Your opinion on "the perfect" case..

[kuzzia]

which features and other attributes do you think the perfect case should have?

In my opinion:
- fan filters!
- CABLE ROUTING!
- 120 mm fan compatibility
- bottommounted PSU, intake from underneath case (of course, fan filter!)
- sturdy material
- enough room inside (both room around motherboard AND width enough to accommodate tall heatsinks
- enough numbers of 5,25 inch bays to mount a couple of 3,5 inch HD's.
- CPU cut-out hole behind motherboard tray

a socket for internal 3,5 inch harddribes, ala Antec 200, would also be appreciated and shouldn't be that expensive to include in the case.

[mkk]

Agree with the original points and would like to add:
Completely flat sides, top and front. The latter with a double hinged 270 degrees door. Also flat rear as much as possible, no spamming of unfiltered venting holes near the cards.
Top fan exhaust could be hidden like in the Define XL (angled to essentially blow backwards), if the case is not high enough to simply sport two rearwards fans.
Some kind of modular drive bay system, allowing for custom suspension or a similar built-in system. Preferably a removable drive section to allow for installation of an extra long graphics card without having a very long case.
Pre fitted dense dampening material everywhere on the inside, and enough width to make room for the option of adding some foam as well as making cable management easier. Rear fan could be made 140mm thanks to this as well.
Optional wheels included with the case.

[bozar]

For silencing I think the case should be totally closed with exeption for the bottom and the back. A creative effective intake in the bottom of the case and one or two fans in the rear would be a perfectly quiet case. Seriosly considering adapting these ideas to a brand new casemade out of wood.

[hillkitler]

A case with good seals around the front and side panels would be a godsend. It would save me (and many others, I'm sure) a lot of time taping off holes and such if a case came along with good seals to begin with.

I like a nice, simple, flat look as well. I'm rather partial to the P180B. Lots of dark, flat planes. There's just something satisfying to me about having a computer that looks like some kind of futurisitic mini-fridge. It's just so big, though.

Things I would love:
- Something small enough to set on a desk (reasonably).
- Clean lines, spartan styling.
- Tight fitting side panels and front bezel.
- Removable fan grills.
- Fan filters, of course.
- 270 degree front door.
- Single 5.25" bay, preferably on the bottom, a la P180 Mini.
- No external 3.25" bays.
- Removable mobo tray.
- Numerous (at least 4) front USB ports.
- Isolated PSU mounting.
- Built in fan controller(s).
- All of the other things that are fairly commonplace (cable routing options, noise isolation, heavy construction, etc.)

I've taken to case modding in order to fix (perceived) flaws in pre-built cases. Though I appreciate that most people lead far more productive lives than I do and can't always find the time to tinker as much as they'd like. The perks of being a lazy, unemployed college student, I suppose.

[alecmg]

oh my, reading these posts and feels like you are describing my Antec Mini p180. Every detail fits. Well no cutout behind cpu

[kuzzia]

"A case with good seals around the front and side panels would be a godsend. It would save me (and many others, I'm sure) a lot of time taping off holes and such if a case came along with good seals to begin with."

For dust-filtering I assume? Not for silencing, right?

[hillkitler]

For dust-filtering I assume? Not for silencing, right?

For filtering, yes. Or rather blocking.

[Modo]

My take: Take the SilverStone Fortress 2, but make it square, resize to mATX, and put everything other than the motherboard flat on the opposite wall.

[whispercat]

In addition to everything listed so far...I would add:

- thick steel construction
- heavy front door that closes and seals (like a fridge door)
- power buttons and I/O ports on top

[kuzzia]

a Big +1 for power buttons and I/O on top..