How are these cases?

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Case 1

Case 2

The last time I bought a case, I bought a $35 dollar piece of crap that looks awful without researching brands or models. Now, I'm not a cheapskate, I'm willing to spend more, but the more top ended cases don't look good or look like Dell. I like the simplicity of the Asus case, and the rough look of the Thermaltake case.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Zepper]

I've always heard that most of the Asus cases are flimsy - seems like the buyers' reviews seem to agree with that. 80mm cooling - pathetic. It also comes with a junker PSU that you'll want to upgrade right away - it's hard to buy a decent PSU of similar wattage for less that what the whole Asus package goes for (except from me, on occasion). On the other, I'd go with the Enermax Chakra or maybe an XClio or Tagan instead - lots of cases out there with that 250mm fan in them these days.

.bh.

 

[Zepper]

Sorry, dupe...

.bh.

 

[RallyMaster]

I honestly have to say that getting a case that looks like a Dell will detract unwanted attention to your computer. No one will annoyingly ask you "so...what's that?" and you won't have another source of lighting in your room (LEDs/cathodes). I started out getting a LED lit case that had a temperature reading in the front of it but I got tired of it very soon. I ended up getting three Cooler Master cases that look like absolutely nothing and I've never been more satisfied (with the exception of my CM590 which is going to be messed around with soon enough again). I will not recommend Thermaltake designs because they use relatively flimsy steel in their low end cases and also use archaic designs with lots of flashy crap that serves no purpose.

My firm recommendation right now has to be to visit a store locally that carries a wide selection of computer cases on display. Open them up, tear them apart and then see if you like it. Sometimes you might still not get what you want but you'll be much closer to what you're truly looking for.

 

[us3rnotfound]

OP those 2 cases are complete junk if you want to mod a little. Just go for a nice CM case or something simple. It's $60 but will last a lot longer than an Asus or Thermaltake.

 

[Quiksilver]

CM 690...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119137

CM 534...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119106

Antec 300...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129042

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: Zepper
It also comes with a junker PSU that you'll want to upgrade right away

I'll never use the PSU that came with my case.

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
I honestly have to say that getting a case that looks like a Dell will detract unwanted attention to your computer. No one will annoyingly ask you "so...what's that?"

I just don't like the way Dells look. I occasionally like the questions. When they ask where I bought it, I tell them that I built it.

My firm recommendation right now has to be to visit a store locally that carries a wide selection of computer cases on display. Open them up, tear them apart and then see if you like it. Sometimes you might still not get what you want but you'll be much closer to what you're truly looking for.

I don't know of any place that sells cases in my area. Anyone know of any places in Nashville?

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
OP those 2 cases are complete junk if you want to mod a little.

I don't really mod my case.

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
CM 690...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119137

That case looks pretty cool. I forgot about Raidmax cases, what does everyone think of this case?

 

[Zepper]

Micro Center, maybe Fry's (I know they are at least as far east as Texas), Best Buy carries a few (prices are usually not that good and they usually don't have them out of the box on display), but you can scope them out and buy online. Check the small stores too - in that size town there ought to be some Mom&Pop PC operations. Yellow Pages are helpful.

.bh.

 

[Zepper]

OP wrote the following:
"I'll never use the PSU that came with my case."

Antec case bundles generally come with decent PSUs these days (but some models ship w/o PSUs so beware of store upgrades and/or switcheroos, a few others supply good PSUs in their factory bundles too.

.bh.

 

[nerp]

If you're willing to spend about $80 to $100, look at some of Lian-Li's more modest and stately cases, such as the PC-A05B and PC-60 variants. They are sexy but subtle and nicely built. They're not for everyone, but I've been a Lian-Li guy for a long time and I really wouldn't get anything else at this point.