Personal computing discussed

Moderators: renee, SpotTheCat, Nemesis

 
MaceMan
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Thu Mar 07, 2002 4:49 pm

Hey.

I'm thinking of making a cute computer for the Mrs. (she'll love me for it) and want to build my own. I dig the cases that Shuttle uses, but can't see how to buy them seperately from the innards.

http://www.soldam.com/products/pandora_plus/index.html

http://www.soldam.com/products/polo_t/index.html

Best thing I can find is:
the Lian Li PC-42
http://www.dansdata.com/pc4265b.htm
Not terribly "cute", (but it meets my manly engineering standards).

I think I'd like to stuff an ABIT NV7M uATX board into something. Ideas???

Are there any other worthy nForce uATX MBs out there?

I've built my own stuff for years, but always with server cases or mid-towers. I'm new to this form-factor.

TIA.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MaceMan on 2002-03-07 15:50 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MaceMan on 2002-03-07 15:51 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MaceMan on 2002-03-07 15:52 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MaceMan on 2002-03-07 15:53 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MaceMan on 2002-03-07 15:59 ]</font>
 
Nemesis
Gerbil
Posts: 86
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2001 7:00 pm
Contact:

Thu Mar 07, 2002 6:54 pm

Sorry this post isn't going to help you much... I was just wondering how many times you are going to edit the post till you are happy with it :smile: Good luck building a cute case...

If you have a home network you could however build a cute Network switch/hub/router...

Image
Click The Picture For A Larger Version

How To Guide CLIKE HERE

Arrrrrrrrr aint that cute!!!
 
MaceMan
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Thu Mar 07, 2002 7:40 pm

On 2002-03-07 17:54, Nemesis wrote:
Sorry this post isn't going to help you much...


You're right. But you get massive bonus points for creativity.

I was just wondering how many times you are going to edit the post till you are happy with it :smile:


I was adding the links to things as I found them; trying to be as specific as possible. Everyone appreciates a guy who is trying to do his own legwork.

Good luck building a cute case...


*Lawyer mode* I'm not building a cute case. I'm trying to FIND a "cute" cubeish mATX case. I'll BUILD the computer. But I'm not Johnny ArcWelder. I'm not building a case.

If you have a home network you could however build a cute Network switch/hub/router...


I refuse to have something like that stare at me, blinking, while I play Counter-Strike, etc. Now if the hub sat in the Mrs. area of the house and not my Fortress of Solitude... then I'd do the Wired Teddy. *grin*
 
Future Shock
Gerbil In Training
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2002 7:00 pm

Sat Mar 09, 2002 9:24 pm

There is an Asian company that sells microATX cases that are better looking than the LianLi - they have a US website and you can order directly from them, shipped from California. I have also been looking at building a system for my wife using the same board, but I am still considering the Shuttle as an easy alternative (and it gives me something to do with my pair of PIIIs and PC100 RAM when I replace the Tiger 100 in my main system).

I have the case supplier bookmarked on my system at work, and I will try to get back and post here in the next few days...
 
JustAnEngineer
Gerbil God
Posts: 19673
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: The Heart of Dixie

Sat Mar 09, 2002 11:27 pm

http://www.southgatecomputers.com/cutie.html
The huge handle is interesting.

http://www.directron.com/babycase.html
This is very different. It looks like a subwoofer or a small safe.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/pinecom/micatxtowcom.html
It's not a cube, but it's cute.

http://www.in-win.com/framecode/ino_v523b.html
I like this black one.

http://www.in-win.com/framecode/ino_t515s.html
Another one with a handle.

http://www.yeongyang.com/yahoo/YY-A101.htm
This doesn't look like a PC.

http://www.enlightcorp.com/ewebsite/index.htm
Funky.
 
Future Shock
Gerbil In Training
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2002 7:00 pm

Sun Mar 10, 2002 9:13 pm

Here is the link from work:
http://store.yahoo.com/yeongyangtech/valuedesktop.html

You can also try http://www.baber.com, which has a great selection of cases, although it takes some searching to find them all...
 
MaceMan
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Mon Mar 25, 2002 5:59 pm

I just wanted to stop and thank everyone that posted links for me. I've checked them out and there really aren't any diamonds out there right now. There were a FEW that were interesting (in the right ballpark):

http://www.baber.com/barebone-computers ... w-blue.htm

You'd want to chuck the MB right away and use the iMac looking case and lacking dimensions, that's a $99 gamble I'll skip.

This one is still dark in color (not fun) but has some bizarre styling:

http://www.directron.com/babycase.html

The dimensions of 11.75" x 10.75" translate to 298x273mm which should fit whatever I'm looking at throwing in there.

