I'm in Canada and have any budget to work with. I've been collecting technology from my childhood era, but my current computer looks completely out of place, so I've been keeping it under my desk. I'm looking for a case with design language reminiscent of a late-1990s or mid-2000s music player or enthusiast PC. It can be any size and doesn't need optical-drive bays or dedicated SSD mounts, since I have a micro-ATX motherboard and no side window. Good airflow is still important, though. I'm also curious whether anyone sells parody stickers inspired by old labels like "Intel Core Inside" to complete the look.
4 Answers
Cases with side-panel fans are a strong match for that era, and they aren't just decorative—the large side intake can provide surprisingly effective airflow. Zalman, Antec, and SilverStone are good brands to search for.
Fractal Design is another brand to browse, although its older models may fit the aesthetic better than its newer minimalist cases.
SilverStone's FLP03 is worth checking out. It's more late-1990s than mid-2000s, but the retro styling and unusual front-panel details fit the idea really well.
The best way to find an authentic case is probably local classifieds. Older Lian Li, Antec, SilverStone, and similar cases show up fairly often for around $20–$50, especially from people clearing out old hardware. Many can still handle modern builds, and a 3.5-inch-to-2.5-inch adapter lets you mount SATA SSDs in the old drive bays.
That sounds like a good route, especially since I don't mind using older drive bays or adapting the storage mounts.