Solved: ATX Board sizes

Jackdw - Please check out your local PC store where you can see, feel and pick up the case. I linked you a good low-cost case w/PSU for ya - thats not expensive. JohnWill's case is quite good, very old thou - as that design has been on the market for about 8 years (unless its a copy of a classic with a light-weight interior) - its hard to tell... There were 2 versions of that OLD design... very HEAVY metal (which I used to own) and ultra light-weight alum... but those tend to cost more.

The really really cheap cases don't have airflow and will cut-ya, fall apart faster, have failing USB ports / buttons.

Its just kinda HARD to find the light-weight ones as many sites don't list the actual weight.

Now *I* know this case is very light-weight, very quiet (not as much as my Antec P150 I replaced), holds a regular ATX board, up to 4 HDs, 3 Opticals (but keep it light by adding 1HD and 1 DVD burner), looks pretty good and EASY to hide your cables. Also, this case INCLUDES a carrying harness and a hidden-like drawer for dinky stuff.

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15001 (and is sold in the UK)

I just put it on a scale, it weighs 21.4lbs with a complete setup. (mobo/CPU/2sticks RAM/ DVD-RW, 2x HDs {each HD = 1.5lbs, so that would put it just under 20lbs with a single HD} and an extra large cooling system for the video card. Its about $90USD.

Very easy to work with and show off.

Heres a review: http://www.ascully.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=349

PS: I've never used the harness since this case is so light. (-20lbs built) vs about 28lbs for a simular mid-tower with steel. or 40lbs for yor full-tower ATX (I'm guessing) - Also, with a smaller modern case - you don't need as many noisy fans to keep the insides cool.

That design, while OLD - is ONE OF THE BEST cases ever made - IF its the same internal design as the old Antec cases. This design was sold under 10+ different names. It was Alienware's case until a few years ago when they switched to the cases you see today.

Now, there is a company that uses a very simular front bezel to that design, but the interiour is crap... with small pic from that website - I couldn't tell. But when looking on the inside - the drive (HD) cage should be a quick release latch. And the fans (80mm) attachments are also unqie to that design. Its also been used in Thermaltake, Antec, Chieftec and many many more. It comes in heavy steel and lite Alum, the lite version tends to cost more (about $100) vs. the $50 for steel.

I used to have such a case and sold a few... they were quite heavy and the stock fans (until recently) have been noisy. The tower and full tower versions are VERY heavy, you can use them as chairs or murder weapons. But they were designed in the late 90s and don't quite have the thermals or noise enhancements of today's top-end cases.

It was the BEST IN CLASS for its time.