QOTW: How often do you upgrade your PC chassis?

[HEXUS]

With every new build, less frequently, or is your PC still beige?

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[Gentle Viking]

Well in the old days when i was into modding, i could change case every 1-2 years, but the current one i am using ( slightly modified lian li midi tower ) are actually pretty old by now, as i recall this last mod i did in 2008, and it now had the insides change 3 times ( though not adapted to fit the original mod as that also had GFX and RAM water cooled and now only the CPU are water cooled )
So current hardware are just "thrown" in there comparing to when i really care building a computer.

Not owned a beige case since forever or at least my 700 MHZ machine.
Current ALU case have had a custom shaped window made with actual glass ( brands used plastic back then not actual glass like now ) and then the case have been powder coated black ( by me too ) and some things have been mirror polished or was chromed, and then given a transparent coat of red )

If you buy a good case in regard to function, you should hardly ever need to upgrade for anything else but aesthetic reasons.

[Kanoe]

It's got to be pushing 5 years old. It looks a bit dated in terms of style and features now but after taking some panels off it it still does the job.

Next time I upgrade motherboard & CPU I will think about changing it.

[jamest]

Not very often, still using an Antec P182 from 2007 and a Fractal Design R5 from 2014 for my two main builds. Both are built like tanks and good at keeping noise levels down, everything else has been upgraded but I don't see any reason to 'upgrade' the chassis. I did buy a 5.25" USB 3 panel for the P182 though because it only had USB2 ports on the front.

[3dcandy]

Antec 300 cough

But it depends - I have also made a server this week into a brand new Corsair 200R because it will be quieter than the current server (it's a 1u HP - man it's loud) and has 4 internal 3.5" hard drive bays

[mikeo]

Probably only changed it once in the last 15 years or so.

Current one is a Lian Li PC-B25FB that I've modded several times now. I think aluminum cases are very good for cooling.

[Saracen999]

Edited 'cos I missed the word "chassis". Duh.

The only reason I'd upgrade chassis is if I needed something I don't have. Currently, that includes everything from an Antec 1200 Apartment Block, to a rather nice Ye Olde Coolermaster Aluminium Case (ATC-101 I think). And about 10 others that I'm in the process of stripping down, most of which were AT before the X got added.

For me a case is a case. It isn't a design object. It's functional, needs bays, fans and doesn't need either windows or double-glazing. It certainly doesn't want pretty coloured lights. I want a fancy PC case about as much as I want a fancy toolbox for my screwdrivers, socket sets, etc, etc.

Though, thinking about it, maybe a window and built-in lights would be a good idea in that.

What I would like on my cases, rather than "I'm here, look at me" lighting, is a Klingon cloaking system so I don't have to look at them. Though knowing my current luck, I'd break my big toe my stubbing it on one.

[Manpreet]

Whenever I do a full re-build. The current one has lasted for 8 years, I'll be going for the Meshify 2 Compact next.

[virtuo]

Used to be whenever I won one on Hexus, but not been so lucky lately. The only reason I had my latest upgrade was because I was building an entirely new machine, and needed a smaller case to fit on my desk rather than under it.

Probably wouldn't even think about upgrading it for a good 5 years+, and then really it's only going to be because of either a fault or an unexpected change in requirements.

[ik9000]

I like 5.25" bays for hot swap and yes, I do still use the DVD-RW drives too, so my 2 latest builds used 2nd hand cases from 2015. Glass is heavy and fragile and not for me. I need front fans, decent unobstructed (but filtered) ventilation to them, and more than one 5.25 bay. Modern cases just don't provide that.

[Ttaskmaster]

Every chassis I've had has been a case, because that's what we generally call them in the UK, although some cases are more like bare chassis.

Like every other component it gets upgraded as and whenever I find something I like better.
Current one is a Luxe, which replaced a Corsair 500R a few years ago.

I need front fans, decent unobstructed (but filtered) ventilation to them, and more than one 5.25 bay. Modern cases just don't provide that.

Some do. That's one reason I chose a Phanteks. I actually have 3 such bays.

[ik9000]

Every chassis I've had has been a case, because that's what we generally call them in the UK, although some cases are more like bare chassis.

Like every other component it gets upgraded as and whenever I find something I like better.
Current one is a Luxe, which replaced a Corsair 500R a few years ago.


Some do. That's one reason I chose a Phanteks. I actually have 3 such bays.

would that be the one obstructed by a door though?

[Kovoet]

Not done mine for a few years but looking to go for the **ADMIN EDIT ** 25/5/21

[Eggburt69]

Not very often. The main PC is still in the same Coolermaster Sileo 500 case I brought back in January 2009!

I've brought quite a few since for other PCs, and PCs I've build for people, but that's all.

[will19565]

Literally just in the processes of upgrading from a BitFenix Outlaw which I brought in September2013 to a NZXT H210i.

[Euphonium]

Usually only when I'd doing a clean sheet build or there's a fundamental technology change of some sort.

My first case was an Escom AT mini-tower from early '94. It started life with a 486-DX66 and lasted through two mobo changes and 6 CPUs (486-SX66, Cyrix PR150, Intel P166, AMD K6/2-300,400,450, K6/3-400) before I retired it and went ATX. I still have it, because a friend did a custom paint job on it for me.

I followed that with a generic ATX mid-tower which lasted me though Athlon 1GHz,1.33GHz, AthlonXP-1600,2000,2500, Athlon64-3500, Athlon64x2-3800.

My next case was 2nd hand - a Chieftec Scorpio that a friend was getting rid of. That played host to a Core2 Duo E6600, then a Phenom 9950.

In 2011 I got to do my first new parts build since the Athlon64x2, and built a i5-2500k into a Coolermaster CM690 II. That system was upgraded to an i7-3770k, and is now my backup.

This year I bought a Fractal Design Define 7 because it was pretty much the only modern case I could find with a 5.24" bay and lots of 3.5" bays. I expect this case to last me at least a decade.