Cheap cases with lots of expansion? (Not over $150 USD)

RetroGamer

:P
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Hello, I am currently building a new computer as my current computer, a Vaio VGC-RA820G from 2004 is unable to handle many more upgrades (Nearly maxed out on RAM, doesn't support any newer graphics cards) I am looking for a new case for my next system, but am unable to find many that suit what I am looking for. I really like the case on my Vaio due to it's good expansion (For it's small size) and great airflow as well as water cooling ability and I really like the overall look of the case, no part of it looks too plain, or overly complicated. I could technically buy a new motherboard and put it in the case, however for my new computer, I plan on buying a full ATX motherboard. The Vaio only supports micro ATX. What I'm looking for is a whole lot of expansion (Especially for hard drives) and lots of cooling options with a textured, I guess is the best word for it, yet not too complex design. Any ideas?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64Core i7 3820 @ 4.6Ghz (Overclocked)16384MB DDR3 1600mhz Corsair Vengeance2x Nvidia GTX 295 (In quad SLI)
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Core i7 3820 @ 4.6Ghz (Overclocked)
Motherboard
Asrock x79 Extreme9 (2011)
Memory
16384MB DDR3 1600mhz Corsair Vengeance
Graphics Card(s)
2x Nvidia GTX 295 (In quad SLI)
Sound Card
Creative SoundCore 3D
Monitor(s) Displays
24" LG 24EN31 LED
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility 3 120GB SSD (Boot Disk)
OCZ Vertex 2 240GB SSD (x2, Spanned Volume)
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green (x2, Spanned Volume)
PSU
OCZ ModXStream 900W
Case
Fractal Design Define R4
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H60
Keyboard
Cooler Master Quickfire Rapid (Blue)
Mouse
Logitech M510
Internet Speed
Upload:5mbps Download:15mbps
Antivirus
Malware Bytes
Browser
Mozilla Firefox
check out the cooler master cases. i like mine
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional x64AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition @ 4.1Ghz8GB Crucial DDR2 PC5300Asus Radeon HD 5450
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Box
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition @ 4.1Ghz
Motherboard
ECS Elite Group IC780M-A V2.0
Memory
8GB Crucial DDR2 PC5300
Graphics Card(s)
Asus Radeon HD 5450
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
Dual Monitor Setup
Hard Drives
60GB OCZ Vertex 3 SSD,
320GB, 250GB, & Dual 160GB HDD's
PSU
Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 500w
Case
Cooler Master Elite 310
Cooling
Dual 120mm Cooler Master Case Fans
Keyboard
Logitech...
Mouse
Microsoft Mouse 4000
Internet Speed
Super Fast
NZXT Phantom. tones of room.

its £105 so around $100
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64, & Mac OS X 10.9.2Intel Core i5 2500kCorsair Vengence 8gb 1866mhzNvidia GTX 770 OC
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Built by badgers!!!
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64, & Mac OS X 10.9.2
CPU
Intel Core i5 2500k
Motherboard
Asus P8z68 LE
Memory
Corsair Vengence 8gb 1866mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 770 OC
Monitor(s) Displays
2x ASUS LED 22" IPS
Screen Resolution
3840x1080
Hard Drives
240GB Crucial M500 SSD
120gb Corsair Force 3 SSD
1TB Western Digital
PSU
Corsair HX650w Modular
Case
Corsair Air 540
Cooling
Corsair H60 Push/Pull
Keyboard
Corsair K70/ Logitech G27 wheel
Mouse
Saitek R.A.T 9
Internet Speed
Too slow!
Other Info
AMD fusion E350N Home server-Windows Home Server 2011 (also made by badgers!)
2011 Macbook 2.4ghz Core2Duo, 4gb ddr3, 120gb Ocz Vertex SSD
I use Antec 300 cases - around £50 in UK. Case takes 3 DVDs, 6 HDDs, has psu mounted at bottom. Cooling wise - comes with 140mm top, 120 mm rear (both 3 speed) and room for 2 x 120mm front and 1 at side.

Case takes ATX - I have a i7-2600K @ 4.6GHz and also a i7-930 @ 3.8GHz + no heat probs. Also is wider than regular ATX, so can handle large cpu coolers.
 

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My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 pro x64 SP1Intel i7-2600k o/c to 4.6GHz8GB Mushkin 1866MHzNvidia GTX 750 Ti 2GB
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
self build
OS
Windows 7 pro x64 SP1
CPU
Intel i7-2600k o/c to 4.6GHz
Motherboard
MSI Z68-GD80
Memory
8GB Mushkin 1866MHz
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 750 Ti 2GB
Sound Card
integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
Liyama ProLite 27"
Screen Resolution
1920*1080 px
Hard Drives
Seagate 2TB
PSU
Coolermaster GX 750W
Case
Antec 300 case + 5 fans
Cooling
Dark Rock Pro
Internet Speed
62Mbit down 18Mbit up
Antivirus
MSE
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
Blackgold BGT3650 Quad HD TV card. Also have various 3770 + 4770K render boxes.
I use Antec 300 cases - around £50 in UK. Case takes 3 DVDs, 6 HDDs, has psu mounted at bottom. Cooling wise - comes with 140mm top, 120 mm rear (both 3 speed) and room for 2 x 120mm front and 1 at side.

