A Rant on Cases.

[Beeeyeee]

Is it just me or do cases not really live up to the hype?

 

Like, i've had a define R5 for a while now, and throughout all of the reviews i've seen this is one of the best cases out there. and yeah theres a lot of really cool features like the anit-vibration HDD mounts, the ssd storage in the back, the nice fan mounting options.. but there's a lot of unmentioned things that really bug me. 

 

first off acrylic windows? those things get foggy and dirty pretty fast and if you touch them even slightly, theres a nice big scratch that you can see if you have any lights inside. "dust filters" dont catch crap dust, the fan blades catch more than them. speaking of fan filters, why isn't there any on the top?? if my system is off, all the dust jsut settles right inside my case! the rubber grommet for the 8 pin CPU power isn't even big enough (even though it easily could be) to fit the freaking plug through! you have to take out the gromet (which is also way too easy to do on accident) and the force it back through. next if i have a rad in the top back slot, and an exhaust fan (both 140mm) than they collide. by barely 3 centimeters. like come on make the case an inch taller and half these problems are solved! the sound dampening foam doesn't do crap. for cable management you don't have enough room to wrap cables if you have more than the average. you have to push thte side panel door on hard to close. and back to the window, it should seriously show more than that. 

 

I'm considering moving to that sexy Enthoo Evolv aluminum finish case. seems like it has a lot of these covered. but dang... does anybody else feel this way?

[Guest Kloaked]

Yes. They do have to take shortcuts to get the cases to the price points that are intended for the audience. As much as I like Fractal's cases, I do wish they had a more premium line of cases made fully out of metal, sorta like the Evolv you mentioned.

[X99stattrak]

Everything phantek's does in the case game is a step above basically everyone but Lian Li, and case labs.

[XionEternum]

It's not perfect, not in the least. The Define R5 is generally considered par-for-the-course. It's the standard everything is weighed against because it's a well-priced and generally functional chassis. Believe it or not; few cases exceed or improve on its design for its price bracket. Some are more functional in certain ways while having drawbacks in others. There are also many different qualities for acrylic windows. Some scratch easily; others don't. Tempered glass is expensive and impractical. It also reflects more unless internal lighting is stronger than external. Can turn a glass window near invisible with the right lighting. Personally I always keep some liquid screen protector for cellphones and tablets on hand to seal the acrylic window. Helps dramatically.

[Swndlr]

I feel you, especially on acrylic windows

[Bl00dgod]

I feel you, especially on acrylic windows

the window of the bequiet SB600 doesnt rock as i thought too with the "double polycarbonate"

 

otherwise the case is nice but they didnt think about the top rad mount, i mean a 240 top rad but only vents above 50% ?

really great that 1 fan blows the hot air out and the other blows the heat back at the case

[Beeeyeee]

It's not perfect, not in the least. The Define R5 is generally considered par-for-the-course. It's the standard everything is weighed against because it's a well-priced and generally functional chassis. Believe it or not; few cases exceed or improve on its design for its price bracket. Some are more functional in certain ways while having drawbacks in others. There are also many different qualities for acrylic windows. Some scratch easily; others don't. Tempered glass is expensive and impractical. It also reflects more unless internal lighting is stronger than external. Can turn a glass window near invisible with the right lighting. Personally I always keep some liquid screen protector for cellphones and tablets on hand to seal the acrylic window. Helps dramatically.

liquid screen protector eh? tell me more

[DrtyDiesel]

Got this baby last Monday. Anthrecite Gray, the pics don't do it justice and the the build quality and all that aluminum is well worth the price premium for an atx mid tower. I was considering a define r5 but I'm glad I went with the evolv atx.

[Beeeyeee]

Got this baby last Monday. Anthrecite Gray, the pics don't do it justice and the the build quality and all that aluminum is well worth the price premium for an atx mid tower. I was considering a define r5 but I'm glad I went with the evolv atx.

I really want that one. I was considering either the white or the plain alumium version though. what gripes do you have about that case? pros and cons?

[Beeeyeee]

I see what you mean with acrylic, but they do have to keep prices down.

agreed but theres gotta be something a little better.

[SilicateWielder]

Still using an ancient gaming case that uses bolts and screws to hold in the side-panel window, no problems here. #RetroPCMasterRace

 

Seriously though, in order to make a case affordable and able to compete with rival companies, companies will make cutbacks. As such these little (but sometimes seriously annoying) cutbacks are made by people who could have used better judgement. The reason people say a case is the best is because of a mixture of personal taste/opinion, experience with the case and whether they're a fanboy or not. If you really want to be sure the case you have picked will satisfiy you, find a written review online that goes over the building experience in the case, and thoroughly read it. (I know, reading is awful right?) 

[DrtyDiesel]

I really want that one. I was considering either the white or the plain alumium version though. what gripes do you have about that case? pros and cons?

Honestly I have not one flaw with the case. I absolutely love everything about it.

Here's the review I wrote on newegg

[SteveGrabowski0]

Everything phantek's does in the case game is a step above basically everyone but Lian Li, and case labs.

 

Yeah, I couldn't be happier with my Enthoo Pro. Great build quality, a nice window, and super easy to build in with the almost trivial cable management. And then the psu shroud extra cables can be hidden under. The drive cages are super easy to use too.