$100-150 Case Suggestions?

[DrGizmo]

Hey Chassis experts! I need your advice. The massive landscape of available cases is driving me nuts!

I'm housing the following:

mobo: GA-Z77X-UD3H (ATX)
Drives: currently 1 SSD, 2 HDD, 1 DVD and possibly 1 Blue ray
GPU: ASUS GTX 670... would like to keep the option for potential SLI in the future

My requirements: USB 3.0, good air flow (no water cooling needed), relatively quiet if possible. Side window, fan control and an LED are a plus (I am a sucker for sexiness!).

No real size limitations in terms of space, although I don't want anything too massive like the corsair 800D.

Im not very familiar with cases myself. I really liked the Antec 1100, although the fact that I cant control the fan speed and therefore noise, while not overclocking or heavy usage, was a deal breaker for me.

So far, Ive been looking specifically at the 500d, HAF 932 Advanced and the Tempest 410.

Any other/better suggestions for my build?

 

[Phishy714]

HAF XM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...7&Tpk=HAF%20XM)

Absolutely awesome case, been getting some really good reviews - there is sooo much offered for what you pay for. I believe there is an option out there for the side window version, though I am not 100% sure where to get it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you can live without the side window I'm happy with my Antec P280:

(SilentPCRevew)
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Antec_P280

 

[lehtv]

As far as functionality and bang for buck is concerned... Fractal Design Arc Midi. 3x140mm stock cooling. Can add several more fans for cooling SLI properly, but the included fan controller can only accommodate 3 wires. The side panel can house a 180mm fan of which there aren't many choices (Silverstone AP181) or a 140mm fan.

For a windowed case, get Corsair Venceange C90 or Antec 1100. Also, Corsair 600T is available only for $120 AR AP

 

[Madmick]

HAF 932 Advanced
*Five 5.25" Drive Bays
*Six 3.5" Drive Bays
*Up to 4 2.5" SSD Bays (converted from two of the 3.5" Bays)
*7 Expansion Slots
*4 Fans (3 x 230mm / 1 x 140mm)
*Front Port: 2 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0 + Firewire + Mic + Audio
*ATX Full Tower supports up to E-ATX motherboards
*liquid cooling ready
*Side Window
$130 at Amazon.

The HAF XM is slightly smaller but even more feature-packed for $130.
$10 over your range but a behemoth of a case for $160 is Antec's Twelve Hundred V3. One of their newest cases is the Nine Hundred Two V3 that's $120 at Amazon.
In addition to the 600T you're considering and the C90 Vengeance lehtv mentioned, Corsair also has the Carbide 400 & 500 and the Obsidian 650 in this price range.
Amazon has the NZXT Phantom 410 for $100.

 

[bleucharm28]

If you can live without the side window I'm happy with my Antec P280:

(SilentPCRevew)
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Antec_P280

Very true, this case is very classy : )

 

[country2]

I have the COUGAR Evolution and is one of the best cases I have bought and love the fan controller and the hd docking on the top of the case. Also is just under $100 and have seen it onsale at the egg for around 85 with a code.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811553002

Spec

Type
ATX Full Tower

Color
Black

Case Material
SECC

With Power Supply
No

Power Supply Mounted
Bottom

Motherboard Compatibility
Micro ATX / ATX

With Side Panel Window
Transparent Window

Expansion

External 5.25" Drive Bays
6

External 3.5" Drive Bays
No

Internal 3.5" Drive Bays
4

Internal 2.5" Drive Bays
4 (converted from 3.5" HDD tray)

Hot-Swap Drive Bays
1 x 3.5"/2.5" External SATA HDD/SSD dock

Expansion Slots
8

Front Ports

Front Ports
USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 2, MIC x 1, HD Audio x 1

Cooling System

120mm Fans
1 x 120 mm Front Cougar Turbine 1200 RPM 17.7dBA Fan
1 x 120 mm Rear Cougar Turbine 1200 RPM 17.7dBA Fan

Side Air duct
No

Physical Spec

Dimensions
20.59" x 8.78" x 20.24"

Features

Features
Innovative & Integrated UI for user friendly design

Advanced two USB 3.0 ports for maximum data transfer speed

Unique honeycomb & mesh hybrid intake design with rugged strong appearance

Top access external 3.5"& 2.5" HDD/SSD for easy mobile data transfer

Integrated fan speed controller for dual-way fan control

Support for 6 fans: front 120mm fan x1; rear 120mm fan x1; top 12cm fan x 2 (optional); bottom 120/140mm fan x1 (optional); left-side panel 140mm fan x1 (optional)

