What do you think of my "water cooling" case design?

[xytrius]

Excellent work Mick64, I love what I am seeing. I do have a few suggestions:

• How about integrating the fan controller into the case? Most fan controllers have to be modded to match the case (you need to at least remove the ugly company logos). And has been suggested why not temperature indicators? They could both be between the front fan and the lower front ports.
• How about a power consumption display? In addition to showing power consumption, it would be a valuable indicator of system performance while performing various tasks. Something like Kill A Wat (http://www.p3international.com/produ.../P4400-CE.html) whose display can be mounted in the middle of the front fan.
• How about some clean bezels for the optical drive?

[Mech0z]

Have you made your case in sketchup?

[Mick64]

Excellent work Mick64, I love what I am seeing. I do have a few suggestions:

• How about integrating the fan controller into the case? Most fan controllers have to be modded to match the case (you need to at least remove the ugly company logos). And has been suggested why not temperature indicators? They could both be between the front fan and the lower front ports.
• How about a power consumption display? In addition to showing power consumption, it would be a valuable indicator of system performance while performing various tasks. Something like Kill A Wat (http://www.p3international.com/produ.../P4400-CE.html) whose display can be mounted in the middle of the front fan.
• How about some clean bezels for the optical drive?

These are all good ideas, but would considerably increase the price. If this case ever gets produced, perhaps we could have a list of optional extras such as a fan controller, displays or a reservoir?

[Mick64]

Have you made your case in sketchup?

Yes!?!?

[Mech0z]

Impressive

[Mick64]

Impressive

Thanks! You need a lot of patience....

[BlueAqua]

Great case design Mick. I would love to have a case with a radiator above and below the motherboard area. It could really have some dynamic loops setup.

[Mick64]

Great case design Mick. I would love to have a case with a radiator above and below the motherboard area. It could really have some dynamic loops setup.

Thanks BA, just need someone to build the darn thing!!

[lkiller123]

Mick, if you really want to get the case out on the market, I suggest you to have more HDD bays.

*Could this be the TJ07 replacement?!!*

[Noids]

I am assuming the rads will not actually be included with the case, so similar to the TJ07, there is no reason why the lower bay could not include modular HDD caddies that could be swapped out for a rad for those who need a second rad. Hell even sacrificing one of the fans for a lower 120.2 rad setup combined with a HDD caddy would be an option.

Mick did you have a look at the protocase website that was linked earlier in the thread? It seems that they more basic enclosures, but may be something that is worth investigating.

Personally I was looking at purchasing an X-2000 and paying about AU$700 for it. Something like this setup would be more suitable, require less modding and thus I would probably consider up to AU$1000 for it. Obviously this would be a niche market and the pricing would match, but considering the sort of systems we see in these forums and similar places, I definitely think there would be a market for it in that price range.

Cheers

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I am assuming the rads will not actually be included with the case, so similar to the TJ07, there is no reason why the lower bay could not include modular HDD caddies that could be swapped out for a rad for those who need a second rad. Hell even sacrificing one of the fans for a lower 120.2 rad setup combined with a HDD caddy would be an option.

Mick did you have a look at the protocase website that was linked earlier in the thread? It seems that they more basic enclosures, but may be something that is worth investigating.

Personally I was looking at purchasing an X-2000 and paying about AU$700 for it. Something like this setup would be more suitable, require less modding and thus I would probably consider up to AU$1000 for it. Obviously this would be a niche market and the pricing would match, but considering the sort of systems we see in these forums and similar places, I definitely think there would be a market for it in that price range.

Cheers

you want more HD bays then buy some mountainmods fan to HD brackets


besides with everything going to tiny passively cooled 2.5" SSD's hard drives will need less and less rackage. you can mount SSDs today straight behind the mobo tray, no need for HD racks at all.

[lkiller123]

Well, yes I know that point But consider that brands (Silverstone, Lian Li) also considered about user-friendliness on their cases.

[The0men]

you want more HD bays then buy some mountainmods fan to HD brackets


besides with everything going to tiny passively cooled 2.5" SSD's hard drives will need less and less rackage. you can mount SSDs today straight behind the mobo tray, no need for HD racks at all.

Yer your right, storage is less of an issue, but I still couldn't see the problem
with including one modular bay you can either place in the top or bottom,
Then people with two triples, or a double and quad and et cetera can make use of it if they please. Would be useful for people using a couple of RAID arrays or a RAID 5-6 array.

Makes the package seem more complete rather than having to go and purchase brackets.

[Mick64]

I haven't got a problem with supplying additional hard drive bays, but every addition will increase the cost. Also, I will have to supply rad brackets of different sizes, and make them removable which will also increase the cost. I can't help but wonder if you would really need more than 4 HDD's with 1TB drives the norm and more capacity on the way. I think another poll is required really, but as that is not possible, just let me know if the extra hard drive bays are worth the extra cost.....

[The0men]

Well I was thinking, Ive often only used a double mount to mount a triple rad, and I've seen
quads mounted with a single fan bracket. So really I think if you just supplied two double rad mounts
there is no reason why you couldn't use triple and quads with them. Which also leave room for additional
HDD bays.

You already have room for four drives, but some people may have raid arrays bigger than that (probably
not many, but still) and I already have to have one external drive because my current PC only
has room for four drives which is really annoying.

It's just a suggestion. But anyway, I guess if you can finally get someone to go ahead with manufacturing
this awesome case, then perhaps they will have more market research, and more of an idea on
additional cost than we can possibly gain in this one thread.

[Mick64]

This was posted in my 'Liquid Cooling' thread......

Perhaps for us fans of upside down motherboards, you could design it so that the motherboard and mid plate could be unfastened via thumbscrews and flipped to the otherside of the case. Along with that, make the side panels swapable so the window would end out on the right side.


....just a thought.

Symmetrical side-panels would solve that problem with wanting to have window and possibility to have inverted ATX style mobo.

This is a fantastic idea, and very simple to do with my design! This will also be another very good selling point. With a few minor alterations, this case will be fully reversible. Watch this space!!!

[LeandroJVarini]

Very nice work friend, or with 10 years of training can do a great job of this level!
congratulations

[lloydsmart]

I really hope this case does get made as I plan to buy it one day. Looks awesome!

[dingdong555]

Thanks BA, just need someone to build the darn thing!!

Hmmm, how does "Silverstone TJxx" sound?

I think this case would be a good substitute once the TJ07 finishes its career.

[norim_13]

Great work!
Congrats!

Regards

[Maxw]

This is looking very good!!

[orangekiwii]

i have a really good idea for rad mounting (imo opinion at least) that would probably greatly reduce manufacturing time and cost if done right...

plus you'd have more options...

should I fully explain it here or pm you?

[OverLoad_FX]

Ill Test the case for you

Gives1@#!@#

[Mick64]

Haven't had time to do any rendering yet, but here's a few pix from SketchUp which show the latest design changes. It is now possible to reverse the motherboard tray and flip the side panels. Both rad brackets have been shortened so that you can fit an optional HDD rack in the bottom and an optional 5.25" drive rack in the top. I've also added much of the details as to how the case would be constructed....

[autobot]

.....aaaaaaaaand now this is the best case idea ever!

Silverstone...buy this idea and produce it NOW!
Silverstone TJ-1337 FTW edition!