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CaseLabs: What would you like to see?

39K views 589 replies 168 participants last post by  ENTERPRISE 
#1 ·
Hey Everyone,

Now that Kevin is working hard to tame production schedules (and making good progress!), I finally have more time to devote to designing new products. I have lots of ideas floating around in my head, but I thought it would be great to reach out to all of you and get your opinions. What do you want to see?

What form factor will you use for your next build? Are you still using HDDs? What about cooling: air, AIO or custom loops? What kind of GPU(s)? Big "showcase" build or something smaller?

Things have changed a lot in the last few years. What features would you like to see? Another "system" series like Gemini, another small series like Bullet, or go in a completely different direction? We've always valued input from the enthusiast community, so I'd love to have a conversation about what is import to all of you.

Let's get those new builds going!
cheers.gif


Thanks!

Jim
 
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#4 ·
Hi Jim,

Here's my input:
  • Tempered Glass Panels on all cases
  • USB-C/Thunderbolt 3
  • No more HDD's, they're in external enclosures
  • Only done custom loops since the last 10 years of PC building, no air or aio units
  • Not interested in cases that only support SFX PSU's
  • Bring back customization and two tone support
Thanks!
 
#6 ·
Just finish the BX8.

That said, things I want to see and some features I still think need to stick around.

  • Horizontal Mobo Mounting Options (ala Bullet Series, S3/5/8 Series)
  • Vertical Mobo Mounting with Vertical GPU mounting brackets (See any recent popular case)
  • Better support for AIO coolers (especially since more expandable AIO solutions seem to be coming out)
  • Tempered Glass for Windows (not full glass side panels but glass as an option to acrylic)
  • HDD/SSD support. I still run multiple hard drives in my system but having support for more SSD mounting options would be nice. A 4 HDD CaseLabs cage can fit 4 SSDs but realistically it should hold a lot more.
  • Cases that can fit on server racks.
  • Slide out mounting options (for fans, rads, etc...). Still keep drop in where appropriate
  • RGB Aluminum
 
#7 ·
I use mostly ATX form factor but go to M-ATX on occassion for some builds. Lately Ive been struggling to find cases for liquid cooling that arent huge. Most production cases waste a lot of space that could be used for radiators cooling parts.
This mainly is why I was so interested in the Bullet BH8 (BX8?). It was about the smallest case I could find capable of holding 2 240mm radiators, no more no less, and had a horizontal layout. Closest thing I could find was the S8S which was also discontinued and more or less seems to be the BX8 with a lower/side compartment and stretched for 360mm radiators instead of 240mm

So there does seem to be a hole you could fill here. Sort of minimum possible size cases for liquid cooling a full ATX system (assume cpu+gpu+gpu). I know a lot of people were interested in the BH8 as a dual CPU liquid/AIO Case.
 
#9 ·
I would really like to see the Gemini series come to fruition.

Also would like to see the option to buy the cases bare aluminum for those that want a custom powder coating done at their local shop.

I had my THW10 custom powder coated and half the cost was stripping off the existing coating.

Glad to see things improving/expanding for CaseLabs!

 
#10 ·
  • Definitely would love to see tempered glass. You see this more and more on upcoming case's
  • I like what Corsair have done with their new ''concept slate'' and a railing system to get your fans out quickly and clean them. Potentially something you guys can do too?
  • Get rid of HDD cages and create more room for SDD's
  • Think about a way to remove the midplate with like a sliding system. It's a pain to remove the midplate to work on it where it might become easier
  • I've only used custom loop's for the last 5 years. And would love to see something like the SMA8 but then different.
 
#13 ·
1) More all white case options.

2) Tempered glass options.

3) Something like the BX9 idea or an alternative dual bay design where both sides/bays can be seen through a window. After our mod of the BH4, we've been wanting a larger case that can be used as a true dual bay design. We have a really fun project planned for that, but require the proper case.

4) It would also be nice for you guys to team up with someone like Clockwerk to have reservoir panels for the cases. Instead of a 360mm rad mount, it could hold a flat reservoir.

That's all off the top of my head. I'll add more as I think of them.
 
#14 ·
A couple of things come to mind....

