On the recommendation Anandtech, I actually purchased the Codegen 6290 case. Initially, I was as surprise by the features: tool-less case entry, tool-less slots, cpu cooling duct, etc. When I attempt to install the case, my impression changed:
1. Only one 5-1/4" bay is usable, the other bay is blocked by a metal grill that takes up space. I can only install one optical drive.
2. The spring on the optical drive broke on the first use.
3. Several of the 3-1/2" drive bay was blocked by the fan enclosure.
Ironically, my old case was totally no frill and had no parts to break or malfunction. Perhaps some of these extra features like drop down CD-ROM doors should not be used in value cases. Stick with the minimum stuff...
I posted most of my criticisms in [L=this HotDeals thread]http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid...[/L] that mentioned this review, but I have to fully agree with #49's post. The review was rather sloppy. If they had taken time to actually screw in the HDs, they would have discovered the most serious defect in their "editor's choice" Codegen case's design - that if one chooses to mount a front intake fan in front of the internal HD bays, then those bays are unusable! (If you require proper mounting of the HDs, using all four screws, as I highly recommend.)
I also have to agree with #42's criticism of the front-panel USB ports. Due to the fact that they are just simple unshielded wires, I cannot see how they would be considered usable with USB 2.0.
Note that I am speaking from experience here, I have been running a mid-range AMD Athlon XP2000+ rig, 3 HDs, 4 opticals, R9200 AGP, MSI KT4V-L mobo, and various other things on a Codegen
6049 model case, with the included "350W" PSU, for several years without incident. I thought that the tool-less design was nice at first, but in truth, those plastic card-slot retainer clips wear after a while, and the cards are no longer held in securely. I original envisioned using this case for LAN-party use, but due to the thinner construction and a number of other factors, I wouldn't recommend it for that use.
Interestingly, the [L=current Codegen 6049 model]http://www.codegengroup.com/03_products/index.asp?...[/L] appears to be revised compared to the one that I own. They show multiple optical-drive cover bezels, additonal side-panel fans and a CPU air-duct, and the description does indeed claim front-panel USB 2.0 x 2 support. So perhaps they have switched to using shielded cables. If not, then their description is highly misleading.
On the positive side, I'm glad to see AT reviewing some more mundane things like "budget" cases, not everyone feels like dropping $200 on an aluminum Lian-Li case. I just wish that the review was a bit more thorough with pointing out the HD-mounting issues with the Codegen. If you had, I question whether they would have recieved the "editor's choice", although I do agree with the sentiment, that they are still a decent value for money, and the Codegen PSU is "less bad" than the PSUs included with the other cheap cases. (The included 350W in mine showing a combined +5V/+3.3V of 180W, meeting AMD's "recommended" PSU guidelines for an XP2000+.)
I also strongly disagree with the "no sharp edges" comment in regards to the Codegen; AT must have been sent a specially-prepared review unit IMO.
Thanks for answering Purav! I can understand the cables, but no screws? That's a bit weird. You can't put a case with no screw in its typical upright position. If you don't than the temps your read are not typical eihter, because as I'm sure you know, hot air rises. I don't wonna nit pick, but I was just wondering. The times you state it took you to put together a case is also at least a bit on the short side (I used to build up to 15 PCs a day and I never put one together in 10 minutes), which kind of goes along with the no screws thingy. Again, just wondering!
#53 Considering this is a hardware site full of hobbiest, I'm not so sure this article is very helpful. Most of us are willing to spend a little more to gain better features and quality.
But most of us also have friends who don't care much for fancy cases and prefer to save a few $$$.
I would like to stress that you REALLY should a least try the supplied PSU. Just to see if it can provide sufficent power for your system and to report on the noise it makes. That would really be helpfull, because it can save you a lot of money to not have to buy a separate PSU. Again, PSU can have quite an effect on the thermal readings. I know that would make it next to useless for comparisons, but I think it would provide a much more useful data to the potential buyer.
People complaining about the cases in this article need to keep in mind that these are CHEAP cases; the most expensive one was the $34 Chenming. Of course there are lots of better cases on the market, but they cost more money.
Considering this is a hardware site full of hobbiest, I'm not so sure this article is very helpful. Most of us are willing to spend a little more to gain better features and quality.
Please consider another article looking at medium low cost cases - the type most of us actually use. A couple of suggestion include the Evercase 4252, Compucase LX-6A19, Antec SLK3000/3700 (based on the LX-6A19 chassis), and Inwin C720.
Thanks for your consideration and keep up the great work!
oops, i took too long to get in here!
well, i wanna say that i appreciated the article completely, as well as the sempron and celeron d articles. i also enjoy the budget user guide out of any of the other system guides.
the power supply commnts? didn't they just have a ps comparo three or four months ago? those are discontinued? if so, why not couldn't they just buy their newer versions?
because that would mean that all these yokels wouldn't have anything to complain about?
that's what it looks like
keep on reviewing! i enjoyed it
i'm going to build another machine anyday now.
truly appreciating the effort of providing info for budget users
peace
#44: What we mean by "average user" is that the comnination of our selected components is not one that creates an extremely high end system (ATI X800/GF6800, AthlonFX/P4 3.4Ghz, 400GB HD, etc.) nor is it a low end system (ATI 8500LE/GF420, AthlonXP 1500+/P4 1.5Ghz, 20GB HDD, etc.) but more of a middle ground between the two ends of the spectrum.
#49: We leave the power cables disconnected for the pictures to show what the hardware will look like installed in the cases. We do not want the wiring to get in the way of a look at anything so we moved the bundle from the power supply off to the side as you can see from the pictures.
After the necessary pictures have been taken we DO connect all of our hardware and run tests in windows such as playing an encoded movie or a game to simulate a working system where the CPU, HDD, video card, psu and memory all heat up to typical "running system" temperatures.
Do you even put together these cases or just pose them for a photo? I haven't seen a single screw tightened or one PSU cable connected. What's up with that?? How can you evaluate them then? How do you do your thermals with nothing connected? What's going on?
