Have you guys been to the CCG @ VH lately?

The incredible deluge of Antec cases and clones is enough to make you cry out for the brilliant individualism of a stock LL with a factory window and a blu CC.

I swear to god it almost brings me to tears!

To think I almost bought one 8 months ago, I just couldn't justify the $100 difference in price over my second choice (the brilliant HX08).

The only way to do anything new with one now would be to have it hover above ground......now that is a mod!

Yeah, it's a shame because they really are nice cases. I built a rig for a buddy a few months back in an Antec. It was a very well laid out case with high quality components inside. I was going to go ahead and get a Chieftec for myself until I started to notice that all the computer stores that deal in modded gaming systems were using those cases. I still recommend Antec and Chieftec to friends that want to build a system but not mod and show it.

I sure do like those cases.... It seems any mod store always has a Antec/Cheiftec or LianLi as their case offering. I have only found one place in Canada that sell Coolermaster, but most places will have the other 2. It's no wonder these 2 are the most popular amongst enthuisiasts.... They are so easy to attain.

I love my Antec! It is an SX1240.........seems the most popular ones are the SOHO SX1030 & SX1040 series. You know the ones with the lil door on the drive bays. I don't see too many full towers like mine....they even come with a drive door now though. It too will soon be over used.

I may break out of it's shell soon and build a rig never seen before......I'm still drawing it up ATM. LOL it is not the corpse case either hehe.

That Corpse case was totally original and off the wall

Quote: I love my Antec! It is an SX1240

Yeah, it doesn't get much better than that unless you design your own. I notice a trend towards smaller and more portable cases. I say Fvck that! Give me a big monster tower anytime, not only do you have the practical reasons for wanting to own one, but the aesthetical impact is pretty amazing also.

I'm working on three computers right now that are all three feet tall. I love it, no cuts, no flashlights, no magnifying glass, all of these are easy to work on and mod.

At work we are getting in these damn E-PCs from HP and they SUCK! about the size of a 1/4 birthday cake, these pieces of **** cannot be (easily) upgraded, performance sucks, and I think they are ugly.

Just got to thinking.....A dangerous task indeed......Remember (this is not for you under 30 crowd) the 70's? With the gas shortage the small car was in. We all laughed at Toyota and Datsun. (Mitsubishi and Nissan didn't exist in the auto market then.)

Small cars have become the performance leader. Sorry Coel. But the big Hemi's are not being produced for Joe America anymore. I am wondering if that is the way computers are going. We started with large cases, but everything has miniaturized to these tiny boxes.

Call me old fashioned, but I would rather have a Cray in my living room than a tiny assed PC that is actually a notebook pretending to be a desktop. Do you all think that the small PC is the way of the future?

Will us old school guys who like giant cases become dinosaurs?

Sad to say BA, but I think it is the way of the future... It may not be immediate, however it will be.

I want one of those small shuttles like Insom's in a bad way. If I wasn't so wrapped up in PC projects aready I would certainly build one of those.

I have been contemplating the purchase of a kick ass Lap top with my bonus cheque... Why?... because they are small and portable

My first PC was a full tower of 24" and I never filled it. My mid Tower 18"s still have lots of room.

We may see a new direction where PC's are silent again and compact to boot.

So if your hating on it, I would say yes, your a crusty old bastard my friend (Ain't nutting wrong wid dat eider)

No offense BA but I believe that the old giant cases that lack portability in any, way, shape or form are not on the way out, they are out. I have a midsize and I have enough room to put a stow away bed in there and take naps on the job. Even after the mods that I have done and have planned. Just my opinion, but Bigger isn't always Better.

Bigger isn't always better, I agree.....but a small computer with 1 agp and 1-3 PCI slots doesn't cut it for upgradability and features.
Gaming yes, surfin the net yes, juke box yes......but that is not a computers full potential. I myself exploit this.

My comp is my TV(tivo), my DVD player, my stereo, my Xbox, my home automation center(75% of my house has been automated for almost 3 years now), my phone, my alarmclock, my drawing board, my photoalbum, my audio/video editing studio, my window to the world, and a few other things. I never have to leave my Starship.....it has everything I need all-in-one. I must have a large case, but it still ticks me off that there isn't enough space to upgrade any longer.

I am all out of room in my 6 bay tower case.....I have but 1 out of 5 PCI slots left, but I can still add more features if I had an even larger case. Every port and orfice has been filled in my baby except 1 PCI slot, which I have a USB panel in place till I get another card to fill it. I need more rear panel openings for all of my non-card based accessories, so I don't have to waste a perfectly good pci slot. My motherboard has all of these extra features and I want to use them all.....but I can't due to case limitations.

Portability is an issue.....a bit heavy but the seat belt fits her just fine. Even if you had a small comp you'd still have to move it along with a monitor...my comp is about 60 lbs heavier than an average comp....but I am a big guy (if you haven't seen my pics. I weigh 275lbs like "The Rock", but not quite as toned as him LOL)...it is light to me.

You say portability.....but don't forget that 19-22" CRT.....small comp, but still got a huge monitor to lug.....what is the diference with a bit larger case to go with it. And don't forget OC'ing....need some space for that watercooling system.

EDIT: Pics added....click for larger images

There is hardly anymore room in this full tower case....wiring is a bit messy...this pic was taken right after I installed the new mobo. As you can see I will have trouble making it a water cooled system also. Just no damn room. BTW those are 36" rounded IDE cables I have in there...they were the only way I could utilize all of my bays....they work great!


