Good case for my rig??

[Hicks12]

Well ive been going to lans a lot more recently (like home lans but with 10+ people! ) and lugging my 22" Monitor and CM 690 is becoming a real pain in the ass. So im currently looking to get a smaller monitor that wll be used as dual monitors for normal useage at home but then main for lans. Now i need to look for a smaller case, would make life so much easier!.

Now im not sure what to get interms of case size, what am i looking for? A midi tower?(not good with the terms of size). I would like it to be able to keep my system relatively cool and have enough space for say a biggish GPU (not sure if ill get a 5870 but somehing the size of a 9800GTX or a 4850 like i have now).

Any help is appreciated!. Cheapest possible aswell however id love to find someone with one they like to get rid off .

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Do you want to go mATX or mini ITX with the computer??

With an ATX motherboard you could get a lighter case but it will still have to be big to accommodate the motherboard.

[TAKTAK]

The Lian Li A05 is about the smallest case that will accommodate an ATX board plus large GFX card (i've got a GTX260 in mine, not sure how much longer the newer cards are though...)

[Time Bandit]

I'm ummin' and aahhin' about this one, cheap it ain't (~£60 at Scan), but if you are interested in value for ££ then the mini P180 is probably worth a look.

Its cool, compact and quiet with 8 drive bays and room for a socking great graphics card.
Cable management and finish are top notch too.

Extensive review at silent pc - http://www.silentpcreview.com/article810-page1.html

Unit dims: 43.5cm(H) x 21.2cm(W) x 43.6cm(D)

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The only problem with the mini-P180 that it is too well made for its own good!! It weighs over 9KG!!

If the OP can a mATX motherboard for their computer they should consider one of the Silverstone SFF cases.

The OP should also consider the DA BOX 100:
http://www.lan-gear.com/

[12GaugeShotty]

The only problem with the mini-P180 that it is too well made for its own good!! It weighs over 9KG!!

Work out often?

It's a bit heavy for LAN parties but if it just sits there then the weight is negligible.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Work out often?

It's a bit heavy for LAN parties but if it just sits there then the weight is negligible.

Why the heck would I want to be lugging a 9KG case around when a 3.5KG Silverstone case will do the job?!

I have a Shuttle P2 series SFF and it is ideal to lug around on the train and it is small too which is useful if I am visiting mates and have other stuff to carry.

[Hicks12]

DOnt really want to move boards but if theres a similar smaller board for a good price maybe id consider it?. Im not lacking with strength but its nice to have a lighter case, dont need fancy silence panels or anything just basic really.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

DOnt really want to move boards but if theres a similar smaller board for a good price maybe id consider it?. Im not lacking with strength but its nice to have a lighter case, dont need fancy silence panels or anything just basic really.

What is the budget??

[Hicks12]

Probs about £50?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Probs about £50?

The case TAKTAK suggested is the smallest and lightest case(weighs 4KG) that will take a full ATX motherboard but is over £60:

http://www.svp.co.uk/technology/comp...nli-01020.html

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...source=froogle

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...source=froogle

http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1067.html

The NZXT Panzerbox is also worth a look and weighs 6.2KG but is £87:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/NZXT-...r-Case-w-o-PSU

The Antec 300 weighs 7.2KG and is smaller than your current case:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec...r-Case-w-o-PSU

It is also worth considering the Coolermaster Elite 330 and Antec 200 cases too:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Coole...Scan-Exclusive

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec...plus120mm-fans

They both weigh under 6.5KG

[Hicks12]

Sorry cat i thought u were asking how much i would spend changing to a new motherboard!.

Really for the case im looking for something cheap, its going at lans with mates doesnt need to be special and its not going to be treated great, So ideally sticking ~£30. As long as it has an intake and outtake 120mm fan bays im happy.

I didnt realise my case weighed 9.8KG!.

I guess something like this fits my needs, http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169871 its smaller and lighter than my case, i just want my whole case shrunk in general, Depth is bloody huge on the cm 690 and makes it a pain to lug around so a shorter case would be nice.


If MicroATX board would help me achieve this then what would you recommend cat? I dont do much overclocking (3.6ghz max on e8400 and 1ghz ddr ram,ever! but norm at stocks). And GPU is a vapour x and stays cool by itself quite well.

Thanks for input so far guys

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This motherboard looks good:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149280

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Asus-...-Micro-ATX-VGA

The reviews look good:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2365

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Asus_P5Q-EM

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2334025,00.asp

From what I have read the motherboard is not too bad for overclocking.

I would also look at getting the Coolermaster Elite 340 case:

http://www.cclonline.com/product-inf...310&tid=frooct

http://www.svp.co.uk/technology/comp...erm-01029.html

It weighs around 5KG.

These threads should help you get a better idea of the size of the case:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1255274

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1232853

[mikemikemi]

The Lian Li A05 is about the smallest case that will accommodate an ATX board plus large GFX card (i've got a GTX260 in mine, not sure how much longer the newer cards are though...)

I just down sized to this case, pretty happy with it. I'm sure it can accommodate larger cards although the hdd cage might need taking out.

[12GaugeShotty]

Why the heck would I want to be lugging a 9KG case around when a 3.5KG Silverstone case will do the job?!

I have a Shuttle P2 series SFF and it is ideal to lug around on the train and it is small too which is useful if I am visiting mates and have other stuff to carry.

Depends on your needs. I think that the Mini P180 is the perfect mATX case, especially considering how many HDDs it can hold. I don't know of any mATX that can hold more.

[TAKTAK]

I just down sized to this case, pretty happy with it. I'm sure it can accommodate larger cards although the hdd cage might need taking out.

Mine is fine with the HDD rack but it does interfere with the lower 5.25" bay, meaning that you can't use 2 ODDs (unless you have angled sata power + data cables, then it might be possible), also, due to the design of the case it would be advisable to mod a blow hole into the top, as the GFX card basically compartmentalises itself so a blow hole makes things smoother.

(i bought mine off the forum, already with a blow hole mod)



Looking at it now, i might chop the HDD bay out and rotate it 90 deg so that the cables go out towards the back, to make it tidier