CaseLabs Merlin SM8 - Now Shipping! - Page 49

Well, judging by their reception here, and their expanding line, and their willingness to listen to the consumer and re-design on the fly, I believe that CaseLabs is going to fill more than a niche, possibly an itch !
I'd like to see sales numbers, I'm sure its good.

Market share never has to be important if you love what you are doing. I'm 100% positive the guys at CaseLabs love what they are doing.

Yes SM8 is on its way now.

I could go thru this thread alone and count the number of posts about having bought the SM8 - its growing !

I was looking at the Corsair and Silverstone cases and ended up buying the SM8 so I would say it has a broader appeal. It's a bit more spendy but much nicer as we all know.

On a non-related note, I've (well my back really) come to the conclusion that I need some castors. Most people going with the standard ones and not the HD for their Merlins?

Sweet! Thank you!

I'd say it really depends on your environment. Either set of casters will hold the weight no problem, but the HD caters will roll more smoothly. If your case is going to be a a really smooth surface then the standard casters are fine, but if its going to be on carpet or tile then go with the HD casters.

To be fair, the enthusiast market is a niche to begin with. The vast majority of computer owners are not going to be shelling out the dough for a CaseLabs case. But they're also not getting a Mountain Mods, or even a Corsair 800D, or any other "enthusiast" case. Anyone who is actually an enthusiast is probably looking for the case that best suits their build needs and design aesthetic and if they're willing to pay $250 for a Corsair case, the odds are good they would also be willing have a look at CaseLabs, even though there is significant disparity in price. I just don't see an extra $150-200 being a dealbreaker for a serious enthusiast who is likely investing $1500-2000+ in their rig already, and I'm living proof: I was dead-set on getting myself an 800D and was actually reading a review here on OCN that suggested CaseLabs. I was sold in about 2 minutes and ready to start saving for the SMH10 when the SM8 was previewed. And to be perfectly clear, I don't have a disposable income and it's not as though money is no object for me. I just find that the features, the aesthetics, and the customer service are worth every penny, and anyone who spends any decent amount of time researching their components before purchase should reach the same conclusion, in my opinion.

Yes, its true the SM8 LOOKS an awful lot like every other CaseLabs case, but the very fact that they are releasing new form factors and case sizes, as well as new hardware upgrades like the USB 3.0 front plate or the drop-in rad mounts is in itself a huge advantage over the competition (Also, I LOVE the reversibility of the Merlin line). Corsair hasn't released a new case in how long? The 800D is still their go-to for watercooling setups and it's practically an antique by computer timelines. I for one can't wait to order my own SM8.

TL;DR: CaseLabs cases are expensive but worth the money and definitely provide healthy competition for other enthusiast brands.

All I have to do is spend 5 minutes in the SM8 doing the same thing that takes a half hour in my Switch and I'm happy all over again.

Seriously <3 CaseLabs

I've forgotten how bad most cases are because I'm so spoiled.

Well, then ! that must be a happy puzzle that faces Mandrix. So much real estate and he's wondering what to do to fill it up some, like the psu/rad cover in his Switch build. His SM8 is looking fine, but its asking for that special move, and I'm sure Mandrix is gonna come up with sumtin speshul, but not before he puts some worry on his scalp