Passionate Amateur - Help me choose a case

Larnica

Larnica

Larnica

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8 Jul 2006
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Hi Everyone

As the Title says, I'm a "Passionate Amateur" about Computers and Hardware, although I've worked with them for numbers of years. I've replaced components, added to barebone systems but have never built my own, or handled a motherboard / processor. I do believe I know the basics of inside a computer and when I'm shopping for components.

I already use a Pre-Built system for gaming and also use an old computer, mainly for work and to test applications. Over the last few months I've been wanting to expand my knowledge by hopefully building my own machine (in the near future) and I thought the best first step is to be comfortable handling components, by this I mean purchasing a new case for my old computer that will then be used for a "Budget Computer" for work, just like my old computer. I'd like your opinions on this idea and if possible, recommended cases, although I have an Atop X-Blade case already in mind and the Thermaltake "Shark" but thats quite exspensive for a case.

Just a little note. The "Old Computer" was formerly a Media computer and it has a front panel that consists of audio controls, USB controls and various card readers and has the Floppy Drive built into the unit. Ive had a look inside and its attached to the graphics card and the motherboard, although I would like to keep this im not sure how its fitted and how I will fit it. I'm thinking I can place it where two bays are for drives. Again, your opinions on this would be great!

Update: I dont have a specific budget but I was hoping £100 or under! ;)

Many Thanks

Shane :)
 
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I suggest you take a look at the Lian-Li range, because although they may seem expensive and up-market, they have extremely high build quality thus will last you for many systems to come. I can't recommened a specific case as I'm a little clueless... leave that to Yewen, who I expect has already posted by the time I post this :p

:edit: or not!

Oh, and welcome to the forums :)
 
Whats your budget for a case?

Edit// Only place I can find the Atop is charging £58, way too much for that awful looking tin can

Zefan said:
Oh, and welcome to the forums :)
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One more thing... the thread title sounds like an advert for pr0n :D
 
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Hi and welcome aboard!

If it's a budget PC, then I would suggest you look at 'budget' cases and parts.

The Antec NSK4400 with a 380W Smartpower PSU is very good value at £41+postage. Pretty much anything from the ASUS range would also suit you. The Jeantech Phong I has a silly name but it's a great case and it can be bought from OCUK competitors for £20 now the Phong II is out.

If you want a mid-range case then you could (just) get a Lian-Li PC-7+ with a power supply within your budget, and they are nicely made, if a little plain looking.

If you want a quiet case, then I would recommend blowing the budget by £30 and getting a Nexus Breeze case which does include a very good quality 500W PSU. The Arctic Cooling T1 and T2 Cases are a bit flimsy for my taste, but they are very good value at just over £50 for a well thought out quiet case and a decent Seasonic PSU.

Finally, don't forget the OcUK value cases which are very good value and actually are the top selling cases at OcUK, which tells you pretty much everything about the real world, rather than what we case mentalists like to think Nirvana is like.

Although people on here talk about build quality, they're talking about the difference between Volkswagen (OcUK Value, ASUS, Antec, most Thermaltake), BMW (Akasa, some Silverstone) and Rolls Royce (Lian Li, Windy, some Silverstone). None of these cases are truly, desperately awful, so buy something and start building experience!
 
messiah khan said:
Welcome :)

LianLi PC7+ would be a good choice. Its a good solid and simple design, making it an ideal case to build in for a beginner.
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This man speaks the truth, I've got a PC7+ in black and it really is such a great case. The pics you see on the net don't do them justice, but when you actually see it in the flesh it really is a great case.

There's no nasty bits inside the case so you won't cut yourself on it when working in it, have done that many a time on my older PC's with really cheap cases, but not with this one :)

Perhaps some pics of the insides of your old PC you want to put in the new case would be really helpful so we can tell if what you've got currently will fit into a new case or not (you did say it was a pre built system, which brand is it ?)

Oh and welcome to the forums, may you have a long and fruitful stay.
 
Behemoth said:
This man speaks the truth, I've got a PC7+ in black and it really is such a great case. The pics you see on the net don't do them justice, but when you actually see it in the flesh it really is a great case.

There's no nasty bits inside the case so you won't cut yourself on it when working in it, have done that many a time on my older PC's with really cheap cases, but not with this one :)

Perhaps some pics of the insides of your old PC you want to put in the new case would be really helpful so we can tell if what you've got currently will fit into a new case or not (you did say it was a pre built system, which brand is it ?)

Oh and welcome to the forums, may you have a long and fruitful stay.
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Hiya Again

Thanks for all the replies, I'm sure to pick the right case. The "Old System" was brand new, bought from the highstreet. Im most concerned about the panel on the front which consists of the various controls that I mentioned in my first post, I'm sure it will just fit, just getting worried.
 
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