besides the antec SLK BQE, any other option?

[sugarkang]

i do not live in the states, so i'd get the BQE in a heartbeat if it was available.
it's not.
i've already OCed my barton 2500 to 3200. everything else is stock.
the case is noisy as all hell with just a stock PS, one 80mm exhaust, no intake.
i'm primarily interested in noise reduction

the antec sonata is available to me at about $130US or so.
it comes with the power supply, and the neat drive cage.

are there any other options besides that? are the Lian-Li cases a better buy?
those seem to come with 80mm fans which = more noise... right?
also those don't come with a PS, so i'll have to buy a separate quiet PS.
MORE money i don't wanna spend.

btw, i've got the gigantic zalman 7000 cooler, and would like to get this to work in my next PC.

so ultimately what i'm looking for is a quieter case / power supply combo which performs better than the sonata and is under $130US. i'm planning on getting a radeon 9800 pro in a couple months, so that needs to be taken into consideration as far as heat is concerned. i'll probably overclock this baby.

help?

 

[Zepper]

The Compucase 6A19 series are very like the BQE inside. I think both are actually made by the same company so you may be able to find them there.
.bh.

 

[sugarkang]

that one looks okay. it doesn't have the sideways drive cage, but it does have the 120mm fans.
unfortunately, it doesn't seem to exist in south korea.

any other suggestions?

 

[Zepper]

The Compucase may be marketed under a different name there - it is a division of Wei Shun in Taiwan. What brands are available there? Perhaps I could suggest a model within a line you have there.
.bh.

 

[sugarkang]

all of this stuff is in korean, and i doubt you can read it.
i can write down as best as i can what brands are available, but since
i'm unfamiliar with many of the brands, the spelling may be off.
problem #2, all the models available in the states won't be available here.
it seems they have a good line of Lian-Lis, but those cases are so ugly, and i have
no need for aluminum... and also don't those all 80mm?

btw. thanks for your help.

DA-Oh
GMC
Bestech
Micronix
Micrologix
Iconbox
Compumart
Atech
Heroichi
Lian-Li
PC Hub
Aopen
Skydigital
Enermax
UNEEC

 

[Zepper]

The Compucase cases come equipped with Heroichi PSUs here in the states so maybe you can look in that line for the 6A19 equivalent - I just looked on the Hero System (kr) web site and they have the Heroichi 6919 which is identical to the Compucase 6919 here so I'm on the right track. The 6919 is much like the Antec 1000 series inside - just a different front bezel. But I didn't see the 6A19 on that site.
. Uneec is the same as Chenming/Chieftec and many Antec cases are also the same as those inside.
. Some of the new AOpens are built quite nicely (600 and 700 series) but they aren't cheap.
. Enermax also sells some good cases here with 120mm fan mounts.
.bh.

 

[sugarkang]

thank you so much.
i'm researching those leads now.

 

[sugarkang]

found both 6A19 and 6919.
don't know the difference between the two, but they are both different looking than the antec.

been looking at user reviews, and while my korean reading skills aren't so good...
they say that the 120mm makes some noise, but not a whole lot.

it's a shame cos i'm really wanting an almost silent pc.
this whole mess started with buying the zalman 7000 cooler.
now i've GOT to have a silent system.
i've had my heart set on the BQE ever since i read some review about how the BQE is cheaper, quieter than the sonata.

plus points though, it's only about $40US.

have you used this thing? how does it compare?

 

[Zepper]

"Have you used this thing?" - Which thing?
. Besides you can slow down a 120mm fan quite a bit and still have more CFM than most 80 or 90mm fans - they can be almost dead quiet.
. The metal parts of the 6A19 series are IDENTICAL to the Antec SLK3700AMB - rubber mounts for HDs, etc. So potentially this design could be even quieter than the BQE depending on your choice of fans. Only the plastic bezel on the front and the colors are different. The entire HD cage pops out and in for easy drive mounting. I don't think you could go wrong with one.
. I have never owned a 6A19 or SLK3700 - I'm too cheap, my current case (ChyangFun) only cost $25 or 30 shipped from Newegg (including a 350W Delta PSU!) on a blowout they were having. But when Newegg was carrying Compucase, all the buyer reviews on the 6A19 series were very positive. Not to mention that the Heroichi PSUs are very highly regarded and quiet too.
.bh.

