Best cast for constant travel?

[Coldkilla]

My brother has to travel between our divorced parents house every week. He needs a sturdy case so his hardware doesn't fail constantly 'hardwarily'.

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Swivelguy2]

A laptop. Or two desktops.

No desktop hardware is designed to be moved that frequently. If it must be a desktop, stick to a small (ie. stock) CPU heatsink and try to only use low-profile expansion cards, to minimize the torque on each PCB. Handle the machine carefully. The choice of case is pretty irrelevant.

 

[Coldkilla]

Are there any motherboards that don't have everything jetting out?

The kid can't afford two gaming systems plus building the PC it makes it a whole lot cheaper and thus a faster system for the money.

He really has no option(s)? Arg

 

[Skott]

Is the travel done by car? If so then that will be more forgiving on a case than if its by plane. Also is it just a case he needs and he is going to add existing parts or are we talking a whole new box with new stuff inside? If its all new stuff he could go with a SFF cube like case where the mATX mobo lays flat. I don't know of any ATX cases like that but there may be some out there. SFF cases are easier to tote about too due to their smaller sizes. With the mobo laying flat the hsf sticks upwards instead of outward and thus won't cause any torque flexing on the mobo. Less chance of things breaking off or working itself loose.

 

[Coldkilla]

Oh yes and its by car. He's also in the market for an entirely new system. Do those small cube like cases contain enough space for those huge 11inch gtx 200 series? lol

 

[MisterDonut]

Laptop is the way to go. If you really want a desktop, some of the smaller cases that will fit a full ATX would be something like the Lian-li A05 or Coolermaster Elite 360, but I don't think moving a desktop every week would be ideal...

 

[aigomorla]

Oh yes and its by car. He's also in the market for an entirely new system. Do those small cube like cases contain enough space for those huge 11inch gtx 200 series? lol

the term of case your looking for is called "LanParty" gear.

Basically something ur bro can quickly unplug in the rear and carry the box around.

Also no case in the world unless its padded will protect a computer's internal if its dropped.

So if your worried about an OOPS protection, its limited.

What kind of budget were u looking at? If you want to fit a monster card, the small cases can start at 200 dollars.

 

[Coldkilla]

~$1100 for his budget. Yea I'll look into those for em.

Sadly a laptop is out of the question. He wants a GTX 285 for certain and I'm sure with his budget, that wont happen hehe. He is an obsessive gamer, when he's not in college he's playing computer games or some other demanding program. We're talking 10-12+ hours a day at best. So I guess having his bigger case helps out in that regard, but if theres something smaller that doesn't compromise it it would be ideal.. but I guess his options are limited with the need for a sturdier case. As for the smallllll cases, I notice the room for the video card in these cases hardly clears 9 inches, when the GTX 285 requires something like 10.5inches.

Sidenote: My personal video card is fine for him, but for some reason I can't find it online anywhere (reputable): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130484

It was $359.99 when I bought it --- six months ago, now every GTX 285 is around $400. What happened? heh

 

[aigomorla]

It was $359.99 when I bought it --- six months ago, now every GTX 285 is around $400. What happened? heh

Rumor hills says Fernini is only a sup'd up 285GTX.

Thats why people are keeping old hardware, and not upgrading.

:\

Umm... id say ur main worry is size then. Whats the largest you think your brother will be comfortable tugging around.

And if he wants the small, is a 200 dollar case acceptable?

Google QMicra.

 

[Skott]

Qmicra, Da Box, and some of the Silverstone SG models will fit the build. He can buy a harness or a carrying case for these as well to make it easier to carry about. Luckily he has some choices here.

 

[wwswimming]

an old hard-body suitcase + some old pillows.

i have a Mega Samsonite that measures about 30" x 12" x 24" with an aluminum case. cost me $20, if that, at a secondhand store.

 

[Coldkilla]

I'll talk to em about some of these suggestions. Thx!