I hate choosing cases.

[slozomby]

?

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

BitFenix cases are nice too

 

[alucasa]

NCIX outlet on ebay has had some killer deals in last few days which changed my plan a little

First of all, I grabbed Gigabyte GA-H170M-D3H mATX for 77 CAD. That's 40 CAD off its regular price. I had to grab it. It's got M.2, 6 SATA and met all my requirements. I was originally going to go for Asrock but at 77 CAD, I had to grab it.

Now, NCIX also has Antec VSK-3000E for 24 bucks. I may go for this. The only thing I am unsure is whether the NCIX case has USB3 because there are 2 revisions. Rev 2 has USB 3.

 

[Ebo]

Lian Li, once you go that way, theres only a few manufactures to choose from, mabye NZXT or Silverstone

 

[alucasa]

Update; decided to go for Fractal Design Core 1100 mainly cuz I happened to catch a sale at Amazon. Getting it for 44CAD + 7 for shipping.

This is going to turn into a short build log. All of its parts are already-own /open box item I've managed to get for cheaper over last few weeks.

 

[alucasa]

So, all parts are here.
I am going to build the thing tonight. Before I do that, let me show ya pictures.

I grabbed above M.2 SSD (128gb) for 33USD. It is supposedly new. I don't care. It works.

I got this motherboard from NCIX outlet for 77CAD. Its full retail price in Canada is 119. I couldn't pass it since it met all of my requirements. (M.2, mATX form factor, and 6 SATA ports that aren't reduced by M.2 usage)
It doesn't look like it's been used at all though. The mobo seems to be in pristine condition. I couldn't even spot any dust, either.


Now, the case.

The right one is my main rig. I expected it to be smaller but I see that it's not smaller by much.

Now, my current media rig.

My current media rig runs on a mini ITX setup, but as you may be able to see, the case isn't ... smaller than this mATX case. This is one of main reasons I am switching back to mATX from ITX. A big ITX case is as big as an average mATX case.

 

[jboydgolfer]

when You say no doors, what do You mean? a solid cube with no access?

Im not clear on that point, i get the top vent part, but the no doors part is escaping me.
im assuming by "doors" You mean side panels, maybe thats where im going wrong. please enlighten me. anyone who knows.

im starting to think you mean no windows, cuz every case you linked in the OP has a "door" aka side panel, im going with No windows.

fractal core 1000 is an option.
mATX, no top vent, no windows.

as listed b4 . cougar spike fits that bill too, plus i have one, theyre nice for the cost, easy enuff to build in, plus i have several extra side panels, both with different vent patterns, and with NO vent patterns just solid sheet.

 

[alucasa]

when You say no doors, what do You mean? a solid cube with no access?

Im not clear on that point, i get the top vent part, but the no doors part is escaping me.
im assuming by "doors" You mean side panels, maybe thats where im going wrong. please enlighten me. anyone who knows.

im starting to think you mean no windows, cuz every case you linked in the OP has a "door" aka side panel, im going with No windows.

For this specific build, I should not have front doors which some cases (like my main rig case) have because I need to install mobile racks in 5.25 bays and they need air.

 

[jboydgolfer]

For this specific build, I should not have front doors which some cases (like my main rig case) have because I need to install mobile racks in 5.25 bays and they need air.

OH...... i see what You mean.

that clears up some options, i like phanteks mATX offerings in that case, I have been 90% satisified with phanteks.

separate topic... Remember when Antec was a "go to " for cases ?? not anymore. what the hell happened there? they used to be easily in the top 3...seems like somewhere around the "lanboy" they checked out. now that i think about it, the lanboy might have been WHY they checked out

 

[alucasa]

Ok, I rebuilt the whole thing and have some opinions about the case.

First of all, the case feels cheap and is very light. Its feet are also not rubber and just plain plastic. The case has no grip on surface at all and moves around very easily.

The front panel is very fragile and it was creaking badly when I was putting USB drives in and out. Well, I paid only 44CAD, so I realize I didn't pay much for it.

Overall, it's a cheap case and it shows. Also, the front fan it came with, it's DOA.

Since I'd be using a mobile rack and M.2 SSD as OS drive, I removed the HDD plate. The case feels a lot roomy without it.
I am going to be using SFX PSU with only 3 cables: 24pin, 8pin, and a molex cable. Those three are all I need.

 

[alucasa]

 

[yogurt_21]

I love choosing cases. I have spent years selecting a case. None of which are one you have selected

This, oh so much this. I think it might be some of the most fun I have when building a new rig. Well choosing AND modding the case.

I don't understand the grief. Might as well say "I hate choosing a house" or "I hate choosing a car" or ... you get it. If you also hate those two activities then you are a bewilderment to me and I would enjoy studying you and what makes you tick.