Are refurb cases directly from Thermaltake a good deal?

[Slugbait]

Including shipping, I could save $35 on an HTPC case over Amazon's price. TT's support team was very quick to reply to my email to specify that all the standoffs and screws are included, but no answer whether or not the front bezel will have blemishes...just a "roll the dice" answer for that.

Of course, the HTPC case will be the secondary piece of my media room, so I'll be a bit vain about its physical appearance.

Worth the roll of the dice, or spend the extra cash?

 

[nitromullet]

How much is the case normally? I ask because $35 off on a $75 case is probably worth the risk, but maybe not for a case that's normally $200.

 

[Slugbait]

After tax, Amazon has it for about $110 shipped, while TT has it for about $74 shipped.

 

[Tristicus]

Any Thermaltake case is a good idea.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I am assuming this is the Thermaltake Bach? (as it is the only thermaltake HTPC case in the $100 range)...

Personally, I would stay away from that case. It is a design that is 5-6 years out of date (released end of 2005). The cooling design is simply dated and inadequate compared to more modern designs. The cooling design has non-existant intake, with the 80mm front "intake" being so restricted that it pulls less air into the case than a 40mm chipset fan could do, no ventilation asside from that front intake, and a few tiny holes directly above where the 2 60mm exhaust fans are located (which means the only real air flow in the case is going to go into the case from those top vent holes, and immediately out the back fans).

Again, I am basing this off the fact that newegg has no other thermaltake HTPC cases in the $100 range than this one. I recommend staying far away. Get a Antec Fusion Remote Max, or a Silverstonetek LC17, or LC20, or if budget is really tight a nMEDIAPC 2008B. All of these are using at least a more up-to-date cooling design. The nMEDIAPC 2008B has a side 120mm fan intake and 2 rear 80mm exhaust fans which actually allow for air to flow over the motherboard components and exhaust heat from the case. The Antec will cost you an extra $70-80 over what you are looking at, but has 140mm side exhaust, and 120mm rear exhaust fans with front/bottom air intakes which are filtered to keep as much dust out as possible, while staying extremely quiet and cool running.

 

[aigomorla]

Any Thermaltake case is a good idea.

not really..

considering there pricey for what they are.

There all blingy.. i'll give you that.. but there not made in the best quality, and the feel cheap when you compare it against a real premium case like a Lian Li.. or Silverstone TJ series.

But i am guilty of owning a few TT cases.
I even keep an armor around.

However, if your expecting them to be top quality, you should look at LL or Silverstone.

 

[Slugbait]

Yeah, it's the Bach. And I'll have to admit, I don't want to end up with another X-Infinity case. My primary machine is housed in an Armor 8000, and I actually like it a lot, so I figured maybe the Bach would be of decent quality.

The LC17, while costing twice as much, is very intriguing. Nice, understated appearance (I don't really want bling in the HT room, just wanted low-cost). I have a push-pull style PSU (Mushkin XP-650AP), so thermals would probably be better than a PSU with a bottom-mounted 120 fan. Can't go with the Antec, my mobo is a full-sized ATX.

Looking at the size of the LC17, I hoped that my Tuniq would fit...but only a 17mm difference, and I guess I have to account for including the feet, so it appears that the Tuniq will be about a half-inch too tall. Oh well, I still have the original stock HSF stashed in the cabinet.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Fallen Kell]

Yeah, it's the Bach. And I'll have to admit, I don't want to end up with another X-Infinity case. My primary machine is housed in an Armor 8000, and I actually like it a lot, so I figured maybe the Bach would be of decent quality.

The LC17, while costing twice as much, is very intriguing. Nice, understated appearance (I don't really want bling in the HT room, just wanted low-cost). I have a push-pull style PSU (Mushkin XP-650AP), so thermals would probably be better than a PSU with a bottom-mounted 120 fan. Can't go with the Antec, my mobo is a full-sized ATX.

Looking at the size of the LC17, I hoped that my Tuniq would fit...but only a 17mm difference, and I guess I have to account for including the feet, so it appears that the Tuniq will be about a half-inch too tall. Oh well, I still have the original stock HSF stashed in the cabinet.

Thanks for the advice

The Antec I recommended the was Fusion Remote MAX, which is full ATX, not micro like the plain old Fusion Remote. The Max edition has much better cooling, can fit graphics cards with passive cooling like the Powercolor HD5750 SCS3 (which has a huge heatsink on it which extends a few centimeters above the top of the PCB), and can fit very large CPU heatsinks (it even fits a Scythe Orochi!!!).

Review: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article890-page2.html

 

[Slugbait]

Thanks for the clarification, I was obviously looking at something else. Still, the wife ain't too happy about $74, so $125 is gonna be a hard sell in itself...$194 will get me in the doghouse.

Thanks, Kell

 

[Fallen Kell]

the wife ain't too happy about $74, so $125 is gonna be a hard sell in itself...$194 will get me in the doghouse.

