I'm looking to buy a new gaming PC, I know what I want inside, the only thing im unsure on is a case, my budgets pretty small so cost is a large factor, i would be inclined to go for the cheapest case possible unless it will have a large impact on performance. I dont plan on doing an overclocking, everything will be at stock. Ll advice appreciated.
How important is the case?
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Soldato
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Depends on what your putting in the computer?
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Depends, 'bad' cases can have bad airflow, which has an indirect impact on performance but price does not necessarily = quality. What's your budget for the case?
Well it depends, many people see the case as part of the system which everyone is exposed to. So for that reason they choose something stylish.
That said many of the "Stylish" cases aren't necessary the best ones.
Lain Li are highly regarded but very expensive, so you can probably rule them out.
What are you using it for, Gaming rig? Media centre? Is it going to be on all the time?
Good airflow is always top of the agenda with most high power components, cases which provide this are the Antec 1200, 902 + 300 etc,
Coolermaster HAF cases are meant to be rather breezy too but I've never used one personally.
Space, big graphics cards need lots of room! Same goes for extra HDD's etc, depends on what your looking to use it for.
Tool-less installation - this is a brilliant feature if, like me, your constantly in and out the case, makes things much easier, but again it comes at a cost.
Front IO Panel - also rather handy if you don't have access to the rear.
Make sure and check to see if it's an ATX, MATX or EATX case aswell, if it's purely a MATX (mirco) it won't fit your standard ATX sized motherboard.
All in all, depends what your going to use the machine for which will make the decision of the case.
No, getting a terrible case won't technically affect the system, if you're running at stock then heat won't always be an issue,
depending what your running (dual 5970's will generate a ton of heat for example) so you could go for something cheaper.
If you are running high end gear then perhaps you might need to think about investing abit more.
Saves you buying cheap, then spending more money in the future.
That said many of the "Stylish" cases aren't necessary the best ones.
Lain Li are highly regarded but very expensive, so you can probably rule them out.
What are you using it for, Gaming rig? Media centre? Is it going to be on all the time?
Good airflow is always top of the agenda with most high power components, cases which provide this are the Antec 1200, 902 + 300 etc,
Coolermaster HAF cases are meant to be rather breezy too but I've never used one personally.
Space, big graphics cards need lots of room! Same goes for extra HDD's etc, depends on what your looking to use it for.
Tool-less installation - this is a brilliant feature if, like me, your constantly in and out the case, makes things much easier, but again it comes at a cost.
Front IO Panel - also rather handy if you don't have access to the rear.
Make sure and check to see if it's an ATX, MATX or EATX case aswell, if it's purely a MATX (mirco) it won't fit your standard ATX sized motherboard.
All in all, depends what your going to use the machine for which will make the decision of the case.
No, getting a terrible case won't technically affect the system, if you're running at stock then heat won't always be an issue,
depending what your running (dual 5970's will generate a ton of heat for example) so you could go for something cheaper.
If you are running high end gear then perhaps you might need to think about investing abit more.
Saves you buying cheap, then spending more money in the future.
When it comes to cases that need function and performance for the OcUK full systems we turn to the Coolermaster Elite 334/335 cases.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-160-CM
120mm rear fan as standard, when a front 120mm fan is installed it can handle the highest end PC we can put together.
Not the absolute best case in the world, but by a huge margin the best case of any around its price.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-160-CM
120mm rear fan as standard, when a front 120mm fan is installed it can handle the highest end PC we can put together.
Not the absolute best case in the world, but by a huge margin the best case of any around its price.
I've got one of these, and I have to say it's a nice little case, but I would've thought that the Antec 900 would've better airflow due to the 2x120mm front fans?
The Antec 902 is superior, the 900 with its poor cable management for routing cables and negligable gains in performance mean it for builds at least gets beaten by the far cheaper Elite 335 for our needs.
902 however is a different ball game, lot better case all round. but again you pay the price for this.
Personally I would have a K62-Dragonlord from Lancool over the Antec cases, lovely to build in and look the part just the same. Bit of a left wing choice mind.
Looks very similar to the Armoursuit, which is one of my favourite cases.
Ah see, the only Antec I've had is the 1200, which was a great case, good cable management in that. Oh, and I actually meant to type 300 before, as it's in the same price range. Guess the cable management isn't upto much in that either, never mind!
Ah see, the only Antec I've had is the 1200, which was a great case, good cable management in that. Oh, and I actually meant to type 300 before, as it's in the same price range. Guess the cable management isn't upto much in that either, never mind!