- Ventilated side panels for the S8 that match the lines/profile of the front. Drives my OCD nuts that the horizontal lines are in completely different locations between front and sides.
- The ability to build a rig with or without hard drives. While many gaming rigs don't need such, some of us still need several mechanical drives because of hobbies like audio and/or video stuff, which take up insane amounts of space... Even more so when you want some for of redundancy alongside it all
- Bullet BX8 which is optimized for air, but still works for water decently
- Bring back two-tone and primer options, even if at an extra cost and delay to the consumer. Sure, I'd love to be able to custom order whatever colour (*cough* Illusion Rootbeer *cough*) I want, but primer provides options for pretty much anyone that wants to go a custom colour on their rig, either via paint, or a local powdercoating shop.
- Did I mention two-tone? Yeah, black/gunmetal, or gunmetal/white cases are downright gorgeous.
- I'll second the USB-C others have mentioned..... Or at least the ability to have 4x USB 3.0 up front (aka two 3.0 headers, since most boards now have this)

- I'd bold this one, but that's too silly for the moment..... The option to have TWO ATX rigs (or heck, even SSI-EEB boards) in one rig. Or even two mATX rigs.
 
#15 ·
-I would love some built in dust filters. I live in a dusty environment/have pets but I HATE the look of things like DEMC filters.
-Tempered glass
-USB-C
-I'm a fan of horizontal mobos.
-I'm phasing out HDDs. Hopefully they will only be in the NAS soon.
-Smallish form factor. I generally do ATX but mATX mobos are getting better. I want a larger mATX case that can fit at least 2x 240 rads. Preferably a bit more.
 
#18 ·
Hi all,

I've just registered for this post, hope I'm not too late for the party.

I'm a proud owner of a gunmetal SMA8, which was really tough to acquire here in Hungary, but if one wnats something...

Anyway, more to the point, my wishlist would be:

- tempered glass side panels, retrofittable for older cases, like SMA8, with some kind of rubber band insualation and a hinge mechanism like current doors ; I know this might be too much to ask to be retrofittable, but would be so nice...ofc you only have to cover the upper part, not the lower chamber

- some kind of dust filtering solution; ok this can be made DIY style but it is not the same

- USB-type-C options

- HDDs are less and less used (most people I guess build small home servers/NAS for files anyway), but PCI-E and other add in card SSD are the way to go now

- would be nice to have an option for standing VGA layouts, so in vide enough cases add two more IO panel brackets but those ones vertically, just "on top" of the hrizontally arranged 8-9-10 slots of the mobo tray

- DDC pump bracket options into lower chamber

I think overall these are the changes that would make the SMA8 fully up-to-date and a must have item for watercooling enthusiasts. Also it would be nice if most of these, especially the tem glass side panel would be retrofittable

For new products I think you might look into many VGA cases (up to even 10 maybe, as cryptocurrency mining is again on the rise.

ALso you might wanna try something more slender (ie narrow) but taller, that maybe has room for a vertical 560 rad but only 8 inches wide outfit? This way the depth (length?) could be limited as well to lake 22 inches?
 
#19 ·
My wish list for a case.
  • Full windowed side (Tempered or not), minimal border/no border like Corsair 540 window or most tempered glass
  • Minimal wasted space inside. Dont want drive cages, they are ugly. Maybe 1 or 2 2.5 SSD mounts between front of case and mobo laying same orientation as mobo
  • Vertical GPU mount, something nice that comes with cable and hides the cable. Maybe vert mounts for 2x cards even
  • Great cable routing behind mobo tray, include velcro ties
  • Room for at least 280+ top/front, 140 back
  • PSU shroud if PSU would be visible through window, otherwise behind mobo
  • ATX/standard PSU
  • USB 3.1, type c, HDMI out
  • No gamer aesthetic! I dont want my PC to look like an 8 year olds space ship. Modern but not boring.
  • Dust filters on EVERY opening. Magnetic when possible. Bottom filter better pull from front/side. Im amazed at how much a difference the filters make for the inside of may case, radiators, fans, etc.
  • Tool-less where possible but not super important to me.
Id like to see the above in mATX, ATX. ITX would be nice with some compromise (like 240mm top/front). Itd be nice to see a line of cases that look almost identical in ITX/mATX/ATX (except size obviously). Nothing worse then seeing the case of my dreams and realizing its motherboard support is terrible.

