The Member's Systems Discussion Thread

[tiny voices]

I like the N200 but it is still large for what I want. I have an NZXT Vulcan which is the same size sans handle, and I really want to go smaller as this is meant to be a throw in the car and go type of rig.

 

[Lutfij]

You can't beat the Vulcan with size and if you went with a scratch build or another Vulcan, it'd defeat your budget completely.

On second thoughts, what is your budget?

 

[tiny voices]

Well, I have the Vulcan just sitting here so it can easily be used. It is not in use right now. I was really hoping for something small like an HTPC case. It seems that my normal sized GPU and mATX requirements are killing me.

Budget is zero for all intents and purposes. So, as cheap as possible.

 

[Onus]

Not sure about mATX...I think Thermaltake makes a small one that takes an ATX PSU. Apevia does too (X-QPACK[2]), but its quality is so sorry I'd only recommend it to an enemy.

 

[Lutfij]

I give up the lowest I could go taking into account all of the hardware mentioned...the N200 is the best stock case I can come out with unless you're willing to go with a...hang on!

Categorized in ascending order;
DIYPC Black Acrylic / Steel HTPC-KT28B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Acrylic / Steel HTPC 1080P Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum skin reinforced plastic front panel, 0.8mm SECC body MILO Series ML03B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

I like the last one 😛

 

[tiny voices]

I like all three of those, but I believe only the top one supports a standard size GPU. The others looks to only support a low profile GPU.

EDIT: just realized that top case is basically an mATX tower case tipped over on it's side.

 

[Lutfij]

Oh poop, you're right!

Might I interest you in a case-labs? :lol:

and Back on topic, I thought of finding the Thermaltake case out for you

 

[tiny voices]

That ridiculously hideous Thermaltake is more so what I am looking for. Too bad its REALLY expensive and ugly as sin. :lol:

Also, LOL at that Case Labs case costing more than the whole system is worth.

 

[Lutfij]

Build your own with wood lying around the house then?

 

[tiny voices]

Yeah, that isn't too terrible of an idea. :lol: I suppose I could buy a test bench, but then I would run the risk of bumping it into stuff when traveling or moving it.

 

[Lutfij]

Yeah that's why I also suggested a scratch build, but at that point your budget will overshoot with both time invested and research and then comes the material and production cost. If you're going full DIY then the power tools will alone equate to that, if you're going to fab it a CNC miller then expect the single case to cost about 5 times more than what I found for you.

We could stop overthinking it and maybe short list it from what we found...but I'm very partial towards the N200 😛

Food for thought
Round 2

 

[stickg1]

Coolermaster N200 hands down and if you're picky about aesthetics maybe the Prodigy M

^^^^This!!!

Love the N200. I had actually built myself a little APU build in it. Then decided to step it up to an i3 and then an old client of mine called me up looking for a back up machine for work and I sold it to him. For the short time I had it, I realized that case was fantastic. Especially for the $30-$40 I paid for it at the time. I think it was around Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2013.

 

[tiny voices]

I could easily full DIY. Back at home (currently at college) I have access to a full woodworking and metal working shop. I am not looking to DIY this though. I also have access to a #d printer and a CNC machine here at school but I don't want to do that either. Lol.

I 'm just looking for a cheap tiny case, and it looks like that crappy DIY PC tipped over mATX tower is as close as we have gotten so far. The Thermaltake, while looking AWFUL, is what I'm after, but it is WAY too expensive for this bottom end system.

 

[Lutfij]

The thermaltake was around $70-80 but since its release a long while ago, the prices have gone up. So in this scenario you are getting what you're paying for here.

Stickg1 - got any pics of that? I can't get enough of it though.

 

[stickg1]

I do, pretty messy though. I never got around to cleaning it up, or I did but no pictures.

There was another identical pic with a 7770 in it instead of the silent 6670.

Looking in the folder I found those pics in just reiterated the fact that I have serious problems! lol. In that folder were pics of a GTX 670, GTX 680, two different 7970's, a 650ti Boost, and a 7770 all within a month of each other judging by the time stamps. Good grief!

 

[Lutfij]

Someday when I muster the amount to ship the case and pass it through customs(85% tax on cases), I'm going to build in it! Until then I'll just gaze at those pics. On a side note, would you care to pass those cards off to me ... I'll start with the 680. What if I ask nicely ? :lol:

Back on track, since you've already built inside of it and used it, what color are the Power/HDD led's and how about their intensity? I'm fidgety of powerful Lian-li'ish LED's as they blind you in a dark room. This is also evident in Thermaltake cases, thus my detailed workaround on one of their cases that's in my AMS build log.

I also own a Thermaltake Armor Jr(1st gen) and had to do the same LED diffusion mod to subdue the bright lights.

I forgot to mention, lovely minimal build!

 

[stickg1]

Honestly I can't remember the color of the LEDs. But white is on the tip of my tongue but don't quote me on that as I really can't remember.

I don't have any of those cards anymore.

I actually picked up this oldie but goody from a client of mine this past weekend. It was very ironic that I had planned to drive up to Charleston (about 2 hours north) to pick up this Caselabs case from a guy on OCN. While I was planning that trip, a guy I built for about a year ago said he had some tax return money to blow on some HDDs, RAM, and a new GPU, who is also in Charleston. He's a professional Photographer/Videographer and doesn't game. I had the RAM and HDDs on hand and advised him to order a new GPU that I would install and tune. So I installed his new MSI Gaming GTX 660 and bought his MSI GTX 460 HAWK from him. The card didn't fold as well as I thought it would so I will likely sell it.

 

[jeremyp79]

I picked up a Corsair 500r case today for 20 bucks at a garage sale. Think I'm gonna use it and do some modding instead of going with the h440 like I had originally planned. So far, the list is : add a window, add a psu shroud, and find another place to mount my hard drives, so I can run an h100 in the front. Any tips/suggestions for a noob modder?

 

[Lutfij]

Any tips/suggestions for a noob modder?

Think things through and make sure you have them planned out before you go ahead with any cuts or drillings. Power tools get the job done fast but they usually(always) get the wrong job done faster :lol: - quoted by Boiler1990

Double sided tape window mod is great for reusing the side panel and not end up with ugly bolt's/screws. You can find aftermarket HDD/ssd caddy's or mounting hardware from any mod shop and you can integrate them into your case.

Lastly think things through. A case for cheap is good but a wasted opportunity is far worse than getting your finger sliced on a saw blade(IMO at least). Maybe spend some time with Sketchup if you're really interested in going for showroom quality modding...?

Stick - Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the hardware entry limits have been upped so you can't enter for F@H with older gen components...? I could be wrong but correct me if I am!

 

[stickg1]

I think it was just the drivers. People have been moaning about Keplar performance with the latest drivers. Maybe Fermi was in the same boat. Either way I have a money order coming for that card. Kind of odd the fellow didn't have PayPal. I haven't used or received a money order in about a decade, heh.

 

[Lutfij]

So how many hours do you usually fold or are you trying to break into it?

 

[stickg1]

Pretty much 24/7 for the past year or two. Occasional breaks here or there when I'm swapping parts.

 

[Mirakledba]

Got my Elder scrolls online beta key! cant wait to play it!!

 

[tiny voices]

My girlfriend was in the BETA back when it first released a couple months ago. Let me know what you think.

 

[Mirakledba]

Sure!