Cheap and darn well worth it case

[crazyray]

I had two recent bad experiences with cheap cases and I have sworn off of them.

The first was a brand new CompUSA case with 300 watt power supply. The power supply blew taking a CD-ROM with it. I am waiting for further problems to develop with the system.

The second cheap case (from MCM Electronics) arrived with a dead power supply.

NEVER AGAIN.

[Imperion1]

Most cases usually come with all the necessary hardware screws, including either the thread in risers or the clip in risers. The risers keep the mobo from touching the case. I've bought an Antec full tower that had the thread in risers, still using the case. And Recently (1mo ago) bought a cheap (don't know the name brand) mid tower from a local computer shop. The mid tower had the clip on risers.

[big_block_buick]

same here on the psu failure after an hour...just finished loading windows,shut down and that was it,luckily i bought it in town and didnt have any probs with the return..but thats what you get when you buy a case and psu for the cost of a psu...

[NDC]

My suggestion is to never try to save money when purchasing a Power Supply Unit! It just isn't worth it in the long run! I use a SevenTeam 300W and have mass devices on my system and there's virtually no voltage fluxuation.

[Goldwingnut]

This is not a complaint, or a request for help. I'm just wondering if other people have run into this, and what you did about it.

Yesterday I disassembled an HP6535 and put it in a cheap case from www.voltexcomputers.com (http://www.voltexcomputers.com)

The case was $31, has 4 external slots for 5.25" drives, 2 external 3.5", one internal. Comes with a power supply. Made in China. $45 delivered.

The old case had raised islands for the motherboard mounts, so the bottom of the MB was well away from the case; at least 1/8".

This new case mounts the MB flat on the metal surface.

Luckily, I am a packrat. A quick scrounge turned up 6 flat rubber washers from a forgotten project. These keep the MB about 1/16" off the metal deck. I don't have to worry about shorting leads and pins to the case.

Is this typical of case makers? I have another cheap case - a full tower - still in the box. I think I'm going to scrounge a rubber mat before I use it.

Oh, yeah...the power supply in the cheap and darn well worth it case failed after about one hour.

[Marty]

Yes, I have noticed the cases are getting cheaper (quality),non removable motherboard tray and raised bumps with no standoffs,and noname non ul approved power supplies. I try to buy at computer shows where I can see the case.

[Barney]

I got myself a cheap bigtower a few months ago. $60, that's cheap here in the Neterlands. It's a SkyHawk ( www.skyhawkgroup.com (http://www.skyhawkgroup.com) ). It has all the cool stuff, like a motherboard tray that slides out the back of the case with all the cards still in it. But the metal is very thin, I had to bend the metal a bit in a few places to get everything to fit. I also cut my hand for the first time on a case. The powersupply is 250w and has been working for 4 months now with an AMD Athlon 750@950, so I can't really complain. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I plan on doing some serious mods to the case and I'm sure it will only get better. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif