Question Who makes the best quality computer cases?

[GeezerMan]

Things change over the years.
Lian Li used to make high quality cases many years ago. Now, the ones I have worked on lately have soft steel, and thin metal.
I unscrewed a drive cage on one and got metal shavings in my thumb. One had fit problems in the PCI-E slot.

I think one of the problems is the heavy use of thick powder coatings that clog screw holes and cause alignment problems of the screws

Corsair is OK, lots of plastic, but fit is usually OK
Cooler Master, kinda like Corsair

InWin is one of my top picks for fit and decent quality. But, their cases are usually form over function
I think they make them in Taiwan. Seems to me higher quality goods come from Taiwan versus Red China

What say you?

 

[Harry_Wild]

Any case that has USB-C in the front is more expensive. I can fallen for the In Win 905 mix tower case. It a gaming case but looks very nice. $300.00!

 

[mindless1]

^ DIY the USB-C. I've often done that with USB3 A sockets but it shouldn't be any different with -C.

There are dongles on ebay for $10, maybe less in volume. Mount it where the prior port panel was, or drill a couple holes appropriately spaced and file out the middle between them for the oval USB-C shape.

OR there are ~4 port hub kits for around $20 if you have a spare floppy drive/3.5" bay.

Personally, I prefer to just shove the case as far back under my desk as it'll go and have a USB hub on the desk instead.

 

[Harry_Wild]

^ DIY the USB-C. I've often done that with USB3 A sockets but it shouldn't be any different with -C.

There are dongles on ebay for $10, maybe less in volume. Mount it where the prior port panel was, or drill a couple holes appropriately spaced and file out the middle between them for the oval USB-C shape.

OR there are ~4 port hub kits for around $20 if you have a spare floppy drive/3.5" bay.

Personally, I prefer to just shove the case as far back under my desk as it'll go and have a USB hub on the desk instead.

I will check the dongles out since I can use them to update my current PC! Thx. Ebay here I go!

 

[Harry_Wild]

I will check the dongles out since I can use them to update my current PC! Thx. Ebay here I go!

No find!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Okay, In Win has discontinued the 905 in the U.S. and only sells the 904 Plus that looks like the 905 but the inside dimension are a little off. The 904+ has no USB-C like the 905 has. Like the 904+ design in black but cooling fans are not included like most high end cases. I say the Corsair 678C which has one USB-C but it not as attractive to me. Both are around the same price. Found that the Silver 905 is sold in the Far East only now! The 904+ is $100 less too!

 

[mindless1]

No find!

USB-C Bracket for sale | eBay

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6.63US $ 5% OFF|Rear Panel with USB 3.1 Type C Port, USB 3.0 USB3.0 20 Pin 20P female to USB C USB3.1 type c Female host PCI baffle Cable 5|Computer Cables & Connectors| - AliExpress

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There's probably more/cheaper on aliexpress if you can figure out the right search terms to use to find them.

Take off the rear bracket (or don't) and mount to case front. Those with screw mounts could use recessed screws, or use epoxy, or bend the rear slot bracket it comes with, drill holes and bolt to the case inner metal wall behind the plastic bezel, etc.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Cases I've owned that are high quality, IMO

Antec P182

Be quiet dark 700 ( current case )

The cool part now is that there's just piles of reviews, but at the same time you just spent 2 hours watching reviews lol, then another 2 measuring and digging thru manuals 😀

I've had other cases in my life, but just meh really.

 

[aigomorla]

i would state the words who makes the best pc cases within this budget and if its still in production... instead of a blanketed statement like this.

If you want to know who makes the absolute best... well, it used to companies like Lian Li's / silverstone before they decided to go cheap
with epic cases like the LL V2000+, and SS TJ-07 and SS TJ-09.





Also WiNdy is probably my alltime favorate, and so is the older generation, but if you ever owned one, you'd probably understand why.


everything inside a WiNdy was annodized color.... they were quite litterally the bugatti of cases when they were in circulation, also costed as much as one too in PC case standards starting at around 600 dollars.

 

[CP5670]

That inverted ATX layout was popular for a while but disappeared later on. It allowed the video card to face upwards.

The CM Stacker cases were also good, maybe one step below build quality wise but with great customization options. You could have multiple power supplies, both ATX and inverted ATX layouts, and 20+ hard drives.

 

[Harry_Wild]

i would state the words who makes the best pc cases within this budget and if its still in production... instead of a blanketed statement like this.

If you want to know who makes the absolute best... well, it used to companies like Lian Li's / silverstone before they decided to go cheap
with epic cases like the LL V2000+, and SS TJ-07 and SS TJ-09.

View attachment 52085

View attachment 52084

Also WiNdy is probably my alltime favorate, and so is the older generation, but if you ever owned one, you'd probably understand why.
View attachment 52081

everything inside a WiNdy was annodized color.... they were quite litterally the bugatti of cases when they were in circulation, also costed as much as one too in PC case standards starting at around 600 dollars.

