IPB
Looking for something specific? Search the Vault9 network:
Custom Search
Your Ad Here

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Welcome, guest. By registering you'll be able to experience the full Vault9 package. Join a community of almost 8 000 members (and over a quarter of a million posts) and enjoy many benefits.


2 Pages V   1 2 >  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Where to buy..., Decent PC Cases?
rurounikenshin
post Apr 5 2008, 09:47 AM
Post #1


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male





Hi guys, what's happened to all the decent PC cases?

I've been looking for a nice one for the last 2 weeks and eveything I've seen looks cheaply made or riced out.

Where can I go for some decent quality, versatile cases?

What I am looking for is basically a black case with plenty of room to work in and plenty of fan cooling options/ configurations, so something that can take 60mm and 90mm fans options.

I also wouldn't mind something with a nice pre-cut window.

Alternatively if I can find a nice base chassis, I'll modify what I need to so that it's what I want.


--------------------
Current Baby:
2005 - VW Polo Playa 1.4i - Black

Ex Babies:
1993 - VW MK 1 2.0 - Kingfisher Blue (Sold)
1998 - VW Polo Classic 1.6i - White (Sold)
1990 - VW MK1 1.6 Carb - Championship Red (Sold)
1989 - VW MK1 1.6 Carb - Kingfisher Blue (Sold)
1999 - BMW 523 - Dolphin Grey(Sold)
1992 - Honda 1.6i DOHC - Gun Metal (Sold)
1993 - Nissan Sentra 1.3 Carb - Cream (Sold)
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
rurounikenshin
post Apr 6 2008, 11:23 PM
Post #2


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male




No one?

Does no one buy cases anymore?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Fishfly
post Apr 7 2008, 12:06 AM
Post #3


Gave my left testicles to research in stem cell tech :(
Group Icon

Group: V9 Mod
Posts: 9,630
Joined: 5-August 03
From: Johannesburg
Member No.: 1,474
Sex: Male




depends on what kind of quality you looking for... I mean you really have to pay thru your arse for one of those CMStackers...

Then there's the Antec cases which you also pay thru your arse for

and then comes the Lian Li cases...

so what's your budget?

Do you want a heavy case?

Do you want a cheap case?


--------------------
Jou ma se Balhara, I'm classified as a coloured!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
W@RP@T}{
post Apr 7 2008, 02:20 AM
Post #4


Expert
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 1,587
Joined: 19-May 04
From: Beccleuch
Member No.: 2,951
Sex: Male




Zalman are also really top quality


--------------------
Too Cool
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Carrots
post Apr 7 2008, 02:53 AM
Post #5


Scientology is going to be the real-life Brotherhood of Nod, wit
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,161
Joined: 13-August 04
From: Randburg - Jhb
Member No.: 3,528
Sex: Male




I am very happy with my Lian-Li, although it probably costs around R1800K new.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
rurounikenshin
post Apr 7 2008, 09:30 AM
Post #6


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male




Where did you guys buy them though, I'd like to go some where and have a look at what's available.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
RustPuppet
post Apr 7 2008, 09:40 AM
Post #7


flamesuit: engage!
Group Icon

Group: Administration
Posts: 3,352
Joined: 30-January 04
From: The Boneyard
Member No.: 2,543
Sex: Male




Can't go wrong with Antec or Lian Li. Some of the Coolermaster's are also ok.


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Moo
post Apr 7 2008, 01:52 PM
Post #8


Regular Member
Group Icon

Group: Regular
Posts: 89
Joined: 16-September 07
From: Eastern Canada
Member No.: 10,480
Sex: Male




I agree. Lian Li is good
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
SLicK
post Apr 7 2008, 10:56 PM
Post #9


Evil Inside
Group Icon

Group: Dealers
Posts: 326
Joined: 21-July 03
From: Midrand
Member No.: 1,405
Sex: Male




Silverstone

www.silverstonetek.com

They are very expensive thought.

Alternatively the CM 690 is a very good buy.

Regards

Pieter


--------------------


ComputeIT cc

Pm me for all your pc requirements, we can ship anywhere in SA.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Fishfly
post Apr 8 2008, 12:11 AM
Post #10


Gave my left testicles to research in stem cell tech :(
Group Icon

Group: V9 Mod
Posts: 9,630
Joined: 5-August 03
From: Johannesburg
Member No.: 1,474
Sex: Male




but also depends on how much you willing to fork out!

I still can't beleive the price of pc components now days...


2-4k for a case
1-6k for a mobo
1-10k for a GPU
1-14k for a CPU
1-12k for a monitor...

O.o

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
rurounikenshin
post Apr 8 2008, 03:10 AM
Post #11


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male




Thanks guys,

I've found 2/3 places in Limbro park that sell the Lian-Li case models.

I'll go have a look next week.

I'm not in a rush to get this machine working as this will be a 3rd rig and space is limited in my flat atm.

Looking for a decent KVM switch to help with the space issue at home (recommendations?).

From you guys who own the Lian-Li's, how decent is the airflow through them?
They look pretty good from the photo's I've seen.

2 intake fans in the front with an exhaust fan at the rear.

Very nice.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Carrots
post Apr 8 2008, 05:52 AM
Post #12


Scientology is going to be the real-life Brotherhood of Nod, wit
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,161
Joined: 13-August 04
From: Randburg - Jhb
Member No.: 3,528
Sex: Male




I have the 70b (http://www.dansdata.com/pc70.htm)
Its old, (2001 model) and its HUGE.
Airflow is good, and because of its size its a pleasure to work woth, but if space is a concern its probably too big for you. Mine I got with 6 case fans. I dont know if this is standard configuration as I bought it secondhand.

