The Evolution of Cases
I’m almost done with the first of many volumes of guides to each and every component of computers! Since I didn’t get any answers on which component should have the first guide, I went ahead and continued on the guide of cases, since it was one of the easier topics to cover.
Anyways, so I’m currently finishing up the guides to cases, so might as well talk about cases. Today I’d like to talk about the steady but sure change in many of the newer cases today.
A few years ago, when making custom computers on your own was still at its development stage, cases was one of those components that you had to watch out for. One bad case, and all of your components can get fried. From aesthetics to air movement, the cases of a few years ago lacked many qualities that we now have today. The emphasis on these cases was not on keeping the components long term, but more on keeping the components from the harm of the outside world. Looking at this emphasis, the computer cases of a few years ago did this well. But its fan placements and air flow also acted against this emphasis. In short, the pros got canceled and pushed out by the cons, and the components, the case, and the consumer suffered a bit.
The cases today have changed, at least for the better. In today’s cases, we see a lot more companies using their new knowledge on air flow, and interior design. We see a lot more cases concentrated on cooling efficiently, and also cases made out of quality material. Also, new aesthetic looks keep emerging week by week, and this is a very promising sight to many gamers who are in need of cases with the looks, the performance, and the price. Companies have also added on special features, such as completely-toolless design. All of these add on to the fact that overall, the cases of today are a lot better.
However, there is one con to the cases of today. With many more companies putting the emphasis on design and performance, many companies start to create cases that are too expensive for the average computer builder. Since the largest custom computer builders are now in the range of mid-budget, companies should put more emphasis on price-to-performance ratios, but at the still time try to keep the same great performance that they can attain on a higher budget.
Well, hope that helps. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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What is Modding?
Hey guys, Icarus here. Have you guys ever found a page on “modding” your computer case? Or have you seen a computer forum with a main thread called “Modding”? Have no idea what it is? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Modding is one of two things:
1. Changing the case’s physical appearance and/or improve the performance of the case
2. Build your own case from scratch.
Those two definitions are the basics to modding. Now, anything goes in modding, from just drilling a fan hole on your side panel, to designing and building your own case from scratch, from whatever material you have worked out. It’s completely up to you.
There are no disadvantages to modding, except that it may take you some time to complete your mod. All that it takes is some imagination, calculations, and a theme, and you can create a completely new, unique case on a theme that you’ve always loved. Or your case had horrible air-cooling, so you added a few fan holes to add additional fans to your case, and your case now has great air-cooling. Anything goes, and again, only good things come with modding. It’s completely up to you.
Well, that’s all for tonight. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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NZXT Tempest: Looks Very Similar to a Great Case…
Hey guys, Icarus here with a new case today. Today we’ll be looking at the NZXT Tempest Mid-Tower Case.
This case is the newest case out of NZXT, a computer case company that generally makes computers for the gaming computer case market, looks very, VERY similar to a case that I highly respect… hmm… black front bezel, huge vent holes for large fans at the top of the case, max. 3 fans at the front of the case, and oh look, a side panel window… you got it right, it looks a LOT like the Antec 900 case. I’m starting to wonder why… 
Anyways, onto the case. The Tempest has basically the same interior structure as the Antec 900, except this one doesn’t have the huge 200mm fan at the top, and you can’t put a fan on one of the hard drive cages. Personally, looks pretty good; but ohh you’re forgetting something… it’s made of PLASTIC. PLASTIC, yes the stuff that makes your sandwich bags, the stuff that makes those cheap kid cellphones that we all used to love. If you feel the actual case, it feels pretty cheap also. And oh we can’t forget the sound that all of these fans make. It’s obviously louder than the Antec 900.
Well, verdict: pretty good case, just didn’t like how it’s almost a replica of the Antec 900, loud, and most of all, same price as the Antec 900’s. If NZXT is going to make a replica of the Antec 900 case w/ cheaper material, I’d expect it to see this case at a lower price.
Hope you enjoyed the review. I’m going to start making video reviews of things, so stay tuned! Have a great night!
Icarus
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Antec: The Friend of the Common
Hey guys, Icarus here again, with another computer component company. Today, I will be talking about Antec, which is the company I bought my computer case, and a few power supplies from.
Antec is a relatively new company that started out creating cases for mid-budget computer builders. From their first few cases, they became extremely successful at selling their products and having happy customers, so they continued going through evolutions of their new cases. Their first cases were conventional, every-day use computer cases. However, as demands of the computer case market continually changed, they began to explore in the types of cases more, and moved into the gaming computer case market with their Antec 900, and became known for their own original look. Since then, they have continually gone through evolutions of the basic case, and are still successful today.
Now, the thing I like about Antec is that they actually target the market with the most people: the mid-budget computer builders. Antec has continually sold computer cases at reasonable prices for their quality computer cases. They have backed off on some features in their cases, but that does not matter, because the features they have taken off of their cases are usually ignored by most computer builders. Plus, their main target market, the mid-budget computer builders, will not use extreme water-cooling to cool down all of the components in the computer case anyways.
Another factor I like about Antec is their consistent quality of their cases. I have not been disappointed much with their cases thus far, and Antec has continually had excellent cases; although the cases contain minor flaws, the positive aspects of the case far outweigh minor faults. Antec has continually created cases that function well, with great air-cooling and arrangements of internal structures so that nothing is obstructed.
Well, that’s the review tonight. See you all later!
Icarus
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The Case Review: The Antec Twelve Hundred
Hey guys, Icarus here again. Today, I will review the next evolution of the famed Antec Nine Hundred case: The Antec Twelve Hundred case.
Well, just like the numbers in the case’s name, the case has also become physically larger. This case is now a full tower, with as much space for 12 hard drives/optical drives. This case’s interior is just like the Antec 900 case: the black interior, the expansion slots, the fans. However, the Antec Twelve Hundred actually surpasses the Antec 900 in a couple spots such as:
1. Air-cooling: This case comes with 5 120mm fans. That’s AMAZING. 5 120mm fans will just make for a killer air-cooling case. If you’re looking for a case with awesome air cooling, look no further, because with this case, you’ll never need another one again for a long time.
2. More room: If you couldn’t fit some things in the Antec 900 case because of space issues, take a look at this case. A full tower with 12 drive bays, you can put almost anything in here- 6 Hard drives, 6 optical drives, or a couple drives and use the other empty bays for cable management. If you want room, this is your case.
Well, that’s all for tonight. I also would like to apologize to everyone because I haven’t posted an article in the last 2 days. I’ve had testing going on, and I’ve been studying hard for those tests. Well, hope you enjoyed this review. If you want to see this case, go to Newegg.com. Have a great evening!
Icarus
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