What is a motherboard tray?

[rnmcd]

I am trying to find a good case for an Athlon 700mhz.

I had nearly settled on a Fong Kai FK-320ATX. But I was informed that it does not have a removeable motherboard tray.

Is that a terrible thing?

What case would you suggest? Anandtech doesn't seem to have very high ratings for any case that I could find besides the Fong Kai FK-320ATX.

This will be the first PC that I have built. So ease of use would be a plus for me.

Thanks,Ron

 

[Russ]

The tray is simply where the motherboard mounts. Having a removable one makes things a bit more convenient, but it's not critical.

Russ, NCNE

 

[rnmcd]

Do you have any suggestions for a good Athlon case that has removeable trays?

 

[dreamer]

Don't get caught with the removable tray. There are many excellent cases out there without it.

The casedge, enlight, and antec cases are always your best bets.

 

[Eug]

I have an Aopen HX08 with removable tray. I like the case, but the removable tray seems pretty useless for those of us with only one computer setup. It was helpful when first installing the motherboard but after that I haven't bothered removing it.

Buy yourself thumbscrews, and that few dollar investment is probably much more useful than potentially a lot of extra bux for a case with a removable tray. Plus, having a removable tray doesn't guarantee that it's a good case either.

 

[Windex]

i personally like trayless cases, usually there a bit bigger, and the ps is usually a bit higher up

 

[rnmcd]

What are thumbscrews? How do the differ from a standard or phillips head screw?


Thanks for the advice about the removable motherboard tray.

-Rnmcd

 

[HannibalX]

This is a thumb screw (http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/7/89.htm?618). I use them on any screw that I use frequrently, since my case now has no outer screws, I use them on the inside, my AGP card and my HD's have thumb screws, since I fiddle with them more than aything else.

I would also recomend getting a screwless case, for example my Mid-Tow has four pannels, that can each be slidden off easily, I can get into my case in about 5 seconds, and theres no extra storage for a large cover either.

My case has mobo tray, but once you have installed about 5 or 6 mobos you will not use it anymore. In my life I have probobly done 100 mobo instalations or more, and their more of a hassle now, becuase they make the case a tad flimsy.

 

[rnmcd]

Windex- may I ask which case you are using? I plan on building a system similiar to yours and I can't find a case that anyone recommends. I know there are a few popular brands but it would be helpful to me if I knew the exact model people are having success with.


Thanks, rnmcd

 

[rnmcd]

Any recommendations for me?

Thanks folks.

 

[Mday]

recommendations depends on:

• how much you want to spend
• how many bays you need and what they are
• how large of a case do you WANT