Best £30-40 cases?

Anyone know the best cases for around £40? Looking for decent cooling capabilities, midi-tower or full-size case, MicroATX compatible, power supply isn't a must-have but I certainly won't turn down a case with power supply. Also needs some USB 2.0 ports on the front.

 

Hi Lukeno1, This is a web site which might be worth looking at for PC Cases:http://icute.com.tw/english/S901.html.
There are so many brands out there that you will probably get confused. Cheers Neil.

 

I agree with Arie. Note that many case retailers will "toss in" a cheap PSU to make a case sale. Even good cases from reputable makers may include a PSU that is cheaply made, or more likely, underrated.

I have bought many cases because I wanted the case but immediately tossed the included PSU into the junk parts pile. It is always good to have a spare PSU on hand anyway - they are good for testing fans and drive motors.

 

Your points about the power supplies are exactly why I am not expecting or particularly looking for a case with PSU, it would merely be a bonus. And I can't afford £54 for a case, £40 is the absolute limit. I'm checking Scan.co.uk now.

 

Here:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-016-FD&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

Fractal core 1000

 

That's a micro tower from the looks of things, certainly seems far too small.

 

Lukeno1,

The case is not important, as long as it meets your needs and is asthetically pleasing to you then go for it.

The PSU is very important and I'd blow your £40 budget (and then some) on that alone.

 

I disagree. I personally think the case, along with a good PSU, make the "foundation" for a computer destined to last for many years and support several major (complete motherboard) upgrades. The case does more than just house the electronics. It is the case's job to ensure there is always a fresh supply of cool air flowing front-to-back through the case. It is also the case's job to stay "true" - that is, it must be sturdy with reinforced corners to maintain exactly 90° angles in its corners and bends when the case is lifted or moved thus ensuring there is no twisting or "torquing" - undue stresses "flexing" the motherboard and straining areas around the mounting points. And finally, it is the case's job to protect the innards from kicks and bumps.

I don't go for frilly facades or fancy lights. Facades go out of style and fancy lights do nothing for performance, consume some power, add some heat, and do nothing for performance (worth repeating).

Better cases are very sturdy and have rolled or finished sheet metal edges so you don't leave half the flesh from your knuckles and a pint of blood pooled at the bottom. Better cases support several large (120mm or greater) case fans. Better cases have removable, washable air filters and easy open side panels. Motherboard trays are nice, but not necessary - unless you swap out motherboards often. Removable drive bays and/or slide-in drive trays are very nice.

Side panel windows are nice for your monthly inspections of the interior for dust buildup and fan operation without having to remove the side panel.

I generally recommend mid-tower cases. A micro-sized case is nice when incorporating the PC into a home theater system, but it greatly limits upgrade possibilities, plus most don't have much in the way of fan support. And many very small case limit expansion cards (and PSUs) to "low-profile" versions.

I personally want a case to sit quietly and "discreetly" out of the way and NOT draw attention to itself. After all - I spend my time watching my monitors, not my case. So aesthetics is of much less importance than function - and should not be a distraction.

So, my advice is definitely buy a quality PSU but also build up your budget until you can afford a quality case too. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a quality case either. This Antec Mid Tower for less than $50 supports 3 120mm fans (though comes with only 1) and has a washable air filter. Here's the same case from scan.co.uk for £33.29 w/VAT. Of course, if you spend more money, you get more desirable features but this is a good, basic case.

No other computer part has the potential to last as long as the case - essentially a lifetime. So I say buy one that will carry you through years of service and upgrades.

 

Well I can hardly argue against that Bill.

It's all a matter of opinion though. A well maintained case can last for years even if it is a cheap one, whereas scrimping on your PSU can not only fail but cause damage to other electronics.

Given the proper budget we'd all like the best of the best but LikeNo1's budget of £40 with the option of a PSU included suggests (to me anyway) his emphasis is in the wrong area.

 

No doubt! And scraped knuckles will heal too. But, in three or four years, when the new motherboard, CPU, lots of RAM and a new graphics card go in, will that cheap case support an extra fan or two too? If not, then just to upgrade the motherboard, you may need a new case too. So a smart case buy now will save you money in the long run.

That said, if you have to cut corners in the budget, the PSU is NOT the place to do it. Still, if you have a choice, wait until the budget permits a good PSU and a good case.

 

I should probably have pointed out that this case was for the computer under "My System ", with the existing Tsunami Capricorn case going to house my P4 machine, hence why I don't need a PSU, it would merely be nice. Anyway, I've ordered a Xclio Godspeed Two Full Black, which although is not perfect, has a lot of the fan slots filled when I get it (a major issue for me, as I can't afford more than 1 extra fan, and few cases offer 80 mm fan slots in at least the advertising) and is a lot better than this case.

I agree that a case is important - this one is both flimsy and both USB ports quickly disintegrated, and it also highly affects cooling - the P4 machine has the PSU mounted in front of, not above, the CPU fan, so has no rear chassis fan...