Quick help picking a case?

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
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So I am interested in a cheap case that may get resold or end up as a spare inside of a year. That's why I want it cheap.

Was looking at:


$60 - Lian Li PC-A05FNB
$50 - NZXT Source 220
$45 - Rosewill Blackbone
$40 - Antec 300

I'm leaning toward the NZXT, it looks like the extra $10 over the 300 is worth it. The Blackbone is a strong runner up, but it's got more side fan holes I'd end up blocking anyhow.

The LL is interesting because it's nice and small, but I don't want to get stuck needing a mobo power extension (noted on some reviews). It's also more expensive, but it is alu. and LL might be an easier resell.


Contents would end up being (all stock) i5-2500k, random nice z68 mobo, eVGA 460, CX430 psu and an SSD. No CD/DVD or HDD, no extras really.


Thanks
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
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I have Antec 300, I love it, it comes with 1 top 140mm and a rear 120mm fan, you can add 2 120mm in front and one more on side. Cable management is OK, and has lots n lots of room... I wish it has some kind of dampening for the HDDs...
The NZXT also looks nice, same kind of room for the fans and has tool-less HDD mounts, looks good!!
LianLi is too small and idk about Rosewill... I personally wont go that route...
 
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DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
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For $5 more you do get two extra Fans! very good deal, but I personally HATE LED fans...
 

Brakford

Junior Member
Jan 4, 2010
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doing close to the same build.....and deciding on case/ps as I type.

Build
i7 2700k Got a steal as nephew works at Intel
Asrock Pro3-M
MSI GTX 460

I hate spending money on cases........

Looking at Antec 300 or Looking at NZXT 210 $29.99 as don't need usb 3.0 in front...seems pretty much the difference to the 220

Now need to pick a PS...........
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
^ GTX 460 will need 2x 6pin so at least a 500W PSU. CX500 V2 is cheap on newegg, XFX 550W is $50 AR on ncix.us. That's pretty much it
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
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Wife decided the NZXT had the looks. Didn't do research on the 460 since it was an RMA replacement for an 8800GTS.... but looking at it, only has 1x 6pin. I already have the 430, but may get the 650... good price for a spare ;)
 

T_Yamamoto

Lifer
Jul 6, 2011
15,007
795
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NZXT is clean and very minimal which i like.
not fancy, not gamerish, it has a workstation like look to it
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
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What's the big deal? he can always use a splitter, one of my GPUs needed dual and came with a splitter...
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
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Ooops, my bad... bought a 460 a few months back for my HTPC... the RMA was a 450. 1 digit, sue me ;) the eVGA 450 has 1 6pin PCIe. On the other hand that is the exact same 460 I bought, and I used a molex-> PCIe for the 2nd connector. PSU don't care :)
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
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So the NZXT Source 220 came in... Definitely had an appropriate price tag. Well put together with cheap materials. The tool-less drive bays work, but the 5.25 ones are a touch tough to get open. I don't care since I don't use 5.25 bays for anything. Would have been nice with rotated 3.5 bays, but no biggy there for me again only use 1 bay and don't swap often.

Nice chunky hole in the mobo tray, and a few cable routing holes with no grommets, but they folded the metal neatly. They routed the fan cables too instead of leaving them hanging, nice touch.

So the 1 true negative I have is the single USB3 port uses a full-size USB3 header connector. True, it's not likely someones going to sell single USB3 port add-ons, but this will certainly not promote the idea.

The power/reset buttons are micro-switches, so no forgiveness if they get bumped. I'm used to switches with a little more travel.

It's a steel case that's pretty darn light-weight without being rattly, nice flat black finish throughout.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
So the 1 true negative I have is the single USB3 port uses a full-size USB3 header connector.
Aren't the USB3.0 ports always full size in cases? I've never seen a mini-USB port in a case...
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
76
lehtv, I'm talking about the motherboard end. There's only 1 USB3 port and 1 USB2. So, there's a 5 pin USB2 connector but the USB3 connector connects to the full 2port header on the mobo.
 

dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
4
0
I have a BitFenix Outlaw - good case for the price, not the best cable management but it's adequate for what I have. This is after my extenders.

wiring.jpg
 

Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
5,437
1,659
136
lehtv, I'm talking about the motherboard end. There's only 1 USB3 port and 1 USB2. So, there's a 5 pin USB2 connector but the USB3 connector connects to the full 2port header on the mobo.

