<p>So I've decided now that I'm back home for the foreseeable future, it's time to sink nerd roots.&nbsp; Besides at work, I've been using a laptop exclusively for the past few years due to living overseas.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With the advent of tablets, high-powered laptops, and other fixed configuration devices, building PCs from scratch has fallen out of favor.&nbsp; PC components are mostly marketed to gamers these days, and have features like garish LED fans and liquid cooling.&nbsp; Even individual components like memory, video cards, and&nbsp; CPU fans can create some crazy light shows.&nbsp; I enjoy a powerful computer as much as the next person, but the disco lights just aren't my thing.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Since building my own computer brings back a lot of nostalgia, I decided to go for it.&nbsp; Some people start with choosing the internals and then work their way out.&nbsp; I prefer to start with the case.</p>
<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/netdivide.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2618"/>
<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224452-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2608"/><br/><i>After hours of research and scrolling through cases that resembled technicolor vomit, I ordered the Corsair Obsidian 500D.</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200108_170841-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2615"/><br/><i>For about $159, you get this monolithic masterpiece shipped free via Amazon Prime.  It arrives in a huge box.  At 20  inches tall, and just over 9 inches wide, it's bigger than I thought it would be.  It's also built like a brushed aluminum tank!</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200108_170659-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2614"/><br/><i>On the back side, you can see the included 120mm exhaust fan, and the ruggedly built hinges for the side doors.</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224131-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2603"/><br/><i>The side doors open suicide style, which is pretty cool.  They are also screw-less, and held shut by powerful magnets.  While I've never been a huge fan of glass on computer cases, these doors are heavily smoked tempered glass.  Without any light source inside, you can barely see through them.</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224624-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2609"/><br/><i>The top side is well ventilated, and the dust filter is also held magnetically. </i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224743-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2610"/><br/><i>Another dust filter ahead of the intake fans slides out easily from the front.</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_225145-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2613"/><br/><i>The power supply has its own separate compartment with isolated airflow, and yet another easily removable dust filter.  The case also sits on 4 stout rubber feet that keeps it well elevated above the floor or desk(good luck with this beast on your desk).</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224344-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2607"/><br/><i>The motherboard compartment is very spacious, with plenty of room for a full ATX motherboard.  It even has a dedicated channel for running cables.  I anticipate some OEM cables might be too short for this case, but we'll find out.  There also seems to be plenty of room for multiple long video cards.</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224239-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2606"/><br/><i>The opposite door provides access to the hard drive trays, with 2 3.5 inch trays and 3 2.5 inch trays.</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224210-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2605"/><br/><i>Unlike the cases of yore with multiple 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch bays , this case has nothing but this single panel with power/reset, USB, and audio ports.</i>
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<img src="https://joshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200107_224857-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2611"/><br/><i>You are also provided a baggy full of useful hardware, including zip ties and velcro straps.</i>
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<p>Overall, despite the gargantuan size, I love this case and can't wait to continue this build.&nbsp; It can be easily purchased on Amazon here:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074T6691B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;th=1">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074T6691B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;th=1</a></p>
<p>Also if you prefer, you can also buy the disco inferno (lighted fan) version for a mere $100 more!</p>
<p>The next piece of the puzzle will be the power supply.&nbsp; Stay tuned!</p>
<p>Thanks for reading!</p>
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 <br /><center><hr/><em>Posted from my blog with <a href='https://wordpress.org/plugins/steempress/'>SteemPress</a> : https://joshman.com/building-a-new-workstation-pc-part-1-the-case </em><hr/></center>