All these cases reak of over the top design and piss ass quality standards. I've worked on a wide variety of cases and I gotta tell you, the cheap as cases look and feel like they were put together with monkeys.
There something definently wrong when a steel case starts to bend from the weight of a PSU.
Agreed with others (#13, #46) about the PowMax ... the words "PowMax" and "high quality power supplies" do not belong in the same sentence unless there's the words "does not make" inserted between them. ;)
All in all, though, I've got to echo what others are saying here. There is very little mention about the PSUs that come with these units (including that one that has 12A (!!!) on the +12V line). Your "average" system is way out of whack for these machines, too ... explain how someone is going to spend $100 on a high-quality PSU like that OCZ and then spend $25 on a case? Try again, Purav ... this time maybe with a system that would better fit the budget ideas behind a case of this price range? Sempron, s754, 6200, etc etc.
PowMax PSUs are extremely high quality, huh? Tell that to my old Abit NF7 that got fried by a ridiculously out of whack PowMax 400W PSU. Oh, and the 8,000 or so ohter people complaining the same thing happened to them on NewEgg.com
PowMax PSU are absolutely and utter garbage that are too light to even use a paper weight. Anyone trusting an entire computer's worth of components to one needs to be shot.
#44 i couldnt agree with you more. among many fellow comp sci majors here at school ive got one of, if not the, fastest system, and im only sitting on a barton 3000+ / 9800 pro. i do have the zalman though =P
We have hand-picked a full system that we believe is the current system setup for the average user.
PC Mid-Tower Test Bed
Chaintech VNF3-250
AMD Athlon64 3200+
OCZ PC3200 DDR x 2
Zalman CNPS7000 Copper
Seagate Barracuda 120GB SATA
ATI 9800XT
OCZ 520W PowerStream
What the hell is that? Since when do average, everyday Joe's use 520w OCZ PSUs and Athlon 64 processors? Most users who would consider cases like these are using sempron, athlon, celeron, and duron systems.
If you want a decent budget case, my favorite is this one:
$24 with shipping. Comes with no fans, but the PSU is sturdy and will support Athlon XPs, Durons, Semprons, and Celerons just fine, sans overclocking. The case itself is sturdy, and there are no sharp edges in it. Aesthetically speaking, it doesn't look beautiful, but it looks far from bad. I've used this case on quite a few occassions. However, I too would recommend ponying up the extra $20-$30 for an Antec case.
Dude, give it a rest... anandtech isnt a goverment body, and they dont have to retract anything, haha. EVERYONE has comments about how this or that detail is just BARELY off, or because AT "Shouldnt" be publishing an article because its aimed at the low end, or the high end, or the IT sector, or the Mac world, or whatever. The comments on most AT articles these days are just forums for people to bitch meaninglessly.
The Codegen 6209 has USB 1.1 front USB ports instead of USB 2.0 ports like every other new case. This case should CLEARLY NOT BE THE EDITORS CHOICE. The front USB ports will be useless for anyone with a new motherboard. I personally own other Codegen cases with the same USB 1.1 front USB ports and they will not work with any newer motherboard that is USB 2.0 compliant. The cases front usb cabling/connector will not correctly fit a USB 2.0 motherboard pin-out. Even when altered to fit, you will find that use of the front USB ports with a 2.0 complaint USB device will lock up all your USB ports or worse, freeze your entire system.
This article should be retracted for the time being until this fact is confirmed or explained in some way by the author. I find it hard to believe that AnandTech would recommend such a case with this obvious shortcoming. Additionally, some of the other comments by readers need to be addressed as well.
I bought a evercase 4252 for 45 bucks without a PSU. It had all the features that I needed like space for a 120 fan in the rear, 2 front USB, non-flashy design, and good airflow. I bought this case to replace a more expensive case (Antec Sonota) which I didnt like because it was the first case I ever had with a door over the optical drives and it annoyed me.
My computer now has a Seasonic SS450 PSU, AMD64 3200 (S754), 1 gig of ram etc and I don't think I will ever buy a 'expensive' case again. If you look around you can find some very nice low-cost cases. I would generally replace the PS though
First, thank you for this article. Yes, for our own personal rigs a nicer case is best, but many of us build relatively generic office computers as part of our jobs. Mostly I build Micro-ATX boxes using the InWin L545 micro-tower chassis, and some with the newer InWin BT-series desktop/tower convertable, but I do often need to build something more full sized.
My request, like one or more others said:
Please, at least a few words about the power supply included with each case.
If I have to buy a $25 case and then add a $40 power supply, I might as well have just bought one of the low-end Antec cases for $60 that includes an Antec 350 watt power supply. At least then I know I've got a good power supply. Sure, most of the Antec cases aren't exactly attractive, but they don't offend either.
Also, it might be nice if your features table also listed the steel thickness of each case. Nothing says cheap like flimsy steel.
Some of those cases ie the linkworld have horrible power supplies in them. A company I used to work for sold them, we had a ton of them back and most of those systems were low level athlon and celeron systems. Heh even with raidmax and powmax we didnt have as huge of a failure rate and thats not saying much :)
#11, 13: Every single one of those PSUs included in those cases in on my list of PSUs you shouldn't use (for an Athlon 64 system, don't know about any other platforms). I have compiled the list based on PSUs that I have seen found to be underpowerd/unreliable during 6 months of troubleshooting Athlon 64 systems in the offical AMD forums. A PSU was included if replacing the PSU solved the POSTing/Booting/Stability issues, or if the PSU was clearly overrated. I would not trust even $500 of hardware to any of these PSUs.
The article should come with a disclaimer warning not to use any of these PSUs in a Athlon 64 and also probably a P4 or some of the earlier systems that others have suggested. Cheap PSUs, like these, are much more likely damage a user's system when they are over stressed and fail, than are quality units. It's not worth having even a few people have their hardware ruined (as we have seen many times on the AMD Athlon 64 board), just trying to save $20-30.
