Cheapish Case(less than £50-60) with good airflow

[starbuck]

My parents want a smaller case so it fits under the desk better(they have a jeantech phong 2).
Looking for a smaller case that has good airflow as want to keep system running as well and cool as possible(and therefore quiet).

They just have a basic system(1 hdd, CDRW/DVDR, seperate graphics card and soundcard etc) so shouldn't need anything too big. Don't want to change any hardware, just transfer it to new case.

I'm aware that a lot of cheap budget cased have awful airflow so want one with good airflow.

Once I get them one, I am going to use the phong 2 to build myself a NAS(especially as it has 11 drive bays and be useful for all my spare hard drives).

Any suggestions?

[matty-hodgson]

Antec 300?

[Giraffe]

Antec Solo?

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec...o-Black-Silver

[Pob255]

umm with a 120mm rear and 140mm front fan the jeantech phong 2 should provide enough cooling for thoes needs.

If they are having overheating issues, I'd open it up and check for dust build ups clogging heatsinks/fans and maybe replacing the cpu heatsink if it currently a stock cooler.
Or are you looking for a smaller case than the jeantech phong 2?

[strike-down]

Or are you looking for a smaller case than the jeantech phong 2?

Looking for a smaller case that has good airflow as want to keep system running as well and cool as possible(and therefore quiet).

I would say the antec 300, looks good, has good airflow and is reasonably priced

[Pob255]

I would say the antec 300, looks good, has good airflow and is reasonably priced

And is larger than the Phong2

Phong2
Height = 435mm
Length = 435mm
Width = 200mm

Antec 300
Height = 458mm
Length = 465mm
Width = 205mm

Yes it's got lots of air flow, probably far more than is probably required
But it's a bigger case.
Edit: the Antec Solo is also larger, slightly shorter but slightly wider and a chunk longer

On to the questions that have an actual point.
mATX or ATX?
You'll not get much smaller than the Phong2 for ATX (but you can get them smaller)

[staffsMike]

I prefer this to the 300
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=644041

Just does everything that bit better/nicer

[Pob255]

For ATX there's
Lian-Li PC-A05A which is, 210mm wide x 381mm high x 490mm long, so shorter but longer.
Antec NSK4000 which is only just smaller but not quite so good for cooling.
Coolermaster RC-331, which is shorter but longer.

Generally speaking, you're only going to get reduction in one direction only at the cost of expansion in another.
You can pick up older cases which tend to be smaller, especially width, but you'll have to scrifice fan size.
For ATX you are going to be pritty pushed for smaller than the phong2 without giving up cooling.

If you have mATX motherboard there are more options.

[Crossbow]

I would go for a £50 Enermax ECA3162-BS Phoenix Neo - take your choice of red or blue styles. Comes installed with 2 fans - a 25cm & a 12cm. Dimensions: 216 x 448 x 448 (WxHxD mm)

Another, is the £30 (under £28 on Todayonly) Xclio Propeller Midi Tower Case with a 36cm Quiet Fan. Dimensions: 221 x 412 x 450 (WxHxD mm)

More midi tower cases at Scan - the couple of £30 Coolermaster ones [each 203 x 413 x 486 (WxHxD mm)] come with 1x 120mm fan, & may be fine with the edition of 1-2 120mm fans costing under £10.

Edit: As DavidM mentions below, the Coolermaster ones are now £21-23. Add a couple of fans, & you're still looking at halving your £60 budget

[Hawker1986]

+ for Coolermaster 690 / Antec 300 depending how much you want to spend.

Hawker

[Splash]

I've got a black PC-V600 in my clearout thread, not sure if your requirements are that it be a brand new case...

[Webby]

Which dimension is to large? Is it too tall too deep or both? Also what are the maximum dimensions that can be accommodated under the desk? Is it going on the left or right hand side? (important if it has side intake)

[DavidM]

More midi tower cases at Scan - the couple of £30 Coolermaster ones [each 203 x 413 x 486 (WxHxD mm)] come with 1x 120mm fan, & may be fine with the edition of 1-2 120mm fans costing under £10.

+ for Coolermaster 690 / Antec 300 depending how much you want to spend.

Some Coolermaster cases on offer today actually

[staffsMike]

Some Coolermaster cases on offer today actually

Cm-690 is there for £50, can't say fairer than that imo

[Maccer101]

What size is the mobo, ATX or mATX?

[Cichlidash]

*Wishes that Scan put some Antec Cases in today only sale*
Actually I am wondering should I put my purchase's off too January and see what sales come up