The most desirable solutions still seem to come from http://www.soldam.com with their Polo T 2 and the Pandora Plus 2. They're selling them again (as of the 23rd)! :smile:

(whipping out my yen conversion calculator)
so... an empty Pandoar Plus 2 or Polo T 2 case is ~44,800 yen (/133.3) = $336 and add 16,000 yen (/133.3) = $120 for shipping and... OWWWW!

The Shuttle SV25 can be had for $250 from mwave.com. The Windwalker SS40 and SS50 look good, but I can't find them anywhere.

And to boot, the Shuttle and Soldam products are wrapped tight to the MB dimensions; using it for other MBs in the future looks dicey.

*sigh* not... a... perfect... world.

Thanks again for everyone's help. This is quite the adventure.
 
flypsyde
Gerbil In Training
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2002 7:00 pm

Tue Mar 26, 2002 11:33 am

I don't know if this is in your price range but the CoolerMaster ATC-600 series is a great looking uATX case. You can buy it here:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.a ... 333&DEPA=1

Here's a link to the manufacturer's website but you'll have to navigate to the cases:

http://www.coolermaster.com/home.html

Hope this helps!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: flypsyde on 2002-03-26 10:34 ]</font>
 
MaceMan
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Tue Mar 26, 2002 9:55 pm

Dude! That's the best case I've seen so far! 8-D Its pricey... but not without cause (being a Cooler Master and all). Thank you VERY much!

/me gives flypsyde the You Rock award.
 
flypsyde
Gerbil In Training
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2002 7:00 pm

Wed Mar 27, 2002 9:56 am

Wish I could take all the credit on that one but I found a recommendation for that case in another forum. I did find it for sale at Newegg myself though! :smile:

Glad I was able to help!
 
St. Babu
Gerbil Team Leader
Posts: 219
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: Indianapolis

Wed Mar 27, 2002 11:23 am

http://www.directron.com/babycase.html

I think this one looks smooth, but I can't find any good boards to go in it. The Nforce micro board is specifically listed as NOT working, and Directron uses all sorts of different measurements so it's hard to tell if that Epox KT266A mobo will work in it. I just want a babycase with a mobo that supports AGP and ATA100 for a phatty LAN Party case.
 
HowardDrake
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3523
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2001 7:00 pm
Location: Action Jim's Rumpus Room
Contact:

Fri Mar 29, 2002 12:39 am

Now if you want a real cube, check this link I got from HardOCP.
http://www.pheatonforums.com/phpBB2/vie ... t=&start=0

Now THAT's a cube! :smile:
No wonder television's a medium. It's so seldom rare or well done. -Mighty Mouse
Image
 
SecretSquirrel
Minister of Gerbil Affairs
Posts: 2726
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: North DFW suburb...
Contact:

Fri Mar 29, 2002 2:05 am

On 2002-03-26 10:33, flypsyde wrote:
I don't know if this is in your price range but the CoolerMaster ATC-600 series is a great looking uATX case. You can buy it here:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.a ... 333&DEPA=1

Here's a link to the manufacturer's website but you'll have to navigate to the cases:

http://www.coolermaster.com/home.html

Hope this helps!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: flypsyde on 2002-03-26 10:34 ]</font>


Ordered one of these today. Greatly looking forward to getting it in.
 
flypsyde
Gerbil In Training
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2002 7:00 pm

Fri Mar 29, 2002 1:45 pm

Yeah, that really is a sweet case. I wish they made a cheaper one :sad:
 
MaceMan
Gerbil
Topic Author
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Tue Apr 02, 2002 12:26 am

SecretSquirrel: Hey. After you have your rig set up with the Cooler Master case, could you post some pics of it, please? And maybe a brief description of what you put in it? I'd love to see what the space inside looks like with some normal gear tossed in (not to mention the room for the CPU fan). Much obliged!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MaceMan on 2002-04-01 23:26 ]</font>
 
SecretSquirrel
Minister of Gerbil Affairs
Posts: 2726
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: North DFW suburb...
Contact:

Tue Apr 02, 2002 2:27 am

So, I'm thinking about doing a full blown review on that case. Maybe I can convence Damage and Forge to throw it up.

I got the case in today. Lemme tell ya, it's big for an mATX case, almost as big as my ATC-200 case is. It has some definate quirks and such, but I'm happy with it. I haven't finished putting stuff in it cause FedEx decided they didn't feel like delivering my mobo today.

If nothing else though, I do have a whole lot 'o pics of it.
 
Wulf
Gerbil
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2002 7:00 pm

Thu Apr 04, 2002 12:25 am

Now it we could only find an easy way to transport a flatscreen monitor...

Do they make a briefcase or something for those? :smile:

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
GZIP: On