Opinions on a couple of cases

[NickCauston]

Building a small network one server and half a dozen workstationsand thinking of using the following cases:

Coolermaster Wavemaster for the server but would have prefered if it had casters on it.

EZ Cool Alpine 7103Hs for the workstations but because most will have nothing installed other than a floppy so perhaps something with a closed door might look better.

Bearing in mind that I have only ever seen pictures of these, never actually seen a real one what are they both like.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

think you could link to pics/specs of the cases?

 

[NickCauston]

Yep sorry, should have thought of that

Coolermaster Wavemaster can be cound here:
http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=&Language_s=&url_place=product_list&p_class=284

EZ Cool Alpine here:
http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/X_Mac_.html

 

[Falloutboy]

can you get that EZ cool alpine in the US it looks pretty nice

 

[NickCauston]

Don't know if it is available in the US but found a review of it here:
http://www.xcase.co.uk/Reviews/ez_cool_Review.htm

I am begining to think that although it looks very nice perhaps it may not be appropriate for an office, I really wanted something with a door so that all the front drive bays are hidden, in our case they will not be used.

 

[Falloutboy]

if its for an office just get some Antex SOHO 1080 cases good solid cases easy to work on have a dore come with a solid powersupply

 

[NickCauston]

Antex SOHO 1080 way too big.

These are network workstations that have a floppy drive any absolutely nothing else.

 

[Mik3y]

wow, that EZ cool alpine looks pretty rad. its like the offspring from the lian li pcv1000 and the chenbro gaming bomb 2.

 

[Ken90630]

Bearing in mind that I have only ever seen pictures of these, never actually seen a real one what are they both like.

As we'd all probably agree, cases are very subjective. One person's junk is another person's holy grail. But I personally think the Wave Master is the nicest case I've ever seen or touched. Fit and finish are outstanding (in black or silver), and the one I drooled over (figuratively speaking) felt more solid than any other computer case I've ever seen.

One thing I don't like is the top-mounted ports, but Cooler Master makes an adapter kit that lets you convert that space into a blowhole for a fan. You can then purchase an inexpensive 5.25" bay with USB/Firewire/audio ports (or whatever) from FrontX, Inwin, Enermax or whoever and have your ports on the front panel with your drives. This is what I intend to do when I get one of these cases.

Oh, and it comes with sleeve-bearing intake fans on the front (what were they thinking?). I also intend to replace those with some Panaflo 12L's or PC Power and Cooling Silencer 80 mm fans (or just disconnect the stock fans and not use intake fans at all). No case is perfect, but this one comes about as close as any I've seen. Some people don't like a door on the front of a case, but I don't mind at all.

Re the casters, you can buy some small casters at Home Depot (or whatever comparable home improvement stores you have there in the UK) and probably just screw them into the bottom of the case (assuming they won't hit anything vital on the inside!). That's what I intend to do as I too like a case that's easy to roll on the floor.

To each his own. I like these cases and want one.

Good luck, mate.

PS: If you're interested, here's a reasonably decent review (if you haven't seen it already). Oh, and there's a line in this review about the black case not being anodized aluminum on the inside. I called Cooler Master about this awhile back and they assured me that the reviewer was incorrect -- the inside of the both the silver and black cases is anodized aluminum according to CM.

 

[Operandi]

The EZ cool alpine isn't up to same quality level as Lian LI's and CoolerMasters.

 

[tonyou]

Originally posted by: Ken90630
I called Cooler Master about this awhile back and they assured me that the reviewer was incorrect -- the inside of the both the silver and black cases is anodized aluminum according to CM.

Maybe you should give Cooler Master another call to let them know that the interior of their aluminum cases are not anondized, but rather chromate treated, there is a big difference. The side/top panels and the front are indeed anodized though.

I think the Wave Master looks great as well, but knowing that it could be mistaken for a Compaq is a little disturbing. :disgust:

 

[NickCauston]

Yea I guess youre' right Ken could fit casters myself. So the Server is going to be either a Wave Master or a Codegen 9011. Problem is I still need something for the network workstations. Wave Master is double the price I have to spend on these, need something smallish without too many drive slots visible; they aren't going to have anything other than a floppy in them.

 

[NickCauston]

Operandi: What was it about the EZ Cool that you didn't like? Does it look cheap or OK.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: NickCauston
Operandi: What was it about the EZ Cool that you didn't like? Does it look cheap or OK.

Well I personally dont' have any experance with it, so I'm im relying on what I've been told. First the material; its steel not AL, the front panel is cheap plastic :disgust: . It may be a decent case for the money but it dosn't compare with a Lian LI, Coolermaster or the orginal G5 that it's trying to rip off.

 

[Dman877]

What about an antec sonata? They are small mid-size towers, 2 visible 3.5 inch and 3 5.25 inch bays all behind a door. They go for 90ish and come with a great psu. They're quiet too. As for fit and finish, the sonata is just about top-of-the-line in steel/plastic case design. Paint job is superb on metal and plastic alike. The door snaps shut with a nice click, it's not flimsy like the door on the 10X0 file servers or the 3700 series.

