Please recommend me a Micro-ATX case

dirtychinchilla · 6 Jul 2011 at 21:56

Hi guys,

I've been deciding on the parts I want for my new gaming pc, the thread is here.

As you may see, this is the set up I've decided on for now (currently sans graphics card and SSD)

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor £173.99
1 x Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £109.99
1 x BeQuiet Pure Power L7 530W '80 Plus' Power Supply £44.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £34.99
1 x Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £33.98
Total : £409.34 (includes shipping : £9.50).

What I'm looking for is a Micro-ATX case to house all that stuff, probably black with a window in the side. My main concern, however, is portability as I want to be able to carry the tower on the train from Leeds to London when I return from uni in the holidays. I don't necessarily want a carrying handle - I can manage to carry it under my arm - but I do need to be able to carry it so perhaps something like a shuttle would be suitable...

So your recommendations would be wonderful if you don't mind.

Thanks in advance,
Jono

Edit: I was just browsing this site and as you can see, one can buy a bag for that case. Is this something particular to the lan party scene, and therefore would it be a good plan for me to buy a lan party style case?

Bags are great!

KiiYzOo · 8 Jul 2011 at 09:08

I'd get the NZXT Vulcan, as it looks pretty awesome

you can't get it on ocuk but if you google it I'm sure you'll find a few places

dirtychinchilla · 8 Jul 2011 at 11:53

Hahaha I know you would man. It's too bulky for me to carry on the train I think. I'm thinking about getting a Silverstone SG01, or SG02F-B

Venares · 8 Jul 2011 at 12:05

Lian Li PC-v354 is pretty tasty

Tute · 8 Jul 2011 at 15:19

The smallest one is the Sugo SG03, but you're restricted in cooler choice and graphics card length. I'd still go for that though, it'll fit most video cards and you can just shoehorn an H5O in for CPU cooling.

The other option is to drop all the way down to something like an SG05, that way you'll be able to fit it under your arm no problem.

dirtychinchilla · 8 Jul 2011 at 15:52

Are all the SG models Micro ATX then? The stuff I found on their website seemed to suggest they were mostly ITX now...I'd like to go for an up to date case because then I'm more likely to get USB 3.0 in the front.

I don't want the case to be so small things do fit or I have severe cooling issues I'm a big guy, I can carry something slightly bulky. I just don't want to be carrying a full tower.

MasterPlan1 · 8 Jul 2011 at 17:27

Define Mini series are real nice.

Tute · 8 Jul 2011 at 19:55

dirtychinchilla said:
Are all the SG models Micro ATX then? The stuff I found on their website seemed to suggest they were mostly ITX now...I'd like to go for an up to date case because then I'm more likely to get USB 3.0 in the front.

I don't believe there are any SFF cases currently on the market with USB3 support? The upcoming Sugo SG08 has it, but that's not due for another few weeks. The Temjin TJ08E might have it as well, but again that's not out yet.

I don't want the case to be so small things do fit or I have severe cooling issues I'm a big guy, I can carry something slightly bulky. I just don't want to be carrying a full tower.

Sugo SG05/06 takes an H5O in the front, although you do lose an inch off the maximum graphics card length. But you still have a good 9" to play with, more than enough for a decent card.

Have a look here for graphics card lengths and links.

http://hardforum.com:80/showthread.php?t=1606897

Curunen · 8 Jul 2011 at 22:04

SG03/SG04 with H60 or equivalent on the CPU is the the best choice, IMO.

I can't think of anything else as suitable, and easy to obtain.

Don't get the fractal define mini for portability - way too heavy and big.
The lian li V3xx are also a little on the bulky side.

Lan Gear's stuff looks good, but it is a little more expensive and also quite hard to get hold of.

dirtychinchilla · 9 Jul 2011 at 13:22

Venares said:
Lian Li PC-v354 is pretty tasty

As nice as that is, I think they're really above my budget. I think £90 would probably be my max. I should have said so earlier haha.

MasterPlan1 said:
Define Mini series are real nice.

The define mini is perfect! I'm going to have a better look at all the specs and some reviews but I was thinking of getting the R3 then changed my mind about wanting a full tower. Hopefully the Define is portable though...it looks like it could be a little bulky.

Curunen said:
SG03/SG04 with H60 or equivalent on the CPU is the the best choice, IMO.

