shopping for a microATX case, any recommendations?

[halo112358]

I need a microATX case at work for a new smoothwall machine - anyone have a favorite microATX box that either A: has a good PSU or B: takes a full size PSU?

[perfection]

The Lian Li A05 is basically a mATX case that takes full sized ATX motherboards

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Silverstone SUGO SG-03, takes standard size psu (fits corsair hx series) and has great cooling and features, i watercooled the one i had ;)

[CodeNinja]

Silverstone TJ08.

It'll take a full sized PSU and has dual 120mm fans. :up:

[Junimrox]

I had a really bad experience with this type of case, I bought one that had a mini-atx psu that I couldn't replace and the cd/dvd drive was hitting the fan os the cpu cooler. I actually had to cut the fan.
I would recommend you to use only the essential parts like hd, mobo, cpu and psu. An offboard vga or a dvd drive may cause you a lot of trouble with overheating and in fitting parts inside small cases.

[halo112358]

I had a really bad experience with this type of case, I bought one that had a mini-atx psu that I couldn't replace and the cd/dvd drive was hitting the fan os the cpu cooler. I actually had to cut the fan.
I would recommend you to use only the essential parts like hd, mobo, cpu and psu. An offboard vga or a dvd drive may cause you a lot of trouble with overheating and in fitting parts inside small cases.

That's why I'm asking for a good uATX case ;)

[MassiveOverkill]

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=304&products_id=4596

Can fit a full ATX power supply, best cooling in a mATX case, can fit the longest of graphics cards, can hold 4 hard drives, can fit an Ultima90, can be watercooled, and with side-panel mesh mode, cools better than a full ATX case.

My Micro-Fly:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1256178

[clayton]

Shuttle barebones, which comes with powersupply, best looking mini chassis in the world, stable/great o/c MATX board. All you need to buy is a CPU and a videocard!

PROS: Great looking chassis that makes other SFF case look like cheap replicas, a good combo for home-theatre setups and large TV's.

CONS: Yes, Shuttle supports o/c, but small chassis limits overclocking room. Not enough PCI's... If you have a videocard + soundcard, well... thats it.

Have fun with your build.

[friedchips]

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=304&products_id=4596

Can fit a full ATX power supply, best cooling in a mATX case, can fit the longest of graphics cards, can hold 4 hard drives, can fit an Ultima90, can be watercooled, and with side-panel mesh mode, cools better than a full ATX case.

My Micro-Fly:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1256178

That is one nice looking case, I think I might get myself one:yepp:

[Tile]

My recomendation is Silverstone Tj08. This case can de fitted with regular PSUs and has the best cooling of its category (2 120 mm fans).

[Underwater Mike]

Does the Micro Fly come with both the windowed and vented panels? I didn't see anywhere on the PPCs page to specify one or the other...

EDIT: NM, found the other model. I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews on these things. Do you guys find them flimsy and/or poorly fitting?

[TRF-Inferno]

Thermaltake Lanbox Lite and the NZXT Rogue.

[Spawne32]

Thermaltake Lanbox Lite and the NZXT Rogue.


http://www.overclockerspulse.com/hardware-reviews/thermaltake-lanbox-lite-case-review/

[Tulatin]

The Rogue is beauuutiful (did somebody say 2x 120.2s + an 8800ultra? Easy peasy), except it's got one issue: Size. It's wide as :banana::banana::banana::banana: (wide as the A05 is tall), and it's 20-something pounds dry.

[IanY]

The MM H2gO is quite nice. Take a look at this

2 x PA120.2
1 x PA120.1

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=174525

[Underwater Mike]

The MM H2gO is quite nice. Take a look at this

2 x PA120.2
1 x PA120.1

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=174525

Beautiful case and build, but I need something smaller and much cheaper. This is going on my son's desk, not mine. :D

[MassiveOverkill]

Does the Micro Fly come with both the windowed and vented panels? I didn't see anywhere on the PPCs page to specify one or the other...

EDIT: NM, found the other model. I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews on these things. Do you guys find them flimsy and/or poorly fitting?

You're not going to be able to sit on it like you would an Antec full steel tower, but once it's loaded up, it's a pretty solid case. I've been taking mine to and from work every day for the past 2 months.

I'm going to the Netherlands Saturday with it. It's survived 6 round-trip flights to various locations and survived being stowed in the overhead compartment.

Alot of the other cases mentioned.....like the NZT Rogue and other cube cases I don't consider mATX. Sure they'll take a mATX motherboard but those things are bigger than a mid-tower in volume..........not my idea of SFF.

It doesn't have the fit of a LIan Li, but I don't expect it to for $60. Finish is nice.......all gloss paint.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

look at the sugo sg-03, I already said it but to no avail, it makes that microfly case look like a child's toy, it is compatable with everything and silverstone makes a great air cooler for it. Did I mention that it fits a 2 fan rad internally? yeah its awesome.

[Underwater Mike]

look at the sugo sg-03, I already said it but to no avail, it makes that microfly case look like a child's toy, it is compatable with everything and silverstone makes a great air cooler for it. Did I mention that it fits a 2 fan rad internally? yeah its awesome.

Yup, it's nice, but I'm looking for something cheap.

[MassiveOverkill]

look at the sugo sg-03, I already said it but to no avail, it makes that microfly case look like a child's toy, it is compatable with everything and silverstone makes a great air cooler for it. Did I mention that it fits a 2 fan rad internally? yeah its awesome.

To each his own, I think the side vent on the SG03 looks like crap and you also can't use a tower heat sink in that case. I'd rather have a LAN box over the SG03.

Trying to cool a quad in an SG03:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1212105&highlight=sg03+water

You care to show pics of a SG03 rig with a 120.2 with two 120 fans mounted on it AND a high-end graphics card?

[spotswood]

How 'bout the Qmicra http://www.pcdesignlab.com/? :shrug:

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=154265&highlight=sff+doggy+style

there you go, mcr220, 2900xt 1gb

[Fujimitsu]

Silverstone SUGO SG-03, takes standard size psu (fits corsair hx series) and has great cooling and features, i watercooled the one i had ;)

:up: :up: :up:

Easily the best mATX case I've ever used. I've built in 4 shuttle barebones, and the ultra ones.. and their build quality is garbage.

[MassiveOverkill]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=154265&highlight=sff+doggy+style

there you go, mcr220, 2900xt 1gb

Nice job. For water cooling, it's a better case, for air cooling, it's a different story.

[zanzabar]

what about the antec mini p180 that they had at ces shouldent that be out soon