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Your current case looks like a boring box with terrible cooling and features.
I can't find one I like and don't want to use the current one I have unless I can find it again for sale.
Its a Lian-Li PC60
I think the PC-9NB is the closest successor to the old PC60.
Yeah but no slide out mobo tray with the PC-9NB.
If you post the 3 best looking cases (stock) and the 3 ugliest cases, we might be able to help you but there is no accounting for taste.
I had an FT03 Titanium and I think it's one of the best looking cases but some people think it looks like a trash can.
Now I have a TT Core V21 - it's just a black cube - not ugly but purely utilitarian. I don't hate it, but it bothers me a bit. Fortunately it cools well and is quiet.
The Enthoo Evolv mATX TG and In Win 301 did not impress so the V21 gets to stay longer but it's days are numbered...
+1. That's a great idea to get a better understanding of OP's taste. Is the FT03 a trashcan or a sleek, clean-lined tower? I'm with you DoubleTap, I'm a fan of that design, except for that damn Silverstone logo! Silverstone has some pretty cases for sure, but their over-branding kills it for me. I guess the same can be said for many case manufacturers. I also have the Core V21, which is almost a perfect minimalist design, save that damn Thermaltake logo slapped dead-center of the front grill!
I'm curious to know, what is it with the V21 that bothers you?
I don't like the all quiet cases out there which restrict airflow there is only so much you can do with a case before people think it's excessive.
My PC has to sit on my desk because I have an electric sit-stand desk - I also have a 3 monitor array so space and wiring are big issues. I prefer something with interesting industrial design - simple, but a bit clever and I like metal. The V21 is lacking in that area but it's not trying to be in that area.
From a practical standpoint, it has a much larger footprint than my FT03 but it makes up for it with airflow and cooling capability. Honestly, if it came in gun metal grey, I would probably love it but in flat black, I merely like it. Barely.
This sounds incongruous but I also like the green TT uses on their Core V5 Green edition. I debated for a long time about getting it but it's too big and I'm not likely to water cool. I do like that green though.
As far as looks go, I like the Enthoo Evolv mATX and I'm probably in the minority for preferring the original above the TG version.
My favorite design right now is the ncase M1 - I wanted to build one but I wasn't sure how well a single 1080Ti would run 1440p x3 (it actually runs it really well) and I thought I might have to go SLI. It's still possible - I could sell the mATX board, get the ITX version and keep it all in the TT case until I get everything ready to migrate it over. We'll see.
A: Because Silicon Graphics is no more*
A: Because Abee does not sell outside Japan.
*: (I know, I know, acquired by Rackable who changed name to Silicon Graphics but it doesn't count)
Anyone out there up for joining their "scheme"?
Too many of them have gone all UFO with funky designs and too many blinky lights.
I admit I do like the Corsair C70 that looks like a green ammo box.
There is still a good selection of cases for grown-ups though..... the Fractal R5 for example.
There are nice similar cases from Corsair and Thermaltake.
Make one.
Most of todays designs are either too plain or they look like a reject from one of the Michael Bay Transformers films.
Make one.
My thinking exactly. Most wood cases look like a boring wood box. That one looks very retro. Back when tube radios were like furniture.I don't care for wood cases in general. They generally don't look very good and often seem like they are ill-suited to the task of housing computer components. However, this one is pretty awesome.
Sounds kind of like me. Have a bunch of sawmill cut pieces of black walnut from a tree that was cut down on the family farm back in the 50s that I acquired when my father died. Need to get around to doing something with it.I put some oak away for that task a over a decade ago. It hasn't happened yet. I have all the tools and experience to create something like this. Just have not found the time. Maybe after I retire. In a few weeks I will be 20 years on the same job.
Here is my Thermaltake Core W100. I liked it because the styling was almost server like and somewhat understated without having to be as boring as the OP's case. Most of todays designs are either too plain or they look like a reject from one of the Michael Bay Transformers films. I haven't updated the pics yet, but I have the P100 pedestal attached to it now. I'm going to do a custom cooling loop and wanted the extra space for that.
I don't care for wood cases in general. They generally don't look very good and often seem like they are ill-suited to the task of housing computer components. However, this one is pretty awesome.
I agree with the OP, in general computer cases are insanely ugly IMO these days. There are still some really nice looking elegant ones floating around. But in general the style these days seems to be uber flashy and trashy.
It can be compared to what Mini Stereo systems turned into these days. They used to be nice clean simple lines elegant..
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and now turned into...
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Hmm. I lean more towards a simple design aesthetic, and Lian Li, Caselabs, Jonsbo are great examples as sonsonate pointed out. But most of these minimalism designs tend to look too utilitarian or industrial in my opinion, like a rack mount case, which isn't meant to be mostly visible. I'm definitely in the camp that believes function should be the primary focus for any case design, but lacking any aesthetic design consideration just makes for a boring, riveted, metal box. I may as well have kept that beige tower my father had in our home office when I was a kid, 2.5 floppy drive and all.
I've always actually wondered what informs pc case design, other than function, of course. It's likely the core market/demographic need is being met with what's currently out there, which would make many of us an outlier. Going along with this string of thought, it has me thinking if case design will mature as it's core market matures and gets older. Like those of us who grew up with tech as it became more commonplace than in the past. Then again, there will always be youngsters who love bold colors and curves, it seems, when choosing a case.
Any thoughts?
Also, speaking of non-flashy design, I just discovered this Japanese brand, Abee, which is really in my wheelhouse for case design, though from scouring google, you'd be hard pressed to find a distributor in North America. :/
not sure if trolling or not, since there were like 5 posts talking about abee in here >.>
Hmm. I lean more towards a simple design aesthetic, and Lian Li, Caselabs, Jonsbo are great examples as sonsonate pointed out. But most of these minimalism designs tend to look too utilitarian or industrial in my opinion, like a rack mount case, which isn't meant to be mostly visible. I'm definitely in the camp that believes function should be the primary focus for any case design, but lacking any aesthetic design consideration just makes for a boring, riveted, metal box. I may as well have kept that beige tower my father had in our home office when I was a kid, 2.5 floppy drive and all.
I've always actually wondered what informs pc case design, other than function, of course. It's likely the core market/demographic need is being met with what's currently out there, which would make many of us an outlier. Going along with this string of thought, it has me thinking if case design will mature as it's core market matures and gets older. Like those of us who grew up with tech as it became more commonplace than in the past. Then again, there will always be youngsters who love bold colors and curves, it seems, when choosing a case.
Any thoughts?
Also, speaking of non-flashy design, I just discovered this Japanese brand, Abee, which is really in my wheelhouse for case design, though from scouring google, you'd be hard pressed to find a distributor in North America. :/