 

[sugarkang]

can i slow down the fan without voltage mods?
i don't wanna spend hours reading about how to do that.
i've already killed hours upon hours this week reading about overclocking and quiet HSFs.

btw, i mean it's not exactly the same cos there's no front door panel thing.
no big deal, but it would help with noise if i had a disc in the dvd drive

 

[Zepper]

Just get a fan kit that comes with a rheostat or solder a 100 Ohm reostat into the + (red) lead of the fan - no need to complicate things. Of course if I were doing it, I would use a multi-position rotary switch and tap into the various voltages from the PSU so I could have discrete steps of 7, 8.3, 10, 12, 17 and 24V and use a 24V, 120mm fan like the one you can get on www.centrix-intl.com for $2. each (or 10 for $15.)...(in my dreams ;-)
And as I wrote earlier the 6A19 is EXACTLY the same as the SLK3700AMB EXCEPT for the PLASTIC BEZEL on the front (which includes any door) and the color scheme. You could snap the plastic front of the 3700AMB, door and all, right onto the metal chassis of the 6A19 - as they are both actually made by the same company.
. I don't think Antec manufactures anything it sells under its name. It is just a marketing company.
.bh.

 

[sugarkang]

alright you convinced me. hell, you might as well work for that company. but then again maybe not... look how much time it took you to sell one case! and considering the overall price of it is $40 retail, there's not a whole lot you would have made. in other words, thanks for your advice. i'll be getting one of those zalman PSUs to go with the case.

 

[Minjin]

At Directron, that case is 40 bucks whereas the SLK3700AMB is 65 bucks and includes an Antec 350w power supply. I personally like the Antec case and the power supply isn't bad at all...

Mark

 

[Zepper]

minjin,
. you should go back and read the whole thread from the beginning. Sugarkang is in S. Korea. They apparently don't sell Antec there... So your comment is a nonseqitur. When newegg was carrying them, the 6A19 was about $65. shipped with a very nice Heroichi PSU and I preferred it because I don't particularly like doors. But since neither of these options exist for him, the whole discussion is moot.
.bh.

 

[Minjin]

Its not moot if Directron ships overseas...

http://www.directron.com/international.html

It isn't the greatest of options, but it certainly is an option. Maybe you're the one who should read into things a little closer.

Mark

 

[sugarkang]

i'm looking into shipping at directron now.
i'm sure the prices will be exhorbitant, in which case i'll go with the 6A19.

thanks for your help guys, and please don't start flaming aka being gay (not homosexual).

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: sugarkang
alright you convinced me. hell, you might as well work for that company. but then again maybe not... look how much time it took you to sell one case!

In case you're worried about Zepper passing out bad info 'cause he works for Compucase I'll chime in with my 2¢ too. The Compucase 6A19 is identical to the Antec 3700AMB, except for the plastic front bezel and the color scheme. It is a great case for the money. You can't go wrong with it. The only thing you need to change about this case is to cut out the fan grills. They are kind of restrictive. Without those restrictive grills in the way your fans will work a little easier and run quieter. If you're looking to undervolt the fan for quietness (which you probably should do, it's no too quiet and the case has great airflow so you don't need a very powerful fan to keep it cool) you can use one of those $5 Zalman Fanmates. It's a little reostst that plugs inline with the fan to lower the voltage. The only other thing you'd need (if your case fan has a 4-pin connector on it) is a 4-pin to 3-pin adapter.

BTW - I don't work for either company, I've just used a lot of these cases so I am very familiar with them.

