The entry level computer case and PSU hot deals thread

[VirtualLarry]

The NXZT Source 210 listed in this thread and currently going for $29.99 AR free shipping has 8 x 3.5" bays and 3 x 5.25" bays.

NICE! I snagged one for my new home server. My current unRAID server has six 7200RPM 2TB HDDs, and four 5400RPM 2TB drives. I have two spare 7200RPM 2TB drives, and one 5400RPM 2TB drive.

With this case, and my A85X FM2 ATX mobo that has eight native SATA6G ports on it, plus onboard video, plus plenty of PCI-E slots, and another 4-port Marvell PCI-E x1 SATA6G controller card, and my existing 4-in-3 bay adapter, I can have 12 2TB drives in it.

 

[jimbob200521]

The NXZT Source 210 listed in this thread and currently going for $29.99 AR free shipping has 8 x 3.5" bays and 3 x 5.25" bays.

The only problem I personally have with that case is the orientation of the 3.5" bays. Any more, I prefer them be rotated 90° from the way they are in that case for the simple reason of cable management. I'd rather have them tucked away behind the rear side panel than sticking out over my motherboard.

And before anyone else says it, I am also well aware that beggars cannot be choosers when talking about a $30 case. Otherwise, that case looks very sexy and if it weren't for a server, I'd probably deal with the cage orientation and snag one.

 

[BenJeremy]

The only problem I personally have with that case is the orientation of the 3.5" bays. Any more, I prefer them be rotated 90° from the way they are in that case for the simple reason of cable management. I'd rather have them tucked away behind the rear side panel than sticking out over my motherboard.

And before anyone else says it, I am also well aware that beggars cannot be choosers when talking about a $30 case. Otherwise, that case looks very sexy and if it weren't for a server, I'd probably deal with the cage orientation and snag one.

Yeah, I prefer the other orientation, too, on those 3.5" bays.

Slightly off-topic, I'm waiting for some PC Case Maker to figure out they need to have a SATA backplate on those slide mounts so all you do is mount your 3.5" or 2.5" drive in the tray, slide it in, and "snick" pop it into SATA connectors fixed in the cage. The cable end would pop out by the motherboard.

Of course, with m.2 and all the other new crazy options...SATA is becoming obsolete.

I'm keeping my eye on this thread for a decent mid-tower that's liquid-cooling friendly. Yeah, anything that mounts the PSU at the top, or has old-school front-to-back 3.5" drive bays will not do. Luckily, that project is at least a few months off. Just picked up a Thermaltake V71 at NewEgg for $90AR for my "premium" system build this October - then I'll have a few things to spare to rebuild a system using more budget components. For that build, I'm replacing an HTPC case that didn't work out very well (do they ever?), but sound dampening and high-performance air flow isn't as much of a requirement.

 

[cbn]

Deleted. Deal was already posted here.

 

[cbn]

Anyone have any experience with/comments about Raidmax rebates? A couple of reviews gripe about not getting them - at all, or at least not in a reasonable timeframe - but on the other hand, there are only those couple of complaints (versus some other products/companies with a whole slew of 'em.) I really don't have a need for one any time in the immediately foreseeable future, but if the rebate is reasonably reliable, I'd be tempted to grab one basically for the hell of it, for an HTPC/NAS/etc somewhere down the road...

The rebate application process was roughly the same as 4myrebate.com. So pretty easy.

And there is a website to check rebate status:

http://rebatecenterinc.com/check_rebate_status.php

My rebate for the Raidmax Atomic ITX case (which I purchased end of April and submitted middle of May) is reported as received and currently pending. Will update this thread when I get my rebate back.

Finally got my $30 rebate today (purchased case 4/27 and submitted rebate sometime in the middle of May). It is the form of a check rather than a rebate card.

 

[Replay]

$20 (AR $10) Purple accented uATX case with side window, 120mm fans, bottom mount PSU etc..
DIYPC DIY-F2-P Black/Purple MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811353097

& two cheap Rosewill cases in today's email ad.


