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[Posted and mailed]

In article <01bd2cea$a24bfbe0$228653d1@us61656250>,
	"Randy & Debbie Skaggs" <rdskaggs@tseinc.com> writes:
> I'm going to build a P-II system and it looks like most P-II boards are
> ATX.  I'm looking for a case with the following characteristics:
> 
> 1. Mid, Medium, or Full (no mini's) Tower for ATX motherboard

I don't believe there ARE mini-tower ATX cases; the size of the
motherboard makes this size case difficult to build, at least without
doing something radical with the power supply.

> 2. 250W or more power supply
> 3. Soft switch so system will power itself off when shutting down win95

All the ATX cases I've seen have a switch that jumpers to a connector on
the motherboard.  Some also have a switch on the power supply.  If you've
got the latter, you can simply use the front-panel switch instead, with
the power supply switch always on.

> 4. Removable motherboard chassis with framework for expansion cards (like
> In-Win)
> 5. Removable brackets for mounting internal hard drives (like Enlight)
> 6. Rails to mount on internal CDROM drive (or other peripheral with
> external face) so it can be slid into bay
> 
> Many people swear by In-Win, and I have used Enlight.  I've also seen
> Karrie on the net, but they seem expensive (over $150).  Also most people
> don't address the soft switch.

I recently built five ATX systems at work and used Enlight mid-tower cases
(I don't recall the model number offhand).  I've been rather disappointed
with them.  They don't have the slide-out motherboard chassis (your
criterion #4).  More important, to open the things up you've first got to
rip the plastic faceplate off -- and operation that puts wear and tear on
the thing, and will ultimately make the flimsy connectors fail, I'm sure. 
Then you've got to remove three screws and pull the metal cover off, much
as with a typical AT case, except that the screws are in front (hence the
need to remove the plastic front piece).  I also don't much care for the
placement of the power switch (too close to a drive in the top 5.25" bay
-- I've found myself reaching for the power switch when I mean to eject a
CD several times, though I've always caught myself before causing disaster
[knock on wood]).

So after doing these systems, I upgraded my system at home and went with
an "X2" case from http://www.logicalsrc.com.  This case is better, and
meets all your criteria (though the 300W power supply is an extra-cost
option; mine has a 235W supply), but is still imperfect.  The side panels
come off individually, so it's possible to gain access to the innards
without pulling off the front panel or even the top or sides, which is
handy.  There's a slide-out motherboard cage.  The front panel is
removable for access to the hard drives, and it's not as flimsy as the
panel on the Enlight cases, but it's still a bit cheap.  The "Reset"
button is a bit TOO hard to access -- you need a paperclip or sharpened
pencil or some such to use it.

I've seen an In-Win A500 in a store, but not actually built a system
around one.  Its main "plus" above the others I've seen is that most of
the metal edges are bent back over themselves, making it much safer to
work in since you're less likely to cut yourself.  (The Logical Source
case I've got claims to have smooth edges, too, but they don't actually
bend them over; they just smooth them a bit to take the worst of the
"bite" out of them.)  I've heard that the In-Win has an odd placement for
one of its internal 3.5" drive, and that this isn't obvious without
documentation, so look for it on the net if you don't get it with the
case.

If I were doing it over again, I might hunt a little harder for the In-Win
full tower case.  I am satisfied with the one I've got, though I'd prefer
a somewhat more accessible "Reset" switch, and am thinking of going to
Radio Shack to get a momentary switch to mount somewhere or other on the
case....

-- 
Rod Smith                                 Author of:
rodsmith@fast9.uceprotect.net             "Should I Buy OS/2" FAQ
http://www.users.fast.net/~rodsmith       "OS/2 Soundcard Summary"
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