Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Hi
I am on a quest to build a desktop for myself after 7 years (last desktop was with a Athlon 64).
My post would be about the following case : http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fract...et-fan-w-o-psu
I love the smooth, simple design and the price. But reading the reviews, I realize this case have several failings.
Anybody could suggest something similar, price and look wise? mATX would be the best.
Much appreciated. Thank you
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
TBH anything in that price range is going to have some failings. There's a reason people pay decent money for a case.
You might like to look at:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/antec...-(new-version)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/corsa...usb-30-w-o-psu
Or BitFenix do some nice budget cases, not on Scan though.
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
There's also the Shinobi:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/BitFenix-Shi...8196547&sr=1-1
And the Merc Beta variant which is exactly like the Alpha but minus the top fan mounts.
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
It runs hotter and louder than the competitors, but it is very cheap, you get what you pay for.
What reviewers think doesn't really matter, if you can live with the extra noise and lower performance than go for it.
You have not mentioned anything about a budget so I will give you alternatives that fit the bill of smooth and simple, but not as cheap:
The Silverstone FT03 which comes in various colours, though it is quite pricy. One of those cases that exhausts all of the hot air up and out the top of the case.
The Fractal Design Define Mini, much like the R4 it's a very clean looking case, but not many people like doors on cases. I would highly recommend this one.
Edit: The above are m-ATX cases
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Start off OP is asking about mATX not ATX
The core 1000 is probably the best cheap mATX case out there, yes it's got a couple of failings, main one being it's narrow so no 120mm fan based tower coolers, You can still fit in a 92mm fan based cooler.
It all depends on what you want to put in it?
I'd say the best mATX case currently on the market from a general cost vs highend hardware point are the silverstone PS07 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/silve...icro-atx-black Silverstone TJ08e http://www.scan.co.uk/products/silve...m-steel-with-u and fractal design Arc mini http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fract...-black-w-o-psu
But it depends on what you want to do with it?
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
As long as it fits a mATX motherboard and isn't huge I don't see the problem.
Just because a case fits a certain motherboard is no guarantee of size. The P180 'Mini' is over 500mm tall, whereas the full ATX 200R is only 430mm and the Merc Alpha only 439mm.
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Which is why I asked what he want to put in it and do with it?
And was specific about reasons for the suggestions.
best cheap mATX case
best price vs highend hardware mATX cases
For the cost the shinobi isn't bad and I'd say a better case than the merc cases as they are a bit too narrow, not enough space behind the motherboard tray for cable routing.
For the best sub £35 atx mid towers I still say the Casecom K5-9388 http://www.ebuyer.com/239238-casecom...an-k5-9388blue or the new casecom CS13 http://www.ebuyer.com/390898-casecom-cs-13-case-cs-13 are the best in terms of value case.
Maybe the new KK9949 http://www.ebuyer.com/390900-casecom...9-case-kk-9949 more "interesting looking" but it's got the same space issues the original KA6788 had, ie no real space behind the motherboard tray for cables
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Woow, so many replies!
Okey :-) First, sorry, my budget was close to the price of the Core 1000 (top £35, as at Scan).
Will pass on the ATX, full ATX, midi ATX and so on cases (just too big for my needs, my future office will be tiny).
My aim is to have a cheap, reliable and cheap computer (initial budget limited, will buy only case, PSU, MB and CPU).
If I would have the money,I would have Silverstone TJ08e or Fractal Design Define Mini (the side ways HDD cage is lovely).
My chosen mATX motherboard will be a cheap one, or may be even a ITX (depends what I will manage to buy on eBay).
No optical drive, couple of hard drives and no graphic card or extra big cooler (would love to have something like a Xigmatek Thor's Hammer in there eventually, if possible. Do you guys think it would be possible in the Core 1000?).
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
I'll refer you back to my first comment, you will have to make compromises at this price range. Which particular failings of the Core 1000 are you concerned about?
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Willzzz
I'll refer you back to my first comment, you will have to make compromises at this price range. Which particular failings of the Core 1000 are you concerned about?
Quoting user reviews : "Difficult to assemble due to limited cable management", "Awful compatibility, took a lot of messing and altering to just get simple things like a DVD drive in" <- luckily doesn't affect me, but what if I will have troubles with HDDs/SSDs?, "Getting to some screws was difficult. Also 1 of the screw holes would not line up with a corsair power supply", "This made fitting the motherboard a bit of a hassle", "The hard disk tray makes cable management tricky".
Take your pick. I am not really worried about the cable management (I can go ape**** with cable ties), but fiddling with things to fit in, hmm I don't know, I don't really want to have a HDD hanging out or dangling on a cable :-)
Would kill to get the side way HDD cage(s) from the Fractal Design Define Mini for the same price.
EDIT: Worst case scenario, will just keep HDDs in the 5.25" bays on some rails.
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Aerocool make some mATX cases:
http://www.cclonline.com/product/101...Tower/CAS0740/
http://www.cclonline.com/product/829...-Case/CAS1418/
A few more pictures of the QS200:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=CA-060-AE
http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeige...58704-225-1452
A few more pictures of the QS202:
http://gswired.niceboard.org/t604-qs-202-review
I do like the interior of the QS202 as you can fit longer cards easily and I like layout of the drive cages and PSU too.
If you want to go cheaper there is the Ace Ecco 250 which has soundproofing installed:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ace-e...oofing-w-o-psu
However,the Zalman T1 is even cheaper:
http://www.cclonline.com/product/102...-Case/CAS0758/
It is the cheapest mATX case from a known company I can find and only costs around £21 delivered!! The PSU is even at the bottom.
Here is a review of the case:
http://www.overclockers.ua/power/zal...-t1-zm-t2/all/
It can take 270MM long graphics cards.
The CM Elite 140 is a good value mini-ITX case but has its own limitations especially regarding cooler height:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...4x25-hdd-usb-3
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
The things to think about:
1) Are you likely to reuse this case? Will you keep it for your next build? If you are only building it once, maybe the hassle isn't so bad. If you are going to reuse it several times, maybe you can justify spending a little extra.
2) Does it really matter about neatness inside? If you are doing a budget build chances are that the components aren't super sensitive to airflow and it's not like the case has a window.
Most small cases are going to be slightly more difficult to build into, some ATX cases are not really much bigger, but that extra inch can make assembly a whole lot easier.
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
It seems the Zalman T2 is even cheaper at £20 delivered:
http://www.cclonline.com/product/102...NI-T2/CAS0759/
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Of course there is always the Core 3000, yes it is ATX, but it's only 5mm taller than the Zalman T2 and it will be easier to build into than the Core 1000. Plus it has those side facing drive trays you like :)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fract...e-case-w-o-psu
Re: Alternative to Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX case?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Willzzz
Another candidate enters the ring!! :p