$15 (AR $15) ROSEWILL SRM-01 Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Case. USB3 & 80mm fan.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147248

$20 (AR $20) Rosewill Galaxy-01 - Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
(3) 120mm fans included, bottom mount psu.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147183

 

[cbn]

$15 (AR $15) ROSEWILL SRM-01 Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Case. USB3 & 80mm fan.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147248

I do like the looks of that case:

It also shares the same vertical drive arrangement as the Fractal design Core 1000/Core 1100. (So hopefully it doesn't have the same 3.5" HDD install issues as the Rosewill FBM-01, FBM-02, FBM-05, Ranger-M, see post #13)

However, being a good deal smaller than the Fractal design Core 1000 at 20.5L displacement (Core 1000 is 26.5L displacement) I do wonder how long of a video card it could use with the bottom drive bay occupied with a 3.5" HDD? ( Core 1000 can use a card up to 170mm long with the bottom bay occupied with 3.5" and 350mm without the bottom bay occupied with a 3.5" (see post #9) but it also a deeper case at 16.54" vs. 13.19")

P.S. Regarding case depth, some Newegg reviewers were complaining the optical drive and top mounted PSU they used were too close together. However, one three egg reviewer had the following to say:

I can't understand the other reviews that say they were unable to fit an optical drive in the case. I am using a full-size DVD-ROM drive and a non-modular ATX PSU and I had absolutely no problem installing both (drive first, then PSU) although it is a bit tight up top. I used the space under the drive to tuck my excess PSU wires and everything cleaned up relatively nicely.

 

[cbn]

Corsair CX430 (from the opening post), $15.99 AR AP, free shipping:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

$20 rebate expires 8/17/2016 and must be postmarked within 21 days of purchase.

$4 promo code "EMCEMFF25" expires 8/17/2016.

 

[cbn]

Rosewill FBM-02, $21.99 free shipping:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147167

See post #13 for comments on installing 3.5" hard drives.

 

[cbn]

1.) NXZT Source 210 (ATX), $29.99 AR free shipping:

$10 rebate expires 4/18/2016 and must be postmarked within 30 days of purchase.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146075

Back on sale again for $29.99 AR free shipping.

$10 rebate expires 8/24//2016 and must be postmarked within 30 days of purchase.

 

[BenJeremy]

How about this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811353106

$25AR... ($10 rebate)

It's fit for a regular ATX motherboard, modern layout, and seems to be a quality build. It's designed for enthusiasts.

Cable routing, access to the underside of the motherboard at the CPU, and there's a 140mm fan opening at the top of the case. Seems like the kind of case that won't lead to frustrations building out a system.

 

[cbn]

PSUs:

1.) Corsair CX430W, $19.99 AR free shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

$20 rebate expires 4/14/2016 and must be postmarked within 21 days of purchase and no later than May 5, 2016

Here is the review by JonnyGuru:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=214

It scored a 9 out of 10.

Currently on sale for $15.99 AR AP free shipping.

USD $4 off w/ promo code EMCENEF23, ends 9/7

$20 Rebate expires 9/7/2016 and must be postmarked within 21 days of purchase.

 

[cbn]

Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Case, $39.99 AR free shipping:

http://www.frys.com/product/8221096

$10 rebate expires 9/10/2016 and must be postmarked within 20 days of purchase.

It's a 22L case that got the editor's Gold award from HardOCP:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/08/15/thermaltake_core_v1_miniitx_case_review/1#.V8feHq1lDcs

Maximum cooler height: 140mm

Maximum Video card length: 255mm (Inner chassis), 285mm (outer chassis)

Fans: Included 200mm front fan, 2 x 80mm fan slots.

Hard drive bays: 2x 3.5", 2 x 2.5"

 

[VirtualLarry]

CASE ROSEWILL | FBM-05 Dual-Fan Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Case-Retail
Ebay item # 291510743470
Newegg on ebay
Rosewill FBM-something (with one front USB3.0) micro-ATX dual-fan mid-tower.
$22.99 FS

From a Newegg review:

Cons: Where do I start? I have used Rosewill mico cases before, but this one should be taken off the market. The motherboard holes do not line up. The drive holes are off so that you have to push drives and bend the metal in order to get them to line up with the front of case. And just a 1-1/2" more length to get the drives away from the power supply and hard drive should have been thought out. I wonder does anyone that design cases, really install components in the cases and see how they fit???

Hmm, sounds like the "usual" Rosewill QC problems. They're not the highest-quality cases, I suppose that's why they are as cheap as they are.

