VOGONS


First post, by flux1270

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I am trying to find a case large enough for my WIP dual Pentium III workstation build, but I'm having a hell of a time finding a full tower ATX case large enough for my LG440x+ motherboard.
I've seen a couple Thermaltake and Antec cases on eBay for outrageous prices so I'm just wondering if you all have any other suggestions.

I'm wanting something era appropriate (1998-2001 ish?) but besides that I don't have any real preferences.

Thanks!

Toshiba Tecra 510CDT (133MHz P5, 48MB RAM, W98SE)
Compaq Armada E700 (500MHz PIII, 512MB RAM, W2K Pro)
Macintosh Classic II (16MHz 68030, 4MB RAM, System 7)

The Fleet

Reply 1 of 7, by dionb

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Do you have the luxury of a source that has pretty much any vintage tower case available to choose from?

If not, surely you're limited by what is available to you (at a price that is acceptable to you) and there's not much point in hypothesizing about great cases that you can't get anyway.

How about turning this question around: what cases can you find that sell for non-outrageous prices? Then we can suggest whether the big board might fit and how period correct they might be.

Reply 2 of 7, by flux1270

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dionb wrote on 2025-04-21, 16:16:

Do you have the luxury of a source that has pretty much any vintage tower case available to choose from?

If you're referring to somewhere local I could find a case, no. I'm kinda stuck with what pops up on eBay, etc.
I had been looking at this case (https://www.ebay.com/itm/276798261354), which I like the styling on - but at $300 with shipping and fees, I feel like it's more than I can justify spending on a case alone. I still need to get a PSU and storage for this build.

Toshiba Tecra 510CDT (133MHz P5, 48MB RAM, W98SE)
Compaq Armada E700 (500MHz PIII, 512MB RAM, W2K Pro)
Macintosh Classic II (16MHz 68030, 4MB RAM, System 7)

The Fleet

Reply 3 of 7, by Shponglefan

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If you're not looking to spend outrageous prices on Ebay and don't have a local source (e.g. local sellers, thrift stores, recycling centres...), then you may need to compromise and get something newer.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 4 of 7, by OSkar000

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flux1270 wrote on 2025-04-21, 16:30:
dionb wrote on 2025-04-21, 16:16:

Do you have the luxury of a source that has pretty much any vintage tower case available to choose from?

If you're referring to somewhere local I could find a case, no. I'm kinda stuck with what pops up on eBay, etc.
I had been looking at this case (https://www.ebay.com/itm/276798261354), which I like the styling on - but at $300 with shipping and fees, I feel like it's more than I can justify spending on a case alone. I still need to get a PSU and storage for this build.

That case is more 2005-era then 2000. Based on the classic Chieftec design.

And I dont think it takes motherboards larger then standard ATX.

Search for cases like
Aopen HX08 or HQ08.
Addtronics 7890/7896
Inwin
Compucase(?)
Early Chieftecs (Dragon)

Reply 5 of 7, by paradigital

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Cooler Master ATCS 110 is my go-to very early 2000s full tower. Not hugely common though.

Maybe a Juno P6 if you can find one.

Reply 6 of 7, by pete8475

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Inwin Q500.

Reply 7 of 7, by PC Hoarder Patrol

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I got lucky when I got my LG440x+ motherboard a number of years ago, as it came as part of a full system (a Data General AVIION 2300 server) in a case Intel intended for this very motherboard - the Astor II. Talking of outrageous prices, check out the new open box one on the bay (search for KLWASTR2 - not my listing btw).

I do see a couple of old beige full towers listed on the UK site, but probably not in your locale 🙁

The attachment Astor II.jpg is no longer available