Recommend an ITX gaming case?

[etherealfocus]

I'm likely building several similar machines so cost efficiency is important. Right now I'm thinking of combining an Elite120 with a 500W Corsair Builder Series PSU but that's probably not optimal. Bonus if the case comes with a suitable PSU... make the process a little easier, and the PSU tends to be cheaper as a bundle.

The build will probably be an i3-3220, 2x8GB DDR3, Samsung 840 250GB, H77N (the one with wifi and BT4.0 integrated), and HD 7850 graphics. However, I'd like it to be able to handle a 3770K, Z77N mobo, and perhaps 7870/7950-level graphics if possible without major added cost.

I've looked at the Prodigy but it's a bit above what I'd like to spend.

I'm not super clear on the differences in power and cooling required for a 7850/7870/7950... would like to get as much upgrade room as possible without spending much extra. If a 7850 is the best I can cram in on a cheaper ITX case that's fine.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

List of ITX cases on newegg with 2 expansion slots. (for dual-slot cooling.)

That $50 cooler-master isn't the smallest one, but it's inexpensive, has good airflow, is big enough to handle the high end cards, and uses standard ATX PSUs (which may save you some money.)

 

[Talaii]

I've got a Geforce GTX 680 in a SG-05 - it's a tight fit, but it works. And the 450W variant powers it just fine (with an Ivy Bridge i7, no overclocking). The main problem with the SG-05 is length - it'll fit reference 7850/7870 cards, but a lot of the custom coolers will be too long. It won't fit 7950/7970s at all, but all the reference Geforce cards are 9.5" or 10" and will fit (max length is basically 10"). Just make sure the card you're looking at will fit.

Don't expect an amazing overclocking case - temperatures can get a little hot, and there's not a lot of space for a big cooler. You can use a liquid-cooling system for the CPU (room for one 120mm radiator at the front), but you'll have to remove the hard disk racks. Personally, I just pulled the hard disk racks out, and used double-sided tape to attach a SSD to the bottom of the case.

It's probably not as cheap as the coolermaster case + cheap power supply, but it's a touch over half the size.

 

[etherealfocus]

Well, I could use two cases... SG05 for smaller builds and the Elite for the bigger ones... but then I'm spending extra money on builds where the budget is too tight for better hardware. I can see doing that if I was making HTPCs or something where space was really at a premium, but beyond the requirement that they be ITX (which is a little arbitrary, but whatevs) these are really all about price/performance.

So it sounds like my best option is just to stick with the Elite120 and fill it up with whatever they can afford... maybe offer the SG05 as a premium option with nVidia cards. Can't see spending much extra on a small case unless they're already at 3570K/GTX670-level specs. Then again, I'm kind of a militant utilitarian on these things. Aesthetics? Meh.