Declining Power Supply Quality

Steadily decreasing costs have caused the prices of ATX PC cases to plummet to price points that are almost laughable. It is now common to be able to purchase a mini-tower ATX case with a translucent front for about $20. A check of the local computer show scene confirms this trend. When talking to retailers at the shows, they confirm the fact that many people tell them, "Give me the cheapest mid-tower case you have." When I asked why people buy these cases, the answer I got most often was, "It is no longer what kind of quality construction these cases have, it is all about how 'cool' the case looks and how cheap it is."

Here is a classic example of a cheap case. Besides the sharp edges and weak metal, the cheap 230 watt power supply in this case has a failure rate of about 25% within the first 90 days according to some local vendors.

Retailers, in turn, have forced the manufacturers to respond to these demands by producing cheaper and cheaper cases. When it comes to cheap cases, you have seen them: sharp metal edges, thin metal used in construction, and a case so light that if a strong wind blows, the case might fall over. When manufacturers are looking for ways to produce cheaper cases the main way to cut costs is to use more plastic and to subcontract for cheaper power supplies.