Support for very long graphics cards (up to 12"/ 305 mm)

Eight PCI slots provides flexibility for multiple graphics cards solutions

Top-notch screw-less mechanisms on all disk drive bays

Shockproof HDD tray design for 3.5" HDD and compatible for 2.5" HDD /SSD

Holes with rubber covers for water cooling solutions

Retaining holes in the motherboard tray for easy accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler

CPU cooler height limitation: 180mm

Cable routing holes on the motherboard tray for easy routing and hiding cables behind the MB tray

Vented slot covers for better cooling performance

Air filter for the power supply fan

Black thumbscrews to easily fasten expansion cards

 

[T_Yamamoto]

P280

 

[Phishy714]

lol.. looks like there are alot of opinions on this. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the above cases - just look them all up and decide which one you like best.

 

[fralexandr]

rosewill thor V2 $100

anandtech review

doh the thor v2 is pretty massive almost the size of a corsair 800d
edit: nvm it's about the same size as the haf

 

[DrGizmo]

Thanks everyone, for all of your suggestions.

I think Ive narrowed it down to the Phantom 410, HAF 932 advanced, 650D, 500R and the antec 902 v3.

However, Im torn between these!

I really like the look of the Fractal Design midi, however Im a bit turned off by the 1USB 3.0 and the apparent tight insides.

Anyone have any further experience with the above five?

Thanks again everyone. Ive found that this is easily the hardest part of my build to settle on!

 

[chari]

Just got one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119245

I absolutely love it. It doesn't have a side window, but it's elegant looking, great airflow, amazing features.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Thanks everyone, for all of your suggestions.

I think Ive narrowed it down to the Phantom 410, HAF 932 advanced, 650D, 500R and the antec 902 v3.

However, Im torn between these!

I really like the look of the Fractal Design midi, however Im a bit turned off by the 1USB 3.0 and the apparent tight insides.

Anyone have any further experience with the above five?

Thanks again everyone. Ive found that this is easily the hardest part of my build to settle on!

I've built systems in all of those except the Phantom 410. Not sure where the tight insides of the Fractal come from - that's not been my experience even with multi-GPU, multi-HDD setups.

The Fractal case is also my preference of those. But I only have one USB 3.0 flash drive, so having only one USB 3.0 front port is not an issue for me!

 

[lehtv]

If you use a USB3.0 drive that's most of the time just sitting there on your desk... you might as well plug it in the rear panel.

 

[Phishy714]

Out of all of the ones you mentioned, the 650D is going to be the best one IMO.

 

[DrGizmo]

Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the thermaltake chaser mk-1?

Seems to tick all the boxes of good cable management, usb3.0, window, LED and controllers for both while not sacrificing too much quiteness.

Granted its not as stylish as the fractal, or some silverstone models (FT02, kl04, tj10 etc..) but the price is right.

Would definitely appreciate some thoughts!

If only the Corsair 650D had a direct to mobo usb header and fan/light controsl grrr!

 

[rickon66]

I admit, I like Antec. I would go with the 1100 over the 900, but on my last couple of builds I went for spending less on the case, so I could put more into stuff that really affected performance. Kind of the rat rod mentality, no fancy paint just more go.

 

[DrGizmo]

I admit, I like Antec. I would go with the 1100 over the 900, but on my last couple of builds I went for spending less on the case, so I could put more into stuff that really affected performance. Kind of the rat rod mentality, no fancy paint just more go.

I actually really like the 1100 as well, but the lack of a fan control is a total turn off for me.

 

[Bartman39]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119194
Had one of these for some time now and caught mine on sale for $119 with free shipping... Went with water cooling from the start but knew it would work excellent with just air cooling as well... Very quiet too have my water cooling cut back to a min (H70) 2600K system is almost silent...

 

[DrGizmo]

Hey All,

so just to update: after countless hours researching, I ended up pulling the trigger on a case completely out of left feild: the Silverstone TJ04-EW, and I got it on sale for $135!

So far Im pretty happy with it at stock configuration. I plan to add one more 120mm fan, and possibly some LEDs until I get annoyed with them.

Thanks again to everyone for all of your tips and suggestions. I honestly feel like a case expert now!