 

[NickCauston]

Yep have seen them but only in black, customer wants normal beige. Does it come in beige?

 

[Zepper]

If you could go microATX for the workstations, how about the Ahanix Plasma - too blingy? Maybe the Athenatech A100WW.
. A case like that Alpine one is available here under some other name - lots of colors and face styles. If I remember right it's from one of the lower line companies.

.bh.

 

[Zepper]

These at least look similar to the Alpine, but I haven't been able to find a place to buy one either.
http://www.cotytech.com

.bh.
:moon:

 

[Ken90630]

Maybe you should give Cooler Master another call to let them know that the interior of their aluminum cases are not anondized, but rather chromate treated, there is a big difference. The side/top panels and the front are indeed anodized though.

Hmmm ... All I can go by is what Jason at CM told me on the phone a few months ago. I specifically told him about the PC Stats review (that I linked to in my previous post) and how it said the interior of the black case is not anodized. He said, and I quote, "That's wrong. It is anodized." I said, "Are you sure?" And he said, "Yes. The black Wave Master is anodized on the inside and painted on the outside, and the silver Wave Master is anodized inside and out." So if the cases are not anodized on the inside, Jason was either lying or mistaken.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you say (or how do you know) for a fact it's "chromate treated" and not anodized? Where did you get that info? (Just curious.)

I think the Wave Master looks great as well, but knowing that it could be mistaken for a Compaq is a little disturbing

Yeah, I'm with you there. I think Compaq only sells that "gaming" Wave Master in silver though, don't they? So we'd be safe with a black one. Heh heh. I notice other companies like Velocity Micro and Falcon Northwest are selling Wave Master rigs too (with their own logos on them). Then there was that, uh, 'unusual' (I'm trying to be polite here) yellow one on the cover of the latest issue of CPU magazine. Again, to each his own ....

 

[tonyou]

Originally posted by: Ken90630
So if the cases are not anodized on the inside, Jason was either lying or mistaken.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you say (or how do you know) for a fact it's "chromate treated" and not anodized? Where did you get that info? (Just curious.)

I guess Jason probably doesn't know the difference between anodized and chromate treated aluminum. I have sold quite a few Wave Masters (plus other aluminum cases) myself and have confirmed this with case engineers that they are definintely not anodized inside. Having also been to many aluminum factories, I think I can tell the difference between the two treatments as well. It is possible to have an aluminum case anodized inside and out, but it will never pass EMI tests.

I notice other companies like Velocity Micro and Falcon Northwest are selling Wave Master rigs too (with their own logos on them).

Acutally Falcon Northwest stopped selling their systems with the Wave Master for a while now precisely because of Compaq!

 

[fireontheway]

how about this for the Workstation?

 

[billycat]

Originally posted by: fireontheway
how about this for the Workstation?

Yay Antec.. He did say he wanted doors or something though cos he had no CD/DVD drives that will be showing.

How about this one?

This one is commonly recommended and inexpensive in US. 120mm fan mounts (one installed in back) removable HD cage and drive rails making it easy to work on. 350W should be more than enough for office, and though not great it IS an antec suppy. I just got one myself.

 

[Ken90630]

Hi, Tonyou,

I guess Jason probably doesn't know the difference between anodized and chromate treated aluminum. I have sold quite a few Wave Masters (plus other aluminum cases) myself and have confirmed this with case engineers that they are definintely not anodized inside. Having also been to many aluminum factories, I think I can tell the difference between the two treatments as well. It is possible to have an aluminum case anodized inside and out, but it will never pass EMI tests.

Okay -- I'll take your word for it. If you don't mind me asking, how can you tell the difference just by looking at them? I'm not asking 'cuz I'm questioning your judgment -- I'm asking 'cuz I'm curious about how to tell the difference myself. Is it by appearance, or feel, or ???

Also, can you educate me on something else? When you talk about an anodized aluminum case not passing EMI tests, what exactly do you mean? Can you elaborate a bit? I'm curious about this too.

Lastly, if indeed the black Wave Master is not anodized inside, would this be reason enough to not buy the case in your opinion? If so, why? What probs could/would this cause?

Thanks for your input. Interesting discussion.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

The reason it might be difficult for an anodized case to pass EMI tests is because anodize does not conduct electricity well (or at all). For a case shield to EMI, the covers must be grounded by their contact with the main case (which is grounded by it's contact with the mobo). If the covers are anodized and therefore don't conduct, they won't be grounded and won't be able to shield any EMI.

I'm not sure how to visually tell one finish from another, because many of them can be made to look alike. One way would be to check the resistivity of the material, and another might be to check the hardness, since anodize is very hard and chromate is softer (at least from what I've heard).

-D'oh!