Spotswood Custom Computer Cases
by Derek Wilson on August 27, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
The C-24 Case
This case is basically a wooden drum (think oil rather than musical) that lies on its side supported by four legs. While Spotswood can make C series cases out of more materials and in more colors than L series cases, the appointment of the design is a little spartan. There are options for the side panels as well, but ours are black and conceal the computer within (when we eventually get one in there).
The top, bottom and back of the case (interestingly the back is where the Spotswood case badge is), both have room for lots of fans. This case comes with 3x120mm fans installed in the top three fan ports. The two rear ports can remain unpopulated, and we recommend leaving at least one of them without a fan for reasons we'll explain later.
Those two metal covers with the thumbscrews are where you feed in lines to the outside world like power and video. PS/2 keyboard and mouse, network and other cables also go through these. Having two different ports for external lines can help to keep the back of this computer a little more organized looking than others with a reduction in accessibility to the actual spots these devices will need to be plugged in.
With the case on its side and the panels removed, we can look into the case and see the plate used for mounting the motherboard. Looking into the other side of the case we can see the mounting areas for the power supply and disk drives. The orientation makes this less like a traditional case shoved into a kick drum. Imagine taking the side panel out of a traditional case and mounting the drive rack and power supply on the outside of this panel and you've got something more like the internals of this case.
On the front, USB, IEEE 1394, and speaker connectors are available. We also have two spots for optical drives and power and reset buttons. The major difference between the C-24 and L-24 is the external appearance and additional hardware. Here are the rest of our shots of getting the C-24 set up with legs and ready to convert to an L-24.
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mediarx - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
If you want to see some crazy designed cases hitting the shops next year check out :http://www.media-receive.co.uk/epages/es111379.sf/...">http://www.media-receive.co.uk/epages/e...h=/Shops...
bigboxes - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
"Granted I don't use cases at all in my house, but even a standard monolith of a computer case wouldn't do much to impress."What's that supposed to mean? You don't use cases to house your pc components?
computerfarmer - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
This looks like it could be used in the living room as part of a home entertainment system. Perhaps the new AMD 790GX/SB750 chipset motherboard. Looking forward to the review on the chipset.dawp - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
Ya'll are missing the point of this case. it's for locations where a conventional case may not fit, looks wise. it'll fit in where a normal case would be out of place.That said, interesting, but for that size, I think it could have been better.
Davelo - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
Huh? The only place this would fit better is on a soundstage and then some rocker will attempt to beat it with a stick!This thing is a goofy idea. Might as well buy an apple.
Clauzii - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
"Oh, that was Your PC? Sorry mate!"Lars Ulrich (Metallica) after watching the inner stuff getting crashed to pieces :D
HOOfan 1 - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
Yeah because a big bass drum fits into so many more decors than a conventional computer case.So what about the monitor, mouse and keyboard, how do those compliment that bass drum?
Polynikes - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
Did you not even read the first page of the review? This case was purchased specifically to go into a room filled with musical equipment, including a drum set. A random bass drum off to the side with wires sticking out of it would look better than a beige computer case.HOOfan 1 - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
I read it, I was replying to the person above who said the point of these specific cases was to fit into a place where a PC case might not look right. His respose was to those saying these cases looked ugly. Apparently this company only makes cases that look like drums...so that is rather esoteric, more so than an ordinary computer case.Since most people in this thread were refering specifically to the aesthetics of the drum case, and the poster I replied too was trying to defend the case by stating that it fits in aesthetically where a computer case does not, I am pointing out that a computer case will fit into more environments than a drum shaped case.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - link
Could use an LCD TV mounted on the wall for a monitor, and have the keyboard/mouse (wireless obviously) stored somewhere out-of-sight when not in use.I don't mind HTPC/Shuttle style cases anywhere and I wouldn't go for a large bass drum either, but I can imagine them having somewhat more practical possibilities. For instance, if you have a single sub as part of your system, they could probably make a case that looks similar to go on the other side of the room. Someone mentioned a coffee table, I'd think that would be easy other than hiding the cable for whatever is used as a monitor.