new at case hunting...some advice needed

subbytna

subbytna

subbytna

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I've got a ASROCK mobo...I think.....

DSCF0031.jpg




and yes I've cleaned out my cooler :o


anyway...I want to know, if I was going to buy a better case, would I have to get a case that has the exact same socket holes to fit the sockets of my mobo?

I've a budget of about £50-70 for a case...anyone able to show me what's a good case to buy that I can EASILY (please) fit my mobo and psu etc all into without having to get a blow torch out to cut metal away ;)

thanks
 
I'm not sure whether your motherboard is ATX or Micro-ATX, but either way, 95% of cases on the market have mounting holes for those sizes.
 
 
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Raikiri said:
It's full ATX, you can see from the soundcard in the bottom PCI slot.

The 300 has exactly the same munting holes, just arranged slightly differently.

Good budget cases:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-101-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-155-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-020-AK&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-161-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-153-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
Click to expand...

ok as I said I'm new to this but wouldn't I have to get a case that has holes that match what my mobo has sticking out in terms of USB holes being in the right place so my USB socket on my MOBO fits??? Some of these cases might not have openings that would let me plug cables into my MOBO when I've got the mobo moved into the new case.
 
reading differing reports on the 300 though....I'm also going to stick a decent cooler in there to replace the stock option I have now so I need space.

I've also got a dedicated sound card and a GTX260 GPU so there's not a lot of room to manouver, would the 300 have room for a decent size cooler? as well as room for all my bits on the mobo?
 
subbytna said:
ok as I said I'm new to this but wouldn't I have to get a case that has holes that match what my mobo has sticking out in terms of USB holes being in the right place so my USB socket on my MOBO fits??? Some of these cases might not have openings that would let me plug cables into my MOBO when I've got the mobo moved into the new case.
Click to expand...

You would take the panel out of your existing case, it is only a push in part that comes with your motherboard not the case. Almost Every case comes with a panel in it but the 1st thing you do is break it off & put the one that comes with your mobo in instead.
So you get the antec 300, take you mobo out of your old case, remove the panel from the back of your old case & refit it all into the new 300. easy peasy :)

GL WIth it anyway.
 
As far as coolers go the antec will take almost any on the market right now, not only that but it should aid in the current cooling as it really is a good case.
 
I'd have to say avoid the Antec 300, its a shocking case for £50. If it was £35 then yes but at 50 sheets it just isn't worth it.

If you intend to get a large GPU then yes you'll get in but only just.

If your budget is £50 - £70 then I'd be looking at the Coolermaster CM690 here. It offers around 10" more length, proper cable managment options on the mobo tray, far better build quality and superior airflow.
 
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Im sure that will be fine, its Lian Li so will be good quality, yeah the 300 has gone up in price, as have most things, its due to the exchange rate being poor atm, not a lot you can do about that. All midi towers will struggle to fit a full 10.5" card, but the 300 does, yes it might be tight but unless you go full tower then youre going to get this no matter what. If you could stretch to £90 you could get the new 900-2/902 which is bigger case and you wont be squeezing, personally Id debate the fact the CM has better build quality or airflow
 
95thrifles said:
personally Id debate the fact the CM has better build quality or airflow
Click to expand...

Ive built around 10 machines using the 300 and 3 machines using a CM690. No question in my mind the the Coolermaster is by far the superior case with far better options for fan placement and cable management.

However cristi has made a good shout with the Lian-Li PC-7B.
 
was quite surprised that nobody mentioned it, it's a really nice case.
been looking at it for a while, wanted to buy it a couple of months ago but it was out of stock for a long time and since I kinda needed a case(pc lying around in room for 2 months lol) I ended up buying a nsk 4480b and selling the psu to a flatmate that had a phenom x4 and a 9600gt on a £5 psu. :eek:
At least I got the case cheap and the psu served a noble goal. :D

very good build quality, decent airflow, I'd really go for it.
 
Lian li make decent cases and, although that's towards their budget end, it's very nicely made.

The CM-690 is roughly analogous to the 900, not quite as good.
The CM-590 is roughly the same as the 300 but a little better
 
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