What is the Best Low Budget Case?

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starwars7

Senior member
Dec 30, 2005
663
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I'm building a new PC and will have either $100 or $50 to spend on a case, so I was hoping people could share the specific cases they recommend for those budgets.

I don't want a PSU because i've heard that they are usually pretty bad in combo deals, so I'm planning on putting a 450w FSP to put into it. Some people mentioned that 2X120 is the way to go, but if other options have good air flow I'd be up for that.

No other requirements, I just want the insides to stay cool and the case to be sturdy enough to last a couple builds, 5+ years.

Thanks!!

EDIT: I also came accross this COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN1 for $45 before shipping and after rebates etc... It has 1X120 fan, with a location for a rear mount 120.

I also found this KINGWIN SK-523SW Silver Aluminum It has two 120 Fans and is currently $53 before shipping. My only concern is the door and its effect on air flow.

What do you guys think about either of those? Which would you get?

 
Patrick Wolf

Patrick Wolf

Platinum Member
Jan 5, 2005
2,443
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I have no experience with cases in that price range. The only case I've ever bought was the CM Praetorian 730.

Have at it:
Text
 
Zap

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
This Skyhawk case may fit the bill for something really cheap (current special is $36 shipped). It does not come with a PSU and uses 120mm fans front/rear (also doesn't come with fans but you can get those starting at around $5 each if you shop around). Like all budget cases, construction is a bit cheap with thin metals, but it isn't a bad design and probably has the best airflow of any ultra-budget case.

CompUSA also occasionally has the Antec Super LAN Boy case for around $40 or so after rebate. For that money they are probably the best deal going - when the deal is going. I got mine originally for just under $100 shipped almost two years ago.

 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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Here is the best $47. +sh case I've seen: Beantech Igloo 1 (same as Kingwin 424 series). They were on my short list when the price was a lot closer to $100 than to $50. It may need some cooling mods depending on the components chosen but it's made of heavy aluminum (2.0mm bezel, 1.5mm body) so it's easy to cut - and there are ways to improve cooling w/o cutting. It's also available in Black for about $12. more. Many will mistake it for Lian Li both in styling and build quality.

If the Antec SLK3000-B is still available for around $50. shipped, it is also a great value and it has excellent cooling with 120mm f/r mountings (comes with only one 120mm, so you'll need to order another if you find the stock arrangement doesn't do it).

And the Compucase 6A19 (also available from Directron for under $50. +sh with a 300W PSU) is nearly identical to the 3000-B except for the doorless bezel. The PSU is way above the average packaged PSU in quality - on par with an equivalent Fortron. Check Tom's Hardware for some reviews of HEC (Heroichi Electronics Corp.) PSUs in the same series.

..bh.
 
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starwars7

Senior member
Dec 30, 2005
663
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Thank you for all the info guys, Someone also mentioned Kingwin, so I checked them out on Newegg and found this KINGWIN SK-523SW Silver Aluminum It has two 120 Fans and is currently $53 before shipping. Anyone know if they are a good brand or if their fans are ok? Some reviews I found online seemed to point to them as a solid company.

Also, as far as the Sky Hawk/Eagle Tech BAX-B4661L7, you're saying that it has places for me to mount two 120's on front one rear. What do you guys think about that brand? I'm sure with the savings I could pick up some nice 120 Fans and a filter for the front.
 
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starwars7

Senior member
Dec 30, 2005
663
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I also just came accross this one: COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN1 for $45 after rebates etc...

I would have to purchase an additional fan for the cooler master. But would you guys get the cooler master or the kingwin?

EDIT: From newegg regarding the coolermaster: "Air duct on side panel doesn't line up with CPU on DFI NF4 Infinity series motherboard." So since I'm looking at that MOBO, I guess the Coolermaster is out, unless that air duct isn't that important, what do you guys think?

Also, with the Kingwin, how would the door on the front negatively affect air flow?
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
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The Kinwin 523 is not all-aluminum - just parts of the bezel. But it is a good case for those who like doors. It has slide rails for the HDs that do help isolate the HDs a bit, but I prefer rubber isolation. I suppose replacement rails could be made from strips of Neoprene wet-suit material...

.bh.
 
D

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
81
Damn, that Sky Hawk/Eagle Tech looks pretty nice for $20. Figure a max of $50 total for the case shipped and 2 120mm fans shipped though. And I don't like the included floppy drive deal.. I haven't had a floppy drive in several years... tho I suppose thats just a cosmetic issue.


The Antec 3000 looks good too but I want the smallest possible midtower. I think the Antec's dimensions are bigger than my current garbage. That Sky Hawk seems fairly small (really wanted a Qpack but they didnt make any good NF4 Ultra mATX boards AFAIK)


edit: Would've liked to went with the Sonata 2 piano black for $100ish shipped, with the Antec PSU, but I only had enough $$ for the necessary parts: mobo, cpu, video card, and Fortron PSU. My next upgrades will be to quiet the bastard down, by means of panaflo case fans, good, small, light but quiet case, and possibly NV Silencer or whathaveyou.

So the Beantech also looks good, but I think that 120mm is the way to go for cooling and quiet ratio, correct me if I'm wrong here tho, so that puts the Beantech out.

Guess I'm still searchin!
 
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stevty2889

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2003
7,036
8
81
Originally posted by: Zap
This Skyhawk case may fit the bill for something really cheap (current special is $36 shipped). It does not come with a PSU and uses 120mm fans front/rear (also doesn't come with fans but you can get those starting at around $5 each if you shop around). Like all budget cases, construction is a bit cheap with thin metals, but it isn't a bad design and probably has the best airflow of any ultra-budget case.

CompUSA also occasionally has the Antec Super LAN Boy case for around $40 or so after rebate. For that money they are probably the best deal going - when the deal is going. I got mine originally for just under $100 shipped almost two years ago.
Click to expand...

I picked up one of those Skyhawk cases myself, it's actualy pretty decent, I'm using it with a 400w Fortron for one of my P4 engineering samples, and have a pair of 120mm fans in it.
 
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