The entry level computer case and PSU hot deals thread

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cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
Here is my Mini Review of the Fractal Design Core 1000:

Pros- 1.) Overall a very nice looking case (with good build quality) for something so budget. 2.) Drive mounts (on the removable vertical mounting plate) have rubber grommets to isolate noise and vibration. Second 5.25" bay comes with a built-in 3.5" drive adapter. 3.) Will accept a maximum length video card (350mm length) with either side mount or back mount PCIe power connectors provided the lower drive mount on the Vertical mounting plate is populated with a 2.5" SSD, not a 3.5" drive.

Cons- 1.) Maximum cooler height listed at 135mm 2.) Rear fan mount is 92mm (rather than 120mm) and does not come with a fan mounted. 3.) Drive spacing on the vertical mounting mounting plate means that either two SATA strands from the PSU will be needed or a single strand with three SATA (with the first and third SATA being the ones used). 4.) Cable management options are limited.

Overall, I do like this case a lot.....and would buy again.
 
Y

you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
6,724
1,755
136
capstone is a decent psu; been using one for several years now.
 
S

Staples

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2001
4,953
119
106
The 1000 looks like a nice case for the price. Small is what I am going for when you have a mATX board but I like the 1500 better. It is nearly the same size but a little wider so you can stuff the excess cables on the underside of the motherboard tray. Just wish it was not 50% more expensive.
 
cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
cbn said:
Here is my Mini Review of the Fractal Design Core 1000:

Pros- 1.) Overall a very nice looking case (with good build quality) for something so budget. 2.) Drive mounts (on the removable vertical mounting plate) have rubber grommets to isolate noise and vibration. Second 5.25" bay comes with a built-in 3.5" drive adapter. 3.) Will accept a maximum length video card (350mm length) with either side mount or back mount PCIe power connectors provided the lower drive mount on the Vertical mounting plate is populated with a 2.5" SSD, not a 3.5" drive.

Cons- 1.) Maximum cooler height listed at 135mm 2.) Rear fan mount is 92mm (rather than 120mm) and does not come with a fan mounted. 3.) Drive spacing on the vertical mounting mounting plate means that either two SATA strands from the PSU will be needed or a single strand with three SATA (with the first and third SATA being the ones used). 4.) Cable management options are limited.

Overall, I do like this case a lot.....and would buy again.
Click to expand...

Regarding that 135mm CPU cooler height limitation, I think the following CPU cooler (Cryorig M9i, which is 124.6mm tall) might be the best bet:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gclid=CNXksL_MuNACFRBEfgodvL8GCQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

(Normal price is $19.99 free shipping)

A4UF_130880203208739485wA6GygNLBA.jpg


It actually beat the Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo in the following review by 1 degree Celcius (which is not much, but it is a smaller cooler):

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/CRYORIG/M9i/6.html


cpu_oc_typical_a.gif


P.S. I haven't used this cooler yet, but it does have good reviews on Newegg. (41 total reviews, 83% five egg, 10% four egg, 2% three egg, 0% two egg, 5% one egg) NOTE: The one egg reviews (two at this point) claimed not being able to install as the sole complaint.

Installation looks easy as well:

 
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cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
A bunch of Rosewill cases are on sale now (as low as $9.99 AR free shipping), here are some examples:

Rosewill Line M (mATX) for $14.99 AR free shipping:

(It has dual 120mm fans installed and interestingly (for mATX) five expansion slots)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147166&ignorebbr=1

11-147-166-02.jpg


11-147-166-06.jpg




Rosewill TYRFING, $19.99 AR free shipping:

(ATX with 2 x 120mm fans installed)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147253&ignorebbr=1

11-147-253_R01.jpg


11-147-253-05.jpg




Roswill Stryker M, $24.99 AR free shipping:

(ATX with three 120mm fans installed, (2 x 120mm front with 1 x 120mm rear))

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147244&ignorebbr=1

11-147-244-11.jpg


11-147-244-07.jpg
 
cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
Replay said:

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

cbn said:
I do like the looks of that case:

11-147-248-Z01


11-147-248-Z05


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:
Click to expand...

Above case is on sale for $11.99 AR free shipping.
 
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cbn

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
12,968
221
106
Replay said:
$15 ROSEWILL FBM-05 Dual-Fan Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Case ($30 -$15 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147246
Rebate expires 8/8 http://images10.newegg.com/uploadfi.../Newegg/Rosewill3MIRs_70292Aug2Aug816nm13.pdf
Mixed reviews for build quality and getting cut on edges. Why an 80 mm exhaust fan? I'd cut out the exhaust area & install a grill with a 92mm fan (has the mounting holes for a larger fan)
Click to expand...

Currently on sale for $9.99 AR free shipping.

(Remember though with this case and others like it (FBM-01, FBM-02, Ranger M), there is a reported issue* of the 3.5" bay being hard to install a hard drive in with the motherboard, CPU and RAM in place)

*Thanks Virtual Larry for originally pointing this out in this thread.
 
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S

Staples

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2001
4,953
119
106
The price is cheap enough. I am going to bite on the Rosewill mATX case above for $30, $15 AR.
It has always made me mad that a mid tower is 20x20x8. So much unused space inside. A small mATX tower is 15x15x7.
 
R

Replay

Golden Member
Aug 5, 2001
1,366
72
91
ZALMAN T2 Plus Black ATX Mini Tower Computer Case
$15 + $4 shipping. Nice for a no rebate deal.
Includes a small 80 92 mm exhaust fan, ready for liquid cooling, uses a bottom mount PSU.
  • ATX Mini Tower
  • 1 x USB 3.0 / 1 x USB 2.0 / Audio Front Ports
  • 1 External 5.25" Drive Bays
  • 2 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811235053
 
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V

Vincent

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,030
2
81
CORSAIR CX450M 80+ BRONZE Semi-Modular Power Supply

$29.99 ($49.99 - $20 MIR)

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139146

This is from the newer, better Corsair CX line that uses DC to DC conversion instead of a group regulated design. This one is better able to handle the low idle power draw of recent CPUs, unlike the older series. Several of the reviews complain about excessive fan noise, however.

Review: link

Problems with the older CX series: link
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,571
10,207
126
APEX TM366BK Black Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case ATX 12V 300W Power Sup

s-l500.jpg


http://www.ebay.com/itm/APEX-TM366B...ter-Case-ATX-12V-300W-Power-Sup-/292100719679

$41.99 FS from Newegg on ebay.

These are really decent cases, designed for quick assembly for system builders. Plus, for the price, they come with a not-horrible Apex/SuperCase 300W PSU, which is adequate for basic systems, or PCs with dGPUs that run off of PCI-E x16 slot power, like the GTX 1050 / 1050 ti, and RX 550 / 460.
 
R

Replay

Golden Member
Aug 5, 2001
1,366
72
91
$10 AR AC Rosewill FBM-X1 Black Steel / Plastic uATX Mini Tower Case with Side Panel Window

$10 Rebate (July 14-20 2017).
$10 coupon code for email subscribers (July 14th only): EMCXRHBE2
Free shipping.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147262
http://images10.newegg.com/uploadfi...osewill11-147-262_10608Jul14Jul2017lw80us.pdf

Steel / Plastic uATX Mini Tower PC Case
  • Side Panel Window
  • 80 mm exhaust, and 120 mm front fan installed.
  • 2 x USB 2.0 / 2 x USB 3.0 / Audio In/Out Front Ports
  • Supports Standard ATX (PS2 form factor) Power Supply
 
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