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You would think a $46 case is crap.

lopri

lopri

Elite Member
I got this case for $46 + shipping some time ago. Granted the shipping was like $15 and the price is after MIR, but I wanted to show off what a cheap case can do. I noticed the price of this case went up since then (around $80), but nonetheless I've been quite happy with this case for the past 5 months also.

Link to the manufacturer's site: http://www.ultraproducts.com/p...Path=411&productID=411

My build:

  1. Intel Q6600 @3.20GHz (8x400)
    EVGA 680i A1 revision
    Generic DDR2-800 total 8GB (4x2GB)
    GeForce 8600 GT
    2 x Raptor X (One for XP and the other for Vista)
    2 x 500GB HDDs in RAID 1
    Corsair HX 620W

And here is the finished build.

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3

ImageShack messses up with user uploaded images so much these. Here they are, again.

http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ultra5su7.jpg
http://img480.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ultra2tj7.jpg

I've used a couple other different video cards before with no problem at all. One thing I really like about 680i is its versatility. You can use any of the PEG slots for your video card without performance loss. (maybe 1~2% if at all) I usually use the bottom one to avoid concentrated heat on upper-left corner of the system.

Case itself isn't rigid or heavy like those that go for $300, but for the price it's not bad at all, IMO. Plus, it has a removable mobo tray (what a surprise!), which was one of the main reasons that I tried to give a shot on this case despite its flimsy look. It is indeed flimsy (the aluminum is thin) but since I'm not going to move it around too often And it keeps my Q6600 @3.20GHz under 65C at load.

In the past, I used to buy expensive cases but after experiencing this case I'm more willing to give a try on cheap cases. As a matter of fact, I just purchased a Cooler Master CM690 for $39 AR (free shipping!), and am looking forward to my next build.
 
If it didn't look so much like the same old Chieftec/Chen Ming/Antec/etc... case that's been around for years and years, it would probably be a lot more popular. Too bad Ultra was too cheap to pop for a new bezel design. I know, it shouldn't matter when it's obviously so functional, but it does... Looks like it would get a 4.5/5 on my Casitude (tm) scale. More proof that you don't have to pay a lot to get a decent case.

.bh.
 
Let's see....excessively wide for the available interior room, caused by a next to useless removable MB tray that is usually only used once or twice. A dated design that looks ugly, particularly when the door is open. Air leaks around the removable drive rails that make effective filtration next to impossible. Apparent lack of any attempts to eliminate hard drive vibrations that get transferred to the frame......etc. 😀
 
The HDD trays have rubber grommets just like all the other cases based on the same design. Only way to make most cases dust free is positive pressure anyway. At 8.7" it's not even an inch wider than most other cases, BFD. And some really like their removable trays - right Tullphan?..

.bh.
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
The HDD trays have rubber grommets just like all the other cases based on the same design. Only way to make most cases dust free is positive pressure anyway. At 8.7" it's not even an inch wider than most other cases, BFD. And some really like their removable trays - right Tullphan?..

.bh.
Click to expand...

& don't forget wheels! 😉
 
...ssssss....,

It's based on a decent design and executed fairly well. The unusual features for a low-cost case are there for you to see if you'd bother... Very few cases under $100. score that high on my Casitude (tm) scale.

.bh.
 
That rubber mounting on the HD bays is nice. Bugs me a little that my 3D Aurora 570 which was so much more expensive than that case doesn't have rubber mounts - I mean come on...

Only thing that bugs me about that case is my friend had one and if he closed the front door all the way it would push the eject button on his DVD burner and *POP* the door would open with the tray. H always left the door slightly ajar because of that.

Removable mobo trays aren't a big deal to me, I never remove them anyway 😛
 
Sparky,

Most of the Gigabyte cases (and tons more under other names like Enermax Chakra, etc.) are based on the same chassis design as the Cooler Master Centurion boxes. It might be possible to mod some rubber bushings into the drive slides like they do on the Yeong Yang/Rosewill 5600 series boxes. Go to the Rosewill site and download the PDF manual for the 5600 series. There is a closeup in there of the HDD rails with bushings. Jab-tech has a rubber parts box with bushings and screws you might be able to apply to yours.

