Worth a new case for a 4 year old computer?

[AznAnarchy99]

I've had my computer for years and I don't see myself upgrading anything huge anytime soon. However I've had the SilverStone Raven RV-02 since I bought it. That thing is huge. Annoyingly huge. I most likely would not be able to resell the case anyways with shipping costs for that thing.

I really like what SilverStone has done with their latest generation.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-263-_-Product

Would it be worth almost $200 to move my components over?

 

[aigomorla]

not unless your tight on space, or tend to move your PC around a lot.

honestly that money is better spent on a Crucial MX100 512gb ssd. :T

 

[RaistlinZ]

Yeah, your current case is quite large for the components you have. But that other case looks pretty large as well. I recently downsized and am enjoying the smaller footprint. Have you considered going with a more compact setup?

 

[Blain]

Would it be worth almost $200 to move my components over?

No

 

[BonzaiDuck]

We have the options now to build more powerful systems with a smaller footprint.

We should no longer need to put four hard disks in a workstation. There are options to use a boot/system disk of 500GB to 1TB. You can add another TB or more as a single HDD. You can cache the HDD under any of several scenarios: (a) Intel ISRT in IRST software with RAID-mode; (b) PCI-E HDD controllers -- probably in RAID-mode -- with a Marvell chipset and the "Hyper-Duo" equivalent of the patent Intel ISRT; (c) a general multi-level caching program like Romex Primo-Cache, which does combinations of (a) and (b) and caches multiple disks.

So you only need so much workstation storage. If you have some specialized tasks using huge databases of text, graphic -- and photographic --data, you can use a NAS. Otherwise, a single 4GB drive weighs as much as a 1TB drive -- more or less.

Then, there's the shrinking graphics card, as shown by some of the new single-fan Maxwell models.

All of this means a shrinking demand for huge cases allowing more and correspondingly heavier disk storage.

Smaller cases mean that it's easier to pressurize the case and focus the air-flow through a heatpipe cooler or radiator. Using a smaller radiator or some measured radiator capacity in a small case, might provide equally effective cooling supplemented by higher internal case air pressure. With less volume through which air can flow, the higher velocity will have a more profound cooling effect to the limit of what is possible for a particular radiator or heatpipe cooler.

Or -- instead of speaking to a "shrinking demand" for large cases, we could think of a trending increase in the use of smaller, more compact cases.

NOW -- HAVING SAID THIS . . . . Let me say that those two Silverstone cases -- both of them -- have some great possibilities for a number of cooling and storage strategies.

 

[Charlie98]

I had my original PC build in a bigger, open HAF922. I didn't like the size, nor the open case (I have dust problems in my house...) so I spent $100 on a Fractal Define Mini... a marginally smaller case with better air filtration and sound damping. Viewed from a left-brain frugality, it was dumb... but in the end, I think it was $100 well spent in the overall lifetime cost of the computer. It's life will continue; when I update the current build, the case is built and featured well enough that I will use it in the update.

If you can see using the new case into the future... $200 is a little steep, but I say go for it.... all you are really doing is pre-buying your next PC build's case.

 

[HalfCrazy]

I bought a Cool Master HAF XB EVO and transplanted my five year old PC in it. I was using the Antec 1200 case but the mounting area's for the fans was breaking off.

I also bought some SP120 fans for the new case as well. The processor temp is a lot better in the new case now. It runs around 26 - 27 C at idle and around 44 C under load.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I've got three of the HAF 922's, and really understand what Charlie98 is sayin' there.

I wouldn't say my relationship with the cases is a "love-hate" conflict, but he has a point about the dust. The front-intake 200mm fan has a wire-screen filter -- a little troublesome to remove and clean. The side-panel 200mm has no filter.

I can see the trend is going to smaller cases. I also see that some folks might even imagine they can build a PC without the traditional airflow. But with water-cooling, you're either going to try and put water-blocks on every-freakin-thing, or allow motherboard components to get warmer than they need to -- unless -- unless -- you bow down to the airflow imperative.

I have a sweet-tooth, occasionally, with less of an appetite for cakes and cookies than I did when I was younger. I've noticed the grocery store sells their cakes in these clear, round plastic cake-boxes. So I have this inspiration that I can build a low-profile external retainer for a circular (200mm dia.) piece of your standard $2/panel fiberglass AC filter. I just need a way to elegantly affix one -- perhaps 1/2" thick -- to my sidepanel.

I think it's going to be easy. Once a month, I can remove the filter (easier than the front-panel HAF filter, for sure!), put it on the patio and blast it with a hose. It doesn't offer anything in the way of "bling," but if it's neat, if I use the white fiberglass option, it should work -- I think.

 

[Fred B]

Think its worth it and the case can be used again with next cpu/motherboard upgrade , my case is 11 years and like it more than it where new , because of the case-mods :biggrin:

 

[ehume]

I would normally agree that an SSD would be the addition that you would like more than a new case. But the Fortress . . . I've had my own eye on that lovely. At 221mm, is is a bit wider than your current 212mm. At 483mm, it is 0.8 inches shorter than your current 503mm. But where it really differs is the depth: 427mm vs your current 643mm -- 8.5 inches less.

I guess it depends where you keep it. On your desk, it is huge. Under your desk . . .

But I keep coming back to your not having an SSD. Yet I remember when these were $250 + shipping. But then, that was the FT02 or the FT04. These list for $199.

I don't envy your having to choose -- but whatever you get, you will like the result.