Where to buy chieftech? (or, should I go with a lian-li?)

[Lucky]

I've been unsuccesfully looking for a pre-modded chieftech case similar to the one newegg had a couple weeks ago. Where can I find one?

 

[MustISO]

They seem to be in-stock at NewEgg now. At least the Aluminum with the 420W PS. $129+shipping.

 

[fatbaby]

Right here =D

I've ordered from them before and service was GREAT!

And btw, at member jokerf15 owns that

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
Right here =D

I've ordered from them before and service was GREAT!

And btw, at member jokerf15 owns that

Well, I was going to go for the similar item (non aluminum, no power supply) at newegg but for ~30 more after shipping is figured in, I figure I can sell off the power supply for that much and get the aluminum for free. Sucks (hard) that I have to wait a couple more weeks though. I want it NOW dammit.

 

[fatbaby]

well if you want NOW, the only way i know of is to go to a Los Angeles area frys electronics...They are selling these exact cases for $140 (yes more than newegg but you have to figure in shipping)

 

[Lucky]

Of course, if we are talking about spending $100+ I might as well get this lian-li pc-65 with window for the same price.

Damm, im pissed at myself for not getting in on the newegg modded chieftec's when they were ~$55.

 

[SithSolo1]

Well I have a normal old Antec SX 1030B but I wanted to spice it up a bit so I just bought the black windowed Chieftech side panel from newegg.

 

[paralazarguer]

I just bought this. It's what you're looking for. Price is in Canadian $
http://www.shoprbc.com/canada/shopping/product_details.php?pid=1142&id=15

 

[Lucky]

Well, for the same price as the chieftec I think I'm gonna go with the lian-li (even though it omits teh power supply). I dont think I'd be able to rest at night if I spent that much and didnt buy the much-regarded lian-li pc-65.

 

[paralazarguer]

Dude, the chieftek case is like $100USD. What lian li case is it that you're getting?

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: 7757524
Dude, the chieftek case is like $100USD. What lian li case is it that you're getting?

I linked it like 3 posts up. The chieftec (non aluminum with window mod) is currently about $110 shipped from newegg. The aluminum is $130 shipped from that case-mod place, or going with the site you linked ( in canadian currency) it would be at least $120 shipped, more like $125 or more.

The lian-li pc-65 is $130 shipped, although with no power supply (which I dont really need...) From all that I've heard of the lian-li..I would regret passing it up especially when the price is really the same.

 

[CubicZirconia]

I think you are already fully aware of my position on this one Lucky...

 

[SNoWyV82]

Go with the Lian Li. I was in the exact same situation. I weighed the options and the Lian Li was too good to pass up. Although I got the brand new PC6083A for $175, not a PC65. I can't wait for it to come in!

 

[paralazarguer]

I don't like the PC65. It looks like crap. My friend bought it to my last LAN party and it looks HORRIBLE. There's no way to cover up the mismatched drives and it's just so plain. Please follow this link for STYLE!

 

[Aftathott]

7757524, did you use cold cathode lighting in your case? I just got my new silver Chieftec (same one in your rig -- just different color), and am looking for a lighting setup to illuminate my window. I have to back up the Chieftec style; Lian Li might provide some of the best functionality, but for style and competitive functionality, Chieftec > *.

-Afta

 

[CubicZirconia]

I don't like the PC65. It looks like crap. My friend bought it to my last LAN party and it looks HORRIBLE. There's no way to cover up the mismatched drives and it's just so plain. Please follow this link for STYLE!

Wow, I definately disagree with that statement. First, I love the part "There's no way to cover up the mismatched drives." Personally, I don't think standard beige drivers look bad at all in the lian-li's. But, if you want to it's pretty easy to spray paint 'em. Second, I think the case looks as good as any other, especially with a cathode. So the cheiftech has ribbing on the front- big deal. I love my pc-65 and definately prefer it over the cheiftech (a couple friends of mine have them).

 

[paralazarguer]

Painting the drives reduces their value and makes it harder to use them in other cases. That's definitely a bad option. As for you, Aftathott, good choice. What colour did you get? Yes, a cold cathode (the store said neon) and you can get it here . That's $49.99 in canadian $ not US. As you can see from those pics the light has trouble getting to the top so I'm going ot get another one and put it on the other side of the crossbar. It's cool. You can either have it on all the time that the computer is on or turn it to noise sensitive mode which pulsates to the music. That mode is silly though.

 

[Ilmater]

Painting the drives reduces their value and makes it harder to use them in other cases.

