Very Cheap case for a client

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:11 pm

I am planing on building a cheap computer for a client and I need a cheap nothing special case that is quiet.

The system will probebly be a sempron so cooling is not much of an issue

This will be a cheap system so buying a antec seems like too much to me.

Any ideas

tempeteduson · Post by **tempeteduson** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 4:10 pm

Cheap and quiet? I don't know, but maybe you're asking too much. Personally, I wouldn't go with anything cheaper than an Antec Solution Series case (SLKxxxx). I have one (SLK3700AMB) and am pretty happy with it, save for its heft, flimsy front door, moderately loud PSU, and slightly misaligned motherboard mounting holes. I would recommend at least an SLK1650 for around $50 at most retailers. It doesn't have a front door, and it's smaller than the 3xxx-series, so that should mean it's lighter.

Tibors · Post by **Tibors** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 4:50 pm

There are some examples on the forums of people who used InWin cases. I believe these are not too expensive and still reasonable quality. But don't take my word, because I don't have personal experience. Just search for InWin.

Chunker · Post by **Chunker** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:49 pm

I took a $29 clone case and just replaced the powersupply fan with a Panaflo. (It didn't have the 2 fan setup like good PSUs have) Then, I put another 80mm Panaflo on a cheap 80mm CPU heatsink and everything was much quieter. I did splurge by buying Zalman fan power adjusters but that's it.

The cheapest solution is to just rip out the stock fans and go with Panaflo.

mrzed · Post by **mrzed** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 6:19 pm

I used an Inwin J500 for my mom's computer and it was very decent. They come with a Sparkle PSU, and the 92mm exhaust grill on the back is a honeycomb style - very open. In her quiet home office the system with 2Ghz celeron is not at all noisy.

That or the 2650BQE would be near the top of my list. If it's for a client, you really don't want to get into modding a cheaper case IMO.

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 6:56 pm

If you don't have a PSU already, CompUSA is selling the Sonata for $80.00 after MIR.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product ... =cj&pfp=cj

sthayashi · Post by **sthayashi** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 12:09 pm

Would the Evercase 4252 that tops the recommended list be too expensive? Newegg prices it at $40.50 + $0.99 shipping.

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:25 pm

thx for the ideas, the inwin link
looks good, the 120 stock power supply dosent look bad. Basicly I want the pc to be unobtrusive. Not quite quiet to our standards but good enough.

Do you guys think it will be up to those standards stock with a little fan undervolting?

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:32 pm

This is off the topic but any idea's on a cpu cooler along the same lines
I have tryed a coolermaster x-dreamer 2 "quiet" cpu cooler and they are not great but somewhat quiet (again not to our standards)

thx again for the case info

Devonavar · Post by **Devonavar** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:38 pm

Thunder wrote:This is off the topic but any idea's on a cpu cooler along the same lines
I have tryed a coolermaster x-dreamer 2 "quiet" cpu cooler and they are not great but somewhat quiet (again not to our standards)

thx again for the case info

Have you looked at the Arctic Cooling Super Silent series? I can't think of any other aftermarket heatsinks in the $20 range.

mrzed · Post by **mrzed** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:12 pm

Thunder wrote:thx for the ideas, the inwin link
looks good, the 120 stock power supply dosent look bad. Basicly I want the pc to be unobtrusive. Not quite quiet to our standards but good enough.

Do you guys think it will be up to those standards stock with a little fan undervolting?

That looks like an excellent cheap case to me. The chassis air guide will actually help if you are using a temperature controlled CPU fan, more importantly, the 120mm stamped grill on the back is one of the least restrictive I've seen. I've seen a number of InWin cases, and they've all impressed me from a value/silence potential standpoint. The Powerman PSU is another name for Fortron, so you get a basically decent unit. I've recommended InWin a number of times, and the quality of the included PSU is a big part of that when someone is trying to put together a cheap package.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:42 pm

Hello:

I've had my eye on that InWin -- if the PS is a Fortron, then even if you have to undervolt the stock exhaust fan, the whole package for $50 + shipping is a great value.

If you end up getting it, please report back!

