http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146018

Today I received every part I ordered for my new system except my video card, from newegg. This case came with the door hinge broken, the hinge was made of some cheap plastic. Unfortunately I realized this after I started putting the computer together, not a huge deal... but a slight annoyance to take everything out. The case is way too small, you can't remove or add any disc drives of any kind after you install the PSU. Great looking case, I really had hoped it would have turned out better.

So, I am returning this and going with a higher quality case.. So far the only thing that looks quality is Lian Li, I don't mind spending around 250 at most since when it comes to computer cases it seems like you really can't get anything solidly built and big enough for under $200. I would prefer something with a window on the side, but most of those cases seem cheap, quality wise and are mostly ugly. Any suggestions? I need something nice and sleek looking no crazy designs, and most of all big enough to add drives after the psu is installed.

Check out the gigabyte 3d-aurora, 3 x 120mm fans = 8)

GIGABYTE 3D AURORA GZ-FSCA1-ATS Silver
GIGABYTE 3D AURORA GZ-FSCA1-ATB Black

Why settle for just a window on the side?, I've got one of these http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_ [...] c20a8b7906
housing my #2 rig and my only gripe is that you will have to get some more screws if you want to mount lots of HDD's.

I'll second the Aurora. The case his HUGE with plenty of room to stack your drives. My biggest complaint (if you can really call it such) is that the expansion bracket that hold down all your expansion cards is an all or nothing affair. It would have been much nicer to have individual toolless punchdowns like you see in Coolermaster cases. The door is all metal, and even though the top is hinged into plastic, the plastic is thick and solid and would take a great deal of pressure to break.

The water tube passthrough is also something I have only seen in a Coolermaster case, and not nearly as well done. It easily accomodates half inch tubing.

For Gigagbytes first venture into high end case design, they have made a masterpiece. I'm just surprised not very may people are snapping up these little gems. They have nearly the same build quality as Lian Li (almost, not quite) but with a lot more thought given to the enthusiast with more room for pumps and radiators and more fans than you really need.

Personally I have always liked the Antec cases and chose to build my last two rigs in the Lanboy I and II cases. Mainly it was down to fact they are made of aluminium (aluminum) and easy to transport for parties or just to take to work.

I have also worked around a lot of white box machines built with Chentech cases. I can't say they are beautiful... but they are functional.

I think the gigabyte cases mentioned before look pretty good too, I might consider one of those next time.

Good Luck with your build.

I think i'll probably go with this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112117 unless I come across something better by sunday night, what do u guys think?

by the way, that gigabyte aurora does look good also.

How dare you tell people NOT to get the NZXT Lexa because of your incompetence. Its a midtower case. I don't know of one midtower case where you can pull out the cd drives after installing the psu.

So before you create a forum that puts a negative image on a perfectly good case, know how to build a computer.

Its people like you that give good companies a bad name.

you're an idiot, and you're logic is flawed. if i'm incompetent and you can't install or remove a drive after the psu is installed in ANY MID TOWER CASE, then wouldn't anyone who knows this look at what I wrote and think i was stating the obvious? thus not affecting their opinion? My complaint was the QUALITY of the case. it was garbage, it ARRIVED with a broken door hinge. MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC.

"Its people like you that give good companies a bad name."
yeah, like i'm making this all up because i have no life like you and get some kind of weird thrill by making up broken door hing stories.

"So before you create a forum that puts a negative image on a perfectly good case, know how to build a computer."

what are you talking about... yeah, i started a forum to badmouth computer cases. whatever you say.

p.s. get a life, don't get so emotional over my experience with a case and stay out of my posts and go take your anger out elsewhere.

I will take your word on the size issues, but I don't think the plastic hinge arguement holds much weight. That's not to say that the low-quality hinge isn't a problem - it's just that the cheap plastic front panel hinges are much more widespead than just on this case (cough*Antec*). Others have complained about the bad hinges and how they break so easily, and they either returned the case (If it was fortunate enough to happen within the return period) or they just lived with it.

Well, whatever. You had a bad experience. It happens to everybody at some point.

The original post mentioned:

I am not saying they are not good quality but I built a few systems with one of their chassis last year and a couple kept coming back because people were pressing the power button too hard and pushing it in because it was not adequately supported internally. All brands have pros and cons!

yeah, no big deal i was just trying to be nice enough to give people a heads up that might have been looking at this case on here since i find this forum helpful i thought i would contribute. i wasn't trying to make this company look bad like that angry guy above said. I appreciate everyones feedback on this forum. I'm not here to argue with anyone.

well i have the lexa and its fine. the door was not broken, all the fans work, the LED's for the temp sensors work fine. my temps are low using Core Temp. and the cd drives pull out the front cuz you snap slider things onto the cd drives and install them that way. all drives have snap on things so you dont have to screw in anything. so as for the psu prob thing, yeah you dont know what you are talking about.

For the money they're charging for that case I would expect a lot more than a bunch of cheap plastic. I've been re-using the same Enlight I bought 8 years ago, with no mods.

Having built a number of systems using the lexa case i'm struggling to find where your getting the power supply blocking the cdrom drive from. Would you mine telling us which power supply your using.

As i have used just about every powersupply i can think of that are larger than normal. not once have i come across one which blocked any cdrom/dvd from being installed as per-normal.

As for the broken hinge.. that would be a carrier fault not that of the manufacture or just plain end user miss use. Always inspect packaging for damage or miss handling before signing for it or leaving the store. If package shows signs on damage refuse to sign and insist the carrier returns it to the supplier and also contact the supplier ASAP. Even better take pictures also.

The hinges on the Lexa sold in NZ is acutally rather strong compared to other brands. Having just hung a 10kg weight (22 Pounds) off the door and it didnt break so it would take some force for it to happen.

Lian-Li all the way, baby!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341002 that is the psu i'm using.



read the reviews on newegg.. i'm not the only one who can't get the drives in after psu install. which wasn't even my main point so I don't see why it's a big deal now.

Personally, I have always been partial to Lian Li cases, but know going in that you're going to pay for what you get. Plus, if you do go for one of the inverted series ones (e.g. V1100 and such), make sure your mobo can work inverted (some heatpipe cooling mobos have cheap heatpipe designs that result in the northbridge overheating when inverted)

For good cases go Antec or Thermaltake. Very well built high quality cases. To avoid hinges or door problems it's always possible to get a case that gives you direct access to you drives. Both these companies have such models.

Never owned a Lian Li case, but so many say they are great.... it's a definite option.
But I too own a Gigabyte Aurora case and find it to be a real nice setup.
LOT'S of room!
The 3 120mm fans are not the BEST fans, but having 3 of them definitely keeps things cool.
I agree that the card clip does not fasten well, but it works for me... and you could still use screws instead.
If I were to buy this case again for a new build, I think I would mod the top for heat ventilation above the psu just for addition heat dispersion.

But considering that I have 2 DVD and 2 CD and a floppy and a card reader..... and 4 WD internal drives with room for one more..... well... this case works great for me!

I open and close the front door often... never had any hinge problems. Side panel is on/off pretty often also... and it's simple.

Just an overall good case. Not that you can't get better, but this is very nice at the price.

I see that they have updated this case. It now has a side window. My case is identical except the 'window' area is a mesh grille. I think have side ventilation is better than a side window. Those rear fans easily pull cool air IN from the side, which circulates over whatever cards you install.... in my case a pair of vid cards.
Looks like that window could be replaced or dilled for venting.

Agree... I really love their PC60plus cases...

Thx man, I was actually going to get this case & was wondering about all the plastic & the room.