I plan on moving my beige drives to my Lian-Li (or Coolermaster, haven't decided), and NEVER MOVING THEM AGAIN. If you buy a Lian-Li and your drives outlast your case, then stop beating the crap out of your case. Your case should ALWAYS (yes, I used an absolute) outlast your drives. On the first point, I think you're the only modder I've ever heard of that worries about selling drives after they're used. No, the point of modding is to make YOUR stuff look good. Plus, if you sell it to the right person (read, someone with an aluminum case looking for matching drives), you might actually increase the value if your drives. Case in point (no pun intended), I have an old Plextor (16x is old, right?) and would rather buy a 32x Plextor that matches an aluminum case than pay the same for a 40x or 48x (CDs can hardly read that fast) and mod it myself.

Now pay attention to the benefits that the aluminum case offers you:
1)Better looks (you Cheiftec fans are crazy)
2)Thumbscrews baby
3)Removable MB Tray (you are planning to put a motherboard in it, right?)
4)Lighter than steel
5)Better cooling (two ADDA fans in front with filter; I don't buy into the its-a-big-heatsink crap unless you somehow attach your CPU to the case itself)
6)Craftmanship (Just try to cut yourself on a Lian-Li)
7)Looks (just to really drive that point home)

Have I made my recommendation clear enough?

 

[Ilmater]

btw, here's a new PC-65 for $118

 

[paralazarguer]

Let me approach this a different way. Sometimes when painting drives it's difficult to get them the same colour without applying alot of base coats. No problem. Here's where the problem are. Okay, so I upgrade every couple of weeks and sell my old drives. I guess that's just me but that would prevent me from painting them. Taking off the front cover of an optical drive and painting it will cancel your warranty. You don't have to do with with a chieftec case as all drives are covered. The Audigy Platinum is something that I have in my case and it can't be painted. Oh, you can paint it but then you will cover over all of your nice labels. You won't know which midi port or optical port is in or out. Paintin is BAD BAD BAD solution compared to simply covering the drives over. As for the rest of your points they don't make sense. My case is aluminum, not steel. It uses thumbscrews just like yours. It's not the cheap steel versoin. It's the good one. It has no sharp corners. None of your points make ANY sense. I don't think that you're well informed about this case.

 

[paralazarguer]

In addition to esthetic appeal (which is the main reason for buying a case like this) the front and side panels lock. Not only does this keep dust away from your drives and prevent them from yellowing, it also keeps nerdowells away from your drives and POWER BUTTON

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: 7757524
In addition to esthetic appeal (which is the main reason for buying a case like this) the front and side panels lock. Not only does this keep dust away from your drives and prevent them from yellowing, it also keeps nerdowells away from your drives and POWER BUTTON

Prevent them from yellowing? There would be a window on either case, wouldnt that be irrevelant? And I dont know where you are, but I'm 23, live alone, and dont have to worry about anyone but my cats getting in my case. Unless they grow opposable thumbs and learn to open the sides, I dont have much to worry about.

As far as matching is concerned, Im not worried. Look herefor some excellent work (from an AT member) on how he matched his drives. I actually plan to pretty much copy his work. My drives will either be stealthed or using the cover faceplates; no painting for me. So as far as your statement on their being no way to cover up the mismatched drives, thats simply not true. I've done my research on this. You can even order drives with custom lian-li matched front plates, if you wish to pay a premium. I'll probably just stealth my drives.

Using the methods linked, there's absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to upgrading. No original drive faceplates are modified in any way, except if I were to perhaps paint the buttons that stick out from the stick on faceplates.

Im also looking for usability. From what I read not much can touch the lian-li Im really looking forward to the slide out mobo tray with that neat detachable power switch attachment. Would make tinkering a breeze.


oh yeah, and I forgot to mention Im really looking forward to the fan speed that selectable on my the case itself. I'm really into to making my cases quite. I've gone so far as to install dense carpet scrap onto every usable surface on the inside of my other 4 computers. The lian-li, on med. with a SVG-68 is pretty much silent, or so I've read here.

I don't think that you're well informed about this case.

I really dont think you're too well informed about the lian-li. I havent received mine yet but I've spent probably 12 hours in the last 2 days researching it to make sure I was making the right decision...and the comments you make are irrevelant.

 

[Lucky]

and if I may so myself, Im not worried about the case being ugly when the person calling it that has a YELLOW case. Yuck. :disgust:

 

[paralazarguer]

This case looks great. I have been very up close and personal with a PC65 for a while and I'm quite familiar with it. Until you can put both cases side by side I don't think you can talk about it. You addressed a few of my points but not the audigy platinums 5.25" drive. The fan speed on the Lian Li case only works on the front fan. As you may have read in the page that I link to in my signature, this case comes with 2 rear LOW RPM fans which are very quiet. The front is using an antec smartfan which is also very quiet.

 

[Lucky]

You addressed a few of my points but not the audigy platinums 5.25" drive.

Well, I personally dont see the point in those, I use a hercules GTX. You still could custom cut one of the faceplates to match the openings though.