The Computer Case From Hell

For the longest time my computer had been built using a case made of clear acrylic.  It made it completely see-through, and awesome looking.  However, that old phrase, "looks aren't everything," has never been more true.

That case was a nightmare to work with.  Everything about it screams bad design.  I'm one of the people who had it lucky, it seems.  Several people have reported that it has failed to hold up the power supply, causing it to fall and ruin motherboards.  What computer case is it?  Why, it's the LOGISYS CS888CL.

Yes, it's still being made and sold.  NEVER, and I mean NEVER, should you buy this case.  It is horrible.  Enough said.   STAY AWAY.  It is EVIL!  Seriously, it has made a pact with the devil, and I am about to prove it.

1) Thickness.
Most computer cases are made out of fairly thin aluminum, usually less than a millimeter in thickness.  This case was more than a centimeter thick.  This means that I had to buy all new screws to mount all of my hardware.  Now isn't that just fun?  It sure wasn't for my wallet!

2) Material Quality.
Acrylic, as cool as it looks, simply isn't a strong enough material to support a computer.  Even at over a centimeter in thickness, it can barely do the job of aluminum at .1 mm thickness.  This explains why the power supply to computers, which is usually fairly heavy and mounted at the top, can fall and destroy the hardware, as it did to one newegg reviewer.

3) Fans.
No, I'm not referring to rabid fanboys, but rather those things that move air around.  The case comes with three of them, and they all have blue LEDs in them, making the case look even cooler.  But there's a catch: the fans are the cheapest pieces of made in china garbage the company could find.  That means that the fans are noisy as hell, and don't make enough of a difference to be worth leaving them on and running.  Also, if you try to remove them, I hope you like big gaping holes on your case that destroy any semblance of coolness that may have been present.

4) Side Panel.
For most computers, removing the side panel is as simple as pressing down and pushing back.  The hardest part is if there's a screw holding it in place that you have to remove, and sometimes even two.  That's it.  For this case, however, prepare for a nightmare.  Normally, you've got about a dozen or so screws you have to remove, and then you have to find some way to break the laws of physics so that you can lift the cover straight up.  That's right!  No pulling back on this case.  I ended up having to use a suction cup to take the side panel off.  Bad design.


5) Value
Let's see here, this evil case costs $63.99.  Now let me put this into perspective by comparing this to another case I've worked on, one that puts this case to shame in every category.  This other one is made of steel, as opposed to acrylic or even the standard aluminum, making it a far-higher quality material.  It also is very easy to take apart with the slide-and-go system I described earlier.  Unlike the evil case, this one uses standard front-panel connectors compatible with every board.  And then there's also the carry handle, allowing for easy transport.  The only two downsides is that this other case is designed only for smaller boards, and it isn't fully transparent.  Other than those few flaws, this case wins.  The price of the superior case: $24.99.

Final verdict:
This case is terrible.  Just terrible.  If you ever see one, don't buy it.  Actually, wait, buy it.  Buy it, remove any hardware that might be salvageable, then destroy it as completely as possible.  Use a sledgehammer, firing squad, C4, or whatever, just destroy the case.  You'll be doing the world a favor by eliminating a safe haven for Satan's forces, and by preventing another person from experiencing the anguish that was working with the CS888CL. 
In all seriousness, you're better off with a cheapo.  I guarantee you that it will serve you better.