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    Design my own case or buy one?

    Hey again. I'm looking for a computer case that has at least 4 5.25" front panel expansion bays and 2 3.5" expansion bays, is a full-tower ATX case, has a side window, and spaces for at least 2 fans on front and top.

    Do such cases exist?
    If they do, should I buy one?
    Or should I custom-design a case and have it cut/milled by a machine shop?
    5
    Buy a premade case
    0%
    5
    Design one and have it cut/milled by a machine shop
    0%
    0
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    #2
    Re: Design my own case or buy one?

    If you've got the funds for that, it'd be a fun project.....but it wouldnt be a cheap project.
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      #3
      Re: Design my own case or buy one?

      I voted buy a premade but I was thinking along the lines of a older lian li, you could find one with 4 5.25 bays and 2 3.5 inch bays then mod it yourself for airflow extra fans etc.
      My Computer: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, Asrock X370 Killer SLI/AC, 32GB G.SKILL TRIDENT Z RGB DDR4 3200, 500GB WD Black NVME and 2TB Toshiba HD,Geforce RTX 3080 FOUNDERS Edition, In-Win 303 White, EVGA SuperNova 750 G3, Windows 10 Pro

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        #4
        Re: Design my own case or buy one?

        Originally posted by Topcat View Post
        If you've got the funds for that, it'd be a fun project.....but it wouldnt be a cheap project.
        Agreed. OTOH, is "designing a case" what you really want to do with your time?

        With that many accessible bays (assuming you want them FRONT accessible), you're going to end up with a big (tall) box. And, do you really want all of those bays populated at all times?

        I'd look at one of the bigger workstations to give you the bays and "volume". Or, even a "CD tower" (typ designed for 8 or more 5" bays). Then, plan on cutting a window in the side and fans atop

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          #5
          Re: Design my own case or buy one?

          A Lain Li PC PC-V3000 https://www.avadirect.com/PC-V3000-T...oduct/12378234

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            #6
            Re: Design my own case or buy one?

            I have a case that would almost work , but I don't want to get rid of it. It has 4 DVD drive slots and 1 3 1/2 floppy drive slot . Steel sides with some kind of Star wars art work. I think this setup is fairly common. You could use plexy with flashing led lights.

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              #7
              Re: Design my own case or buy one?

              It's a hard call - custom or not. I don't see you asking for anything really way out there.

              I found Lian Li excellent quality, expensive now and with dumb configurations i.e. no room for big graphics cards or too many fans or PSU at the bottom etc. so they are frustrating because the number of bays and full size ATX, some are silly huge and nothing but vent holes so noisy.

              I haven't priced Protocase but they have free 3D CAD and templates/libraries with common parts. Makes me drool.
              I've use mid-ATX cases for decades, a bit bigger than a Mac lol but never had a hassle putting anything inside.
              I would look at the future ATX standard (size) I think it's only 12V? and not sure what the trend is. USB3 and fan speed control bays, maybe audio I/O too use up at least 3 bays unless you get the chinese combo bays with their low quality.

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                #8
                Re: Design my own case or buy one?

                this Phanteks Enthoo Series Primo Aluminum ATX Ultimate http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Primo.html seems to meet all the required stuff and is still on sale on amazon for 250$

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