Looks very similar to the Armoursuit, which is one of my favourite cases.
Ah see, the only Antec I've had is the 1200, which was a great case, good cable management in that. Oh, and I actually meant to type 300 before, as it's in the same price range. Guess the cable management isn't upto much in that either, never mind!
1200 = win
902 = win
300 = pretty damn good for the money
elite 335 = win
900 = dated
Just take a look at the case options on the Titan Goliath full system, it is a whos-who of the best cooling/value/easy to build in/sturdy cases you can get.
Not really. Nearly any case with a few fans added will cool any insides. it's only when you start overclocking, want cable routing, quite system, watercooling. where the case becomes important.
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antec 300
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to be honest, even a cheapo case will work, providing you have -
1 preferably 2 front intake fans even 90mm, but 120mm are better (one near the bottom and one middle)
1 rear 120mm exhaust fan,
it IS worth spending a couple of pound more on some good quality fans, OCUK do some very nice and silent scythe s-flex ones.
as long as the case has 2 side panels then you can mod this yourself using a dremmel (or similar tool) to cut in pathways for cable routing.
any other fans are just an added extra, but the better ones are big top exhaust fans (antec 1200 has 250mm fan on top) these run slow but expel an awfull lot more air than a 120mm running like mad.
1 preferably 2 front intake fans even 90mm, but 120mm are better (one near the bottom and one middle)
1 rear 120mm exhaust fan,
it IS worth spending a couple of pound more on some good quality fans, OCUK do some very nice and silent scythe s-flex ones.
as long as the case has 2 side panels then you can mod this yourself using a dremmel (or similar tool) to cut in pathways for cable routing.
any other fans are just an added extra, but the better ones are big top exhaust fans (antec 1200 has 250mm fan on top) these run slow but expel an awfull lot more air than a 120mm running like mad.
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If I were to build a new system I would go for one of the following:-
Dont Care about budget
Corsair Obsidian 800D (for water cooling)
Lian Li PC-X1000/Lian Li PC-A71FB/Lian Li PC-P50R (air cooling)
Limited Mid Range Budget
K62 DragonLord (watercooling)
Antec 902 (air cooling)
Low Value Range
Antec 300 or the Coolermaster 335 (air cooling)
I personally have never been a big fan of the Antec 1200 - for that price range > £120 then the alternatives are a much better choice.
The main thing about case selection, it is all very opinionated as it's the main component of a system you look at, so personal preference matters.
Dont Care about budget
Corsair Obsidian 800D (for water cooling)
Lian Li PC-X1000/Lian Li PC-A71FB/Lian Li PC-P50R (air cooling)
Limited Mid Range Budget
K62 DragonLord (watercooling)
Antec 902 (air cooling)
Low Value Range
Antec 300 or the Coolermaster 335 (air cooling)
I personally have never been a big fan of the Antec 1200 - for that price range > £120 then the alternatives are a much better choice.
The main thing about case selection, it is all very opinionated as it's the main component of a system you look at, so personal preference matters.
I used to use rack cases as I stowed all my gear in a cabinet, so looks didn't matter, I could pick up a nice 4U server case for under £50 and cooled the parts
perfectly. So all you are looking for is a case with good airflow (like the antecs
that have been mentioned) and that's all that really matters. However don't go too cheap - believe it or not those designers at antec do make sure air flows through the cases, if you buy a £30 grey box, well, that will probably be a different story
enough waffle from me!
PS isn't this more suited In case central?
perfectly. So all you are looking for is a case with good airflow (like the antecs
that have been mentioned) and that's all that really matters. However don't go too cheap - believe it or not those designers at antec do make sure air flows through the cases, if you buy a £30 grey box, well, that will probably be a different story
enough waffle from me!
PS isn't this more suited In case central?
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As others have said it depends on what you want inside, but I'd say getting a decent case with good cooling isn't a waste of money even if you spend a bit more it's unlikely you will need to replace a good quality case in a long time. I've got an old antec p180, and if the damn door on the front wasn't so delicate it'd be in perfect condition.
Sorry for not reply, forgot about the thread!
The insides are an i5 @ 2.67 (stock) with a 5850, 4gb of ddr3 basically, it is a gaming PC, im not at all interested in looks, only function at as good a price point as possible.
The insides are an i5 @ 2.67 (stock) with a 5850, 4gb of ddr3 basically, it is a gaming PC, im not at all interested in looks, only function at as good a price point as possible.