Find me a stylish case (please)

[Tristan]

Hi there,

Over the coming couple of months, I'm looking to upgrade my system (AMD 1800+, GF4 Ti) with something newer and shinier. The best place to start, by my reckoning, is by finding a nice new case to put it all in. Something a bit better than my anonymous beige box, anyway.

But I have a problem. The fashion at present, it seems, is for cases to have lots of see-through bits, neon lights, and LEDs in every colour under the sun. In short, making your PC look like a boy-racer's Mk3 Escort the day after he's watched 2 Fast 2 Furious. Now, I don't want that. I want something stylish, but reserved. I want the Maserati of PC cases

So, my friends, can any of you help me? I'm looking for something in black (it being hard to get silver-faced optical drives), preferably aluminium, decently sized and with plenty of space for fans and the like. Something understated, but cool -- think along the lines of the Apple G5 case (which I know isn't black, but still...).

Has anybody got any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Tristan

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Hi there,

Over the coming couple of months, I'm looking to upgrade my system (AMD 1800+, GF4 Ti) with something newer and shinier. The best place to start, by my reckoning, is by finding a nice new case to put it all in. Something a bit better than my anonymous beige box, anyway.

But I have a problem. The fashion at present, it seems, is for cases to have lots of see-through bits, neon lights, and LEDs in every colour under the sun. In short, making your PC look like a boy-racer's Mk3 Escort the day after he's watched 2 Fast 2 Furious. Now, I don't want that. I want something stylish, but reserved. I want the Maserati of PC cases

So, my friends, can any of you help me? I'm looking for something in black (it being hard to get silver-faced optical drives), preferably aluminium, decently sized and with plenty of space for fans and the like. Something understated, but cool -- think along the lines of the Apple G5 case (which I know isn't black, but still...).

Has anybody got any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Tristan

http://www.coolermaster.com/index.ph...+Wave%20Master

[Paulie]

You might be able to get a case from these people http://www.hushtechnologies.com/

I`ve got one as my music server, and they are QUIET man.

[TheBlueRaja]

Anything by Lian Li.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by theblueraja

Anything by Lian Li.

Thanks for the advice. I've now bought a Lian Li PC-6002 from Maplin for £39.99. It's a very nice aluminium thing, very similar to the PC-60, but half the price

Now the big question is whether I should go for silver or black optical drives. Silver would be the obvious choice, but sprayed plastic can look really cheap and tacky...

[Paul]

Can you not get front bezels or covers for the drives? I know I saw some in PC world for CD-ROM drives and DVD drives. Brushed aluminium I think they were

[Paul]

http://www.pcwcomponentcentre.co.uk/invt/cmafpu02
or
http://www.pcwcomponentcentre.co.uk/invt/cmafpu01
for example

[Matthew]

PC World have some good strong black cases. They also have the bits to kit them out as well.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Hi there,

Over the coming couple of months, I'm looking to upgrade my system (AMD 1800+, GF4 Ti) with something newer and shinier. The best place to start, by my reckoning, is by finding a nice new case to put it all in. Something a bit better than my anonymous beige box, anyway.

But I have a problem. The fashion at present, it seems, is for cases to have lots of see-through bits, neon lights, and LEDs in every colour under the sun. In short, making your PC look like a boy-racer's Mk3 Escort the day after he's watched 2 Fast 2 Furious. Now, I don't want that. I want something stylish, but reserved. I want the Maserati of PC cases

So, my friends, can any of you help me? I'm looking for something in black (it being hard to get silver-faced optical drives), preferably aluminium, decently sized and with plenty of space for fans and the like. Something understated, but cool -- think along the lines of the Apple G5 case (which I know isn't black, but still...).

Has anybody got any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Tristan

It's a shame you've bought one already as Lian Li have made an attempt at a G5 case copy:

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=2040&p=1

[dilligaf1701]

Originally Posted by Paul

Can you not get front bezels or covers for the drives? I know I saw some in PC world for CD-ROM drives and DVD drives. Brushed aluminium I think they were

Ah yes - aluminium covers - I got these ones from pcworld.

Not the best picture I know - all you have to do is stick them on the front of your standard optical drives.

Anyway - it's pretty easy.

[Paul]

They do give a nice finish to a case don't they Nice one Dilligaf

[Xaccers]

I changed my Mesh case for one of these:
http://www.pcwcomponentcentre.co.uk/invt/jn464
Dropped my temps considerably and while looking cool, doesn't have that sad boy racer feel about it.
Nice innards too.