Great understated elegant case
Pros: lots of space for fans and air flow, lightweight, easy open and close (I hated the old fingers sliding into slots), easy access to front USBs
Cons: thin metal (reason it's lightweight), no USB3 (solved in higher models but no way to update), can be hard to run power wires from lower PS to MB.
I love the stealth look to this case, elegant and sleek. I've had it for a year and still love it. Bought on sale from M*********r and it's on sale again for $20. (no PS, but who needs a sub-500w PS these days?). can't beat it for the price.
I did break off a clip when removing the 6" cover piece for the DVD burner (I guess I should have read the manual)... but don't plan to put it back ever so, "meh". Never removed the main front cover (since I broke a clip..see above) so only slipped a small fan in the front instead of mounting it properly.. .. guess I should have read the manual, but, it works fine-no rattling so "meh" .
For years I struggled with the old, tight, impossible to remove and replace side panels.. then I found a fabulous OEM box on a Compaq with one finger screw and 3 second remove and replace, used it for several builds and even bought another on CL.... but it was juuuuuust too narrow for my 212+ cooler (by maybe 5mm, sigh) so I was delighted to find this one that fit perfectly AND is just as easy to open (first thing I did was add thumbscrews and it was perfect).
I added a FDD sized card reader under the USB front panel and now the only thing missing is that pesky USB3... I may replace the existing USB2 panel with one from eBay if it bugs me.. but I only use USB3 for periodic backups and I can plug it in the back, so, (did I already say "meh" not a problem?)
Currently running 965BE OC'd with SSD, 2T HDD, and push/pull fans on my 212+... fast, quiet and cool enough for anything I throw at it. I generally get my video cards hand-me-down when I upgrade my son's gaming rig.
I did break off a clip when removing the 6" cover piece for the DVD burner (I guess I should have read the manual)... but don't plan to put it back ever so, "meh". Never removed the main front cover (since I broke a clip..see above) so only slipped a small fan in the front instead of mounting it properly.. .. guess I should have read the manual, but, it works fine-no rattling so "meh" .
For years I struggled with the old, tight, impossible to remove and replace side panels.. then I found a fabulous OEM box on a Compaq with one finger screw and 3 second remove and replace, used it for several builds and even bought another on CL.... but it was juuuuuust too narrow for my 212+ cooler (by maybe 5mm, sigh) so I was delighted to find this one that fit perfectly AND is just as easy to open (first thing I did was add thumbscrews and it was perfect).
I added a FDD sized card reader under the USB front panel and now the only thing missing is that pesky USB3... I may replace the existing USB2 panel with one from eBay if it bugs me.. but I only use USB3 for periodic backups and I can plug it in the back, so, (did I already say "meh" not a problem?)
Currently running 965BE OC'd with SSD, 2T HDD, and push/pull fans on my 212+... fast, quiet and cool enough for anything I throw at it. I generally get my video cards hand-me-down when I upgrade my son's gaming rig.
