How Long Do You Recycle Your Cases?

[Leyawiin]

I assembled a PC from a mix of spare and new parts last week. Just dawned on my I was using a six year old Cooler Master Stacker 830. My main PC is in a four year old Lian Li A05B and the one that sits in the living room is in my very first case from 2003 - an Antec SLK3700AMB. I know they don't wear out or become totally antiquated like hardware does (Antec doesn't have USB 2.0 ports though), but I don't seem to ever buy new cases.

What's your oldest case still in use? Do you hang onto them for years?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I assembled a PC from a mix of spare and new parts last week. Just dawned on my I was using a six year old Cooler Master Stacker 830. My main PC is in a four year old Lian Li A05B and the one that sits in the living room is in my very first case from 2003 - an Antec SLK3700AMB. I know they don't wear out or become totally antiquated like hardware does (Antec doesn't have USB 2.0 ports though), but I don't seem to ever buy new cases.

What's your oldest case still in use? Do you hang onto them for years?

In our house, I have a 1998 Gateway full-tower case for Mom's computer -- an LGA 775 mATX system with an SSD boot drive, DVD/RW, USB2 front-panel 4-port hub. We're still using the Gateway keyboard on that sucker!

Another one is my bro's computer: a CM Stacker 830. I already told him: Next computer I build, I'm going to upgrade his system as well, but recapture that Stacker for my own use. The rest of the boxes are CM HAF 922's -- the submodel with three 200mm fan vent options. I don't plan on buying any new cases soon if these all continue to fill the bill.

Lemme show you something:

That was my 2007 case-mod project. It's a 1995 Compaq ProLiant Server case with the latching SCSI drive trays. The front door swings open; has a latch, lock and key. Two 120x38mm San-Ace exhaust fans. 3.5" double-caster wheels with brakes. Bling-bling switched cathode lights which reveal the innards through the mirrored window-film. I gave the case and the Q6600 system in it to my other brother, and now wish I'd kept it.

It was just . . . so-o-o- . . . darn . . . big . . .

It's all about preference and aesthetics. To build a computer, you just need a box with fan ventilation, workable switches and LEDs, and drive cages. If you want "bling" and finesse -- you do the work. But no less for the mistakes of giving my masterpiece away, computer cases are about the last thing in my mind for taking to the recycler, and the first thing I think of for recycling into further use right here at home.

 

[dma0991]

I have an old Acer M1100 case that used to contain an AMD Athlon64 3800+. I don't remember the date I got it but it is gutted and now houses an Intel Sandy Bridge G620 system that my parents use as their desktop.

Then there's this black and gray Dell case that I procured recently for my HTPC. It was a Pentium 4 system but I gutted it, cleaned thoroughly and it now holds an Asus E35M1-M Pro. Surprisingly, given its poor condition (a ton of dirt/web/hair/unknown stuff accumulated over a decade) when I got it, everything still works; even the front USB ports.

The cases that I felt were still usable are black or any dark shades of color. I have two old white cases that are still sitting on my shelf, unused because the white has discolored to a pale yellow.

 

[Leyawiin]

Another one is my bro's computer: a CM Stacker 830. I already told him: Next computer I build, I'm going to upgrade his system as well, but recapture that Stacker for my own use.

It is a pretty nice case. Mine had been sitting in a box in my garage for over three years after I moved. Can't believe I hadn't put it to good use during all that time. Now it just has a Phenom II X4 980 in it.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I have an old Acer M1100 case that used to contain an AMD Athlon64 3800+. I don't remember the date I got it but it is gutted and now houses an Intel Sandy Bridge G620 system that my parents use as their desktop.

Then there's this black and gray Dell case that I procured recently for my HTPC. It was a Pentium 4 system but I gutted it, cleaned thoroughly and it now holds an Asus E35M1-M Pro. Surprisingly, given its poor condition (a ton of dirt/web/hair/unknown stuff accumulated over a decade) when I got it, everything still works; even the front USB ports.