Case takes ATX - I have a i7-2600K @ 4.6GHz and also a i7-930 @ 3.8GHz + no heat probs. Also is wider than regular ATX, so can handle large cpu coolers.


That looks similar to my cooler master elite 371 case but i have more fan openings two n the top two on the side one in the back not counting the cpu cooler i threw in has 2 fans as well but over all good case
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1Intel I7-6700K @ 4.6 Ghz 1.344 volts everyday OC32GB G-Skill TridentZ 3200mhz 16-18-18-38 DDR4Sli Gigabyte Windforce GTX 980 G1
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
CoreI7-6700K MrFingerIII Special Builds
OS
Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1
CPU
Intel I7-6700K @ 4.6 Ghz 1.344 volts everyday OC
Motherboard
Asrock Fatality K6 Z170 Socket 1151
Memory
32GB G-Skill TridentZ 3200mhz 16-18-18-38 DDR4
Graphics Card(s)
Sli Gigabyte Windforce GTX 980 G1
Sound Card
AC97 Creative Rage Tactic 3D Headphones Bluetooth
Monitor(s) Displays
27" Asus ROG Swift PG278Q G-Sync 48" Vizio Smart HD TV
Screen Resolution
2560x1440p 27"- 48" Currently Gaming at 2560x1440p Res 2K
Hard Drives
250GB Samsung Evo840SSD Seagate baracuda 500 GB WD Mybook 500Gb 1TB Seagate Barracuda
PSU
HX1050w Corsair Silver 80plus certified crosfire/sli
Case
Enthod Pro Full Tower
Cooling
Corsair H110i GT 280 mm High Performance WaterBlock
Keyboard
Logitech wireless keyboard
Mouse
Logitech wireless mouse
Internet Speed
Cox Cable 100+ mb
Antivirus
WebRoot Spysweeper with Antivirus
Browser
IE-10, Chrome, Opera
Other Info
My Other Rig is a AMD FX8320E @4.6Ghz 16GB Ballistic Sport Ram
Mobo Asrock Fatality 990FX 120GB OCZ SSD 1TB Seagate Barracuda Corsair H75 Cooling PSU Corsair CX750
GPU GTX Gigabyte 970G1
Phantom!!! go with that. its hawt
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 UltimateIntel i5 2500k @ 3.30G.Skill Ripjaws 1600 2x4 GbBFG GTX 260 MAXCORE 55 OC 896MB GDDR3
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
The Vampire
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate
CPU
Intel i5 2500k @ 3.30
Motherboard
P8Z68 V-Pro
Memory
G.Skill Ripjaws 1600 2x4 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
BFG GTX 260 MAXCORE 55 OC 896MB GDDR3
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
50'' Sony Display Panel
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Seagate 750 GB
WD 160 GB
PSU
OCZ 750 Watts ZT Series Fully Modular PSU 80 Plus Bronze
Case
NZXT Red Phantom
Cooling
120mm x2 Intake, 120mm x 1 and 200mm x2 Exhaust
Keyboard
LX710 Logitech Wireless Keyboard
Mouse
Logitech Wireless Mouse
Fractal design. Can fit the longest graphics cards, plenty of fans, and 8 hdd, and plenty of room for routing cables in the back. And soundproofing. It can accomadate two 140 mm fans on top, one on bottom, one in back, one on sidew and two 120mm fans up front. Bedsides the CPU, graphics card and PSU fans, I have 6 fans in mine - two 120mm up front, a 120 mm on top and back, and a 1409mm on side and bottom. There is alos ports with grommets for water cooling, and filter screens fro the front, bottom and psu fans.

These photos are old. My current incarnation has 4 HDD and 2 SSD.

