Should I build a computer or just buy one?

[Bizman]

It definitely is a good case in a decent price range. You can get a good one for less, like the Antec 300 for $59, as well there are more expensive ones. The basics for a decent case are good breathing (all those fans and mesh), sturdy construction and easy installing of the components.

Before you buy, though, I'd recommend you to think about what size of a GPU you're going to buy. Most of them will fit almost any case, but the almost one ft long monsters won't. The price of the case doesn't guarantee that the biggest cards will fit in.

[Drano]

I have a cooler master CM692 advanced case and love it. Great case for the money with lots of room, features and airflow.

[gyrene81]

Ok sorry if I'm bothering you gents. I'm going to go one item at a time first my case after searching on newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Any thought if this is ok then I will move on to next item. Bare with me I'm not tech savvy by no means.

the antec 900 is a decent case, but you can get better internal layout with either the coolermaster haf-912 for $60 or the haf-922 for $100.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

[The Fugitive]

I have the HAF-912. plenty of room to work on it. I added another fan on the top to blow the warm air out. Stays nice and cool.

[Getback]

I don't know about saving money but building one is just plain fun. It's like Lego's only you get to turn it on when you're done.

[Pawz]

Ok guys this is what I have ready to buy what do you think and what else do I need.


   1    COOLER MASTER HAF X Blue Edition RC-942-KKN3 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case with Black Interior and Four Blue LED Fans-1x 140mm rear 1x 200mm top 1x 200mm side and 1x 230mm front   

    COOLER MASTER HAF X Blue Edition RC-942-KKN3 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case with Black Interior and Four ...
    Model #:RC-942-KKN3
    Item #:N82E16811119239
    Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
    In Stock

   $219.99    -$10.00 Instant    $209.99
   1    ASUS Z87M-PLUS LGA 1150 Intel Z87 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 uATX Intel Motherboard   

    ASUS Z87M-PLUS LGA 1150 Intel Z87 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 uATX Intel Motherboard
    Model #:Z87M-PLUS
    Item #:N82E16813131984
    Return Policy:Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
    In Stock

   $139.99         $139.99
   1    EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P4-2765-KR GeForce GTX 760 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support w/ EVGA ACX Cooler Video Card   

    EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P4-2765-KR GeForce GTX 760 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support w/ EVGA ACX Cooler Video Card
    Model #:02G-P4-2765-KR
    Item #:N82E16814130932
    Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy
    In Stock

   $259.99         $259.99
   1    CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply   

    CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
    Model #:CP-9020048-NA
    Item #:N82E16817139028
    Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
    In Stock

   $79.99    -$10.00 Instant    $69.99
   1    Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K   

    Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K
    Model #:BX80637I53570K
    Item #:N82E16819116504
    Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
    In Stock

   $219.99         $219.99
   1    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS8G3D1609DS1S00   

    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS8G3D1609DS1S00
    Model #:BLS8G3D1609DS1S00
    Item #:N82E16820148540
    Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy
    In Stock

   $69.99         $69.99
   1    ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM   

    ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
    Model #:DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS
    Item #:N82E16827135204
    Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
    In Stock

   $19.99         $19.99
Subtotal:    $989.93. 

[edog1977]

What about a HD, operating system, and CPU heatsink?

[guncrasher]

if it was me I would get a cheaper case and spend more on the video card. fan controllers are about 30 bucks.


semp

[Drano]

Yeah that case is a sexy beast but I went with a step below and saved some bucks. The CM-690 series is nice. I have the 692 Advanced like this  here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119259 and love it. You can get that one for about $89 usually. They're about to come out with or have come out with the 693.

[Flench]

if it was me I would get a cheaper case and spend more on the video card. fan controllers are about 30 bucks.


semp

I agree with Semp .

[Bizman]

I agree with Semp .

+1

[gyrene81]

the video card he bought isn't a bad card, considering the gtx770 is priced at $400, without dropping down to a $50 case, his only other choice is a gtx760 4gb for $320.

the gtx760 is comparable to the radeon 7950 performance wise...and for the price, that's pretty dam good.

[Bizman]

Oops, should read the entire post before +1'ing instead of combining two answers. Nevertheless, spending $209 for a case instead of getting a good one for way below $100 would give me over a hundred reasons to find the cheaper alternative and use the money for an OS and a HDD. I've been lately in the belief that Intel stock coolers are both silent and effective enough in a breathing case unless you're into overclocking.

[DREDIOCK]

Whats wrong with your old case? Why not just use that?

Dont know what case is in your old system but if its compatible and suited you well for your old system then why not just keep using that?.
Sure it might not look as fancy shmancy as a brandy new purty case. But playing AH how much time do you really spend admiring your case?

[Bizman]

It's already been a month since Pawz said he'd start building, so the build should already be finished unless there's been something like summer in between. Eagerly waiting for the results...

Whats wrong with your old case? Why not just use that?

Dont know what case is in your old system but if its compatible and suited you well for your old system then why not just keep using that?.
Sure it might not look as fancy shmancy as a brandy new purty case. But playing AH how much time do you really spend admiring your case?

Indeed we don't know what the old case was like. As for you, dediock, I suppose you know what to look at when choosing a case. For those who'd like to save some by using an old case but don't know the basics, here's some food for thought: Cases have been using the same standard layout for decades. That means, almost any new motherboard would drop into almost any ATX case, as long as you aren't trying to fit a full size mobo into a minitower. Same goes for power supplies, optical drives, hard disks... Old office quality cases were also made of thick sturdy steel unlike many fancy illuminated tinfoil and plastic cases of today. So what's the problem, you might ask. The problem is, that the old cases don't breathe. The 80mm full metal grille with shower-like holes in the front was sufficient for intake air and the PSU took care of blowing hot air out. In the rear there might have been a 60mm diameter bunch of tiny holes for an extra fan.

But if you're handy, an old case can be a great base for modding a one-of-a-kind eyecatcher. Drill, saw and file, paint if you feel like that... Way back when I made an air duct for the processor out of a milk carton. It made the CPU run about 10 degrees cooler! In a later mod I attached a kitchen strainer as a bulge on the case side over the CPU air tube to prevent loose papers being sucked to cover the hole. I still have some plastic plumbing pipe joints around somewhere...