The cases that I felt were still usable are black or any dark shades of color. I have two old white cases that are still sitting on my shelf, unused because the white has discolored to a pale yellow.

Home Depot -> wet-or-dri 400 grit, enamel primer -> black gloss enamel. Keep the dust off while it dries and done. . . .

 

[dma0991]

Home Depot -> wet-or-dri 400 grit, enamel primer -> black gloss enamel. Keep the dust off while it dries and done. . . .

Its not worth it. These are really cheap cases, with less than subtle, gaudy looking front panel designs. I can do a great paint job but the front panel will always be an eyesore. I'll keep them for server duty, in some dark, hidden corner of the house.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I give older full systems and parts away to friends who don't have a lot of cash. I've also given away a couple of older (mostly Antec) cases using Craigslist. I can't see trying to get any money for them and it's usually too much of a pain and too expensive to ship them.

I'm not someone who ever upgrades a case in a computer. If I build a PC or server, that's the case it will live in for its lifetime of 3-6 years.

 

[Zorander]

I used an Antec P180 from 2005 until 2012: 7 years.

Still have it gathering dust now at home.

 

[*kjm]

Still using this one.....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119042

Almost 10 years now.

 

[Leyawiin]

Broken link kjm. What case is it?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Its not worth it. These are really cheap cases, with less than subtle, gaudy looking front panel designs. I can do a great paint job but the front panel will always be an eyesore. I'll keep them for server duty, in some dark, hidden corner of the house.

Granted and agreed. If you attach a dollar-value to your leisure time, it would seem that a purchase trumps all. When I did my "monumental mod," it was practically an art masterpiece project, except that functionality trumped the aesthetics.

Even so, I had, on occasion, cut and modded the front-panel plastic and replaced it with "perf-steel" or the so-called "modder's mesh." That also worked. Not a lot of trouble either, unless you count the cutting and shaping of the perf-steel, but that's also pretty easy.

I had bought some perf-steel for my 2007 and other modding projects. I had some left over. I needed to extend the life of a table-top gas-grille. Adding the extra metal to the grille's "heatspreader" reduced the time it takes to fix a T-bone. Amazing.

 

[_Rick_]

I used an old AT case (I think it started out holding a 286 or 386) with a P II level Celeron (333MHz) until 2006. The case must have been almost 20 years old.
It's been replaced by an original Cooler Master Stacker in 2006, which I will probably keep in server duty for a few more years. Thanks to the flexible 5.25 front, I can eventually put hot-swap front bays in, and really make that case the next best thing to a rack-mount storge server. It's been through it's first complete fan change two years ago though, which has helped make it living-room friendly, at least from the sound levels.

In the same year, I got a CM Elite something or other - basically a slightly-better-than-throwaway case - which still houses an E6600/8GB/GTX260-216/Early Samsung SSD for my mother. Fans will have to be replaced eventually.

My lst build, around 2.5 years ago was around a Fortress FT03, right when that case came out, and I'm pretty sure that case will be in use for a while yet. Projected upgrade for the internals is another 2 years off, they've just gone through the midlife RAM+GPU upgrade and then we'll see whether I'll give it away to a loving home, or just put in some new hardware.

On the other hand, I'm usually recommending people, who ask for builds, to get new cases. Why? Their cases are usually five to ten year-old throw-aways, made entirely from steel, lacking USB 3.0, with the worst front audio imaginable, and generally so bad, that when I show them a 60-80 euro Lian Li, they are just awed, at what an aluminium front can do to a PC's looks.

Especially, since lately I've been building a bunch of micro-ATX/mini-ITX builds, or used those as starting points, there are plenty of nice looking cases, that aren't too expensive. Anyone having a good case, probably knows enough about computers not to bother me about them.

 

[A5]

I usually go about 5 years from thinking about my past history.

My current case is from 2009 (P180 Mini), but I just stuffed a new Haswell rig in it last summer so it'll probably last me for another 4-5 years. At that point, I'll probably build a SFF system in a new case.