They are all full size cases! I am looking at luxury designer looking stylish itx and mats cases like Lian Li and In Win! I like to have my compact size PC next to me on the table not on the floor! Plus I like to look at my PC too and has to br very quiet! My current SFF is so silent, it just a whisper pitch.

 

[Sunburn74]

Silverstone.
I have a silverstone fortress 02 that is air cooled entirely. For 12+ years, not a speck of dust on the inside.
Great case.

 

[Oyeve]

I still rock a Thermaltake Armor VA8000BWS case for my secondary PC.

 

[killster1]

well sure man, I have been building for 20 years . I understand the lower tier cases can be lower quality. I know about cooling, which is not a big deal for me since I dont game

Generally speaking, I find InWin to be a better quality case, and yes, they sure can be form over function.

I have a Lian Li PC-O11DW 011 as a main case, no gaming which makes me very unusual for a builder, no overclocking either, but it is all lit up like a Christmas tree. The case is very easy to build in, but the metal is thin, some of the screw holes were not quite lined up right. So, that was a let down for me. I would not call this case a lower tier case.

I have a 15 year old Lian Li case that is still new. It's a work of art, solid aluminum, and built like a tank. It just sits around looking good. Maybe those were Taiwan made back then

how much did you pay for it.. i feel like my lian li cases from 15 years ago cost over 100 when 100$ was actually worth something.. maybe you are confused because of the fast inflation and bad computer part prices, i still feel like lian li cases are kick ass but after i switched to a nuc i have no more use for awesome cases. a awesome itx will be next hopefully it looks like a piece of art

 

[CP5670]

I really liked that V2000 back in the day but recall it was very expensive for the time, and I was a college student with no money. I got a CM Stacker instead for half the price.

 

[Iron Woode]

I have a Phanteks Enthoo Pro M case w/tempered glass panel. That is one very nice case.

Phanteks Innovative Computer Hardware Design

phanteks.com

 

[yacoub]

I've been buying Fractal Design cases for the last few builds and overall they're good, however my most recent purchase of a Meshify 2 Compact was a little disappointing where under the black coating, there's definitely a light coat of rust on metal panels, revealed when screwing things in if you happen to back a screw out, you'll see the rust on the surface under where the screwhead rubbed the black coating away on the attachment surface. Multiple places where I spotted this. Wonder if it's related to stuff sitting on ships longer or to manufacturing. I also had a failed mobo standoff on a Node 804. Some of their quality is just average, some of it is very good.

 

[OlyAR15]

I've been buying Fractal Design cases for the last few builds and overall they're good, however my most recent purchase of a Meshify 2 Compact was a little disappointing where under the black coating, there's definitely a light coat of rust on metal panels, revealed when screwing things in if you happen to back a screw out, you'll see the rust on the surface under where the screwhead rubbed the black coating away on the attachment surface. Multiple places where I spotted this. Wonder if it's related to stuff sitting on ships longer or to manufacturing. I also had a failed mobo standoff on a Node 804. Some of their quality is just average, some of it is very good.

Are you sure it's rust and not a primer or other coating?

 

[aigomorla]

Are you sure it's rust and not a primer or other coating?

id say it probably is rust... as no cases i can think of is made from stainless steel, and regular steel is prone to rusting really quickly in a humid environment.

Ive had some server cases even start to rust within the year because its next room my fish tank room, an the humidity can get pretty bad in there is i leave the windows closed.

Learned the hardway to always have a dehumidifier in that server room to leave on a very humid or rainy days.

But this is another reason why i miss the days when a lot of the premium cases were made of Anodized ALU.
They don't rust.

 

[bigboxes]

Wonder if it's related to stuff sitting on ships longer.

I would say that is a good guess.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That inverted ATX layout was popular for a while but disappeared later on. It allowed the video card to face upwards.

I wonder if any video card mfg accommodated that layout, and allowed the GPU fans to run in reverse, thus blowing air up through the heatsink, instead of towards the heatsink, if they were facing upwards in the case.

 

[dlerious]

Part of the reason I went with Caselabs Mercury S8 cases were the removable motherboard tray and motherboard sitting horizontal - no more GPU sag, along with aluminum. 1st couple of cases were Lian Li pc 60 and pc 70 series.

 

[Hotrod2go]

The one in my sig is very well built. A high end case available in my country back in 2016. No thin panels anywhere & plenty of cooling options with effective noise deadening. Built like a WW2 German tank!

 

[UsandThem]

The one in my sig is very well built. A high end case available in my country back in 2016. No thin panels anywhere & plenty of cooling options with effective noise deadening. Built like a WW2 German tank!

At close to 36lbs, it had better be.

That's heavier than my Be Quiet Dark Base 900, and any time I need to move it, I think "What was I thinking? This case is too dang heavy!".

 

[Hotrod2go]

At close to 36lbs, it had better be.

That's heavier than my Be Quiet Dark Base 900, and any time I need to move it, I think "What was I thinking? This case is too dang heavy!".

Yep, saves on going to the Gym! I've done some mods on it to facilitate better air flow with my "warm" rocket lake rig on air. Should upload a pic when I get a chance.

 

[bigboxes]

My Define 7 weighs 35lbs.