.bh.
 
I've seen that front door design before... ah yes it was when i was buying an inwin q500 case like 10 years ago. I cant believe that design is still alive.
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
Sparky,

Most of the Gigabyte cases (and tons more under other names like Enermax Chakra, etc.) are based on the same chassis design as the Cooler Master Centurion boxes. It might be possible to mod some rubber bushings into the drive slides like they do on the Yeong Yang/Rosewill 5600 series boxes. Go to the Rosewill site and download the PDF manual for the 5600 series. There is a closeup in there of the HDD rails with bushings. Jab-tech has a rubber parts box with bushings and screws you might be able to apply to yours.

.bh.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea, but the rails are different. Here is what they look like
http://www.pcstats.com/article.../gbt3Daurora570_m7.jpg
http://www.pcstats.com/article...gbt3Daurora570_m90.jpg

It's OK though, my old HD vibrated a lot which was really annoying but these drives I have now don't.
 
That's OK, just push metal pins out, drill hole for bushings and thin plastic some if necessary, install bushings, put pins in thru bushings. E voila!

People have no imagination around here... :roll:

If the pins are too loose for you, just get some 6-32 flat head screws of the proper length (3/16" or less of thread into the side of the drive unless you are sure of having more room). McMaster-Carr (McMaster.com) has a huge selection (in bags of 100) if you can't find locally at Home Depot, Lowes, or local well-stocked hardware store. I recommend stainless steel, but zinc plated ordinary steel is OK.

.bh.
 
Best case I ever had I'm using now.
Cost : Free, got out of the trash.
Its an old compaq tower.
tons of internal space and its built with steel strong enough you can stand on it.
All the drives mount on trays for easy removal.

Even came with its very own "microsoft windows 98" license key sticker. 🙂
 
The system isn't the quietest machine, but it's kinda unavoidable when dealing with Q6600 @3.2GHz and lots of holes. 🙂 However, it's not very loud, either. But I think it's an incredible deal for the money. I especially like that I can mount the hard-disks either way so that the cables can be nicely tucked in. And since I do frequent upgrade, removable mobo tray is a big plus. At the time I bought this case, removable trays were only found in expensive cases.

A couple of things they could (or should) have improved: The side vent by CPU should be for a 120mm fan. Also a mounting hole for the vent at the bottom of the window would be nice. The aluminum case itself is so thin and that's what make the case flimsy, but then again that's probably why this case is cheap. They could have made the metal case feet, instead of plastic - that'd have given it a little more stable feel. As it is, the case is kinda too light.

Overall, I think this case is great bang for the buck, especially if you can find it cheap (often ~$50 w/ MIR).
 
Looks nice! I like the painted ocz xtc cooler. That just flat black spray paint? (it seems it's still a bit shiny) or am I just out of my mind and it wasn't painted? I was thinking of doing the same for mine.
 

To be honest, this case doesn't do jack for me...

It's the stuff inside!

Is that what lopri is looking for?

If so, there you go... 😉
 
Looks good. I always liked that design myself. Tons of case makers have used it over the years. I have two similar cases in my closet right now from "no-name" case companies. Need to find a use for em...
 
dr4gon: The OCZ RAM cooler is the way I received.. no paint job done. It's a plain silver stainless steel color..
VinDSL: I just did a Step-up from the 8600 GT in the pic to a brand-spanking new 8800 GT. 😀
 
Originally posted by: dr4gon
Looks nice! I like the painted ocz xtc cooler. That just flat black spray paint? (it seems it's still a bit shiny) or am I just out of my mind and it wasn't painted? I was thinking of doing the same for mine.
Click to expand...

Ummmmm.....it's not painted or anything. Did you look at both pics? The dark one is probably sans flash....that'd be ultra2tj7.jpg.

Go look at the ultra5su7.jpg pic.....it's properly lit inside and you can see the OCZ mem. cooler is still in its chrome finish.
 
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