I can't think of anything else as suitable, and easy to obtain.

Don't get the fractal define mini for portability - way too heavy and big.
The lian li V3xx are also a little on the bulky side.

Lan Gear's stuff looks good, but it is a little more expensive and also quite hard to get hold of.

If I don't get the Define then I'll definitely take those into consideration. One of my concerns is cooling so that's great to know. Also the info about the Define being bulky is good...so many decisions haha!

dirtychinchilla · 9 Jul 2011 at 13:30

Tute said:
I don't believe there are any SFF cases currently on the market with USB3 support? The upcoming Sugo SG08 has it, but that's not due for another few weeks. The Temjin TJ08E might have it as well, but again that's not out yet.

Sugo SG05/06 takes an H5O in the front, although you do lose an inch off the maximum graphics card length. But you still have a good 9" to play with, more than enough for a decent card.

Have a look here for graphics card lengths and links.

http://hardforum.com:80/showthread.php?t=1606897

Tute, having re-read this, I've just checked out the SG05/06. Silverstone say they both only support Mini ITX and Mini DTX. So the Micro ATX motherboard surely won't fit?

Marvin · 9 Jul 2011 at 15:06

Lan Gear Da Box 100 Blackheart - though it depends on budget I guess. It can be found easily enough for ~£120-140.

dirtychinchilla · 9 Jul 2011 at 18:06

I do like that case, the price is a bit much but you can get that weird bag I guess.

Curunen · 10 Jul 2011 at 00:14

dirtychinchilla said:
<snip>
The define mini is perfect! I'm going to have a better look at all the specs and some reviews but I was thinking of getting the R3 then changed my mind about wanting a full tower. Hopefully the Define is portable though...it looks like it could be a little bulky.

If I don't get the Define then I'll definitely take those into consideration. One of my concerns is cooling so that's great to know. Also the info about the Define being bulky is good...so many decisions haha!

I own a define mini and honestly say it is not the sort of thing I'd want to be carrying around. I found the SG03/04 big enough already, carrying back and forth from uni.

What about considering an itx build? Only sacrifice the internal soundcard, but you can pack a lot of power into a very small space.

dirtychinchilla · 10 Jul 2011 at 00:18

Curunen said:
I own a define mini and honestly say it is not the sort of thing I'd want to be carrying around. I found the SG03/04 big enough already, carrying back and forth from uni.

What about considering an itx build? Only sacrifice the internal soundcard, but you can pack a lot of power into a very small space.

Oh that's great to know, thank you very much. Certainly puts me off the Define Mini!

I was thinking about an ITX build but apparently that would mean that I wouldn't be able to overclock the sandybridge i5.

Curunen · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:42

Hmm, fair point.

I'd say if you can get hold of the Lan Gear box, then that seems the most flexible option.

Also for the SG03/SG04 - consider the steel versions (F). Much more hard wearing.
The benefit of the SG04 is the front/sides/top are all covered, unlike similar cases, which provies some safety in case of spilling a drink at it or whatever.

sodzilla · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:54

dirtychinchilla said:
Oh that's great to know, thank you very much. Certainly puts me off the Define Mini!

I was thinking about an ITX build but apparently that would mean that I wouldn't be able to overclock the sandybridge i5.

if you get the new zotac z68 mini itx motherboard you will be able to overclock it. that's what I'm planning to do, the boards on preorder atm for £125

sodzilla · 10 Jul 2011 at 11:54

oops double posted, should have known better than to post from my phone...

dirtychinchilla · 10 Jul 2011 at 15:45

sodzilla said:
if you get the new zotac z68 mini itx motherboard you will be able to overclock it. that's what I'm planning to do, the boards on preorder atm for £125

Oh that's great news. I'm so undecided about whether to go from a small pc or a large one. But that really helps, pretty cheap too!

Gepetto · 12 Jul 2011 at 12:00

If you go M-Itx you can consider the SG05/06 family which are much smaller than the SG03/04. I would certainly prefer to carry the SG05 about, as opposed to the SG03 (I have both).

The SG05 feels a lot more substantial and stronger, but it does not take a standard PSU, so your build will have to change accordingly. I think the SG06 comes with a 600W PSU, and I have a 450W PSU in my SG05, so power should not be an issue, and I've seen some pretty impressive gaming rigs packed into both.