I need a good solid ATX case (in the UK)

[Dudster]

Hi all

My current case is an Inwin A700 and since fitting a new CPU and GlobalWIN FOP32 heatsink, my PC has been making all kinds of horrible noises. The fan sounds fine but the case can't handle vibration it causes. Also the case is just generally really poor.

So, I'm wondering if anyone knows of a case that I can buy online in the UK that meets the following criteria:

High quality and solid
A good backing plate that won't vibrate
Will take an ASUS A7V mobo
Good ventilation with front and rear fans
I don't need a PSU but am prepared to buy one with a PSU if it's 300W
Costs less than £100
At least 3 of each type of drive bays
Preferbly the cover isn't secured with screws (I have a habit of threading them :D)
Midi Tower


I need to be as sure as I can be that it'll remain quiet with all this vibration. I couldn't take it the new case was just as rickety.

P.S. I don't care what it looks like :)

[griobhta]

Hey Dudster I just got a Gobal Win 802 from The Overclocking Store (http://www.theoverclockingstore.co.uk) was round about £40 free delivery. Found it a very good case, solid comes with thumb screws looks alright. Check here for a review http://thetechzone.com/reviews/case/globalwin802/index.htm

You could also check out Tekheads (http://www.tekheads.co.uk) and Oc Prices (http://www.ocprices.com) and also Overclockers UK (http://www.overclockers.co.uk)

Between them you get a fair variety of cases and prices.

happy Hunting

Griobhta

[Dudster]

:) Thanks griobhta

I've actually just read that review (I did a search on Google and The Overclocking Store was one of the first links I got). That GlobalWin case is the most promising one that I've seen so far. I take it that my A7V mobo will go in it?

Thanks for the links, I'll go n have a look round now.

[griobhta]

My pleasure. Nothing like getting a good case just stay away from the Juno's ugly and nasty.

Griobhta

[Dudster]

I'm wondering about case fans now (my current case doesn't have any). I take it that the GlobalWin case uses 80mm fans both front and rear? Also if I got one of these (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Fans_and_Grills_4.html) fans, would I need to get a fan guard for the rear fan (available on the same page) as it'd be unprotected (on the inside of the case)?

[Dudster]

Ok, 3 hours from now I'm going to order the GlobalWin 802 case and a few 80mm case fans. Anyone got any other suggestions :D

[Dudster]

Done, tis an excellent site The Overclocking Store. My order :D

Rounded Ultra ATA100/66 IDE Cable (0.45m) - Yellow x 3 £16.20
Rounded Floppy Cable (0.6m) x 1 £3.00
YS-TECH FD8125 80mm Fan - 3 Pin x 1 £3.00
YS-TECH FD8125 80mm Fan - 4 Pin x 2 £6.00
Fan Screws - Pack of 4 Screws x 5 £1.00
Chrome Fan Guards - 80mm x 2 £1.52
AMD Athlon Case Badge x 1 £0.70
GlobalWin 802 (Macron 300W PSU) x 1 £62.30
Subtotal: £93.72
Shipping: (Lynx Next Day Courier - UK Mainland) £9.60
VAT: £18.10
Total: £121.42 Man I hope this works.

[phenious]

Be sure to let us know how every thing turns out :) Hope the noise dies down quite a bit for ya.

-: phenious :-

[Dudster]

:) Thanks. I'm cautiously confident that it'll at least improve things by a decent amount. The new FOP32 arrived this morning so when I switch cases, I'll switch fans n'all. Then I'll have a spare case and I think I have enough spare parts to build another machine :D

I will most certainly be posting the results.

[griobhta]

Have to say I am very happy with this case. One thing to bear in mind though. When You are trying to put the fan in the front you will find that if you put both possible fan screws in you will not be able to put the filter grill on. What I did was to use one bolt and use blue tack to make sure the fan did not rattle. The plastic enclosure is quite secure itself.

Also check whether you can slide in the mother board tray withthe heat sink on it. I have a cooler master thing and after spending ages getting the artic silver nicely applied and seating the hsf the clip on the side meant that it was to wide to fit into the case. Had to take it off then re apply the silver and hsf while it was in the case.

Even though there are no rough edges that I could find I still managed to sever a few chunks of skin of the ould fingers. And nearly passed out from the isopropyl alcohol fumes


Griobhta

[Dudster]

:) Thanks for the tips. I think I'll fit the mobo with the mobo tray in the case (it's what I'm used to doing anyway). I doubt the case will be as sharp inside as this one, the first day I got it I severly slashed a finger on it. I've even wondered if this is a fake INWIN case (I got it from some unheard of company online). If not, I can't believe that INWIN are supposed to be a big brand.

[Dudster]

:) Well, the stuff arrived today and I've finished transferring everything to this case (I also replaced the fan on the FOP32). It is a really nice case, not quite perfect but very nice (and it's nice to know that I won't thread the case cover screw holes). Oh and I love these rounded IDE and floppy cables n'all.

:D It's just as loud but now the noise is from the fans which doesn't bother me (a bit quieter would be nice though :D). The 2 case fans are pretty powerful and it sounds like there's a lot of air shifting through my PC (plus there's a serious draft at the back of it and my temps are a bit lower). The case was making a deep humming noise but placing a fairly heavy book on the top of it cut that out (something that didn't work with my previous case). The blanking plate is just as poor but it's barely making any noise. Also, I can barely hear my hard drives now, the other case seemed to really amplify them. It's quite a nice looking case too :)

It's also got an Overclockers UK badge on the front which is funny as I won't be overclocking any part of whatsoever.

griobhta... I take it you screwed the front case fan actually to the case? I screwed mine into the plastic speaker and fan holder infront of the fan holes so the filter wasn't an issue :)

So, all in all I'm quite pleased with the results and just need to get used to this new Boeing 747 sound :D

[griobhta]

Hey Dudster it is quite possible that I made a bit of an **** putting the fan onto the plastic holder. I screwed the whole lot into the case. I'll say that I did it to stop any vibration but as I said with all th isopropyl Alcohol floating around it was the only way my brain could sort out how to stick that thing on properly ;)


Congrats on the set up BTW

Griobhta

[Dudster]

:) Thanks

it is quite possible that I made a bit of an **** putting the fan onto the plastic holder :D Ah well, if it works, it works.

It took me a while to work out how to get the plastic holder off. Eventually the penny dropped and I tried prizing out the 2 plastic errrr... things that hold the right hand hinges in :)