Smallest / lightest ATX case

[krashx6]

Any suggestions? My case is $50lbs and im moving in 2 weeks. I wanna dump it for a new one.

 

[Zepper]

How long is the 4870? About the same as the longest 8800? You should also set a price limit or folks will be recommending the Silverstone TJ9 or 10, etc. As a starting point I'd suggest the Ultra m998. It isn't the lightest, but considerably less than 50 pounds. The stainless steel mobo drawer adds a lot of extra weight to the m998 which is otherwise aluminum and ABS plastic. Check the price engines for a good deal on it.

.bh,

 

[krashx6]

Keep it under $70. And I dont need a powersupply in it

 

[Zepper]

Well, you aren't looking for really light then. Anything made of aluminum is gonna be considerably more than that. I was going to suggest the Lian Li PC-A05 which is at $90. shipped at newegg right now. You'd have to check whether your card would cool properly if oriented upside down and you'd have to be willing to deal with the other drawbacks of the case such has the reverse air flow (back to front) and the hot pocket created in the card slot area due to the inverted design - the LL site claims it weighs less than 10 pounds. The only other inexpensive case I know of that for sure can handle long cards (up to 11" including any connectors) is the Rosewill R5600 series (I prefer the 5605 version right now). I owned the 5604 for about a year - here's my review of them: http://www.techimo.com/reviews - in the Cases section all the way at the bottom of the list (YeongYang/Rosewill R5604). Not particularly light either but well under your current. But I still don't know the length of the card you want and won't be doing the research myself. IIRC, the 8800GTX was 10.5" but some had the connectors oriented so they were hanging off the long end so needed a bit more to allow for them.

There are still sites out there with lists of cases compatible with the 8800GTX but you'll have to search them out.

.bh.

 

[RallyMaster]

IMO the Centurion 534s are the lightest you want to go before you start sacrificing quality. I carried it to a LAN just last weekend and it was really easy to move.

 

[Zap]

How about those aluminum Chenming 301 cases that Xoxide sells for under $40 shipped? Worst case scenario to fit the video card would be to remove the lower drive bays (flip of a lever) and mount your HDDs in the 5¼" bays with adaptors. That case is one of the smallest, and likely the lightest ATX case you can get. They use a 120mm fan for exhaust and have decent ventilation, but runs with negative air pressure unless you keep the side fans blowing in fast.

 

[Zepper]

Darn, Zap. I keep forgetting that little monkey... Still has free standard (ground) shipping too. At that price it's nearly impossible to resist even if there is no need for it right now. The Rosewill RZS series is small and light and nearly 2" deeper than the Chenming, but still the vid card will interfere with the drive bays, so you'll have to work around it. There are 6 or 7 variations in the series, so there may be some buyers who have tried long cards in it. Read some of their reviews.

.bh.

 

[Zap]

I have a great idea on modding one of those... tempting to grab another one (silver, for easier painting) before they're all gone.

Of course it will probably languish in the garage like 90% of my other ideas/projects.

 

[krashx6]

The Chenming 301 is listed as only 5lbs but looks ETREMELY ugly but its really cheap. I really dig the look of the Rosewill RZS but cant find a place to buy it online. Or the weight.

 

[RallyMaster]

Newegg.com might just be the only place that carries Rosewill cases considering it is a Newegg.com in-house type of brand.

 

[Zap]

Nah, Chief Value also sells Rosewill.

 

[krashx6]

The Rosewill case is steal so its a lot heavier than the chenming. Any make any suggestions on where or how to get a black chenming 301 or all white one? Or better yet, know of any other Chenming cacses that dont look so bad?

Meh just noticed the chenming has no audio port in the front aswell.

Anyone got any links to any that are under $50 that has atleast 2 usb in front and an audio port and are really light weight? I know I ask a lot :x

 

[Zepper]

Chenming has a web site so you can find out what models are supposed to be current. From what I remember, they mostly all have the "Dragon" style front which has been around for years seen in cases from Antec and Chieftec and others (didn't everyone sell one version or another of this case over the years?). Once you have the model no., you should be able to find one to buy (I think some of the Aspire/Apevia cases are based on the Chenming chassis) Some of the Chenming have a variation on the Dragon styling. The Aluminus and perhaps others from Ultra are similar as well. Chieftec may still be out there too, but I think they changed their name.

.bh.

 

[Cliff Couser]

PC-A05b

sorry over $70, but $89 free shipping at the Egg now is a great deal for a great case.

 

[Zepper]

Chief Value = Newegg

.bh.