Basic, cheap, but functional cases

[Tom_nerd]

So I'm building a PC for my grandfather. His last PC lasted him 12 years, and wants this one to last as long as possible as well. So longevity is of major importance. Professional looking would be a plus, although I've found that I cant find any (relatively) cheap PC cases without them having some sort of RGB/ tempered glass on them.

 

Any recommendations?

 

Specs:

12600K with a hyper 212 evo

MSI 3060 Ventus 2X

 

 

P.S. noise is of no concern, as he is as deaf as a post. Although, I understand that sometimes lower noise means higher quality, which leads to better longevity.

 

 

[8tg]

Thermaltake Versa H17

it’s a cosmetically featureless black box and costs 50$

[Tom_nerd]

3 minutes ago, 8tg said:

Thermaltake Versa H17

it’s a cosmetically featureless black box and costs 50$

Support ATX?

 

apologies for not mentioning that previously.

[bmx6454]

2 minutes ago, Tom_nerd said:

Support ATX?

 

apologies for not mentioning that previously.

not the best looking, but a decent cheap case for full atx: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079X2P3TR?tag=vc000-20&th=1

edit: no, the h17 is micro-atx/itx only

[Blackjack1336]

Be quiet! Makes good ones 

[mariushm]

Cougar MX330-G  at around 55$ (yeah, bmx linked to it above) : https://pcpartpicker.com/product/zhjJ7P/cougar-mx330-g-atx-mid-tower-case-mx330-g

 

Cougar MX330  (no -G, no idea what -G means, maybe some optional something) : https://pcpartpicker.com/product/vYp323/cougar-mx330-atx-mid-tower-case-mx330

 

Zalman S2 : https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Bcprxr/zalman-s2-atx-mid-tower-case-s2

 

Zalman S3: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NZYJ9ZJ

 

Cooler Master MasterBox MB600L V2 : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08XQJCBCJ

 

 

Rosewill Prism ... $50 - just leave the addressable rgb of the fans unplugged, same for the rgb strip on the edge (or just cut the rgb wire for the rgb strip) : https://www.newegg.com/black-rosewill-prism-s500-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811147283

 

 

[Tom_nerd]

20 minutes ago, bmx6454 said:

not the best looking, but a decent cheap case for full atx: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079X2P3TR?tag=vc000-20&th=1

looks like a great option. Would it be cheaper to go with a case that doesn't have tempered glass or are the economies of scale against me?

[Tom_nerd]

11 minutes ago, mariushm said:

(no -G, no idea what -G means, maybe some optional something)

just looked it up, based off this image:

I think it either includes more fans or the fans are RGB.

 

 

Also, the PC's longevity is very important, so would buying from a not very well known brand like "COUGAR" be a good option?

[8tg]

Just now, Tom_nerd said:

Also, the PC's longevity is very important, so would buying from a not very well known brand like "COUGAR" be a good option?

Cougar has been around since the early 2000’s, they’re just not talked about much because they don’t really make too many spectacular or noteworthy cases, but they don’t make terrible cases either.

[Tom_nerd]

2 minutes ago, 8tg said:

but they don’t make terrible cases

Damn, you should work for their marketing team.

[8tg]

17 minutes ago, Tom_nerd said:

Damn, you should work for their marketing team.

It speaks for itself if you search “cougar best case” and “cougar worst case”

[mariushm]

A case is a metal box ... not much to break. 

 

Fans that come with the case can degrade over time - higher end more expensive cases may have higher quality fans with better bearings and all that.

Other than fans, not much to break on a case. Only heard of reset buttons getting stuck always on or off (springs or plastic clips breaking  in buttons) but you can always just disconnect such buttons.

 

You'll see differences in attention to details, like polishing edges or bending the edges so you don't cut your fingers, extra rubber grommets around holes for cable routing, extra locations for drives and stuff like that. 

I suppose a cheaper case may be more susceptible to vibrations or would be more noisy 

[Somerandomtechyboi]

If you want something that only functions then just buy some used case ~10$ like in the 500$ linus pc, cases are entirely unimportant with functions being protecting the pc and housing it for easy transportation, ofc theres aesthetics but real men dont waste money on aesthetics  (/s)