I really cant comment on the airflow of the other models, but Lian-Li makes high quality cases, so I dont think you can go wrong no matter which one you buy.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
rurounikenshin
post Apr 8 2008, 07:10 AM
Post #13


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male




Thanks bud.

I'll go have a look next week.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
buteed
post Jun 2 2008, 12:37 AM
Post #14


Regular Member
Group Icon

Group: Regular
Posts: 25
Joined: 28-February 08
Member No.: 11,610
Sex: Male




These days I just get a great deal for Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, on sale for only $70

It has 3 120mm fans and one huge 200mm blower. Even with the extra fans it runs quiet. this case is an excellent start to a new system or, as in my case, a very welcome and fully featured upgrade to an existing system.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
rurounikenshin
post Jul 9 2008, 07:50 AM
Post #15


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male




Managed to find a very nice unit by Coolermaster this morning at PC International.

CoolerMaster Centurion 590 - http://www.coolermaster.com/products/produ...ail&id=3927

Man oh man am I chuffed with it.

It was a tad pricey(R690), considering it was with out a PSU of any kind.
But I am very satisfied overall.

I spent about an hour just looking at the case in all it's glory before fitting my mobo, g-card and CPU.
It comes with 2 120mm fans (1 intake and 1 exhaust) pre-installed. Plenty room for more aswell.

I did a little amatuer cable stealthing which I will probably redo this evening.

I really like that the front bezel can be removed with out screws. This will make cleaning and maintenance very quick and easy.
The entire case is screwless. It features a locking arm mechanism that locks the drives in place.

Another great feature is all the ventilation. The entire front bezel and all the drive bay covers are made of a thin metal mesh, they feature a thin foam filter.

There are mounting point for 2 additional exhaust fans on the roof of the chassis, another 2 on the side panel and 1 (80xmm80mmx10mm) on the back plane, just behind the CPU ZIFF socket, Don't know where I will find a fan this thin but yeah, the option is there.

The fan mounting point can accomodate fan sizes from 80mm - 120mm. Which is nice when budget comes into play.

I am really glad I took my time to find a case because this one is one of the most versatile I've seen in a while.
A new blue/red CCFL is on the cards at some point and I might get an additional 4-in-3 module so that I can have an additional 120mm intake fan if there isn't a way to mount the fan with out the 4-in-3 module.

I will start a build thread and link it once I have shopped around for the rest of the components. (H.D.D's, DVD/RW, thermal paste etc).

This post has been edited by rurounikenshin: Jul 9 2008, 08:14 AM
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Fishfly
post Jul 10 2008, 01:20 AM
Post #16


Gave my left testicles to research in stem cell tech :(
Group Icon

Group: V9 Mod
Posts: 9,630
Joined: 5-August 03
From: Johannesburg
Member No.: 1,474
Sex: Male




R690 is cheap for a case considering that nowdays yuo looking around 1k minimum for a decent full tower case sad.gif
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
rurounikenshin
post Jul 10 2008, 04:47 AM
Post #17


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male




Will, almost done, just found the one problem with the psu mounting being on the floor of the case.

The cpu power connector is too short.

Bought a gigabyte 460W PSU (with the SATA + PCI-E connecters).

As you can see in the pics below, the connector is just too short to reach the CPU power at the top of the board.
The second pic is of a blown PSU I have with miles of extra length.

So now the question is, do I cut the molex plug off the brand new psu and solder the longer cable onto that one?
-Or-
Do I try find a female 4 pin molex plug and make an extension?

There is plenty of space in this case to stealth the longer cable into so that wont be a problem.

I will take a few more pics this week-end to demonstrate some other mods I'd like to make. Small things.

I am super fussy about neat wiring and this case offers lots of oppurtunity for me to finally have a decent stealth job.

This post has been edited by rurounikenshin: Jul 10 2008, 05:35 AM
Attached File(s)
Attached File  Image003.jpg ( 96.86k ) Number of downloads: 115
Attached File  Image004.jpg ( 62.03k ) Number of downloads: 108
 
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
cyfermaster
post Jul 10 2008, 04:58 AM
Post #18


‮ Chairman of the n00b's
Group Icon

Group: Administration
Posts: 9,934
Joined: 27-May 04
From: JHB
Member No.: 3,019
Sex: Male




I would try get an extension. But that's just me. tongue.gif

R690 is cheap. I paid way more than that for my case a few years back. confused.gif


--------------------
If at first you don't succeed. Delete all evidence that you even tried!

52 Outs - The best poker forum around
Stunning Babes
My Journey to the Cape Epic
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
rurounikenshin
post Jul 10 2008, 05:39 AM
Post #19


Playing Polo
Group Icon

Group: Elite
Posts: 2,151
Joined: 25-August 03
From: Sunninghill, South Africa
Member No.: 1,575
Sex: Male




Yeah, better do some shopping around at Communica on Monday.
I need a decent soldering iron and a few other items.

Wonder if it'll be a mission to get the female plug for the 4 pin molex?

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Fishfly
post Jul 10 2008, 06:23 AM
Post #20


Gave my left testicles to research in stem cell tech :(
Group Icon

Group: V9 Mod
Posts: 9,630
Joined: 5-August 03
From: Johannesburg
Member No.: 1,474
Sex: Male





QUOTE
So now the question is, do I cut the molex plug off the brand new psu and solder the longer cable onto that one?
DO NOT CUT IT... else you'll have major power issues...

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

2 Pages V   1 2 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 22nd March 2010 - 04:20 AM