 

[cbn]

CASE ROSEWILL | FBM-05 Dual-Fan Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Case-Retail
Ebay item # 291510743470
Newegg on ebay
Rosewill FBM-something (with one front USB3.0) micro-ATX dual-fan mid-tower.
$22.99 FS

Also listed on Newegg for the same price:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147246

 

[cbn]

Corsair CX430 (from the opening post), $15.99 AR AP, free shipping:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

$20 rebate expires 8/17/2016 and must be postmarked within 21 days of purchase.

$4 promo code "EMCEMFF25" expires 8/17/2016.

Back on sale for $15.99 AR AP free shipping.

 

[Staples]

The Fractal Design Core 1500 (mATX) is on sale at the egg for $39.99. Usually $59.99. I was about to purchase it yesterday when it dropped to $49 but glad I waited.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811352041

 

[you2]

I wish the pc-q33 was on sale because I think will go with that case. Can you make it go on sale tomorrow ?

 

[Staples]

I wish the pc-q33 was on sale because I think will go with that case. Can you make it go on sale tomorrow ?

I looked at the listing
*cross your fingers"

 

[cbn]

PSUs:

1.) Corsair CX430W, $19.99 AR free shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

$20 rebate expires 4/14/2016 and must be postmarked within 21 days of purchase and no later than May 5, 2016

Here is the review by JonnyGuru:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=214

It scored a 9 out of 10.

On sale for $15.99 AR AP free shipping.

 

[cbn]

3.) Coolermaster Elite 110 (Mini-ITX). $29.99 AR free shipping:

$10 rebate expires 4/30/2016 and must be postmarked no later than 5/30/2016

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119299&Tpk=elite 110

Back on sale for $29.99 AR FS.

P.S. The larger Elite 130 is also on sale for $34.99 AR FS. (However, previously It has been as low as $28 AR AP FS )

 

[you2]

Well I have two builds with the elite 130 and one build with the PC-Q33; and I have to say I prefer the PC-Q33. My primary reason for the using the Elite 130 (which is a fine case IF you don't push it in the gaming department) is it takes a full DVD drive (PC-Q33 does not have a 5 1/4 slot). What do I like about the Elite 130 - cheap; not bad looking; not a bad form factor; takes internal dvd drive (if you need one - i did); takes a FULL length video card. What do I dislike about the elite 130 - pia in modify later on (drive bay impossible to access without lots of work; gets a bit warm if push the cpu; it will take a water cooler but will not take a tall heat sink);
-
What do I like about the PC-Q33; bloody cool (surprise here i expected it to run hot); very easy to add and remove drives later on; extremely easy to assemble computer (elite 130 was as expected but hardly super easy). What I dislike - 3x the price of the elite 130 ($95 vs $34 - and the elite 130 is frequently on sale for 35-40); does not take a dvd drive if you need one; only takes 8.5 inch video card. Both cases take full atx psu.
-
The two builds I have are very similar: 4790k - mini 1070 - ssd drives - the pcq has a zotac mini 1070; the elite 130 has a gigabyte mini 1070 (originally it had r290 hence the longer case); The elite 130 I use a prolimatech samuel 17 cpu cooler; while in the pc-q33 i use a nh-u19s cooler; the cpu in the pc-q33 runs 25 degrees cooler.

 

[Replay]

$9.99 after $20 rebate. That's cheap. RAIDMAX Strato ATX-109B ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Free shipping. One USB 3 port up front, and a 120mm blue led intake fan.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156338

Make and save copies of rebate materials. Last time I looked into Raidmax they were not using any of the familiar rebate processors.
" Raidmax will not inform customers if their submissions are not complete or invalid. "

 

[VirtualLarry]

" Raidmax will not inform customers if their submissions are not complete or invalid. "

LOL. So, when they invariably invalidate your perfectly valid submission, you have to continually chase them down, to re-submit, they won't tell you? How... convenient... for them.

 

[Mike64]

LOL. So, when they invariably invalidate your perfectly valid submission, you have to continually chase them down, to re-submit, they won't tell you? How... convenient... for them.

What makes you say they'll "invariably" invalidate submissions? I've only ever had submissions invlalidated twice, both times by companies that are "generally considered" OK, no less. (The one I remember was Netgear, and indeed the email response I got when I inquired about it was so "snippy" that that I've mostly avoided their products ever since...) It's a little annoying to have to check the status yourself, but otoh, $10 for a decent case is a damned good "price"...