Yeah, that was my concern. The Silvertone cases or the nMEDIAPC 2008B are all pretty good as well. If you can find it, there is also a Cooler Master Media 282. But it was discontinued (well, it may have gone in and out of discontinuation...) and is harder to find (thus prices have started to go up again...). I got one for $90-100 about 2 years ago.

http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=2553

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

TT cases are garbage. Low quality and a pain in the ass to work with. I don't think they have a R&D dept or even someone who has built a computer working for them. The layout of the cases look like a 5 y/o designed them.

 

[Slugbait]

TT cases are garbage. Low quality and a pain in the ass to work with. I don't think they have a R&D dept or even someone who has built a computer working for them. The layout of the cases look like a 5 y/o designed them.

My Armor is a delight to work with: all steel, and the only "low quality" part was the expansion card lock (which I removed the first day). And that 5 y/o got the cooling design totally down.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

My Armor is a delight to work with: all steel, and the only "low quality" part was the expansion card lock (which I removed the first day). And that 5 y/o got the cooling design totally down.

I had the same case. Bought another coolermaster and sold the armor for $25 on craigslist. You just haven't used a quality case

 

[Slugbait]

I had the same case. Bought another coolermaster and sold the armor for $25 on craigslist. You just haven't used a quality case

After rebate, that was about a hundred-dollar hit you took. And still, I'm the one who needs some edjukating...

 

[Meghan54]

Gotta agree with aigo in this. While Tt has some good looking cases, much of Tt's appeal stops right there. Under the looks are cheap build quality, and once you buy something truly high quality built, like Lian Li or Silverstone, there's no going back to Tt. I'd rather have a CoolerMaster, Gigabyte or Antec if I have to go cheap.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

After rebate, that was about a hundred-dollar hit you took. And still, I'm the one who needs some edjukating...

I had to sell it that cheap because I basically beat the shit out of it after being so frustrated trying to fit all my parts in there.


I wouldn't call coolermaster cheap cases. Maybe in price but they are great to work with and function well. My last 3 cases have been coolermaster. I just built my wife a HAF 922 and I'm using a ATCS 840. I just sold my old CM 690 on craigslist last night for $50. Guy told me has 3 of them he uses them for servers.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I wouldn't call coolermaster cheap cases. Maybe in price but they are great to work with and function well.

I think that is what he was saying...

I'd rather have a CoolerMaster, Gigabyte or Antec if I have to go cheap.

That really speaks for itself in terms of price/performance cases.

 

[Slugbait]

Lucked into an unmolested LC17 at Amazon Warehouse for $116 after tax. Apparently a return from somebody who ordered silver (box illustrates both colors, so I can see how the warehouse kid can make a mistake). My Tuniq was just a little too tall, and I figured I would have to give it up regardless of which case I chose...but it was so close.

Cramped working space, but I spent extra time planning out everything before locking down every screw, so assembly went smooth. Thank gawd I have a modular PSU, I have no idea where I would have stashed all the unused cables otherwise. Looks great in my HT cabinet. I installed vibration dampeners on the rear fans, and still for a 21dBA rating, they're pretty loud...far louder than the 80mm PSU exhaust fan. I might try to use Intel's Control Center to reduce the noise, or just splurge on truly quiet fans.

I'm very happy with it. Thanks for the hedz-up, Kell.

 

[nyker96]

I recently bought a haf 932 refurb from CM that's coming in tomorrow. I think most people say the refurb cases are mostly decent since it's just a case, maybe with some surface blemishes is all. I used to buy refurb heatsinks and turns out most are in good condition. I can do a post here when I get the rig and check it out tomorrow. if it's something high tech I'd avoid refurb but low tech stuff should be fine.

for me personally, I mishandle cases all the time, so it gets scratched up in like a few weeks so blemishes don't scare me. but if you expect it to be new condition like zero blemishes, I'd just buy new and save the headache.

 

[Slugbait]

Understood...like I said, I lucked into an unmolested case, and saved about $20. Condition listed at Amazon Warehouse specified "Mint", and the description stated it was simply a re-sealed, genuine OEM box. I kinda trust Amazon's word more than most other etailers.

When I first received it, I kinda freaked cuz the image on the box was silver...on the other side, the image was black (sigh of relief). That's why I guessed that the other guy bought silver, but got black by mistake and returned it.

 

[nyker96]

I'm glad your refurb case worked out for you!!

ok, I just got the refurb haf 932, the box is genuine haf 932 box. from a cursory examination, the case is used but very hard to tell. I can only tell the 'used' part from the following: the tool-less pci expansion has some wears, the plastic bag containing nuts and bolts are creased, the metal cut outs in the first and third cdrom position is missing. that's it. The exterior gives a look of a brand new case, I simply cannot find a scratch or dent. all accessories are included.