Spotswood Custom Computer Cases
by Derek Wilson on August 27, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Notes on Cooling
This case isn't designed with conventional airflow in mind. Normally we want airflow directed in from the front and out of the back of a case, passing over the components inside. The main exhaust for this system is meant to be the top (which isn't a bad idea: heat does rise anyway), but the orientation of the board is wrong for optimal airflow over the components. Additional fan mounts are on the back and side, but there's no mount or intake on the front (though you can probably have one added by request). You can also reverse fan direction as you see fit, but you'll want to avoid creating extra turbulence so adding intake fans on the bottom makes the most sense.
In reality, this case is meant for water-cooling everything - and we mean everything. The system comes with mounting brackets to attach a radiator to the 120mm fans at the top exhaust port, offering quite a bit of airflow and room for a nice large radiator. This is a good design for a water-cooling system, and definitely the best way to go in terms of cooling the system inside.
It is possible to attach fans and radiators to the rear and bottom fan portals as well, but we would recommend adding an intake portal to at least one of the side panels if you plan to mount three internal radiators. Actually, leaving at least one of the rear fan portals free will help out a lot, as there is no easy way to reach the rear panel on the mobo, the PSU hard power switch, or any other cables going into the system from the back. Of course, if you leave one of these rear fan portals free, you can just take out three thumbscrews and reach right into the system to do whatever you need.
Our recommendation on cooling a system configured like ours (i.e. without water-cooling) is to use the bottom fan portals for intake (with intake fans) and use the top and rear for exhaust. The rear exhaust nearest the expansion slots on the mobo will be important if you are not water-cooling your graphics card, as you will want something to direct the air from the graphics card away from the rest of the system - normally, high-end GPUs vent directly out of the case, but this design prevents that. Water-cooling everything (including the graphics card(s)) with two radiators and intake fans on the bottom is probably the best option.
The one chink in the armor is that the PSU will still exhaust into the case in an area that is not near any fan portals and happens to be right under the hard drive array area. I've had more than one hard drive die via overheating, so I would look at adding some internal fans to move air around the drives as well. A solution might be a small exhaust portal on the front near the bottom
With an enthusiast system inside, properly cooled, this will not be a quiet computer. Of course, you could go another way and just attach an industrial fan to the front or back and create a wind tunnel across the system. Yeah, that might work...
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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.