 

[nickbits]

I still use the first case I've ever bought--Antec Sonata but I don't use the PS it came with. I think that was around 2000 but I might be wrong. The only cases I don't use that I've bought was a really cheap one that I ended up hating and a server case that I didn't need.

My main PC uses a Antec Solo from 2006. As long as ATX is the standard, I don't see a reason to change it.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Well, to me, it's a metal box with a cage for 5.25 and 3.5" devices and an ATX mobo pan. A bigger one -- then EATX. It's an annoyance if it isn't convenient to service or it's difficult to ventilate. If the latter, I'd throw it away unless it has some parts that can be cut out to enhance a better case's "convenience."

All-aluminum offers very minor -- even insignificant cooling advantages, even if you can "leverage" them. Instead, it offers aesthetic value. And you pay for what you get. Like I've said -- I like my HAFs but I'm occasionally annoyed at the factory-warp stamped into my side-panel which requires hand pressure at three points when putting it back together. With the aluminum cases, you're more likely to escape these pesky little imperfections.

 

[Sunburn74]

I think I have used 3 cases over my lifetime. My current case is a silverstone FT02 which was bought for the superior sound insulation, excellent cooling (it has 3 large 180mm fans for intake), novel cooling design (90 degree rotated motherboard, isolated PSU, etc) and for very aggressive air filtration. I like it and don't see myself upgrading anytime soon. I think imo this is the best case on the market and has been so for several years.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I think I have used 3 cases over my lifetime. My current case is a silverstone FT02 which was bought for the superior sound insulation, excellent cooling (it has 3 large 180mm fans for intake), novel cooling design (90 degree rotated motherboard, isolated PSU, etc) and for very aggressive air filtration. I like it and don't see myself upgrading anytime soon. I think imo this is the best case on the market and has been so for several years.

Which model had the front-to-rear CPU-cooler duct? Lexan, maybe Plexi-Glass.

 

[fleshconsumed]

There are very few reasons to replace a case. The last time I replaced a case was to go from P180 to P280. Two reasons I did it I wanted USB3.0 ports on the front panel and I wanted single chamber case because I went with fanless PSU and I wanted case fans to pull some air through the PSU which was not possible in a dual chamber case like P180. I expect I'll keep P280 until USB4.0 comes around.

 

[justin4pack]

I change hardware out every year. Yea its lots of money but I like looking back at all the pc's I have built

 

[richaron]

Antec Super Lanboy almost lasted 10 years as my main box. Loved that case and I would have kept rocking it, but it was too out of touch. Size of GPUs & placement of ATA ports have changed so much that I literally couldn't fit 'average' stuff inside. USB 3.0 front panel & native 2.5" bays were the final nails in the coffin.

Lian Li v700 is my new baby (despite appearing a total flop outside my happy internal place). And I very much doubt I'll change it for many years.

 

[*kjm]

Broken link kjm. What case is it?

Sorry just saw this I'm still using the COOLER MASTER CM Stacker STC-T01-UW.

 

[Racan]

Let's see, in 2008 I've bought a Lian LI K7 (full aluminum exterior, SECC body, no plastic) used to house an oc'd C2D E8200, it's now home for a I7 4770 non-K, still looks good as new. The only reason I'll buy another case is to ditch the ATX form factor and go SFF for my next build.

 

[Topweasel]

1 internal swap here. So about 5-7 years. It's probably a good allowance of time to let new features of case design and connectivity come out to push the desire to start over.

 

[evident]

i've had my rocketfish lian li case since i got it for around 30 bucks in 2008. before that I had a thermalright armor for 4ish years that i hated ( always got massive gashes and cuts everytime i worked in it).

I want to make my lian li case a home server and convert my main gaming rig to a mATX or ITX. I think because cases are so long lived it's very important to make a well researched decision when buying (along with PSU), moreso than other components. also the fact that they are hard to resell you tend to keep them around more often.

 

[Golgatha]

My Zalman Z-Machine case is going on 7 years now.