Cheap case/psu advice.

[pepsimax2k]

Hi, would anyone like to share their views on cheap case systems? I'm looking to buy one plus a psu, though not necessarily together. I'd prefer dual 120mm fans for noise reasons, preferably at least one included, though i'm a little concerned about going too cheap due to case quality.

As for the psu, I'm also not sure about how careful I should be. I'd love to get a good antec/tagan/hiper etc model but there's very few bundles cheap enough the include a good quality psu. I'm also not going to be using it on a powerful system at all, antec watts calculator said 190w would do so anything's good really.

Right now I've found the http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119115 with http://www.coolermaster.com/pr...tail&tbcate=22&id=3713 psu included for around £40. stats are:

+3.3 = 22
+5 = 25
+12 1/2 = 18
-12 = 0.5
+5vsb = 2.5


What I wanna know is, would I be any better off going with a cheap case such as an i-cute (see http://www.icute.com.tw/english/AllProduct.asp ) or any of the http://www.ebuyer.com/search/?...tID=23&bolShowAll=true, a trying to get a better psu eg. tangan tg480-u22...
+3.3 = 28
+5 = 48
+12 = 20
-12 = 1.0
-5 = 0.8
5vsb = 2.5


obviously the psu is a little better but the case will have to be real cheap for it to come in at around £40. so... is it worth it? does the coolermaster psu / case look like a better deal?

thanks.

 

[Tullphan]

Case
PSU
Both involve a rebate, but both of these items are from the same vendor so you may save on shipping charges.
You're looking at ~$100 shipped AR for a very good case & fairly decent PSU.

 

[Zepper]

Tull has it for a cheap decent case - rumor is that the 690 is supposed to be CM's 900 killer. Mine arrived today and it's a lot heavier than I expected at 25 pounds gross.

If you can find an Antec SU-380 or SU-430 somewhere, you can often pick them up cheaply as the owners don't seem to know what they have... Very good, Seasonic made PSUs. They are $45. and $49. respectively, directly from Antec's replacement parts store.

.bh.

 

[NoelS]

pepsimax,

The 690 that Tullphan pointed you to is a good buy for an inexpensive case. What you to need to avoid is buying a case/PSU combo because it is cheap... a cheap PSU is just that - a cheap PSU. Buy a quality PSU even if you have to pay a little more. Antec, Seasonic, Corsair (made by Seasonic), PC Power and Cooling, Ultra, Enermax all make decent PSUs, among others.

Consider buying a modular PSU - they're worth their weight in gold because you just use the cables you need, no bundling the excess cables into the top of the case where they just take up room... I have both an Enermax 620 and a Corsair HX620 modular PSU, and they're both good solid power units, although I prefer the Corsair over the Enermax.

Noel

 

[Jhhnn]

Check out the Inwins- The psu's are decent, nothing spectacular, and the boxes are stout, well made, with nice features at an entirely reasonable price. Tough to beat for the money- definitely not junque.

 

[Zepper]

I always recommend the Rosewill R5600 series (also sold here and in the rest of the world under the original brand of Yeong Yang - but the Rosewill come in some diff. color schemes on their OEMed models). See my review here:
http://www.techimo.com/reviews...roduct.php?product=431 . I also like the Rosewill R6A series which is based on the same chassis as the Antec SLK3000-B or Compucase/HEC 6A19 series. All are fine budget cases with Casitude (tm) scores of from 4 to 5 (of 5). Several models in each series are discounted at Newegg right now.
. I see you used pounds as your currency reference, so I'm sorry if these pointers aren't of much use to you. And welcome to the AT forums if I haven't already greeted you.

.bh.

 

[pepsimax2k]

>> I see you used pounds as your currency reference, so I'm sorry if these pointers aren't of much use to you.

well at least someone noticed it

yes, we british are unfortunately without such things as rebates and £5 / $10 cases, and what american imports we have are either very late in coming or much more expensive than over there.

so... the Cooler Master Elite 330 or 332 is the closest I can get to the CM case for any respectable budget amount, the only other options are cheapo generic ones.

As for psus, I have my eye on ebay and have scoured far and wide for retail ones and there's not much available. What there is are usually generic, though with specs better than the antec earthwatts and the only problem would be build quality (though presumably antec outsource their lower end stuff to the same kinda places as everyone else). I'm gonna start a new thread for cheapo psu recommendations anyway. As for modular - i'll be so lucky

 

[Zepper]

The Antec Earthwatts and a number of their bundled PSUs are OEM by Seasonic. Very nice units! I use an SU-380 from one of their cases in my system and it's great. Maybe find one on eBay - they bundle some Earthwatts with cases too (80 as last two digits in bundle part number). The diff. between SU and EA is the 80Plus rating and sleeving and maybe the connector compliment - otherwise hard to tell apart. SU hits 80% eff. over nearly enough of the output range to qualify for 80 Plus cert - almost but not quite.

.bh.