A newbie needs some help deciding

[GZFant]

I am about to drop some money on a new case but am having a hard time deciding which cases will serve me best. I am a middleweight gamer, basically playing whenever I get free time and that can vary from 30 min. to 4 hours. I am looking for something that is quiet yet very cool because I plan to overclock with stock fans. Future plans are to upgrade to the highest AMD64 that is offered at the time (in the next 3 months). My budget for this project is below 200$. All the help would be appreciated.

I was looking at Lian Li, Kingwin and Coolmaster cases for now but if there is anything else that bests these cases as far as cooling and quietness, please let me know

Thanks!

 

[lucrioual]

just go with an antec
easy and nice

 

[Blain]

Are you looking for a flashy windowed case or a calmer model?

Basically it boils down to...
Would you rather drive a 79 T-top Corvette or a 70 Chevelle 454 SS

 

[GZFant]

I hate to put it into these terms since you put it so nicely Blain.............A 98' Toyota Supra...Turbo

Reliable, quiet.........could DESTROY anything you put it against without costing over 35G's (unfortunately its not naturally aspirated )

Actually I would love a window because I love the color red and I plan on putting a red cathode light strip

but, cooling is everything...........I have no preference in sound because as long as the computer works smoothly, I am all good!

120mm = good call......at least what I prefer

Oh yea..400 or > power supply

 

[Mik3y]

get the cooler master wave master and an antec 480W true power psu. together, its quiet and looks really slick. otherwise, get the antec sonata whcih includes a 380W psu and is SUPER quiet! also, it looks really really nice.

 

[nageov3t]

IMO, it's not necessarily about specific models but rather, it's about the brands.

anything from Antec, Coolermaster, or Lian-Li is going to be solid and have good cooling. the Sonata is nice if you're going for quiet, but it's a little too bland for my tastes (no side-window, and a bit plain in the looks department).

 

[Blain]

My analogy was just to define which type of person you are, not to scale the speed of cars.

 

[Degrador]

Depending on what your other requirements are, the coolermaster stacker case may suit you. It's heavy (14kg), and big, but if these aren't problems, then it's a very nice case. The entire front is mesh, allowing for great cooling (meanwhile better looking than Lian Li V series fronts imho). It has mesh for on the side, bottom and top, and it can handle up to 4 120mm fans ( = quiet).

 

[GZFant]

Requirements =
New Gen. of Intel and AMD with good overclocking abilities
I am so sorry if that sounds "noobish" but I really want a "cool" case cause its so damn hot in my apartment and I have seen what heat has done to other computers (friends putting them in the sun and overclocking ) *One of many requirements*

I am definitely upgrading withing the next three months to the highest level of technology and want a case with enough cooling, stealth and uniqueness.

I am sorry, maybe I am looking for the perfect case with which there are none. good

 

[Mik3y]

cases dont really affect overclocking abilities and they all work wtih intel and amd of all generations that are atx. if you have a problem wtih temperature in your apartment, then y dont u just get internal water cooling? it'll cool better then any fan for your environment. also, there isnt really such thing as a perfect case. my recommendation is get the antec sonata (for quiteness, looks, and airflow) with its psu and get a water cooling system.

 

[Blain]

>Super LANBoy <
Swap out the blue 120mm fans for some fairly quiet red ones.
Pick up a nice 400W Zalman PS, and you're good to go!

Edit... Oops, the Super LANBoy has a blue tinted front fan guard. It does look like it can be removed and replaced with a mesh filter, that would still allow "the glow" to come through.