Is it better to buy a case with the power supply already or...

[horatiub]

buy the PS separate?

I'm in search for a new case for my Conroe machine. I can't decide if I'm better off getting a better PS buying it separately from the case.

Any suggestions? Can you point out some good cases with/without PS?

 

[VinDSL]

IMHO, don't worry about it, one way or the other! It's a crap shoot!

The fact of the matter is, you aren't gonna get any PSU worth a damn for *free* anyway, no matter what!

Sure, your *free* PSU might work okay for a year or two, but don't base your (case buying) decision on it, and don't depend on it working out for you in the long-run.

If the case comes with a PSU, fine! If nothing else, you can use it for bench-building your next motherboard -- or for an emergency backup, until you can get down to Fry's Electronics, PC Club, or CompUSA and get a REAL PSU. LoL! Yes, that's what ppl do in a 'real world' emergency!

The #1 thing that kills computers is PSU problems. #2 is USB issues. You shouldn't take either one for granted!

Bottom line: If you find a case you like, it doesn't really matter if it comes with a PSU or not!

 

[horatiub]

good adivice. Thanks.

Any recommandations then on a good case?

 

[VinDSL]

LoL! In advance... You're asking the wrong guy!

I run a custom Mountain Mods U2-UFO Optimax hybrid (Opti-1203). So, naturally, that's what I'm going to recommend.

The problem is, not many ppl are willing to spend $430 OTD (minus the PSU) for a case, so I'm basically pharting in the wind...

Know what I mean?

 

[horatiub]

gotcha.
I was thinking on spending somewhere less than $120 for a case. I'm gonna wait for other people to pitch in with some good cases

 

[VinDSL]

Heh! Good man!

 

[Zepper]

Most here will recommend to buy the case and PSU separately, but often you can't get a case w/o a PSU (the Antec Sonata II or the Arctic Cooling Silentiums fer instance). If the case/PSU bundle comes with as good a PSU as you would have bought separately, then go for it.

..bh.

 

[pkme2]

I recommend case and PSU separate.
LL PC-7B +2
PSU

You can check the many threads on cases and cooling, and the 2 come up the best for your money and best for reliability.

You can go cheap but its your rig. Pay now or a lot later. Its your choice if you don't want problems.

 

[acegazda]

aopen cases come with fortron psu's. Some have up to 400w in them, just a consideration if you must have them together. Otherwise, the llpc7b+2 is a great choice and for the psu, an enhance 5150gh will run a decent c2d sli machine, but might struggle with xtx crossfire, as the power requirements are more. Bought separately these 2 are $180 shipped. The enhance can be found for the lowest price @ ewiz. pkme2's suggestion for the seasonic is good, especially since you can get the 600w v2.0 for $120. Good buy! What's the difference between v2.0 and v3.0?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: acegazda
What's the difference between v2.0 and v3.0?

Lets look together, http://www.formfactors.org/

EDIT: I can find v2.0 but not v3.0. Might poke around later.


...Galvanized

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Tell us OP, do you want a window, is aluminum OK, are you looking for near silence??

Some ppl don't like a front door, others do. So what about that?

I love Lian Li cases and several nice ones can be had at < $120. Then a decent PSU can
be had for $50~$70.


...Galvanized

 

[JM Aggie08]

ya, buy your own if you feel kinda of insecure about it. the idea mentioned above about using it as a reserve is a great idea.

 

[horatiub]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Tell us OP, do you want a window, is aluminum OK, are you looking for near silence??

Some ppl don't like a front door, others do. So what about that?

I love Lian Li cases and several nice ones can be had at < $120. Then a decent PSU can
be had for $50~$70.


...Galvanized

Window on the side is fine, it prolly looks better with. Aluminium is also OK. I don't care much for the front door, and yes, silence in the house will be nice.

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: horatiub
buy the PS separate?

I'm in search for a new case for my Conroe machine. I can't decide if I'm better off getting a better PS buying it separately from the case.

Any suggestions? Can you point out some good cases with/without PS?

IMO, whether you get a PSU with your case or not, you should at least consider an aftermarket. Simply, your PSU is a very important FRU. No matter how much you spend on everything else it'll all run like crap on a cheap, underpowered PSU. In fact, I think you'd be well advised to take it a step further and put a UPS between your expensive PSU and the wall, for good measure.

 

[horatiub]

anybody else with some more suggestions on a good case?

 

[Zepper]

The cases mentioned in the thread on the surprising new Rosewill cases here in the C&C section are nice, if you don't mind high value/low dollar cases... And check the AOpen A600A on mWave.com for a high-priced case at a midrange price - it comes with an AOpen/Fortron PSU which may be unusable with a modern system though (may have a weak 12V rail).

.bh.

 

[ForumMaster]

get the CoolerMaster Centurion 5 case model UW. that comes without a PSU and is a great case.

 

[imported_Mongrel]

Well, as the 'new guy' let me throw my two bones into the mix...

By a GOOD case from a decent manufacturer, if it has a PSU, it will run for years under 'normal' useage.

By a GOOD case from a decent manufacturer, if it doesn't have a PSU buy a good one. It will also run for years under normal use.

Now, if you are always playing with you PC, overclocking, running raid setups with 5 hardrives, looking into SLI video cards, and a host of other 'hobbiest' type exploits, then by all means buy a $250 dollar PSU and a $300 Titanium case with a Platinum face plate.

However, if you are going to build a machine with typical components (one or two drives, a basic video card, and one or two fans...) most quality built PSUs 350W or so will be fine for years to come.

The idea that faulty PSUs kill more PCs than any thing else, just hasn't been my experience at all in over ten years of rolling my own. They literally just keep going and going, some of them on PSUs that were used when I built them using throw away Aopen cases from where I work. Many times, we are talking about old-school 235w units to boot.

I build my PCs to use them. I only open them up if I have to or if I'm upgrading. Several of them run 24/7 and have been for the last year (minimum). I do heavy photo editing currently, and heavy online gaming previously. Never had a problem with my machines and the 'best' psu I have is an Enermax 350w unit in a machine that's been off-line for a year. My current Antec 350w unit is a year old and still purring like a kitten.

FWIW-I don't have any windows in any of my boxes either....

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: pkme2
I recommend case and PSU separate.
LL PC-7B +2
PSU

You can check the many threads on cases and cooling, and the 2 come up the best for your money and best for reliability.

You can go cheap but its your rig. Pay now or a lot later. Its your choice if you don't want problems.

I like this one .

Lian Li make some of the best cases around. The PC-7 is a great value, but the higher-end models are also worth looking; give the V-600 and V-1000 / 1100 a look.

Seasonic respectively make some of the best PSUs you can get. Very efficient, rock solid voltages, high quality parts (Jappenese caps, 120mm ball bearing Adda fan), and the undisputedly the quietest (active) PSU around.

Good alternatives are Enhance, Forton-Source, and Zalman.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: horatiub
anybody else with some more suggestions on a good case?

This case for $38 (+ shipping).
This PSU for $58 (+ shipping).
I don't think you can go wrong since it's gonna fall into your ~$120 budget.