Don't Buy a PC Case, Go Open Air!
Showing off what you've got and easy access is worth risking a little dust.
Transparent acrylic PC cases aren't exactly new, but AskTech Co. has at least two acrylic cases that are definitely designed for showing off your workstation's innards. The unimaginatively-named NK-OC350A is less PC case and more a platform for "open-air testing". The motherboard mount (for miniITX, microATX, and ATX motherboards) is slanted towards the viewer, with the drive and power supply mounts situated directly under.
The NK-OC450A on the other hand is designed for more stability, with the motherboard separated from the other components by non-angular shelf. The whole setup is also contained within a steel frame, but it's easy to remove the top cover for maximum exposure.
Both of AskTech's offerings are advertised as testing platforms, so you can bet it appeals to frequent overclockers and hardware reviewers. Not to mention boastful enthusiasts who'd want the best way to showcase their setup on a wildly active computer hardware forum. And at an estimated price of $50, the NK-OC350A won't exactly burn a hole in your pocket.
Unfortunately, AskTech currently only sells in Germany, Japan, Eastern Europe, and Korea (where they're based). The company rep revealed that they were looking for a distributor in the US though, so let's see what happens.
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Mmmmm no.
A while back I saw a pic of someone that just mounted everything on his wall behind his monitor. I'll see if I can find the pic...
edit: this isn't the exact pic, http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_dec [...] mputer.jpg but the same idea. The difference was that everything was spread out a lot more and was mounted on a plank of wood. Looked cooler than this one.
edit2: Looked more like this: http://www.chadabarrett.com/images/wall_1.jpg
Unless everything was liquid cooled it would be too noisy. Four case fans, GPU, CPU and PS fans make a lot of noise.
Unless everything was liquid cooled it would be too noisy. Four case fans, GPU, CPU and PS fans make a lot of noise.
Well, throw out the case fans, since it's open-air. CPU, GPU, and PS fans are typically temperature-controlled, so I'd think the reduced air temp would make for a lower core temps and therefore lower fan speeds. Yes, I agree, you'll hear those 3 fans more, but in their defense, they should be spinning slower than if they're in an enclosed case. (in theory)
I'd think watercooling would be loud too... haven't come across a pump quiet enough for me, especially to have sitting on my desk while running.
If you want a quiet machine just dunk the whole thing in mineral oil haha
Sure would suck to spill my beer on it or have the cat jump on it.
The real problem is heat, there's no mass to help soak it up
http://www.chadabarrett.com/images/wall_mobo.jpg
A while back I saw a pic of someone that just mounted everything on his wall behind his monitor. I'll see if I can find the pic...edit: this isn't the exact pic, http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_dec [...] mputer.jpg but the same idea. The difference was that everything was spread out a lot more and was mounted on a plank of wood. Looked cooler than this one.edit2: Looked more like this: http://www.chadabarrett.com/images/wall_1.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.diylife [...] ity-pc.jpg
"Don't Buy a PC Case, Go Open Air!"
I hope you don't have any kids, besides all other things that could happen in an open case (drop water, drinks, dust, something could fall into the fan, etc).
I thinks is a good thing for someone alone or a PC tech.
What about the Antec Skeleton Case. i have it or a daily machine and it works well and above normal temperatures have never been a problem. dust however is problem but a can of dust off does the trick.
P.S. Watch it if you have cats
Unless it was in its own air conditioned room (which I guess would mean it does have a case), this is a rather silly idea. Let's see - spills, pets, noise, ugly, --- ya no thanks, absolutely no reason not to have a case.
And that is hardly an enthusiast class board anymore... I think that thing was realeased in 2005.
I would love to go commando!
One of the issues I have with our open air testing rigs is the passively cooled pci/pci-x cards. They tend to rely on case fans moving the air around and without them some of those cards start to get a little toasty. It usually results in me stealing the little fans people clip on the walls of their cubicles to get some air movement over the boards.
Are there any links to people who did actually *nice* looking open-face computer case setups? Like with finished wood, and not cardboard, a metal grate, or some sort of ugly painted fiber board?
Nice, this is the cheapest test bench setup I've seen so far. Acrylic, though.. might not hold up very well.
well, in my tropical island home, theres alot of moisture, alot alot alot of dust, and alot and alot of kids so no.
"Showing off what you've got and easy access is worth risking a little dust."
Spoken/authored like a true idiot...
Let's see... I have an old house, two dogs and two cats. Within one week, this computer would look like a giant alien hairball with weird lights and whirring noises.
Within one week and one day, it would be as useless as a giant alien hairball. No more noises, no more lights.
Well, throw out the case fans, since it's open-air. CPU, GPU, and PS fans are typically temperature-controlled, so I'd think the reduced air temp would make for a lower core temps and therefore lower fan speeds. Yes, I agree, you'll hear those 3 fans more, but in their defense, they should be spinning slower than if they're in an enclosed case. (in theory)I'd think watercooling would be loud too... haven't come across a pump quiet enough for me, especially to have sitting on my desk while running.
Crysis makes my 4870 hit 97, case closed. Both sides opened, it sits on 85. 87 in JC2 to 80. Ambient - 41.
One of the issues I have with our open air testing rigs is the passively cooled pci/pci-x cards. They tend to rely on case fans moving the air around and without them some of those cards start to get a little toasty. It usually results in me stealing the little fans people clip on the walls of their cubicles to get some air movement over the boards.
I believe there is something called a ceiling fan.....
Let's see... I have an old house, two dogs and two cats. Within one week, this computer would look like a giant alien hairball with weird lights and whirring noises. Within one week and one day, it would be as useless as a giant alien hairball. No more noises, no more lights.
My old P4 workhorse never had it sides closed. Lost the sides while moving
I haven't had a closed case in a long time, I leave the side right open. I like to look at my pc...
WHY!!! do people think that open air has more dust than a normal pc case???
IT"S THE SAME PEOPLE
the only difference might be the danger of stuff falling on the mobo... water, cupcake... or maybe even ur cat... that would be a funny lolcat...
I haven't had a closed case in a long time, I leave the side right open. I like to look at my pc...
Get a case with a window! You'd be surprised how much dust and dirt your case fans actually prevent from settling on components, just from having a closed system to force everything through.
Get a case with a window! You'd be surprised how much dust and dirt your case fans actually prevent from settling on components, just from having a closed system to force everything through.
I have a case with a window in my wardrobe, but I prefer my modded case. This way i can also swap things around in my PC really easily.
Unless the room has super-duper AC and the NB, CPU(s) GPU(s) are liquid cooled, it doesn't matter which case or even no case.
It will run above ambient temperature.
Red neck case indeed..
The name is Enkira NK-OC400A
The product is this: http://www.ask-tech.com/en/product/case/nkoc400a/
no thank you very much
$50.00 for what? Two pieces of plastic, you have got to be kidding, right?