ATX case

[Decklord]

Hi there,

I'm searching for the best and the most esthetic ATX case for a PC. D you have any suggestion?

[SB]

There's alot of links and info at this old thread:

www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000097.html (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000097.html)

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Decklord]

Ok, now how do I know what case I need between a 250W or a 300W????

[This message has been edited by Decklord (edited 07-27-99).]

[Roy]

If you have lots of drives, you might want the 300W. Most systems are just fine with the ATX minimum spec 235W.

[Decklord]

Ok... Excuse my ignorance but if I get a new case, what will I have with. Wil I have all the thing that I need to transfert my present system in it? Will I have a power supply? Will I have the cable connected to the switchs? Etc...

Thank you all!!!

[Moe]

I too was pondering the same question not two weeks ago, but to my delight, my case (from a-pro) came w/ everything necessary to put a system in: Mobo studs, a lot of screws of assorted sizes, powersupply, and led connectors.

Also, you mentioned the wire from the pwrsply to the switch, this does not exist in the ATX spec. The board is live [b]whenever[/b[ you have the power cable plugged in, regardless of if you pressed the power button or not, so be very careful. This was implemented to allow wake on LAN and such things.

BTW the switch hooks directly into the motherboard, in case you are wondering. The connection looks just like the LED connectors. I had never seen this before (only worked with AT before), and I got really confused for a minute when I was assembling my box.

Hope it helps.


[This message has been edited by Moe (edited 07-29-99).]

[U-96]

I built a system with an AOpen HX08 full tower case 2 weeks ago and I'm very happy with it.

www.aopen.nl/products/chassis/hx08.htm (http://www.aopen.nl/products/chassis/hx08.htm)

The case has a removable mobo rack which makes installation very easy, comes with a 300W PSU and LOADS of bays (I'm just counting mentally.... about 7x3.5 and 5x5.25).

The bag of screws and spacers is more than enough, and the mobo rack comes pre-drilled for several configurations of ATX/Baby-AT boards.
The Abit BX6-2 is quite deep but fits with ease.
There is a PSU fan, a rack for a front fan and two holes for additional rear-facing fans.
The ventilation is very good. I only get a +2C increase o/cing a Celeron 400 to 500 without any special cooling.

The build quality is also very solid, nicely machined edges and good quality steel panels.

My only gripe was that there was no power lead to connect the PSU to the wall (probably to save regionalisation in production) and the HDD LED plug was incorrectly pinned (but that could just be my mobo).

On the whole, an excellent case, but don't try lifting it too often as it's about 15kg!
I paid about £80 (I imagine the dollar price is probably more reasonable) but I don't feel I was ripped off, rather that I got what I paid for.

Some links to other reviews/user comments that I used to make this choice:
www.bxboards.com/case.htm (http://www.bxboards.com/case.htm)
and of course:
www.sysopt.com/userreviews/products.cgi?cases (http://www.sysopt.com/userreviews/products.cgi?cases)

Hope that helps

U-96


[This message has been edited by U-96 (edited 07-29-99).]

[Decklord]

Well... I don't have much space. So I need a mid tower. I have a CD writter, a cd rom and the I Storm II so I must have 3 X 5 1/2. What should I get?? Remember I want my tower to look cool!

[This message has been edited by Decklord (edited 07-29-99).]

[a Bill]

I recently purchased a Landmark KS-299. It's a little wider in real life than it is in pictures, but it still has a little bit different look to it without being weird or blah. It comes with a 250 watt power supply but I ordered it with a 300 watt, just in case. It has three 3.5" bays (one hidden) and four 5.25" bays (none hidden). There are no sharp edges and it has only one screw that needs to be removed in order to open the case fully. I bought mine from Axion Technologies, shipping really was cheaper.

www.spower.com/_private/99.htm (http://www.spower.com/_private/99.htm)
www.axiontech.com/ (http://www.axiontech.com/)

[Decklord]

Thank Bill... This is the one I get.... By the way, how did you get the 300W power supply. I cannot see any ordering option that you can change in the form.

[This message has been edited by Decklord (edited 07-30-99).]