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:46 pm

Now I'm not sure because at my local store they have an Antec SLK 1650 for about the same price when you factor shipping in.

But if that PS truly is a Forton than its worth it.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:01 pm

Hello:

I don't think the 1650 has as good a front intake grill -- judging by the pictures at NewEgg. And the Antec PS is a 80mm fan, and it is not as quiet if the PowerMan is really a Fortron. Also, I have not seen the 1650 in person, but a few folks around here have commented that is not as nice as the 3000B/BQE.

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:03 am

NeilBlanchard wrote:Hello:

I don't think the 1650 has as good a front intake grill -- judging by the pictures at NewEgg. And the Antec PS is a 80mm fan, and it is not as quiet if the PowerMan is really a Fortron. Also, I have not seen the 1650 in person, but a few folks around here have commented that is not as nice as the 3000B/BQE.

Neil's correct here.

If you're looking at Antec cases, I'd skip the SLK1650 and look up to the SLK3xxx series.

IMHO, the SLK1650 is a cheap POS that Antec should be embarrassed to sell. It's nothing but a $15 case with an Antec PSU and an "SLK-esque" bezel.

tay · Post by **tay** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:57 am

That PSU is 235W max combined which is lower than acceptable. You can get the 3700AMB locally or on froogle for around the same price as the Inwin. Chiefvalue (neweggs value site) has it for 60 + ship.

Tibors · Post by **Tibors** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 9:02 am

How do you know that PSU's rating is too low?

He is talking about a cheap system based arround a Sempron. Assuming onboard video or very simple video card, one HD and one optical drive. Then the systems peak power draw might not be higher than 100W or so.

yeha · Post by **yeha** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 9:25 am

for the inwin case you picked (or any inwin case it seems) you can get it cheaper from techonweb - here's the c720t for $40 plus $15 shipping, beats newegg by $10 or so. techonweb has great scores over at resellerratings.com too. i haven't purchased from them before, but it's where i'm planning on getting my inwin z720t from.

tay · Post by **tay** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:37 am

Tibors, I agree with you. It should be fine for budget systems.

OmegaZero · Post by **OmegaZero** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:44 am

yeha wrote:for the inwin case you picked (or any inwin case it seems) you can get it cheaper from techonweb - here's the c720t for $40 plus $15 shipping, beats newegg by $10 or so. techonweb has great scores over at resellerratings.com too. i haven't purchased from them before, but it's where i'm planning on getting my inwin z720t from.

At this point, why would't you just get an SLK3000B for $43? Throw in a 300W Super Silencer for $36 and you've got a pretty quiet setup for short money.

JimK · Post by **JimK** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:41 pm

Thunder wrote:But if that PS truly is a Forton than its worth it.

As tay noted it is not 300w total. If you do a quick look at the 300 watt/120 mm Fortrons on Newegg they put out a lot more power. And I do not see any 120 mm fan Fortrons under 300 watts.

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:30 pm

ok then the inwin it is.

Any one know of a way to tell if the PS is a forton after I buy it?

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:29 pm

Hello:

The photo of the sticker on the PS:

...says 17A on the +12v. The 300watt Fortron (that is sitting next to me here) has 15A on the +12v. The three main outputs: 5v X 25A + 12v X 17A + 3.3v X 20A = 395watts -- so at least we know that they are being a little bit conservative on the rating!

FWIW, the Fortron 300watt is 5v X 30A + 12v X 15A + 3.3v X 28A = 422watts, so they are being a little more conservative. Also, the locations of the power and the voltage switches are reversed; so they both may be made by FSP Group, but they are just similar and not the same.

I think the main point is whether it is stable and (relatively) quiet. The case looks pretty darn good overall, and could well be a "sleeper".

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 3:50 pm

thx for the info I will definatly report back on this case

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:28 pm

Got the in-win case yestrerday. So far I am very pleased with it.
Looks like a Forton PS the photo matches NeilBlanchard's
Any way I havent had time to do any tests but I plan to write a review for the case when I get the time.

Thanks again for the Ideas guys

Very Cheap case for a client

Very Cheap case for a client

I'm as cheap as you are

please tell us what you think!