I built this back in high school, 2008, with help from this wonderful community
. Never had to buy a 2nd case until I decided to build a 2nd system for my gf and now that I'm shopping for cases for the first time since 2008, every case I see has heat-trapping glass or similar preventing airflow on 2 to 3 of 4 sides.
All original hardware other than the I/O hub still work (accidentally shorted it out like 15 years ago by smacking a USB device sticking out of the front). I removed and cleaned the stock fans last week and they still work like new. Sure, it gets a bit dusty without a dust filter on the bottom, but I don't keep mine on casters, I regularly vacuum my place and do a proper full system cleaning every 6 months or so. I love how much room you have to work with and how much my system can breathe from all surfaces other than the back-plate side. With minimal cooling, a single CPU tower fan and the stock case fans, my temps have always been low, and as someone with big hands I love how much room there is to work with.
I'm old enough now to understand that "they don't make them like they used to" is accurate in most cases, pun not intended.
Is there really no proper successor to this case?
also, does anyone know where I can get spare parts for this guy? Would love to get a custom or replacement I/O module, specifically. I'll pay absurd amounts for it.