Cheap-ish Case...

[dynamo86]

Guys, trying to find a decent case made with at least some aluminium for under £50 (inc. VAT), without a PSU.

I'd prefer tool-less design which is compact but roomy enough.

I don't like transparent windows or lights or any of the HUGE towers.


So far I'm stuck between the Gigabyte iSolo (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/Gigabyte+iSolo+210+-+Black+?productId=28071) and the Cooler Master Elite.

Any suggestions between the two or recommendations for different ones?

Prefer black/silver, in that order of colour amount..

[tystar]

seen one of these the othe day they look quite stylish and solidly built

http://www.aria.co.uk/dynres/cHJvZHVjdF9pbWFnZS53aWR0aD0yMDA=/bWFpbmltYWdlcy9DU0UtR1otQVgxQ0EtU0RTLmpwZw==.jpg (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/Gigabyte+Triton+180+GZ-AX1CA-SDB+%28Black%29+?productId=28315)


Also on superspecial now so absolute bargin.

[dynamo86]

Saw that.. looks okay. Definately will be considered.

What do yuo think of the Nexus Cateerpillar Silenced (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Nexus+Caterpillar+-+Silenced+ATX+case+?productId=28763) case??

I think it looks awesome - under stated - just what I'm looking for, design and size wise.. Only question is, how well does it function ?

[mac124]

Very well i have had one in the past.

[nft99]

coolermaster cm-690 :)

[coiler]

Cheap and cheerful

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Antec+NSK4000+Blk%2FSilverTower+?productId=27192


OR

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/Gigabyte+GZ-X2+-+Black+?productId=28080

[dynamo86]

Cheap and cheerful

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Antec+NSK4000+Blk%2FSilverTower+?productId=27192


OR

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/Gigabyte+GZ-X2+-+Black+?productId=28080
Is that Antec one any good? It looks exactly what I'd be looking for, but how solid of a build is it?

[marsey99]

coolermaster cm-690 :)

ii second that, iv got one and you wont beat it for an aircooled system if you pair it up with the right fans and controller.

[Mul.]

The Antec's a good'un. Plenty of space to play with, nicely built and comes with a 120mm fan that's quiet on low and still pushes a decent amount of air. Definitely better than your average XSpider/XClio/iCute style case. Only downside is it only has room for an 80mm intake fan rather than a 120mm. Not a big deal.

My personal recommendation would be this one
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Akasa+Zen+Silent-Cool+-+Black?productId=25262

I've used it in a cheaper build once and I was surprised what the money I paid got me. The case comes with two 120mm fans, similar to the Akasa Ambers and a tooless design. It has a plastic front but so do all the cases of this price and it's well built. Doesn't have many (if any) advantages over the Antec or Gigabyte other than the fact that it comes with two quality, RPM controllable 120mm fans.

[coiler]

Is that Antec one any good? It looks exactly what I'd be looking for, but how solid of a build is it?


Muls suggestion is a good one too.

I have used the Antec in many builds its a solid, functional, strong well built case.

[dynamo86]

Cool, I'm gonna go with either the:

Cooler Master Elite 330

OR

Antec Solo

OR

Coiler's Antec - though it doesn't have a trace of aluminium so I may swerve it.

[Mul.]

Personally I'd go for the sub £30 Antec. The Solo is the better case out of the three but it's nearly twice as expensive as the other two iirc.

Between the CM Elite 330 and the Antec, I'd probably go for the Antec. Choosing between those two would be a bit subjective from member to member though.

[dynamo86]

Cheers Mul. I saw this one in a shop today: http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Antec+NSK4480B+Midi+Tower+Case+%28Black%29+?produc tId=28370 and it looked the right size. Is it any good? Similar to the one recommended, but is it quiet?

[Mul.]

It's exactly what we recommended except it's black and comes with a 380W PSU. :)

[dynamo86]

Sweet, gonna get that, nice looker, chu agree?

[Mul.]

Yeah it's a good case. I do like Antec's general build quality. My Sonata II is one of the best cases I've owned and the fact that I snagged it for £20 off a friend over 2 years back just made the deal even sweeter.

Although I'd urge you to buy the version of the case without the PSU so you can buy a PSU of choice.

[wonderlust]

I agree antec cases I have an Antec Atlas, Antec call it a server case, it's a small midi tower.

it is very well made and with three tricools (2x92mm 1x120mm) running at slowest settings it is almost silent.

Like Mul I got mine cheap, I got mine on Ebay brand new never been used for £10.50!
That included an Antec 550W psu, which I sold on Ebay for £50 (had heard bad things about them at that time)

[dynamo86]

Right, but Aria don't do it without the PSU, I don't think.. I'll shop around. Sure Aria won't mind me buying just one item elsewhere :D.

Is it a tool-less design do you know?

[Mul.]

Like I said, the Case that Coiler recommended and linked to you is practically the same as the NSK4480 minus the PSU and colour.

[dynamo86]

Cheers Mul.!

One thing - I'm planning on getting 1 (or 2) of these (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Fans%2C+Heatsinks%2C+Coolers/Case+Fans/120mm+Case+Fans/Nexus+Real+Silent+120mm+Case+Fan+?productId=28883) fans, but was wondering if there is a way, without BIOS, of adjusting teh fan settings, whenever I need to? Like software controlled or something?

(without getting one of those 2.5"/3.5" fan controller bays..)

[Mul.]

Programs such as Speedfan should allow you to change the fan speeds manually. I tend to find that it makes a lot more sense (particularly if you've already bought quiet fans like the Nexus') to fix the fan RPM to a certain speed for all tasks. Personally I find it a bit more intrusive to hear fans spooling up and down in the case compared to all fans at a fixed RPM all the time.