 

[sugarkang]

i'm not worried about zepper passing out bad info. he's been quite helpful actually.
the thing is that i originally wanted the BQE, which isn't available.
then i was thinking of getting the sonata which IS available, but at $130-140US.

anyway, after all the messages in this thread, and countless hours of reading and re-reading reviews, i'm going to go with the 6A19. i haven't emailed directron yet, but i'm sure they'd want $50 or higher for shipping, which would defeat the whole purpose. in that case, i'd just get a sonata.

so now my question is about the fan grills.
according to silentpcreview, you can just pop those out and put unrestrictive grills on.
in the pictures, they only popped out the back one. can you do it to the front also?
and even if i can pop out the front grill, do i really need a fan there or is the rear exhaust enough?

question #2:
is the 120mm fan really noisy or should i get an aftermarket one?
i don't think panaflo is available, but i'm sure i can find something comparable.
i've got that zalman fanmate thing left over from the cpu cooler (zalman 7000) since i don't use it for the cpu.
can i just use that fanmate with the stock 120mm fan and be relatively noise free?

 

[Zepper]

No, I don't work for Compucase. In fact, I sent them two messages to locate a dealer for sk in S. Korea and didn't get an answer. I see no percentage in sending a case twice across the Pacific (and a good chunk of the US too). If sk really wanted a BQE, he could contact Antec in Taiwan and work something out or possibly order one from Japan (but the tarrifs might be prohibitive). IAC, I'm sure sk thought of, researched, and dismissed those options for good reason.
. It's not the plastic fan mounts that cause the restriction in air flow, it's the way the metal is punched out - there is an awful lot of metal left in the air path. I would cut it out on both sides too. Enlight had a most excellent metal cutout design for their fan mounts (their 7227 model) - the current one is much more restrictive. I don't know why these companies don't steal that good idea - they seem to borrow just about every other. Probably because it would require a pretty fancy tool and die combo to do it.
. Some 120mm fans can be quite loud at full bore, but they will be moving many multiples of the amount of air that can be moved by smaller fans. If it's too noisy, just use a rheostat and you will still have plenty of air flow with much lower noise. The fan I mentioned above can move 118 CFM @ 3200 RPM @ 42 dB on 24V (nearly 4 times what an 80mm can move at the same RPM) and will operate fine from 10-27V.
. If you have several hard drives, I would put a fan in the front too and a filter if there isn't one already - I know that the 6919 (like the Antec 1000 series inside) comes with a filter behind the front grille.
.bh.
:sun:

 

[sugarkang]

i just found this:
THIS CASE

the interior looks to be exactly the same as the 6A19 / 3700AMB
it's got the filter, no sideways cage, but $35US.
Sexier than either of the other choices too.

so do i need a metal cutter to punch out those grills?

i've got two drives, one 5400 and one 7200. the 7200 has an HD fan on it currently that i would LOVE to get rid of.

 

[bluesky]

Yes, it looks exactly same as my 3700amb.
You don't need any sideway hd cage, since you will take the cage out and install the drives.
For 50,000 won, it seems a bargain.
Just buy a Zalman PSU, and you're ready to go.

 

[sugarkang]

just made my order. i actually got it for 42,000 won. just used the 50,000 link for the picture
i got a seasonic 300w, forget the model number. antecs are too expensive, and it seems to be quieter than the zalman according to silentpcreview.

i got an extra ADDA 120x25mm fan to go with it. no panaflos or papst here.

will post once i get it all installed. being shipped tomorrow yay!

 

[Khrownoss]

Nice case, lotsa room and features and a reasonnable price too.
Now if i could only read Korean

 

[Khrownoss]

Nice case, lotsa room and features and a reasonnable price too.
Now if i could only read Korean

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: sugarkang
i just found this:
THIS CASE

the interior looks to be exactly the same as the 6A19 / 3700AMB
it's got the filter, no sideways cage, but $35US.
Sexier than either of the other choices too.

so do i need a metal cutter to punch out those grills?

i've got two drives, one 5400 and one 7200. the 7200 has an HD fan on it currently that i would LOVE to get rid of.

You did good kid! That same case is sold here as the Compucase 6A21. It's physically identical to the 3700/6A19 except for the different bezel. Enjoy your case, but cut out the fan grills before you build a system in it, you'll be happier in the long run.