General PC case survey

[Chiyawa]

10 hours ago, tkitch said:

Hate to say it, but very very few people make regular use of 5.25" bays anymore.  You're growing to be much more of an edge-case.

 

In the last 4 years, the number of non-audio optical media I've touched with a computer is....  probably countable on one hand.  Two hands, at most.

 

Actually, 5.25 inch bay are not only for optical disc drive, but IO port expansion such as USB 3.0 and card reader.

 

You can check these example:

https://www.amazon.com/Hima-5-25-inch-Computer-Expansion-Microphone/dp/B07SQ17YD7/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1RLRQA4EFM3Y0&dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+usb+3.0+front+panel&qid=1614224566&sprefix=usb+3.0+5.25+inch%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/fosa-Internal-Multi-Function-Dashboard-Computer/dp/B07B67VQW1/ref=sr_1_6_sspa?crid=1RLRQA4EFM3Y0&dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+usb+3.0+front+panel&qid=1614224566&sprefix=usb+3.0+5.25+inch%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-6-spons&psc=1&smid=A2T5UG99TGO7BT&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzRkk1WjExQU9ETEYwJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTM1ODg1MVczUVVMS0VaVFU3RSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDUyNjc5MTU3WDdUQzZGRUxWUCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Commander-Channel-Controller-AC-010-B51NAN-A1/dp/B00V80IQTS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3FNPAKGZXN6TL&dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+fan+controller&qid=1614224671&sprefix=5.25+inch+fan%2Caps%2C563&sr=8-2

 

So, you see, 5.25 inch bay are considered as one of the most easy way to add USB ports or install some peripherals to the system, like fan controllers where you can just adjust on the panel instead of opening up a software and adjust it. It's also convenient if you are doing a lot of HDD swapping as you can install hot swappable dock at your 5.25 inch bay such as this: https://www.amazon.com/ICY-DOCK-Backplane-Comparable-Tray-less/dp/B00V5JHOXQ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+hdd+swapping&qid=1614224812&sr=8-4. So... Yeah, the expansion potential is pretty much limitless.

[RasmusDC]

fun for me the 2 tings i actually always look at, after the look of the case, is the size, and the 140mm fan support, normally buys only cases that are purely 140mm since i like the sound signature of these better than the 120.. when building for low noise, so Fractal Define has always been my goto, have a few of these cases, in different itterations.

 

with an AIO i have the Kraken with 2x140mm there is so much more CFM since the hub size is the same, so the extra 20mm is pure airflow.

[tkitch]

11 hours ago, Chiyawa said:

Actually, 5.25 inch bay are not only for optical disc drive, but IO port expansion such as USB 3.0 and card reader.

 

You can check these example:

https://www.amazon.com/Hima-5-25-inch-Computer-Expansion-Microphone/dp/B07SQ17YD7/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1RLRQA4EFM3Y0&dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+usb+3.0+front+panel&qid=1614224566&sprefix=usb+3.0+5.25+inch%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/fosa-Internal-Multi-Function-Dashboard-Computer/dp/B07B67VQW1/ref=sr_1_6_sspa?crid=1RLRQA4EFM3Y0&dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+usb+3.0+front+panel&qid=1614224566&sprefix=usb+3.0+5.25+inch%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-6-spons&psc=1&smid=A2T5UG99TGO7BT&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzRkk1WjExQU9ETEYwJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTM1ODg1MVczUVVMS0VaVFU3RSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDUyNjc5MTU3WDdUQzZGRUxWUCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Commander-Channel-Controller-AC-010-B51NAN-A1/dp/B00V80IQTS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3FNPAKGZXN6TL&dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+fan+controller&qid=1614224671&sprefix=5.25+inch+fan%2Caps%2C563&sr=8-2

 

So, you see, 5.25 inch bay are considered as one of the most easy way to add USB ports or install some peripherals to the system, like fan controllers where you can just adjust on the panel instead of opening up a software and adjust it. It's also convenient if you are doing a lot of HDD swapping as you can install hot swappable dock at your 5.25 inch bay such as this: https://www.amazon.com/ICY-DOCK-Backplane-Comparable-Tray-less/dp/B00V5JHOXQ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=5.25+inch+hdd+swapping&qid=1614224812&sr=8-4. So... Yeah, the expansion potential is pretty much limitless.

Sure, or you just get a case with 4+ USB ports built in.

 

It's still an edge case that the vast majority of computer users don't consider using.

[WhitetailAni]

6 minutes ago, tkitch said:

Sure, or you just get a case with 4+ USB ports built in.

 

It's still an edge case that the vast majority of computer users don't consider using.

5.25" bays offer modularity.

I could use mine for optical, Zip, and floppy drives, or I could use them for more USB ports, hot-swappable hard drive bays, etc.

[tkitch]

1 hour ago, FakeKGB said:

5.25" bays offer modularity.

I could use mine for optical, Zip, and floppy drives, or I could use them for more USB ports, hot-swappable hard drive bays, etc.

I could also use one for an FUFME.  But that doesn't mean it's something that enough people would buy a case for to justify the cost of building it into a design.