"Personally I find most of these cases more aesthetically pleasing then the gaudy and flashy hyped up "gamer" cases typically reviewd by AnandTech. " - from #30
Gotta agree here...why does this site continue to review that silly looking crap? There are plenty of professional, excellent cases out there that deserve to be reviewed in a professional way, like AT does. I hope never to see another gaudy, childish PC case on this site again.
i cant believe that you left out the Evercase 4252 which is only $32 and got excellent reviews at many places. Overclockers.com and everyone raves about this case and it has *excellent* airflow and i saw it even listed on http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/e... as "thermally advanced".,
The evercase 4252 also has a 120mm fan in the back which provides excellent airflow.
I cannot understand that you gave the award to a case with only a measly 80mm fan...the next case i will get for sure will have a 120mm fan in the back to provide sufficient airflow if needed.
Also...some people's argument: "If you buy a $30 case then you probably put in cr*p compnents"
I just can laugh...i especially laugh at people who buy $300 cases and then a $160 video card and a $100 CPU as main components in their systems :)
The last case i had (an Enlight 7252) did a great job for almost 4 years now...including the PSU which was included...and the case incl. a decent CPU (for the XP1900 i had w/ 9800Pro) was only $52.
My next build will have ALL high-end components (XP850XT PE, A64 3500+, Enermax PSU, OCZ Ram, XP-120)...and since i am saving the money and dont spend on unnecessary "gadgets" i am still reusing my old Enlight case..knowing it might not be optimal.
If i feel like it (maybe in a few months) i might get the Evercase 4252 w. a nice variable 120mm in back, and this case is also only $30 as said before.
I recommend you doing research first before laughing at people who spend $30 or so on a case...its only a freakin' case...but as said also in the budget section there are GOOD ones !
Personally I find most of these cases more aesthetically pleasing then the gaudy and flashy hyped up "gamer" cases typically reviewd by AnandTech.
The Raidmax case looks quite nice IMHO, in terms of pure aesthetics it's an excellent design. Asia Pro model isn't bad for someone that wants something a bit more flashy. The Foxconn model looks halfway decent aesthetically.
Even the CodeGen and Powmax cases don't look too bad even though I don't care for them myself.
Linkworld 3210 looks like a fine option for those that want an easily portable case, that looks a bit more showoffish then the RaidMax case.
For the price these cases sell at, as long as they don't have too many sharp edges and the case/PSU holding isn't overly flimsy I'd be perfectly willing to use a few of them.
These cheaper models may not be toolless, but IMHO that's not particularly a big loss.
Using a few screws isn't particularly stressful, given the cost savings.
I'm also not sure I agree with other posters that anyone looking at a budget case should be buying Dell.
Dell's cases aren't typically any more aesthetically pleasing as these are, and at least going DIY even with a budget case you can buy whatever components you wish with no worries of any proprietary hardware, or a motherboard that's pretty much limited to what's already installed.
A handful of these cases seem perfectly acceptable budget offerings that I wouldn't feel at all disadvantaged by using in my own systems.
Maybe not as nice as something like the Antec Sonata, but given the cost savings their quite decent.
My only real complaint about this review is that a few of these cases come stock with a PSU... yet that's not even mentioned let alone tested.
Granted the stock PSU's are likely to be pretty crappy generic models, but if someone wants to build a cheap PC from some older PIII era hardware they have lying around it might be adequate.
It's not altogether impossible for a low end case to come with a half way decent PSU suitable for low to midrange hardware either, while it's rare I have seen budget cases that come stock with some an older 300W Fortron PSU, whose budget PSU's are usually quite decent.
I built many computers for family members and friends. I would never use very cheap stuffs for computers I built. I do not think it is worth my time to built crap.
If someone just want a cheap computer. I would just order a Dell for them. I ordered a few Dell systems without OS for less than $300 for people need cheap computers.
Yes #24, we are all spoiled. Spoiled with _quality_. Some of us like to have nice things. I for one dont want to see cheap plastic houseing my loveingly put together equiptment. This is a hobby for most, and with a hobby means quality is the standard.
If you are just building PCs for people that dont care, then by all means, but this isnt really a site for people that dont care.
God you guys are ridiculous! I personally use Antec cases for my own personal builds, but when building for my business, i use the cheapest non-ugly case I can find. Of course, PSU is a concern, but im not slapping FX's in with a 250wt. PSU does change reliability, this is fact, but it is FAR overhyped. Bad RAM can make 10 times the impact.
Honestly, who gives a crap if the case isnt amazing? Its a CASE! As long as its not ugly, and as long as its fairly well put together (almost all of them are these days), who cares? 99% of the people i build computers for never open the case, so who cares if it has sharp edges? I dont know. You guys all sound really really spoiled, haha. I personally thought alot of the cases reviewed are FAR less ugly then so called "Gamer cases" that are out there with friggen dragons with LED eyes that readout useless voltage information...
I'm with #4 too -- a the point you are getting this level case, you are probably looking at a no-frills basic PC with cheaper components, at which point it doesn't make much sense for you to be building anyway, you should just get a Dell & get that conveniecne/security of waranty.
Not to mention if you are building so basic a PC, you probably are not reading anandtech :)
Anywya, I'm not sure I see great value. I got my Sonata with the 350w quiet PSU for $70 total AR, some of these cases would cost about as much with even an inferior PSU. So why bother at all?
ive got that raidmax (windowless version) and i really like it. it came with the 4 fans already installed in front and its definitely the coolest running case ive ever had. recently ive started having problems with power stability from the psu, but it worked just fine for over a year.
Im pretty dissapointed with this review,
first off of the 150 or so systems that i have built my first consideration is reliablity/stability expecially in a budget build. I I can i imagine getting a call and then seeing the power supply fell down knocked the cpu off into the gpu trashing the memory on the way.!!
As stated by Spacecomber #15
"So far, I haven't found a case and power supply (bought seperately or together) that is as good as and less expensive than the Antec 1650, which is my choice for entry level and basic systems. $55 for a case that includes 120mm fan, Antec SL-350 power supply, and side CPU air guide."