Maybe less tangible...but usually what turns me off on a case usually comes down to 1 design element. It will be everything I want all around except one glaring issue. It looks awesome but has poor cable mgmt or its got a great layout if it wasnt for that vertical fixed hdd cage running from top to bottom that can be seen through the window or the Window is only half the side. I know that really comes down to preference but for me, id be willing to pay a bit more for something that ticks all of my boxes without compromise.
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteWulfe View Post

A couple of things come to mind....

- I'd bold this one, but that's too silly for the moment..... The option to have TWO ATX rigs (or heck, even SSI-EEB boards) in one rig. Or even two mATX rigs.
I'll also second on this one, would be awesome.

Also multicolour options yeah, but I htink that might drive up the prices even more...

OK so here is one other bold suggestion, or you can call it wild if you want. I'm coming from a part of Europe where even 200 USD cases count as expensive..soo, maybe any ways to make a sort of budget version of your big cases (again, msotly SMA8). Of course you have to give up some quality for that to make it still profitable, I realize that, but your designs are so awesome that even thinner steel versions would make them look really good. Lot of watercoolers here shy away from CaseLabs as it is way to expensive even for people in watercooling (to get an SMA8 here one has to pay almost double the list price, thanks to shipping, VAT whatever.....so 1200 USD for a case is too steep...

I told 'ya it will be wild
biggrin.gif
.....
 
#22 ·
- Tempered Glass (on a hinged door)
- More modern exterior aesthetics
- USB C
- While I agree HDD's are used less, don't eliminate cages, just have one or two that are "hidden" behind the motherboard.
- Same with 5.25" bays. If not using flexbay on Gemini, a way to add one or two 5.25" devices.
- DUST FILTERS
- Would be nice to see a legit dual system option from Case Labs as well.
 
#23 ·
I'd like to see my S8 parts that I ordered back on May 9th 2017, lol.
biggrin.gif


I kid, I kid! I know you're still catching up with orders.

Just a thought regarding the tempered glass option that keeps cropping up.
Decades ago, I had an old Lian-Li case that used aluminum channels to mount the plexi panel in the door, they bolted to the door, the plexi panel slid into the channels.
That could eliminate having to drill mounting holes in the glass when fitting it to the case door.

I'd also like to see swing-out hinged doors for the S8.
Not quite as fancy as the gull-wing door creations from the Diva, but an interesting option, lol.
Speaking of that, how about a lighted mid panel for the S8?
smile.gif


Edit:
In lieu of hinged doors, and this would apply to all of the removable panels, I'd like to see an improvement to the attachment system of the panels.
It's wonderful having removable panels and doors, but they are so damn hard to pull off the case with the current system that uses the pegs and clips.
Perhaps some kind of a magnetic tab as used on some cabinets?
 
#24 ·
Here are some suggestions, mostly based on the SMA8, because that's what I have
tongue.gif

Yeah, tempered glass side panels, that can be purchased for existing cases
Maybe more cages for mechanical HDDs at the back? Some people want to get rid of them completly but I want to fit more than 2 HDDs in my build without getting an adapter for the front
The bottom side cover that's on the side with the window is pretty hard to remove, maybe find a way to make it easier
The option to have a 100% solid midplate, without the little removable piece at the end for front mounted 480 radiators.

r
 
#26 ·
I would love something like the SMA8 but less extreme. Perhaps a 7 slot case? I think it would have more mass appeal and you could expand your offering in the magnum single wide series

Pros:

Hidden PSU
Full basement for radiator and cable management
Motherboard chamber that puts all the bling front and centre.
Flex Bays in the MoBo chamber for rads fans and everything else (9 flex bays max to give it that full uniform look when used with a 120.3 radiator mount).

Cons:

It's way too DEEP, unless you have dual pump/res combo.
Flex Bays in the basement? What for?
No drop- in radiator option for the top.
The inlaid door handle is a little to utilitarian for me. Delete it, increase the window size and design a sleeker door catch/handle.
 
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