useful purpose.

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Originally posted by Bearded Kirklander
I have side fans on 2 cases here and in both instances, adding that side fan helps reduce heat by a few degrees Celsius or more. Don't think so many MFG's would be adding them if they did not serve a useful purpose.

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You'd think that, but that's not the case.
A lot of those generic ones you see at computer shows or the ones at newegg that sell for like $25 with side fans are not engineered properly, and with a side fan in them they actually constitute a rise in CPU temps of 3-5 degrees Celcius.

It's not like I'm making this up. I've seen it here a few times and I'll bet that a few people here will agree with what I said. Come to think of it, my old Xaser 3 was the same way...

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Originally posted by AstroCreep
You'd think that, but that's not the case.
A lot of those generic ones you see at computer shows or the ones at newegg that sell for like $25 with side fans are not engineered properly, and with a side fan in them they actually constitute a rise in CPU temps of 3-5 degrees Celcius.

It's not like I'm making this up. I've seen it here a few times and I'll bet that a few people here will agree with what I said. Come to think of it, my old Xaser 3 was the same way...

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Yeah, I do remember a discussion talking about how the side fan can mess up the airflow in a case. However, the cases that have the shroud type thing with no fan for the CPU seems to have no detrimental effect on case airflow.