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Solved: ATX Board sizes

2088 Views 42 Replies 8 Participants Last post by jackdw, Jan 10, 2007

jackdw

Discussion Starter · Jan 7, 2007

What size are most dual-core boards? I recently got a new graphics card, AGP, and now regret not getting PCI-E. I don't want to go wrong here!

I go to my mates house a lot for a few network games and my full-ATX case is just too big. I want to order a micro-ATX case, as my current mobo is micro-atx, but are dual-core boards micro atx or standard?

Thanks
Jack

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21 - 40 of 43 Posts

jackdw

Discussion Starter · #21 · Jan 7, 2007

And to add to that I have a rare-to-come-by debit card so paying is often a problem. Do you guys have PC World out in the US? Big red sign... Do they sell cases?

brite750

· #22 · Jan 8, 2007

JohnWill said:
I just realized that he's in the UK, so I guess the rebate is a non-issue, and the shipping would kill him!

LOL yeah that could be a problem, case=free, shipping $500

JohnWill

· #23 · Jan 8, 2007

PC World? Don't think so...

Compiler

· #24 · Jan 8, 2007

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.

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brite750

· #25 · Jan 8, 2007

yeah the Antec Super Lan Boy is a classic, handled those in person, very sturdy and very light for a case of that size and of course they have to have them in UK area also.

JohnWill

· #26 · Jan 8, 2007

Compiler said:
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.

This case is not really heavy, and it has excellent airflow. I don't know how old the design is, but it works for me just fine.

This case is steel, not aluminum, but not real heavy.

brite750

· #27 · Jan 8, 2007

JohnWill said:
This case is not really heavy, and it has excellent airflow. I don't know how old the design is, but it works for me just fine. This case is steel, not aluminum, but not real heavy.

i think by old he means the style of the front, that design has been around for a while, chieftec comes to mind, as far as everthing else its pretty much standard atx case stuff, fan front and rear, the clear side one I had, had a 80mm side intake with air duct, worked great for Barton core XP cpu with 6800 GT so cant imagine it would have a hard time with cooling anything

JohnWill

· #28 · Jan 8, 2007

It has the air-duct, and it also has really good ventilation through the front panel, something that is frequently missing from many "fancy" cases.

Compiler

· #29 · Jan 9, 2007

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.

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JohnWill

· #30 · Jan 9, 2007

This case has an 80mm fan in front, and a 120mm fan in the rear. With a 120mm fan, it's as quiet as a church mouse, and the MB temperature is only about 5C above room ambient under full load. I don't have a front fan, but there's plenty of venting to allow free airflow. It's steel construction, but fairly lightweight. There is no "quick release" for any of the drives, they mount in pretty conventional mounts with standard screws.

It's not a $200 case, but it's more than sufficient for most folks.

Rich-M

· #31 · Jan 9, 2007

Wow I'm starting to get excited!

JohnWill

· #32 · Jan 9, 2007

Imagine when it arrives!

brite750

· #33 · Jan 9, 2007

yeah its not fancy at all but i thought is was a good overall basic case, lots of folks dont like spending a $100 on just a case, they just dont care....how can this be?
actually the clear sided one i used, i put some blue cold caththodes in it, with a red led 80mm side fan, it was pretty friggin cool looking.

Compiler

· #34 · Jan 10, 2007

$100 is expensive for a case... even in todays market. Many of the top end cases are $100~130, with a few $200 ones. The Antec P180 is a LOT of case for $130 - I didn't want it because its bigger than I need and the door.

But at least Coolermaster and Antec does make affordable case or case/PSU combs for that $50~80 price range as well.

If someone wants a good low-cost case/cpu - its $100 easily (coolermaster or Antec), that is as LOW as I go. I never buy the $25~40 combos.

If they have money to spend - then its $100 for the case + $60~80 for a PSU.

brite750

· #35 · Jan 10, 2007

Lian Li if youre going into the $100 realm.

JohnWill

· #36 · Jan 10, 2007

I picked up a pair of CoolerMaster Centurion cases for $40/ea, and they even included a fancy 120mm fan with blue LED's.

jackdw

Discussion Starter · #37 · Jan 10, 2007

Is it easy to add one of those clear windows to a case?

brite750

· #38 · Jan 10, 2007

jackdw said:
Is it easy to add one of those clear windows to a case?

depends on the case, depends on your sheet metal cutting skills. I had a side panel cut out with a laser cutter, did a custom pattern in AutoCAD, had that translated in the CNC software that ran the laser cutter, came out beutiful, but is costly $100 plus the cost of the plexiglass and other hardware.

jackdw

Discussion Starter · #39 · Jan 10, 2007

oh, perhaps I'll take it to the workshop and see what the guys there can do. Oh well, no matters. I'll mark this as solved.

Thanks everyone.

JohnWill

· #40 · Jan 10, 2007

I think it would be cheaper to just buy a new case with the plexiglass already on it. I've also seen totally clear plastic cases for $70-80, if you really want to reveal yourself.

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