Case for £35

[Vowo]

Well, after a solid, well built, value for money, good looking case myself, so this thread has been of interest.

I popped into Eclipse computers today (just down the road), just to look at the cases mentioned, specifically the Akasa Zen and Coolermaster RC-534 and I must say, the Coolermaster looks and feels better quality than the Zen.

The Zen felt tinny and didnt seem as solid as the R-534...just add 120mm fan to the Coolermaster and you got a v good case IMO.

R-534 = £31.71 scan
Zen = £28.78 scan (bundle atm)

agreed at the Zen comment "pleases the ladies" tho

Thats my twopenneth

[staffsMike]

the zen can often be had for around £22/£23 on scan today onlys..

You can't do better than that for the money surely.

I used to like coolermaster cases but they don't really do it for me anymore.

[Vowo]

Comes down to taste as well, I like an understated, classy looking case, that's built well myself, so I'd pay the extra fiver or so.

£23 is an excellent price indeed tho.

[jackvdbuk]

I used to like coolermaster cases but they don't really do it for me anymore.

why not? i like my RC-534's alot, greta case tbh or about 34

[Cozwin]

tbh id say coolermaster and antec are the best made cases ever imo, well built good fans , cheap.

[amjedm]

I thought it was me (but it isn't) - I wasn't too happy with the Zen, prefer the SLK3000B or other decent case (have never owned a Coolermaster but would like to)

[Marcvs]

its a horribly bad case thermally, the cpu duct is a pain and it doesnt cool at all well (i made the mistake of using it for a pc i was building for someone).

[staffsMike]

The RC-534 is a nice looking case. Very simple and clean...unlike most of their other cases.

I'd take it over the zen but the zen is still a good deal in my eyes.

[Vowo]

its a horribly bad case thermally, the cpu duct is a pain and it doesnt cool at all well (i made the mistake of using it for a pc i was building for someone).

Which one mate?

The RC-534 is a nice looking case. Very simple and clean...unlike most of their other cases.

I'd take it over the zen but the zen is still a good deal in my eyes.

agreed.

[Marcvs]

Which one mate?

The GZ-X2, its a pill of pi** and is really cramped to work in..

Silverstone Temjin FTW though (nice pricetag )

[frosty15]

As far as cases go, you get what you pay for and aesthetics are secondary to build quality.
Where this differs is in the budget end where quite often, the bigger brands such as Antec, Coolermaster and Thermaltake, take their designs from their high-end chassis and just make them from steel instead of aluminium.
The reason why Coolermaster's case may be of better overall quality, is because it's simply a budget version of a much higher range of chassis, with maybe a different fascia.

There is a niche for cheap, aesthetically pleasing chassis and the Akasa Zen fits into this bracket. However, as is always the case (no pun intended), if you pay a little more, you get a better quality product.

Given the minimal difference between the cost of an Akasa Zen or a Coolermaster RC-330 Elite, I'd personally choose the latter. Although I also understand that there is a super-budget market whereby the Akasa would be the better option, when every £1 saved is important.

RC-330 Elite