Does case really matter?

Elisabeth Blanctorche

Just ordering the last few parts of my self-build and have a good quality motherboard (sandybridge) and i3, gtx 560ti , good psu, what importance is the case? I'm not too bothered how it looks and won't be overclocking.

This is the case I'm considering it costs less than €20

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/cit-2017b-black-silver-mid-tower-value-case-w-o-psu

garysully1986

NOt an expert but I reckon it will run fairly hot with that case, The space for fans could be fairly small, Your really looking for airflow with custom builds and the better the airflow the more efficient it will run.

Maybe an extra couple of quid for a coolermaster or one lik this

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/enermax-clipeus-eca3210-m-mid-tower-black-with-mesh-front-window-blue-red-vegas-fan-w-o-psu

game4it70

Cheap cases have bad airflow and the fans that are supplied (if any) are gonna be noisey.
You need a case that have some sort of airflow to keep components cooler even if not overclocking.


I would try and stretch to one of these or something around that price range.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coolermaster-centurion-5-ii-black-mid-tower-case-w-o-psu
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/antec-two-hundred-v2-value-gaming-case-hot-swap-sata-hdd-bay

jme2010

Not only will cheap cases come with bad airflow which can in turn lower the lifetime of your components. But they are made of cheap aluminium that will ratle like crazy and channel the sounds and vibrations like a loud-speaker.

Shell out the extra few quid. Good quality cases also have some features to make your life easier like top mounted usb's/ear phone jacks, removable HDD trays which slide, and toolless-screw-less designs amongst lots of other cool things.

NOTE: If your getting a good psu it is prob best you get a good bottom mounted psu case with feet so it blows the exhaust out and not just around the inside of your case.

Mr. Presentable

I'd go along with the above. Don't be tempted to skimp on the case. A good quality case will aid with cooling, allow space for future upgrades, be less noisy and have better features (front USB, firewire, headphone etc connectors).

Make sure your case is deep enough for your CPU cooler and long enough to take a large GPU.

Scorpion venom

I agree never skimp on the case not worth it with airflow and all that,and other extras that come with the case that make your life a whole lot easier, as the lads said, but treat yourself to a nice case too

RoyalMarine

cooling is the main factor,

but seriously.. when buying a case, it has to be decent looking!

who wants something fugly?

marco_polo

You should really get something with at least one fan if you are sticking a high end GPU in there.

The bare minimum I would go for is the Xigmatek Asgard, is atill fairly cheap but offers a decent set of features for its price range, for 28 quid you get screwless bays, a 120mm fan, a back window for CPU cooler installations and and dust filters.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/xigmatek-asgard-black-mid-tower-atx-case-with-4x525-6x35-bays-inc-120mm-fan-no-psu