As stated by Lonewolf #13
"The power supplies of these review units are horrible, and do not in any way represent good additional value"
how come you didnt include the athenatech a602? you recommended it in your recent budget guide. it has 120mm fan slots in the front and rear of the case, a 92mm cpu duct on the side of the case which can take a 92mm fan. it has 2 usb 2.0 ports on the front along with microphone and speaker ports. its almost completely tooless as well. has a removable hard drive cage and no sharp edges.
I don't think that I can see making use of any but a couple of these cases reviewed, even for an inexpensive system. I mean there's inexpensive and then there's cheap, and most of these cases exude cheapness. For instance, I can't believe that a few drilled out holes in sheet metal can provide a proper fan vent; it looks more like what you would use for straining your spaghetti noodles.
I guess that I'm also not of the school that screwless is better. I mean operating a screwdriver is pretty simple; often more so than trying to figure out how all the various clips and latches are suppose to work. I usually end up feeling like a system that uses screws, instead of these various clips, is really assembled and not just hung together.
So far, I haven't found a case and power supply (bought seperately or together) that is as good as and less expensive than the Antec 1650, which is my choice for entry level and basic systems. $55 for a case that includes 120mm fan, Antec SL-350 power supply, and side CPU air guide.
Antec just needs to start upgrading their power supplies to more models with 24 pin main power cables and 6 pin PCI-E video card connectors, but I'm talking about their cases and power supplies aimed at higher end systems, now.
Anyway, that's just my 2 cents worth. I always enjoy looking at any review that tries to focus on practical hardware such as this review does.
The power supplies of these review units are horrible, and do not in any way represent good additional value, IMO. Every enthusiast forum I know of rates RaidMax and Powmax PSU's as utter crap. I noticed that at least one of them only delivered 12 amps on the 12v rail, not even close to what Barton core Athlon XP systems need for reasonable stability. I'm not sure I even trust the ratings on the stickers though, as cheap power supplies tend to list overly optimistic specs.
For not much more than this, you can buy an Antec SX630II or SX635II case that may not be flashy, but is built more solidly, won't cut you, and has an Antec power supply. If you're serious about making a good system though, buy your power supply separately from the case. With cases, you really do get what you pay for, and the Chenming was the only case I saw in this review that I didn't think was crap.
What is it these days with all the cases being mini/mid/full size towers? Unless you put the tower under the desk, it takes up more desktop real estate than putting the monitor on top of a desktop case (which also raises the monitor to eye level, which is preferred, unless the user has bi-focals).
I don't want a tower and I don't want an XPC.
I want a standard desktop case with multiple bay options which can hold either a 19" monitor or a flat panel (neither of which an XPC will do apart from a balancing act).
Besides, since heat rises, vertical orientated expansion slots are better than the heat accumulating horizontal orientated slots in all tower cases.
Good review. Its sad to note though for cases with a PSU, the PSU doesn't get much coverage despite requests everytime a case review is published. No indication of the reliability of the PSU that comes along with the case. Usually everyone who goes looking for a case would like to buy one with a PSU if available and it would be good to know the pros and cons of PSUs and also how they perform. Everyone knows a good PSU is as important for a stable system as any of the components. I'd really like to see how these PSUs (and for that matter some of the other well known PSUs) perform when put to the test.
Possible to do a PSU roundup? If PSUs cant be covered in case reviews, please cover them separately.
I would rather buy one of these than all the stupid expensive voltron looking "gamer" cases on the market. I saw a case that looked like someone puked up crayons they ate all over it..it was $90! lol
what is up with anadtech and cases...
it is either ugly and flashy and expensive or ugly and flashy and expensive and cheap looking or just plain cheap.
and like arfan said... where do you buy these things? here in the uk there are cheap cases, but almost non of the reviewed
suggestions for next case reviews:
cooler master cm stacker
antec P160
i know we all know these are gd cases but its a start imo
Guess I'll be the first one to say somthing positive about this article. It a good roundup for entry level cases. Nice to know what ranks high up when your building something for a friend or family member who really doesnt need a $50-$75 case.
I'm sorry, but if you are gonna go with something as cheap as these cases, I doubt youll be putting a whole lot of quality inside, thus I reccomend those people to just get a dell.
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paulsiu - Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - link
On the recommendation Anandtech, I actually purchased the Codegen 6290 case. Initially, I was as surprise by the features: tool-less case entry, tool-less slots, cpu cooling duct, etc. When I attempt to install the case, my impression changed:1. Only one 5-1/4" bay is usable, the other bay is blocked by a metal grill that takes up space. I can only install one optical drive.
2. The spring on the optical drive broke on the first use.
3. Several of the 3-1/2" drive bay was blocked by the fan enclosure.
Ironically, my old case was totally no frill and had no parts to break or malfunction. Perhaps some of these extra features like drop down CD-ROM doors should not be used in value cases. Stick with the minimum stuff...
VirtualLarry - Monday, February 14, 2005 - link
I posted most of my criticisms in [L=this HotDeals thread]http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid...[/L] that mentioned this review, but I have to fully agree with #49's post. The review was rather sloppy. If they had taken time to actually screw in the HDs, they would have discovered the most serious defect in their "editor's choice" Codegen case's design - that if one chooses to mount a front intake fan in front of the internal HD bays, then those bays are unusable! (If you require proper mounting of the HDs, using all four screws, as I highly recommend.)I also have to agree with #42's criticism of the front-panel USB ports. Due to the fact that they are just simple unshielded wires, I cannot see how they would be considered usable with USB 2.0.
Note that I am speaking from experience here, I have been running a mid-range AMD Athlon XP2000+ rig, 3 HDs, 4 opticals, R9200 AGP, MSI KT4V-L mobo, and various other things on a Codegen
6049 model case, with the included "350W" PSU, for several years without incident. I thought that the tool-less design was nice at first, but in truth, those plastic card-slot retainer clips wear after a while, and the cards are no longer held in securely. I original envisioned using this case for LAN-party use, but due to the thinner construction and a number of other factors, I wouldn't recommend it for that use.