In this older pic of my case you can see the size.....also all the wiring is hiding between the 2 windows.

Quote: The only way to do anything new with one now would be to have it hover above ground......now that is a mod!

Get a big enough fan to smack on the side, anything's possible . Just don't take it outside, I'm not sure it'll be street legal.

my 24" tower is packed to the rafters. To add anything would take serious reorganization. that is with water cooling mind you. but that too is becoming fairly commonplace.

Antec's 1030SX and it's amazing amount of spawned clones ARE good cases. Excellent design for cooling, space, looks,etc... I'm planning on building a file serving rig into my old 1030.

I can see why people like 'em!

Quote: Originally posted by OMFG_dude_WTF ...but a small computer with 1 agp and 1-3 PCI slots doesn't cut it for upgradability and features. You say portability.....but don't forget that 19-22" CRT.....small comp, but still got a huge monitor to lug.....what is the diference with a bit larger case to go with it. And don't forget OC'ing....need some space for that watercooling system.

Heh OMFG... When I upgrade, I usually upgrade the whole she bang anyway. I can't see me losing a mid tower anytime soon, but a small case would suit a lot of people.

1 AGP is all that is needed, The shuttle has built in NIC and Sound so those 3 PCI slots are plenty.

Monitor?? I'll just lug this LCD puppy around, it's like carrying a few magazines. It works great for games.



Water Cooling?? Not really required...



How about an Area 51 for games.. No over clocking required here...



High-Performance Laptop Chassis (Standard)
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.4GHz 400MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache
Hi-Performance Heatsink/CPU Cooling Fan
Intel® 845MP+ICH3M Chipset - FC-PGA 478PIN DDR
512MB DDR PC-2100 - Two SO-DIMMs
40GB IBM Travelstar 5400 RPM ATA100
ATI Mobility RADEON 7500 64MB DDR
Sound-Blaster Compatible 3D Audio
3.5 3-Mode Floppy Disk Drive
8X DVD / 8x4x24 CD-RW w/Software MPEG2 Decoder
Integrated 10/100Mb Ethernet NIC
56K Modem with V.92 Technology

This will kick a lot of full towers asses that I have seen at LAN parties... Sure it's not so upgradable, but which laptop is and like I said, when it comes time for me to upgrade, I usually perform a wholesale upgrade anyway. The full tower owner will just be recovering his ass from lugging his Piano Box to the LAN, only to have it kicked some more from a faster, lighter machine. This isn't to take on all you peeps with worthy piano boxes cause most of you have kick ass piano boxes. But the LANs' I have been to this lap top would be king... (I wouldn't get the green either, it's nice but not for a lap top)

Just another perspective, right or wrong... Chose your weapon and pack your own bags.

OH yeah, those Antecs...



These cases are mighty fine, and the low cost is almost unbelievable. $189 cdn for us Canuck boys at Big Foot Computers

I am going with a custom buit water cooled version, with all the key mods, of something like this for a LAN Rig.



And a Samsung 152T LCD when I get the money set aside for it.

If the stock market would just settle down I would be there.

too bad they dont make g force 4 ti cards in VME box form. then you could buy a small VME box and a twin athlon MP card. actually how fast is the fastest VME bus connector? you all know what im talking about? the rack mount boxes with like 20 card slots.

Quote: Originally posted by ViperZ How about an Area 51 for games.. No over clocking required here...

One minor problem that gamers will be overlooking if they buy that laptop for games: Imagine trying to play a fast-paced, furious FPS game using that pissant miniature-keyed keyboard, and you'd have to attach a mouse too. I can just picture Joe Corporate futzing around with his little fingerpad and trying not to hit 3 keys on the kb at once while he gets his ass fragged 10 times per minute!

I never disputed the quality of the Antec cases. They are excellent!

It is a shame that the features people like have made them sooooo popular!

About 40-50% of the VH CCG cases are Antecs or clones.

It is just too damn much!

If you passed 30-40 Ferrari's a day on your way to work...they would quickly lose some appeal!

lcpiper - That LAN rig would rock! What about the LCD panel mounted on the side? May be with a sliding side panel to protect it in transport? Or would the EM radiation generated by the monitor interfere with comp function?

Quote: Originally posted by Coelacanth One minor problem that gamers will be overlooking if they buy that laptop for games: Imagine trying to play a fast-paced, furious FPS game using that pissant miniature-keyed keyboard, and you'd have to attach a mouse too. I can just picture Joe Corporate futzing around with his little fingerpad and trying not to hit 3 keys on the kb at once while he gets his ass fragged 10 times per minute!

A minor issue at best

How tough is it to pack an optical mouse???

Your not lugging around a keyboard, pianobox and a bigassed monitor anymore, an optical mouse slips right in to one of the lap top's side pockets. As a matter of fact I carry an optical mouse with my work lap top as well.

Ohh... look at me shaking the hands of the competetors and patting them on the back, while my "Weapon" is slung across my shoulder "Would you like me to give you a hand with that piano box or that bigassed monitor???"

Then it doubles as a personal Theater on those long plane rides, or boring car rides for the family...

Edit Added:

LC, that is one cool LAN rig!

I think some of the problem that the Antec cases have become so wide is that now they sell them at best buy. It is a recent thing too, because when I made my comp about 2 months ago I asked if they carried cases, but they didn't but now they do. They are everywhere arent' they?