Cases - how have they changed in 10 years..?

steveinspain · 7 Apr 2009 at 21:07

So, my case is almost 10 years old - it is black,a tower and I think it is an antec, but have no idea - it is foam-lined, so pretty quiet, and way better than the other case I use, also an antec, which seems to be much thinner sheet metal, it vibrates and buzzes, but otherwise they seem to be the same.
So, why should I even start to think about a new case ?
What developements have happened to make me need a new one ??

Nick1881 · 7 Apr 2009 at 21:16

New cases tend to have bigger fans meaning more airflow with less noise.

Also styles have changed, I imagine a 10 year old case would look quite dated.

Also tool-less design in newer cases.

steveinspain · 7 Apr 2009 at 21:21

Mr X - OK, so for me, the looks of a case are not important.
Airflow is also fairly low on the list, as even with my old cooler, my temps are low (I am waiting for a Sunbeam CPU cooler to arrive, and have a Noctua 120 and 80mm fans, giving me system temps of 38-40 max under my usual use, so the new cooler will lower that further)
I can open my case with a couple of catches.
Seems like not enough has changed to make me buy one, for which I am very grateful - Cheers !
Steve

monkehhh · 7 Apr 2009 at 21:24

It sounds like you don't really need to think about a new case, you're happy with how it looks and how it performs.. if it ain't broke..

Blackhawk47 · 7 Apr 2009 at 21:47

Most people tend to upgrade case mainly because of newer hardware, best example is graphics cards. They have been getting longer and longer over the years and a new case is pretty much a must. Cooling and build quality tend to be better nowadays as well as design/materials.

EsaT · 7 Apr 2009 at 22:27

steveinspain said:
So, my case is almost 10 years old - it is black,a tower and I think it is an antec, but have no idea
so pretty quiet, and way better than the other case I use, also an antec, which seems to be much thinner sheet metal, it vibrates and buzzes

Maybe some Chieftec, those are sturdy.
Unlike Antec's basic cases which often use below 1mm material thickness like most cheap cases.

mr_x_plosion said:
New cases tend to have bigger fans meaning more airflow with less noise.

And often lot more leaking of component noises because of big holes everywhere.
(then: looked like cases; now: look like cheese graters)

monkehhh said:
if it ain't broke..

Then break it... That's what is happening to many case models because of fashion.

EdGey · 8 Apr 2009 at 00:12

better cooling

much better looks

better features (cable management/noise dampening)

steveinspain · 8 Apr 2009 at 07:14

monkehhh said:
It sounds like you don't really need to think about a new case, you're happy with how it looks and how it performs.. if it ain't broke..

That sounds good to me !
My graphics card is small, my case has lots of space, and my temps are low.
It sits hidden away, so looks are unimportant.
Money saved !

5abr3 · 8 Apr 2009 at 10:00

Changes over the 5 years between the first and the second (current) case I have brought have been:

Migration to 120mm fans over 80mm
Introduction of cable management points
Case vendors realising thumb screws = good
Option for bottom mounted PSU's
Extension in case length to accommodate longer graphics cards
Inclusion of side mounted fans on more cases and migration to 120mm (last case had to be modded to include this)
More mesh being used (higher airflow, apparently)

FaceplantSi · 8 Apr 2009 at 10:12

Better overall airflow mgmt - especially with the heat some of the modern CPU's and GPU's kick out. Airflow is all the more important and that in turn means better cable mgmt and better case fans and vents etc.

steveinspain · 8 Apr 2009 at 20:04

Wish I knew what my case is...!
My oldest is about 9-10 years old, has 120mm fans and is heavy sheet metal, so doesn't vibrate - it was lined with acoustic foam when built and is about to be reused for my current pc, which is in a 5 year old case, which is thin sheet metal, vibrates though does have a side fan opening (80MM). Both look the same, so I assume are the same make.
The eldest has not had a single problem or failure, and has only been replaced due to getting slow, and me discovering the fun of building a new one !
Guess I got lucky when I bought my first then !

EsaT · 8 Apr 2009 at 21:22

FaceplantSi said:
Better overall airflow mgmt

Actually overal change has been toward lot worser overal airflow control:

5abr3 said:
Inclusion of side mounted fans on more cases
More mesh being used (higher airflow, apparently)

Fashionable side holes and cheese grater panels do often lot more for screwing up control of airflow.

EdGey said:
better features ... noise dampening)

On the opposite.
Only few percent of todays cases can compete against 95% of ten years old cases in noise containing: Holes don't stop noise.
(it was noisy fans and HDDs which made noise in old PCs)

Hamoodii · 8 Apr 2009 at 22:48

Aluminium?

toon_mad · 9 Apr 2009 at 10:12

cases are good for modding, as said provide much better airflow generally, and allows for more room for bigger PCI-E cards, optical drives, more fans etc, and you can cases that look much nicer, some that tell you the temps inside and things

paradigm · 9 Apr 2009 at 12:05

EdGey said:
better cooling

much better looks

better features (cable management/noise dampening)

Hmm, not sure I agree. My Coolermaster 201 and 110 are coming up for 10 years old, and neither are poor in any of those areas.

Sure it would be nice if they were 120mm fans rather than 80mm, but they don't look dated, they still accept all the latest hardware, and their layouts are still superb.

I'd say in the last 10 years, cases have become more tacky/vulgar, with more emphasis on stupid plastic moulded shapes to make them appear more "cool" (read: awful), they have gained unsightly amounts of multicolour lighting, and their construction on the whole has become cheaper and cheaper.

There have of course been some nice improvements, cable routing, BTX (although now defunct), PSU's at the base, and segregated from the main airflow and heat compartments, but on the whole, unless you are spending a few hundred £ on a case, you won't find that the "modern" case is any better than its 10 year old counterpart.

sid · 9 Apr 2009 at 15:46

I would disagree that the 201 and 110 are great design.

Installing HDDs was one big flaw especially in the 201 where you had to move the motherboard before the hdd came out. Modern ones face the side so you can take it out much easier.

What the ATCS range will never be matched for is looks and build quality. Although the New Silverstone and Lian Li range are very good as well.

Blackhawk47 · 9 Apr 2009 at 19:35

Agreed the 201 was a beauty but when comparing the low end market back then and today there are some big differences. At least from an system builder or enthuasist point of view.