Computer case prices ???

[MathWizard]

I just looked at prices of cheapest ATX full tower on newegg, and I can't believe they start at $175US,and they go to a few hundred, or I guess thousands for some custom cases, and fool's money. Again I'm in the wrong business. 

I got a pretty nice, big, side panel case, w/ extra's, year's ago for ~$80, and there used to be even cheaper full sized cases, closer to $50

[bill_c]

Sort by lowest price, try   https://www.microcenter.com/

[rdl]

Everything costs more these days, and it's going to get worse. Do you actually need full size? Even a mid-tower is more than most people really need. At Newegg, Rosewill brand and a few others still sell some fairly cheap cases. If you look at the big name brands and "gamer" style products, yeah you're gonna get suckered.

[MathWizard]

Luckily I don't need 1, I was just browsing. Of course GPU prices are to the Moon, and Mobo prices are up too.

Looking at PSU prices though, there's still lots of cheap options, and plenty of quality stuff for cheaper than I paid a few years ago. Wow I can't believe the PSU sales on newegg either, they are giving away PSU's.

I can't wait for my current PSU to blow up, then I'll start fixing it right away

[DiTBho]

My old OrangeBox died and I need a new case for a new small size ATX motherboard.

The Thermaltake Case Versa H17 looks good and cheap.
Just, it needs to be hacked by removing the front because it's not good for air cooling. It's an easy and clean hack anyway, and it saves your money and your day.

Found one on Amazon last Thursday for only 50 Euro, perhaps the problem is related to full towers

[Haenk]

Shipping costs from China have exploded over the last two years, easily 10x, often even more.
Considering a tower case is quite a large product, I'd guess the shipping only for one case is at least 20-30 USD, maybe even more.

[50ShadesOfDirt]

Given inflated prices of cases, and toolset improvements (cnc, 3-D printers) it's much easier to build a "tower" these days ... grab a mobo mounting plate, a PSU, cooling fans of your choice, and that's it.

To have the case of your dreams, build a case out of whatever materials tickles your fancy ... wood, plastics, etc.

Many projects on my workbench just have the mobo on said mounting plate, psu plugged in, and cooling fan blowing on it. Case takes up too much space for project work, and I'm always having to stop effort to open up the case ... started leaving the case shell off ... now just use the mounting plate alone.

[golden_labels]

A computer case is no longer an additional element in which you put your computer, but became an item of desire of its own right. Prices followed.

If you have no specific requirements, like side-accessible 3.5" racks, and you can find a right one for your mobo form factor: just get a used one from early 2000s. Or buy a broken PC — it may still be cheaper than a brand new case. You may try re-selling the other parts later to reduce cost.