Interestingly, the [L=current Codegen 6049 model]http://www.codegengroup.com/03_products/index.asp?...[/L] appears to be revised compared to the one that I own. They show multiple optical-drive cover bezels, additonal side-panel fans and a CPU air-duct, and the description does indeed claim front-panel USB 2.0 x 2 support. So perhaps they have switched to using shielded cables. If not, then their description is highly misleading.
On the positive side, I'm glad to see AT reviewing some more mundane things like "budget" cases, not everyone feels like dropping $200 on an aluminum Lian-Li case. I just wish that the review was a bit more thorough with pointing out the HD-mounting issues with the Codegen. If you had, I question whether they would have recieved the "editor's choice", although I do agree with the sentiment, that they are still a decent value for money, and the Codegen PSU is "less bad" than the PSUs included with the other cheap cases. (The included 350W in mine showing a combined +5V/+3.3V of 180W, meeting AMD's "recommended" PSU guidelines for an XP2000+.)
I also strongly disagree with the "no sharp edges" comment in regards to the Codegen; AT must have been sent a specially-prepared review unit IMO.
fbrdphreak - Monday, February 7, 2005 - link
Dunno if its been said or not, but add like $15 shipping to all of these and suddenly they aren't so hot for the $unclebud - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link
why not review the cs200 builders tha compusa is selling for $24.99? i bought one and like itand bring on the budget psu reviews (again :))
AtaStrumf - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
Thanks for answering Purav! I can understand the cables, but no screws? That's a bit weird. You can't put a case with no screw in its typical upright position. If you don't than the temps your read are not typical eihter, because as I'm sure you know, hot air rises. I don't wonna nit pick, but I was just wondering. The times you state it took you to put together a case is also at least a bit on the short side (I used to build up to 15 PCs a day and I never put one together in 10 minutes), which kind of goes along with the no screws thingy. Again, just wondering!#53 Considering this is a hardware site full of hobbiest, I'm not so sure this article is very helpful. Most of us are willing to spend a little more to gain better features and quality.
But most of us also have friends who don't care much for fancy cases and prefer to save a few $$$.
I would like to stress that you REALLY should a least try the supplied PSU. Just to see if it can provide sufficent power for your system and to report on the noise it makes. That would really be helpfull, because it can save you a lot of money to not have to buy a separate PSU. Again, PSU can have quite an effect on the thermal readings. I know that would make it next to useless for comparisons, but I think it would provide a much more useful data to the potential buyer.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Nessism - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link
People complaining about the cases in this article need to keep in mind that these are CHEAP cases; the most expensive one was the $34 Chenming. Of course there are lots of better cases on the market, but they cost more money.Considering this is a hardware site full of hobbiest, I'm not so sure this article is very helpful. Most of us are willing to spend a little more to gain better features and quality.
Please consider another article looking at medium low cost cases - the type most of us actually use. A couple of suggestion include the Evercase 4252, Compucase LX-6A19, Antec SLK3000/3700 (based on the LX-6A19 chassis), and Inwin C720.
Thanks for your consideration and keep up the great work!
Ed
kmmatney - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link
Great review! I bought my 6 year son old one of the RAIDMax 268SWP units, with its own 300 Watt power supply, and its a great case.unclebud - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link
oops, i took too long to get in here!well, i wanna say that i appreciated the article completely, as well as the sempron and celeron d articles. i also enjoy the budget user guide out of any of the other system guides.
the power supply commnts? didn't they just have a ps comparo three or four months ago? those are discontinued? if so, why not couldn't they just buy their newer versions?
because that would mean that all these yokels wouldn't have anything to complain about?
that's what it looks like
keep on reviewing! i enjoyed it
i'm going to build another machine anyday now.
truly appreciating the effort of providing info for budget users
peace
PuravSanghani - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link
#44: What we mean by "average user" is that the comnination of our selected components is not one that creates an extremely high end system (ATI X800/GF6800, AthlonFX/P4 3.4Ghz, 400GB HD, etc.) nor is it a low end system (ATI 8500LE/GF420, AthlonXP 1500+/P4 1.5Ghz, 20GB HDD, etc.) but more of a middle ground between the two ends of the spectrum.#49: We leave the power cables disconnected for the pictures to show what the hardware will look like installed in the cases. We do not want the wiring to get in the way of a look at anything so we moved the bundle from the power supply off to the side as you can see from the pictures.
After the necessary pictures have been taken we DO connect all of our hardware and run tests in windows such as playing an encoded movie or a game to simulate a working system where the CPU, HDD, video card, psu and memory all heat up to typical "running system" temperatures.
Hope that helps!
Purav
AtaStrumf - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link
Do you even put together these cases or just pose them for a photo? I haven't seen a single screw tightened or one PSU cable connected. What's up with that?? How can you evaluate them then? How do you do your thermals with nothing connected? What's going on?Phantronius - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link
All these cases reak of over the top design and piss ass quality standards. I've worked on a wide variety of cases and I gotta tell you, the cheap as cases look and feel like they were put together with monkeys.There something definently wrong when a steel case starts to bend from the weight of a PSU.
TheInvincibleMustard - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link
Agreed with others (#13, #46) about the PowMax ... the words "PowMax" and "high quality power supplies" do not belong in the same sentence unless there's the words "does not make" inserted between them. ;)All in all, though, I've got to echo what others are saying here. There is very little mention about the PSUs that come with these units (including that one that has 12A (!!!) on the +12V line). Your "average" system is way out of whack for these machines, too ... explain how someone is going to spend $100 on a high-quality PSU like that OCZ and then spend $25 on a case? Try again, Purav ... this time maybe with a system that would better fit the budget ideas behind a case of this price range? Sempron, s754, 6200, etc etc.
