Case Recommendation for IWill KA266-R

[jraneses]

I just bought a barebones system from Components Direct...and yes I was suckered into buying through them because of the ads on this site. :) Anyhow, I got an IWill KA266-R mainboard, 1.33 ghz Athlon, 256 MB DDR, 300 Watt power supply, etc. I did not upgrade the case, but after seeing the case when it arrived I wish I would have. It looks like someone hit it with an ugly stick. :)

I need a few suggestions about what case would be perfect for this setup. I want to upgrade to a full tower or at least to a mid tower with maxed out room for expansion. I'd also like spots for extra fans and lots of good ventilation. Possibly something in the $100-150 price range. I don't really know the specifics on what cases work well with this mainboard, and what cases would be better for cooling when I start overclocking this bad boy.

My experience with swapping out mainboards is pretty nil also, so something foolproof is in order.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Jason

[coleslaw]

The next system I put together will be built using this bad boy (http://www.directron.com/sf880b.html). Only $84 for a full black tower. Pretty sweet if you ask me!

http://store1.yimg.com/I/directron_1626_348787

[jraneses]

How hard would it be for me to just swap the components (mobo, power, etc.) out of this box that just arrived? I think I am more worried about messing something up while doing so and leaving the new box unfunctional. Should that IWill board fit in any standard ATX case?

[coleslaw]

Yes, it should fit. Some if not most cases come with a power supply already installed. The case I mentioned above only has a 250W powersupply, so you (and I) would need to swap that out for a larger one (at least 300W). Transferring components really isn't hard at all. Just make sure that you have plenty of static bags to place the parts on and ground yourself as best you can. Simply disconnect all cables first, remove all drives and slot cards, and then take the screws out of the motherboard. You will need to place the proper mounting feet (I forget the actual name for them... :hmm:) in your new case before screwing it in, which is not hard at all; they simply snap into place. After the motherboard is in place, reinstall all drives, cards, and cables and you should be ready to go!

[Edited by coleslaw on 04-11-2001 at 10:29 PM]

[caddelma]

I like my butt ugly Antec SX-1030 w/300 watt ps. It is available I believe with a 400 ps. It runs around $100. It has 4 5.25 external, 2 3.5 external, and I think 4 3.5 internal. Plenty of room and not as monsterous as a full tower. It comes with two fans with space for two more. Love mine.

[Edited by caddelma on 04-12-2001 at 09:35 AM]

[AmRivlin]

Did you read the warning, it can explode in transport... but that does look cool, does it come with power?


I may have to get one...