But isn't it the same for the USB2 that connector is made to supply signal and power to 2 USB 2 connectors, but you are only going to connect it to 1.

The problem is I am not certain that its as easy as saying the mobo connector on one half is one USB 3 connector and the other half is another.

Edit: Almost. There are 11 connections needed but only 19 pins. Top row is one half, bottom is another. But on the top row there is an over current protection pin, that I would assume both USB ports would want to have.
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
76
The USB2 header is a half-header 1x5 pins, doesn't take up the 2nd port. This is the same as the card reader in my other rig so they could co-exist in one mobo header.

More data on the case... The top cable management holes are a little small and buried behind the top 140mm case fan. That was a bit of a hassle to route the 8pin mobo +12v. Also the toolless 3.5" mounts aren't as secure as I'd like. The primary issue is that the "shelves" supporting the drives aren't tight enough to prevent a lower drive from tilting up a ways. Since I'm only using 1 drive I grabbed the 'stay-put' contraption from another bay and installed it on the opposite side of the drive. This holds it quite securely, but cuts the max number of installed drives in half if you do this for all of them. The case could be moved around the office without it, but if you put the case on its side or plan on moving it in a car I recommend the extra security.

Plenty of room behind the mobo tray for the cables and a nice array of zip-tie loops to attach to.

Now to find out what is wrong with my build... Windows pukes during install and I'm getting multiple sudden reboots.
 

dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
4
0
The USB2 header is a half-header 1x5 pins, doesn't take up the 2nd port. This is the same as the card reader in my other rig so they could co-exist in one mobo header.

More data on the case... The top cable management holes are a little small and buried behind the top 140mm case fan. That was a bit of a hassle to route the 8pin mobo +12v. Also the toolless 3.5" mounts aren't as secure as I'd like. The primary issue is that the "shelves" supporting the drives aren't tight enough to prevent a lower drive from tilting up a ways. Since I'm only using 1 drive I grabbed the 'stay-put' contraption from another bay and installed it on the opposite side of the drive. This holds it quite securely, but cuts the max number of installed drives in half if you do this for all of them. The case could be moved around the office without it, but if you put the case on its side or plan on moving it in a car I recommend the extra security.

Plenty of room behind the mobo tray for the cables and a nice array of zip-tie loops to attach to.

Now to find out what is wrong with my build... Windows pukes during install and I'm getting multiple sudden reboots.

You have anything you can test the individual components in? Are they all new?
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
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Hmmm, *grumble* really would love to know what's up with X68 boards. I mistakenly used the reset button once. I also managed to update the BIOS without it resetting to factory defaults. So hard power off (unplug) reset the BIOS, flash it again and start my install. All is well now (for the moment?)
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
76
Here it is in all its under-utilized glory:

front.jpg

inside.jpg

wireside.jpg


Wife was very appreciative upgrading from the Dell D810 that somehow could no longer manage to play youtube or netflix.

So, i5-2500k/Z68X-UD3H-B3 combo from MicroCenter, 2x4GB Crucial DDR3-1600 from MC, Corsair CX-500 and case from NewEgg. The HDD (WD320GB) from the stash, and the eVGA GTS450 from an 8800GTS RMA.

Surprisingly quiet too. :ninja:
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
Good work OP, congrats!! ultra great work with the cable management!!! I will be building my ultra cheap HTPC with some left over parts this weekend, USP says mobo sitting in my front porch, CPU will be delivered tomorrow!! will post mine too!!!

You are seriously missing a SSD though, once you put that in I guarantee it will be a Valentines had in April for you ;)

My vote is the antec 300. Theres quite alot of good reviews on it.

have it love it, it too is a bit flimsy though, the buttons are cheap and sheet is thin... but the price, no complaints!! very happy.
 
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alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
1
76
When I upgrade to something in a few months she can have my M4 128GB. I've been pondering a Patriot Wildfire but figured I'd wait for the latest round of controller releases that are apparently on the horizon.

Besides, she won't notice the SSD upgrade and the kids need to learn patience.