Agentbolt - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link
PowMax PSUs are extremely high quality, huh? Tell that to my old Abit NF7 that got fried by a ridiculously out of whack PowMax 400W PSU. Oh, and the 8,000 or so ohter people complaining the same thing happened to them on NewEgg.comPowMax PSU are absolutely and utter garbage that are too light to even use a paper weight. Anyone trusting an entire computer's worth of components to one needs to be shot.
hoppa - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
#44 i couldnt agree with you more. among many fellow comp sci majors here at school ive got one of, if not the, fastest system, and im only sitting on a barton 3000+ / 9800 pro. i do have the zalman though =PAvalon - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
We have hand-picked a full system that we believe is the current system setup for the average user.PC Mid-Tower Test Bed
Chaintech VNF3-250
AMD Athlon64 3200+
OCZ PC3200 DDR x 2
Zalman CNPS7000 Copper
Seagate Barracuda 120GB SATA
ATI 9800XT
OCZ 520W PowerStream
What the hell is that? Since when do average, everyday Joe's use 520w OCZ PSUs and Athlon 64 processors? Most users who would consider cases like these are using sempron, athlon, celeron, and duron systems.
If you want a decent budget case, my favorite is this one:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc...
$24 with shipping. Comes with no fans, but the PSU is sturdy and will support Athlon XPs, Durons, Semprons, and Celerons just fine, sans overclocking. The case itself is sturdy, and there are no sharp edges in it. Aesthetically speaking, it doesn't look beautiful, but it looks far from bad. I've used this case on quite a few occassions. However, I too would recommend ponying up the extra $20-$30 for an Antec case.
Cygni - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Dude, give it a rest... anandtech isnt a goverment body, and they dont have to retract anything, haha. EVERYONE has comments about how this or that detail is just BARELY off, or because AT "Shouldnt" be publishing an article because its aimed at the low end, or the high end, or the IT sector, or the Mac world, or whatever. The comments on most AT articles these days are just forums for people to bitch meaninglessly.sirmixmasta - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
The Codegen 6209 has USB 1.1 front USB ports instead of USB 2.0 ports like every other new case. This case should CLEARLY NOT BE THE EDITORS CHOICE. The front USB ports will be useless for anyone with a new motherboard. I personally own other Codegen cases with the same USB 1.1 front USB ports and they will not work with any newer motherboard that is USB 2.0 compliant. The cases front usb cabling/connector will not correctly fit a USB 2.0 motherboard pin-out. Even when altered to fit, you will find that use of the front USB ports with a 2.0 complaint USB device will lock up all your USB ports or worse, freeze your entire system.This article should be retracted for the time being until this fact is confirmed or explained in some way by the author. I find it hard to believe that AnandTech would recommend such a case with this obvious shortcoming. Additionally, some of the other comments by readers need to be addressed as well.
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?desc...
http://www.codegengroup.com/03_products/index.asp?...
sdfg - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Kristopher,Yeah, I think I do, too...
dgkulzer - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I bought a evercase 4252 for 45 bucks without a PSU. It had all the features that I needed like space for a 120 fan in the rear, 2 front USB, non-flashy design, and good airflow. I bought this case to replace a more expensive case (Antec Sonota) which I didnt like because it was the first case I ever had with a door over the optical drives and it annoyed me.My computer now has a Seasonic SS450 PSU, AMD64 3200 (S754), 1 gig of ram etc and I don't think I will ever buy a 'expensive' case again. If you look around you can find some very nice low-cost cases. I would generally replace the PS though
IceWindius - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I love my Chieftec Aluminum Dragon. Until Antec switches to aluminum, I will continue to turn plain jane cases into works of art using chieftecsjohnsonx - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
First, thank you for this article. Yes, for our own personal rigs a nicer case is best, but many of us build relatively generic office computers as part of our jobs. Mostly I build Micro-ATX boxes using the InWin L545 micro-tower chassis, and some with the newer InWin BT-series desktop/tower convertable, but I do often need to build something more full sized.My request, like one or more others said:
Please, at least a few words about the power supply included with each case.
If I have to buy a $25 case and then add a $40 power supply, I might as well have just bought one of the low-end Antec cases for $60 that includes an Antec 350 watt power supply. At least then I know I've got a good power supply. Sure, most of the Antec cases aren't exactly attractive, but they don't offend either.
Also, it might be nice if your features table also listed the steel thickness of each case. Nothing says cheap like flimsy steel.
LX - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
My info is a bit outdated.The last case+PSU that appealed to me was the Sonata.
Is there something better (quieter, cooler, better PSU, whatever) now at the same price range?
Thanks.
tokath - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Some of those cases ie the linkworld have horrible power supplies in them. A company I used to work for sold them, we had a ton of them back and most of those systems were low level athlon and celeron systems. Heh even with raidmax and powmax we didnt have as huge of a failure rate and thats not saying much :)Pollock - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I hear you, #9. However, at this point, I think it's safe to say that article has been canned.Glassmaster - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
#11, 13: Every single one of those PSUs included in those cases in on my list of PSUs you shouldn't use (for an Athlon 64 system, don't know about any other platforms). I have compiled the list based on PSUs that I have seen found to be underpowerd/unreliable during 6 months of troubleshooting Athlon 64 systems in the offical AMD forums. A PSU was included if replacing the PSU solved the POSTing/Booting/Stability issues, or if the PSU was clearly overrated. I would not trust even $500 of hardware to any of these PSUs.The article should come with a disclaimer warning not to use any of these PSUs in a Athlon 64 and also probably a P4 or some of the earlier systems that others have suggested. Cheap PSUs, like these, are much more likely damage a user's system when they are over stressed and fail, than are quality units. It's not worth having even a few people have their hardware ruined (as we have seen many times on the AMD Athlon 64 board), just trying to save $20-30.
I would also like to see a PSU roundup.
Glassmaster.
Bonesdad - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
"Personally I find most of these cases more aesthetically pleasing then the gaudy and flashy hyped up "gamer" cases typically reviewd by AnandTech. " - from #30Gotta agree here...why does this site continue to review that silly looking crap? There are plenty of professional, excellent cases out there that deserve to be reviewed in a professional way, like AT does. I hope never to see another gaudy, childish PC case on this site again.
