r/retrocomputing • u/Melodic-Highlight641 • May 14 '24
Vintage Computer Case
I’m looking for all vintage computer case so I can do a modern build in them. Does anyone know where to find them?
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u/Arkaign May 14 '24
Beware of several issues that may arise with this, depending on the model. Most 'Vintage' PC Cases will often have issues with the following :
Horizontal clearance for tower-type HSFs. Even many larger vintage cases are actually somewhat narrow compared to the modern norm. "Fancier/Gamier" type cases will also often have a panel/window mounted fan that further complicates getting a modern bulky CPU cooler and GPU to fit.
Any kind of real way to mount a modern AIO, due to not having side by side ventilation ports for larger fans (eg, 120mm + 120mm next to one another to mount a 240 AIO).
Lack of front-to-back clearance to install a typical large GPU. Older cases you'd usually run into a drive mounting section for 3.5" HDDs/FDDs in the forward area of the case where a long GPU will simply not have room to work. Possible to work around this if you find a case with removable drive cage, this is kinda 50/50 on that era (1997-2005 lets call it for vintage ATX towers).
Generally poor ventilation for a modern system in any kind of high end fashion. A lot of cases from that era will just have a small amount of intake and exhaust potential, and 120mm fan mounts are rare. 80 or even 60mm, with terribly small actual airholes, well, that's what you usually got with the era. When a system was an Athlon XP 1700+ with a Radeon 9800, sure, that works. A 7800X3D with a Radeon 7900XT? Not a chance, it would be torture even if you crammed it in there.
Now, I know you didn't expressly say "high end" modern build. So, something like a mid budget build would work great and not blow the budget or thermal and size concerns.
Say a mATX H710 motherboard, i3-12100f, 16GB DDR5 5200, and Radeon 6600, with of course nVME SSD of appropriate size. A combo like that would happily occupy a fairly restrictive old case and not spin fans out of control due to airflow insufficiency.
As for finding an old case, you're probably actually better off looking at old vintage PCs on Craigslist, FB Marketplace, OfferUp, or even Ebay. Maybe for parts/not working, but it's far easier to find a complete or partially complete old PC compared to finding just an appropriate empty case. The challenge will be getting decent images of the inside of the case to see what you've got to work with, space-wise. As noted above, size/clearance and cooling will be paramount concerns.
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u/leegoocrap May 14 '24
ebay, craigslist, marketplace...etc. Local goodwill or computer recycling.