Newegg.com - Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case


1130416917_8PpbN-L.jpg
1130416636_WEkxN-L.jpg
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro. EFI boot partition, full EFI ...i7 4770k 4.4GHz (44-44-43-43 turbo) @ 1.248V16GB (8GBx2) @2200 MHz G.skill Sniper 10-11-1...MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home built (GeneO industries)/Model 4
OS
Windows 10 Pro. EFI boot partition, full EFI boot
CPU
i7 4770k 4.4GHz (44-44-43-43 turbo) @ 1.248V
Motherboard
ASUS Maximus VI Hero
Memory
16GB (8GBx2) @2200 MHz G.skill Sniper 10-11-10-30-1, 1.6V
Graphics Card(s)
MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G
Sound Card
Onboard SupremeFX Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
NEC Spectraview 2490WUXi-SV
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
Samsung 850 Pro 256GB (OS), Samsung 2x 128GB 840 Pro SSD in RAID0, 3x WD Blue 6Gb/s 1TB RAID0, WD 2TB Black external USB 3.0, 2TB WD20EARS Green external USB 3.0, 2x 500GB Seagate and 1 750 GB external USB, 1x 350GB external USB3
PSU
Seasonic X-850 (2012 KM3 model)
Case
Fractal Design Define R4
Cooling
NH-D14, NF-F12, NF-A15; NF-P14, NF-P12,NF-A14, S12A PWM
Keyboard
Cooler Master Storm Quickfire Rapid - Brown
Mouse
Logitech G602
Internet Speed
126.4 Mb/s down, 24.3 Mb/s up
Other Info
USB 3.0 x8 , SATA III x8, eSATA, USB 2.0 x6. Samsung DVD R/W drive.

WEI: CPU 7.8, Memory 7.9, Graphics 7.9, Disk 7.9

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timingsEVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self-Built in July 2009
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
Memory
8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
Sound Card
Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
Monitor(s) Displays
23" Acer x233H
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
PSU
Corsair 620HX modular
Case
Antec P182
Cooling
stock
Keyboard
ABS M1 Mechanical
Mouse
Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
15/2 cable modem
Other Info
Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
$149 for a 600t! Its £165 in the uk!!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64, & Mac OS X 10.9.2Intel Core i5 2500kCorsair Vengence 8gb 1866mhzNvidia GTX 770 OC
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Built by badgers!!!
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64, & Mac OS X 10.9.2
CPU
Intel Core i5 2500k
Motherboard
Asus P8z68 LE
Memory
Corsair Vengence 8gb 1866mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 770 OC
Monitor(s) Displays
2x ASUS LED 22" IPS
Screen Resolution
3840x1080
Hard Drives
240GB Crucial M500 SSD
120gb Corsair Force 3 SSD
1TB Western Digital
PSU
Corsair HX650w Modular
Case
Corsair Air 540
Cooling
Corsair H60 Push/Pull
Keyboard
Corsair K70/ Logitech G27 wheel
Mouse
Saitek R.A.T 9
Internet Speed
Too slow!
Other Info
AMD fusion E350N Home server-Windows Home Server 2011 (also made by badgers!)
2011 Macbook 2.4ghz Core2Duo, 4gb ddr3, 120gb Ocz Vertex SSD

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate 64i7 3770k OC'd 4.6 @ 1.17v, also FX 8120 & i5 ...32 gb G.Skill Sniper DDR3 10-12-12-31 @ 2133XFX Radeon 7870 2GB DDR5
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
A blend of brains, brawn and dumb luck.
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64
CPU
i7 3770k OC'd 4.6 @ 1.17v, also FX 8120 & i5 miniITX
Motherboard
MSI P67A-GD80 b3
Memory
32 gb G.Skill Sniper DDR3 10-12-12-31 @ 2133
Graphics Card(s)
XFX Radeon 7870 2GB DDR5
Sound Card
Sound Blaster Z Series Card
Monitor(s) Displays
(2) LG LED 23" 1920 x 1080 2ms Monitors via mini d-port
Screen Resolution
1680 X 1050 p
Hard Drives
Samsung 256 gb 830 SSD sata III
(1) 1 tb WD Black
(2) 1 tb Hitachi deskmates/sata II
(2) 1 tb WD green/sata II
(2) 3 tb Seagate Barracuda
(1) 120 gb OCZ Vertex SS
(1) Drobo 5N w/5 Seagate 3tb
PSU
EVGA modular 1000G2 80% gold rating & APC 1200 RS
Case
CoolerMaster Storm Styker
Cooling
7 case fans 140mm & 120mm, NZXT Kraken X60
Keyboard
(2) Logitech Illuminated Keyboards (1) usb (1) wireless
Mouse
Logitech G700 & T-BC21 - nano nx for the laptop
Internet Speed
Basic 120mbps down
Antivirus
Trend Micro Titanium Max Security & Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Chrome and IE 10
Other Info
5 Noctua case fans + 3 Noctua in p/p on NZXT cooler
Integrated hot swap drive bays for 2.5" Drives
(2) Lite-on dvd/cd/Blu Ray optical 22X
Integrated fan controller and led on/off
HP Officejet Pro 8630 all-n-one
Hot-swappable 3.5" hard drive bay
Netgear Nighthawk router
Asus USB 3 & sata 6 PCIe card
Vantec IDE to sata adptr./Ultra sata adptr
Lenovo L420 i5 lappy with m sata
Drobo 5N advanced NAS
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