Do more case reviews AT, just not "gamer" cases.
flexy - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article75-page2.htmlevercase 4252 mentioned and reviewed there, also, they used this case for their "StealthPC" mod.
For everyone on a budget and wanting a GOOD case i seriously recommend looking at this case.
flexy - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
i cant believe that you left out the Evercase 4252 which is only $32 and got excellent reviews at many places. Overclockers.com and everyone raves about this case and it has *excellent* airflow and i saw it even listed on http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/e...as "thermally advanced".,
The evercase 4252 also has a 120mm fan in the back which provides excellent airflow.
I cannot understand that you gave the award to a case with only a measly 80mm fan...the next case i will get for sure will have a 120mm fan in the back to provide sufficient airflow if needed.
Also...some people's argument: "If you buy a $30 case then you probably put in cr*p compnents"
I just can laugh...i especially laugh at people who buy $300 cases and then a $160 video card and a $100 CPU as main components in their systems :)
The last case i had (an Enlight 7252) did a great job for almost 4 years now...including the PSU which was included...and the case incl. a decent CPU (for the XP1900 i had w/ 9800Pro) was only $52.
My next build will have ALL high-end components (XP850XT PE, A64 3500+, Enermax PSU, OCZ Ram, XP-120)...and since i am saving the money and dont spend on unnecessary "gadgets" i am still reusing my old Enlight case..knowing it might not be optimal.
If i feel like it (maybe in a few months) i might get the Evercase 4252 w. a nice variable 120mm in back, and this case is also only $30 as said before.
I recommend you doing research first before laughing at people who spend $30 or so on a case...its only a freakin' case...but as said also in the budget section there are GOOD ones !
Rand - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Personally I find most of these cases more aesthetically pleasing then the gaudy and flashy hyped up "gamer" cases typically reviewd by AnandTech.The Raidmax case looks quite nice IMHO, in terms of pure aesthetics it's an excellent design. Asia Pro model isn't bad for someone that wants something a bit more flashy. The Foxconn model looks halfway decent aesthetically.
Even the CodeGen and Powmax cases don't look too bad even though I don't care for them myself.
Linkworld 3210 looks like a fine option for those that want an easily portable case, that looks a bit more showoffish then the RaidMax case.
For the price these cases sell at, as long as they don't have too many sharp edges and the case/PSU holding isn't overly flimsy I'd be perfectly willing to use a few of them.
These cheaper models may not be toolless, but IMHO that's not particularly a big loss.
Using a few screws isn't particularly stressful, given the cost savings.
I'm also not sure I agree with other posters that anyone looking at a budget case should be buying Dell.
Dell's cases aren't typically any more aesthetically pleasing as these are, and at least going DIY even with a budget case you can buy whatever components you wish with no worries of any proprietary hardware, or a motherboard that's pretty much limited to what's already installed.
A handful of these cases seem perfectly acceptable budget offerings that I wouldn't feel at all disadvantaged by using in my own systems.
Maybe not as nice as something like the Antec Sonata, but given the cost savings their quite decent.
My only real complaint about this review is that a few of these cases come stock with a PSU... yet that's not even mentioned let alone tested.
Granted the stock PSU's are likely to be pretty crappy generic models, but if someone wants to build a cheap PC from some older PIII era hardware they have lying around it might be adequate.
It's not altogether impossible for a low end case to come with a half way decent PSU suitable for low to midrange hardware either, while it's rare I have seen budget cases that come stock with some an older 300W Fortron PSU, whose budget PSU's are usually quite decent.
epiv - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I built many computers for family members and friends. I would never use very cheap stuffs for computers I built. I do not think it is worth my time to built crap.If someone just want a cheap computer. I would just order a Dell for them. I ordered a few Dell systems without OS for less than $300 for people need cheap computers.
KristopherKubicki - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
sdfg: I think you mean the Antec Lanboy looks like the Chenming cases...Kristopher
aeternitas - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Yes #24, we are all spoiled. Spoiled with _quality_. Some of us like to have nice things. I for one dont want to see cheap plastic houseing my loveingly put together equiptment. This is a hobby for most, and with a hobby means quality is the standard.If you are just building PCs for people that dont care, then by all means, but this isnt really a site for people that dont care.
sprockkets - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Err, no In-Win cases?miketheidiot - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
these cases are all trash. Drop the extra $20 and get a decent antec PSU/case combo.And why wasn't the Sonata or something lke that included?
Cygni - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
God you guys are ridiculous! I personally use Antec cases for my own personal builds, but when building for my business, i use the cheapest non-ugly case I can find. Of course, PSU is a concern, but im not slapping FX's in with a 250wt. PSU does change reliability, this is fact, but it is FAR overhyped. Bad RAM can make 10 times the impact.Honestly, who gives a crap if the case isnt amazing? Its a CASE! As long as its not ugly, and as long as its fairly well put together (almost all of them are these days), who cares? 99% of the people i build computers for never open the case, so who cares if it has sharp edges? I dont know. You guys all sound really really spoiled, haha. I personally thought alot of the cases reviewed are FAR less ugly then so called "Gamer cases" that are out there with friggen dragons with LED eyes that readout useless voltage information...
MarkM - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I'm with #4 too -- a the point you are getting this level case, you are probably looking at a no-frills basic PC with cheaper components, at which point it doesn't make much sense for you to be building anyway, you should just get a Dell & get that conveniecne/security of waranty.Not to mention if you are building so basic a PC, you probably are not reading anandtech :)
Anywya, I'm not sure I see great value. I got my Sonata with the 350w quiet PSU for $70 total AR, some of these cases would cost about as much with even an inferior PSU. So why bother at all?
digit - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
ive got that raidmax (windowless version) and i really like it. it came with the 4 fans already installed in front and its definitely the coolest running case ive ever had. recently ive started having problems with power stability from the psu, but it worked just fine for over a year.fatdog6 - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Im pretty dissapointed with this review,first off of the 150 or so systems that i have built my first consideration is reliablity/stability expecially in a budget build. I I can i imagine getting a call and then seeing the power supply fell down knocked the cpu off into the gpu trashing the memory on the way.!!
