Hi everyone,
I have two questions for you:
1) Is it worth dropping 2x 120mm AIO support for not seeing screws on the side panel?
2) What do you prefer USB Typ-C or Audio+Microphone?
What's the matter? Don't like the angle of the dongle?
Although no one likes dongles, I don't think most of the usual Apple based arguments really apply in this instance.
USB-C would only add capabilities you otherwise wouldn't get from a 3.5mm jack, USB-A, mini-DP, etc. Most of the devices you would be plugging in come with easily swappable cables anyway (USB-A - A, USB-A - B, micro USB - USB-A, mini-USB - USB-A, etc.) or at most would only need a simple, cheap USB-A to C passive adapter that you could easily just leave attached or leave it sitting on top of the case, tucked in a bag, etc.. It's not like it would be realistically taking anything away from the functionality of the PC. You could still power it, you could still plug in your headphones (in the back or a simple $5 adapter). While the potential functionality you gain is tremendous.
You could route your VR headset connection to the front over USB-C, you could easily plug in a USB-C portable monitor for work on the go, you could plug in a USB-C or TB3 HUB for a plug-and-go home/office workspace setup. You could potentially support USB-PD, or Quick Charge, whatever. USB-C, for all of it's MANY inconsistency problems, when implemented correctly, is an amazing connection that should see as much pushed adoption as possible.
Extremely long post below:
Nitpicky, but unless you're pronouncing angle ahn-gull, it's not quite skookum,(assuming you're quoting AVE) and definitely awkward to say out loud.
Also, unless routed from the VRPort from the back of the GPU, the type C port will only act as what the motherboard/pcie card port it is connected to, hence no VRPort/Displayport/etc. for the foreseeable future. Type C is just the connector, not the standard. Also, most of the other benefits you cited are best done by connecting through the motherboard IO/GPU.
That's not to sat that I'm against USB-C as the front panel connector of choice. Actually I'm quite in favor of it aesthetically, which is my main concern for pretty much anything on the front IO, as with a case this small, pretty much everything looks goofy plugged into it, not to mention messy.
So,
@dondan I've been thinking ever since you first brought it up all the reasons why the front panel IO would have what it has, using this photo as the base. (I also forget if we had to drop support for one of the ports or not, so I'm going to just stick with 2-3 for right now.
If we were to drop support for 3.5 mm jacks:
Option 1: C A A
Option 2: C C A
Option 3: C C
Option 4: C A gives:
Port Trade Study:
- 3.5mm
- Pros
- Easily Accessible Audio
- Silver ports can look nice if done properly
- Based on renders, it may be a little too shiny against black cases and stand out too much, though renders != real life, and you also didn't have a black painted side IO case
- Cons
- Poorest Audio Quality Option (on-board Audio + Extension Cable)
- Can only be used for Audio (single use case)
- Better options -=- Most decent quality Amp DACs provide far better audio quality and clarity, esp. for high impedance headphones (100 Ohm+)
- USB Type A
- Pros
- Ubiquitous
- Very Multipurpose
- large selection of items to directly interface with
- Cons
- Black port can look ok
- Being phased out
- USB Type C
- Pros
- The most multipurpose
- Pretty much the cleanest and most minimalist port
- Can directly replace 3.5mm audio thanks to Apple (Still not a huge fan of type c audio though, so I'll keep my external DAC Amp plugged in through the motherboard IO)
- Type C external SSDs are becoming far more common
- The port of the future, and already seeing it take over Type A for number of things being designed for it in 2018 to the foreseeable future
- Cons
- Most flash drives are Type A, which is really the only thing that I would plug into front IO due to convenience. Anything even semi-permanent should be plugged in through the back.
- Currently requires the most usage of dongles to interface with different components
As for the three options, my preference is C A A or C C for aesthetics.
As for if you were to actually use them, for now C A A gives the best options in 2018 for use cases, but I think by 2020 C C or C C A would better functionality with the hardware coming out, unless you're a student, where you'll probably need a Type A port to easily interface, leaving for me C A A, C A, or C C A to be the best option.
But again, actual renders would be really nice to make a final decision here rather than ****ty paint net edits based on iffy at best assumptions and memory.
---------------------------------------------Radiator Support------------------------------------------
As for 1x240mm support vs both 1x240mm and 2x120mm AIOs, I've been back and forth. I really don't hate the screws, and I actually like the way screws look if done well, however, I definitely understand your concern.
As for if it's worth keeping support, I'm always open to having more options, but 2x120mm AIOs are definitely not the norm.
So the cooling options I see are as follows:
- CPU WC AIO, GPU Air
- CPU + GPU WC Custom
- CPU WC AIO, GPU WC AIO/hybrid
- CPU + GPU WC, Modular AIO
Which brings us full circle to the question of who this case is for. Is this for the advanced user or the hardcore enthusiast? In general, the audience here is hardcore enthusiast, so do we want to keep this open for less experienced builders where a 120mm CPU AIO and a Hybrid GPU would be the most comfortable setup for a completely watercooled system in this case without any tinkering or voiding warranties?
Modular AIOs are extremely rare, often prohibitively expensive, and extremely bulky without custom mods for this case, so I'm going to leave that out until someone shows otherwise as soft tubing custom is pretty much a better option all around.
I think this question needs to be answered with real-life thermal comparisons. We know that 120mm AIOs can handle a helluva lot of heat (see r9 295x2), so seeing numbers will help people make decisions.
That comparison is made even more difficult when taking into account the fact that this generation is the generation of 2.7-3 slot High-end GPUs, where most 2-slot cards are the company's cheaper quality ones.
So that would pretty much just leave CPU AIO and full-custom loops. I do think EVGA is still producing a vapor-chamber blower , which may be one of the remaining options for this case for an air-cooled GPU, unless thermals on open-air coolers are good (Which I'm guessing is going to be the case, but I'm a data guy. I like numbers).
As for myself, I am most likely going full-custom, and going to try my darnedest for rigid tubing, though I need one in my hands to make that call for sure.
