Choosing a case for my new PC

[MasterChief]

Well, I've decided to take the plunge. I just got a job recently so I can finally start building my own PC. It will likely be a slow process though, taking several months before I get everything together.

Yesterday I started browsing newegg trying to find a good case to start with. I looked at the review for over a dozen, ranging in price from 25 bucks to almost 200. Right now I'm pretty sure I want to get this one (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-156-138&depa=1) by Raidmax, but I'm not absolutely certain yet because I don't know much about building PC's. I have a couple of questions. First, I was wondering whether the 420 ps it comes with will be sufficient to power a PC using all of the newest parts, including the next gen nvidia cards. Second, is the cooling system that is included enough, or will I have to get more fans or something? I've read reviews in various places and so far I haven't seen any problems. Lastly, the price on this one is only 49 bucks which made me kind of suspicious...makes me wonder whether there's some glaring problem with it that I don't know about. I would appreciate any advice on this, I'm a total noob :p:

[Tom Servo]

That's the same case I have (but not in sissy yellow :P) it seems to be a good case, mine came with no PS, so that's a good deal. Thing is, I broke the front panel when building it, so if I open it, it falls off, and I have to put it back on again manually (takes about 5-10 seconds, but I have to do it every time I switch CD's.)

[Bruenor]

You Cannot Get That Case!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why? Because it's the same as mine :p:

(except as TS said, not in sissy yellow)

I've had no problems with it at all, and it looks good to boot.

BTW, next gen cards, especially Nvidia recommend a 480 watt PSU, so no this wouldn't have the juice you need.

Other than that, the 3 case fans (one on the side, 2 on the back) work great if you're not overclocking, it's nice and spacious, well labelled, etc. Seriously, I had nothing but good experiences with the case.

[Rafal Dudek]

my friend has a similar case (except its not a sissy yellow) and the front panel thing broke off for him after putting the PC together =P

But I'm gonna start building my own case. I got 4 big units of plexiglass (free from my father's workplace) to build it =] Now I just need to put together frame parts

[DejaFu]

that case everyone has

[Ojnod]

I have a case like that for one of my PC's (not in sissy yellow) and it is pretty good. Well mine is a chieftec but the core interior is fine. The only things I have to comment on are

1. I recommend buying a power supply separate most of the time. If you are going to build a nice PC, many people overlook the power supply. Donjo approved brands include: Forton/Sparkle (not very well known and they are both the same PS but have 2 brand names, but best PS's I own), Antec and PC power and cooling. Enermax aren't bad but they are too pricey for their quality, if they came with a case and it wasnt too expensive, I would buy it.

2. Pick a sharp looking case that is sorta plain. By saying plain I dont mean beige, I mean like brushed aluminum or jet black or something like that. Many people I know have ended up not liking their colorful case after a certain amount of time because they grew old of the colors and style. Good quality cases that look sharp IMO are coolermaster, Lian li, shuttle XPC systems and antec. Kingwin also started to make a case that looks pretty good too. No offense but some cases with flashy lights and bright paint remind me of a nerdy version of rice boys and their civics/eclipses.

[RHooks]

I bought one of those for the computer I'm rebuilding for my son ( not the sissy yellow) and I like it ok. I have my doubts about the power supply that came with it. I like Thermaltake. I have a 420 with pfc and think it's great. Also, Zed brings up a good point about that door. It won't stand up to much rough treatment.

[MasterChief]

OK, sounds good...about the color though, that's not necessarily what I'm going to get. I only saw one color for that particular case, so that's the one I linked to. If anyone knows where I can get other colors I'd appreciate a link. So I guess the consensus is I should find a better power supply? I would appreciate any advice on which one to get, I really don't know what I'm doing here.

[MasterChief]

weird, I just noticed newegg has different colors for pretty much the same case...I could have sworn they werent there when I looked yesterday :p:

[Ojnod]

Despite the "no-name" sounding brand, this sparkle (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-489&depa=1) is 530watts and very affordable. People rave sparkles on overclockers.com and overclockers don't settle for anything but the best. Forton uses the same parts as sparkle so one by them would be good too.

some other good ones are..

Antec True Power series (http://http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-909&depa=1)

Thermaltake Silent Purepower (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-153-012&depa=1)

Anything by pcpowernandcooling.com (http://pcpowerandcooling.com/about/index_whatnew510.htm)


Keep in mind cheapo power supplys will probably produce the power they say they will... under certain conditions. For powersupplys to be able to produce that power they have to stay cool. Cheapo power supplies won't have adequate heatsinks on the inside, therefore they will only be able to produce the power they say they will in certain cases. Normally these cases are where the temps are lower than they every will be in your house (like 50-60F or below). A good rule of thumb if you know nothing about the brand is check how heavy it is. If it is heavy then they probably have some good heatsinks in there, because I doubt they are just stuffing lead in the corners to make it heavy just for fun.

A power supply is something you want to last. Bad power supplies can kill parts. Killed parts = no gaming + money for replacements. I bought a 431 watt enermax when I built my first PC 2 and a half years ago. Sure it wasnt needed then, but I was thinking for the future. This PS will probably last me for another year in a top of the line machine, and many many years in my back up machines (though I have a shuttle XPC system now so I have to use that really small power supply that comes with it, hehe the enermax is half the size of this shuttle case).

[RHooks]

weird, I just noticed newegg has different colors for pretty much the same case...I could have sworn they werent there when I looked yesterday :p:

That would have been my story, too.

:wink:

[MasterChief]

They had a silver colored case when I looked yesterday, but its dimensions werent exactly the same.

Thanks for the info, Donjo... OK, a couple more questions. Will something like a geforce 6800 (which I've heard is pretty big) fit in this baby without any problems? And if I go with that 530 ps you linked to, do you think I'll need to get some additional cooling fans or whatever? I'm really excited about this...if I get a response tonight I'll probably order a few parts in the next couple of days.

[Ojnod]

No you shouldn't need any extra fans for the power supply. And the as for the case, you have to check and see the description to see how many fan slots are available and how many fans are included.

[DejaFu]

I agree that a nice chrome looking case is nice. Mine is a few years old lian li and with 3 fans overall i run pretty cool and quiet. It also looks pimp

[Feuerwizard]

Sounds good MC, I have a black case with 2 blue neons in the front, 5 case fans (enermax), transparent side panel, and 450 PSU.

[DejaFu]

wow that sounds a little tacky. Think about it do you want ur computer case would look like if it was a car. Then decide on what you want

[MasterChief]

What sounds tacky? A black case with neon lights? I think that sounds cool. I'd probably go for something like that if I wasn't on a budget.

[Tom Servo]

I got my case in black and red (you can see it on the raidmax site).

It looks really good, since the 'z' at the front has a blue light in it, and the side window fan also has a blue light (so you don't have to buy a seperate one)

[Feuerwizard]

wow that sounds a little tacky. Think about it do you want ur computer case would look like if it was a car.

Why not? Many people told me that my case looks very cool, and I like blue lights. I hav 3 of them in my bedroom.