As stated by Spacecomber #15
"So far, I haven't found a case and power supply (bought seperately or together) that is as good as and less expensive than the Antec 1650, which is my choice for entry level and basic systems. $55 for a case that includes 120mm fan, Antec SL-350 power supply, and side CPU air guide."
As stated by Lonewolf #13
"The power supplies of these review units are horrible, and do not in any way represent good additional value"
DaveA - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/cases/roundups...yeah whats up with that?
Desslok - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
In the review for the Codegen 6209 is the motherboard tilted in the install pic??DAPUNISHER - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc...Has side and top fans included and goes for $31. Also has room for 1 intake and 2 exhaust and good conservative styling.
DaveA - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
oh and the athenatech a602 goes for $48.50 on newegg. i recommend it over any of the cases reviewed here.DaveA - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
how come you didnt include the athenatech a602? you recommended it in your recent budget guide. it has 120mm fan slots in the front and rear of the case, a 92mm cpu duct on the side of the case which can take a 92mm fan. it has 2 usb 2.0 ports on the front along with microphone and speaker ports. its almost completely tooless as well. has a removable hard drive cage and no sharp edges.Spacecomber - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I don't think that I can see making use of any but a couple of these cases reviewed, even for an inexpensive system. I mean there's inexpensive and then there's cheap, and most of these cases exude cheapness. For instance, I can't believe that a few drilled out holes in sheet metal can provide a proper fan vent; it looks more like what you would use for straining your spaghetti noodles.I guess that I'm also not of the school that screwless is better. I mean operating a screwdriver is pretty simple; often more so than trying to figure out how all the various clips and latches are suppose to work. I usually end up feeling like a system that uses screws, instead of these various clips, is really assembled and not just hung together.
So far, I haven't found a case and power supply (bought seperately or together) that is as good as and less expensive than the Antec 1650, which is my choice for entry level and basic systems. $55 for a case that includes 120mm fan, Antec SL-350 power supply, and side CPU air guide.
Antec just needs to start upgrading their power supplies to more models with 24 pin main power cables and 6 pin PCI-E video card connectors, but I'm talking about their cases and power supplies aimed at higher end systems, now.
Anyway, that's just my 2 cents worth. I always enjoy looking at any review that tries to focus on practical hardware such as this review does.
Space
sdfg - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Actually, the Chenming case looks very similar to the Antec Lanboy, only steel and sans power supply.LoneWolf15 - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
The power supplies of these review units are horrible, and do not in any way represent good additional value, IMO. Every enthusiast forum I know of rates RaidMax and Powmax PSU's as utter crap. I noticed that at least one of them only delivered 12 amps on the 12v rail, not even close to what Barton core Athlon XP systems need for reasonable stability. I'm not sure I even trust the ratings on the stickers though, as cheap power supplies tend to list overly optimistic specs.For not much more than this, you can buy an Antec SX630II or SX635II case that may not be flashy, but is built more solidly, won't cut you, and has an Antec power supply. If you're serious about making a good system though, buy your power supply separately from the case. With cases, you really do get what you pay for, and the Chenming was the only case I saw in this review that I didn't think was crap.
MrEMan - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
What is it these days with all the cases being mini/mid/full size towers? Unless you put the tower under the desk, it takes up more desktop real estate than putting the monitor on top of a desktop case (which also raises the monitor to eye level, which is preferred, unless the user has bi-focals).I don't want a tower and I don't want an XPC.
I want a standard desktop case with multiple bay options which can hold either a 19" monitor or a flat panel (neither of which an XPC will do apart from a balancing act).
Besides, since heat rises, vertical orientated expansion slots are better than the heat accumulating horizontal orientated slots in all tower cases.
avijay - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Good review. Its sad to note though for cases with a PSU, the PSU doesn't get much coverage despite requests everytime a case review is published. No indication of the reliability of the PSU that comes along with the case. Usually everyone who goes looking for a case would like to buy one with a PSU if available and it would be good to know the pros and cons of PSUs and also how they perform. Everyone knows a good PSU is as important for a stable system as any of the components. I'd really like to see how these PSUs (and for that matter some of the other well known PSUs) perform when put to the test.Possible to do a PSU roundup? If PSUs cant be covered in case reviews, please cover them separately.
Dranzerk - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I would rather buy one of these than all the stupid expensive voltron looking "gamer" cases on the market. I saw a case that looked like someone puked up crayons they ate all over it..it was $90! lolNice article.
eetnoyer - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Still waiting on the "affordable" memory review.semo - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
what is up with anadtech and cases...it is either ugly and flashy and expensive or ugly and flashy and expensive and cheap looking or just plain cheap.
and like arfan said... where do you buy these things? here in the uk there are cheap cases, but almost non of the reviewed
suggestions for next case reviews:
cooler master cm stacker
antec P160
i know we all know these are gd cases but its a start imo
ocyl - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Agreed with Jynx980 here. I am getting tired of all those flashy cases in the market nowadays.Jynx980 - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
Guess I'll be the first one to say somthing positive about this article. It a good roundup for entry level cases. Nice to know what ranks high up when your building something for a friend or family member who really doesnt need a $50-$75 case.kcma - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
OFMG!!!so much ugliness in 1 article!!!
agreed with #4, please do yourself a favor... save some money and stay away from this ugliness by buying a Dell.
aeternitas - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
I'm sorry, but if you are gonna go with something as cheap as these cases, I doubt youll be putting a whole lot of quality inside, thus I reccomend those people to just get a dell.nourdmrolNMT1 - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
this article likes to keep disappearing on me.intriging.
MIKE
arfan - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
there is bad link when i clik to Benchmark-Sound. Please fix it, thxarfan - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link
No one in list is available in my country :( We usully buy case only with U$$ 25-40