New build advice

[Rossy87]

Hi all.

I want to get a new case but i want to keep all my hardware. If i were to buy a new case could i simply sway my hardware into the new case and boot it up and away i go? Or is there anything i am not taking into consideration?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[avgwarhawk]

Yes, just move your stuff from one to the other. Make sure you use the spacers for your mobo mounts. It is a simple job really.

 

[Rossy87]

Ok.

i have never done it before i am new to this game. so obviously i am a bit dubious.

Are they the spacers under my mobo?

 

[SuperFuzz]

Yes, just move your stuff from one to the other. Make sure you use the spacers for your mobo mounts. It is a simple job really.

The only impacting consideration would be form factor. In other words if you are running enough components to pack a mid tower case, you won't want to go with a small form factor case and will want to stick with a mid tower or full tower to fit everything back in.

After that it's a matter of what you are after in a case. High airflow for extra cooling, cable management built in, water cooling ready, tool less design, aesthetics etc. If you don't already have a specific case in mind, you might check out some case reviews before you buy to find a case that fits your needs, has solid build quality and ease of use.

If you haven't ever built a system before, be aware static electricity is a danger. Be sure you press the power button on your system AFTER you power it down and unplug it to discharge any voltage left in the power supply. Then I recommend touching a metal part of the case before reaching in and removing components to discharge any static on you.

P.S. The motherboard offsets screw into the motherboard tray of the PC case, then you run screws through the motherboard into the offsets. They hold the motherboard 1/4 inch or so off from the motherboard tray and keep it from shorting the motherboard out. The holes are pre drilled in the motherboard tray and match the holes in your motherboard, so it's pretty self explanatory how to mount them.

 

[avgwarhawk]

Just get a mid-tower case. You will be good to go. Superfuzz is correct the spacers keep the mobo off the case so it will not short out. You will see when you take you guts out of the one and jam them in the other. As superfuzz said, ground yourself to the case so there is no static shock. Once you do the switch you will see how easy it is.

 

[AstaLaVista]

What case do you have now and what case are you going to get?

If you haven't bought it yet and are not sure, perhaps we can confuse you even more by giving you some more choices to look at :D

 

[thepizzaman]

hehe yes.... we can give advice on that

 

[SCSIraidGURU]

The HAF chassis.

 

[thepizzaman]

i agree the HAF is the bomb

 

[SuperFuzz]

The HAF chassis.

The HAF would be my #1 choice if it wasn't for one major omission by Cooler Master, that being no micro filters for the air intakes. All that air intake and no filters means opening up your case and vacuuming it out regularly. I'm hoping CM resolves that with the HAF2, then it would definitely be the case to buy.

I think if I was in the market for a case right now, I'd have to go with the Cooler Master Storm Sniper instead. CM claims it is shipping with micro filters now and it has close to as much air flow as the HAF and adjustable fans as well.