Buyer's Guide - Mid-Range, October 2004

Case and Power Supply Recommendations

Choosing a case can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Some people want a lot of bling-bling, others want silence, and still others want cooling and expansion capabilities. For a mid-range system, $100 is a good ballpark figure for the cost of the case, although you can easily spend more. A quality case with a 350W or higher power supply (PSU) should be sufficient, but for gaming systems with their more power hungry graphics cards, it might be a good idea to purchase a separate PSU.

Case Recommendation: Antec SLK3700-BQE with 350W PSU
Price: $91 Shipped (Retail)

For a classic design with a reliable power supply and good features, we like the Antec SLK3700-BQE. The hard drive assembly is nice to work with, and the included 120mm fan is nearly silent. The fan on the PSU is a little louder, but not enough to really disturb anyone. Unfortunately, the case requires tools for most of the assembly - only the side panel can be removed without using a screw driver. If you do not upgrade frequently, this is not a major concern. Adding a second 120mm fan on the front of the case can help with cooling, although it does add to the noise levels. There is an easy-to-clean filter in the front of the case, which can help to eliminate bunnies from the inside of your computer. You should still clean your PC interior at least once or twice a year, but it does keep out some of the dust. Overall, the case is very well designed and the included PSU is of relatively high quality.

Case Alternative: Thermaltake VA3000 Dream Tower Tsunami with 400W PSU
Price: $131-135 Shipped (Retail)

We reviewed the Thermaltake Tsunami recently and were impressed with the design and attractive look. It is available in both silver and black, with or without a window, and some vendors include a 400W PSU in the bundle (like Newegg, where we found this price). The windowed version costs a little more, but internally, the cases are the same. The case includes two relatively quiet 120mm fans for effective cooling, and while it may not be the easiest case to set up, it does have a partially tool-less design and the looks make up for many of the deficiencies.

SFF Case Alternative: Shuttle XPC SN95G5
Price: $299 Shipped (Retail)

As a final case alternative, we offer the latest Shuttle XPC SFF case - note that this is only for socket 939 CPUs, but there is a socket 775 version available as well, the SB83G5. These days, you can't swing a bat without hitting a SFF case, so look around a bit if you want something different. (Can you tell that it's playoff season?) While the price is rather high, remember that you do not need a motherboard or a CPU HSF. In the end, the Suttle SFF we recommend here adds about $50 compared to the base socket 939 platform.

We hope to have a review of this case in the near future, but the latest G5 cases from Shuttle appear to be better in most areas when compared to their predecessors. Expansion options are limited compared to tower cases, but if desk space is a concern, SFFs are great. Throw in an LCD, and you're all set. Inexperienced PC builders may find SFF cases a little more difficult to work with, due to the cramped space, but they aren't much worse than regular cases. Note that unlike many other SFF cases, there are no integrated graphics in the SN95G5, so a graphics card is required. Dual-slot graphics cards will not fit in the case, so if you're thinking of getting a 6800 Ultra, you'll want to look elsewhere.