Most versatile case around $100-150 max

[Zando_]

What's the hands down best looking, best performing, handiest beginner case in a $100-150 price range? I've got a little brother who's getting into PCs and I'm looking at getting him a basic but upgradable rig for Christmas (Ryzen 3, 16GB RAM so he doesn't need to buy more if he upgrades, 1050 Ti, etc) and teaching him to build his own PC. Problem comes with the case, I like fancy looking cases and my own one is an Enthoo Evolv ATX TG which is a bit out of the price range, since I'd like to stay around $100 or so ($150 is the max). So any suggestions on a good case that's easy to build in but still looks good and will last through any upgrades he may want? I'd like to get one with Tempered Glass as well, since my acrylic side panel case for one of my alt rigs gets scratched waaaay to easily. 

[Crunchy Dragon]

Fractal Design Meshify C?

[Bananasplit_00]

Define R6?

[emosun]

5 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

What's the hands down best looking

subjective

5 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

handiest

seriously? how should we gauge the handiness

[Derrk]

Jonsbo cases look alright, and are very affordable. I have a meanit 5pm which i think looks awesome. Only downsides is that you don't have a ton of room for cable management, and it's kinda heavy. I think some of the other jonsbos might have more room on the backside

[Zando_]

1 minute ago, emosun said:

subjective

seriously? how should we gauge the handiness

Gosh sorry, my brain is going at 700mph rn so I'm not describing stuff in the best way. Handiness as in little perks or features like cable management, ease of maintenance, etc. 

 

4 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Fractal Design Meshify C?

Looked at that, as well as the S340 Elite (I have one one a $1300 rig I'm selling) and they both seem really good, just wanna weigh all my options because when it comes to getting stuff for other people I tend to overanalyze everything I can up till the last second, lol. 

 

3 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

Define R6?

Haven't seen much about that, but after a quick google it looks like a really solid, simple case so I'll look into it more. 

 

2 minutes ago, Derrk said:

Jonsbo cases look alright, and are very affordable. I have a meanit 5pm which i think looks awesome. Only downsides is that you don't have a ton of room for cable management, and it's kinda heavy. I think some of the other jonsbos might have more room on the backside

I'll try and remember to google those quick later. 

 

I'll be a bit late replying till I get home tonight, really just shot this off quick in between spreadsheets at work, heading on vacay next week so I gotta crunch them all in the next few days. 

 

[Crunchy Dragon]

10 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

Looked at that, as well as the S340 Elite (I have one one a $1300 rig I'm selling) and they both seem really good, just wanna weigh all my options because when it comes to getting stuff for other people I tend to overanalyze everything I can up till the last second, lol.

H500i has slightly better airflow.

 

The S340 catches a lot of crap for the front intake, but it's really not as bad as people make it out to be.

[ManEatingFridge]

Defo Fractal Design Meshify C

 

More like Mesify Cyes daddy

 

Seriously though. Imo there has never been a case that checks all the boxes and is affordable but now it's here.

[jiyeon]

NZXT S340, S340 Elite, H500, and H700 if you stretch a bit, are all good 'versatile' cases with plenty of cable management routing and are all relatively simple to get around for a beginner.

All but the S340 have tempered glass which is a bonus.  

[Zando_]

1 hour ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

H500i has slightly better airflow.

 

The S340 catches a lot of crap for the front intake, but it's really not as bad as people make it out to be.

The H500i is a darned good looking case too...

58 minutes ago, ManEatingFridge said:

Defo Fractal Design Meshify C

 

More like Mesify Cyes daddy

 

Seriously though. Imo there has never been a case that checks all the boxes and is affordable but now it's here.

Tru, the C is pretty dang noice, IDK if the cable management is as cool as NZXT's though, I was really impressed with the S340 Elite I've built in. 

48 minutes ago, seoz said:

NZXT S340, S340 Elite, H500, and H700 if you stretch a bit, are all good 'versatile' cases with plenty of cable management routing and are all relatively simple to get around for a beginner.

All but the S340 have tempered glass which is a bonus.  

Ya see my problem? So many!

[ManEatingFridge]

2 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

Ya see my problem? So many!

For me they're all versatile and well put together enough but I like the looks of the Meshify C the most and that's what decides it.

[jiyeon]

17 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

Ya see my problem? So many!

If you have to choose one, let it be the NZXT H500! H700 is hella expensive, the S340s are now kind of old-fashioned, while the H500 is essentially the evolved version of the S340s yet is still less complex than the H700!