Case brands - most comprehensive list...

[buleyb]

I'm looking to buy a case, but I just want to look around...

Could people list out all the brands you can think of, big or small.

and try not to repeat, no reason to make a super long thread...

 

[Cerb]

http://www.newegg.com (esp. this one)
...just start browsing, detail view w/ pictures enabled, and go to the see it links and reviews.
Oh, http://www.directon.com too

 

[buleyb]

I know plenty of places to find them, I'm just looking for some different designs. Everyone seems to have the ChenMing made cases that Antec, Chieftec and crew made so popular.

I was hoping for some brand names so I could find some better case designs

 

[Cerb]

My opinion:
Best low budget:
Evercase e4252
Best mid:
Antec SLK3700AMB, not sure of the original manufacturer.
Best high:
Chenming Dragon and all its variants.
Some of the odd Enermax cases (Thermaltake's Xaser III is based off of one)
Best really high:
Lian-Li (odd looking to me)
Best OH MY GOD! You're spending $200 on a CASE?:
Coolermaster. Expensive, but DAMN! Nicest cases in the world to work inside of.

 

[TenaciousT]

It seems to me that 3/4 of the people around here buy either:

1) Antec (PLUS1080AMG) or Chieftec (AX-01BLD). Other than the cosmetic differences in the cases I linked (side window, side fan, color, etc...) I believe they are identical. Note the PSU comment below.

2) I think some people also swear by the Antec Sonata

3) Lastly the Lian-Li (PC-601 USB2). I think this is the case they get... I can never keep the model numbers straight and they all look the same to me. 😛

And it also seems that everybody recommends that you spend the extra bucks for a good PSU. The Antec TRUE is the one I see most often recommended. Personal Experience: I fried my last computer because I didn't have a decent PSU and I didn't have my system on a battery backup (different than a surge protector). After a few powerspikes and an undervoltage from my wall socket my machine went "bye-bye." I'm told by those in the know that if I had a UPS and a decent PSU I wouldn't have had to buy a new machine... of course I wouldn't have had this great excuse to buy a new machine either 🙂

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: TenaciousT
It seems to me that 3/4 of the people around here buy either:

1) Antec (PLUS1080AMG) or Chieftec (AX-01BLD). Other than the cosmetic differences in the cases I linked (side window, side fan, color, etc...) I believe they are identical. Note the PSU comment below.

2) I think some people also swear by the Antec Sonata

...a modified SLK3700AMB.

3) Lastly the Lian-Li (PC-601 USB2). I think this is the case they get... I can never keep the model numbers straight and they all look the same to me. 😛

Ditto!

And it also seems that everybody recommends that you spend the extra bucks for a good PSU. The Antec TRUE is the one I see most often recommended. Personal Experience: I fried my last computer because I didn't have a decent PSU and I didn't have my system on a battery backup (different than a surge protector). After a few powerspikes and an undervoltage from my wall socket my machine went "bye-bye." I'm told by those in the know that if I had a UPS and a decent PSU I wouldn't have had to buy a new machine... of course I wouldn't have had this great excuse to buy a new machine either 🙂

Hehe (and I agree that they were right, BTW). However, since that THG PSU article, there is a low-end PSU that really does the job...Fortron.
However, if you feel you might want to spend more for some security, the Antec TruePower PSUs are IT.

 

[buleyb]

Yeah, I wish I liked the Sonata. I've seen/used one, and it wasn't functionally bad, and it is quiet, but it is ugly, and the plastic door sucks...

I really like the Lian-Li PC-6070 but like you said, $200 is pure piss to pay for a case w/o a P/S

 

[Slammy1]

Here's something I ound useful when i was case hunting recently:
THG Case Review

I went with the Cooler Master ATC-201C, which is the ATCS-Tek MRO-16 listed in the guide. With the Zalman 7000CU it's an excellent solution for cooling, simplicity, and design. I didn't need the instructions to figure it out, tooless, one thing I'm very happy with. Cost $112 + s/h w/o PSU.