Case Recommendations (playing the "me 2" game)

[Genison]

I've been looking for a case for hours and days. This is what I need:

- Full ATX or something that will clear the Thermaltake V1's height of 5.7". By my calculations, I need a width of at least 8"
- Side window with a 120mm fan built in (must be on the lower part of the system to avoid the V1).
- Fans in the front and back... 120mm preferably.
- No fan exhaust on the top, I just hate those.
Trying to keep around $100.

That's about it. Like another guy here, I'll have a G0 stepping Intel CPU, GTX board, two hard drives, and two optical drives.

Thanks!!

 

[LOUISSSSS]

http://www.performance-pcs.com...h=104&products_id=2709
-Lian li pc-7b Plus w/ side window, (2 x 120mm fans, can be customized with another 120mm side blowhole)

http://www.performance-pcs.com...h=104&products_id=4260
-lian li pc-v1000b plus, (3 x 120mm fans, case i currently own and would recommend it)

http://www.performance-pcs.com...=104&products_id=20308
-lian li pc-65 Plus 2 w/ side window, (2 x 120mm fans, 1 x 80mm fan)

http://www.performance-pcs.com...=162&products_id=21709
-antec sonata 3 (1 x 120mm fan, has holes for 1 x 120mm fan near the hdd cage. yate loons cost about $5 shipped)

 

[Genison]

Dang, the Lian Li PC-65 would be my top pick, except that it's over my budget a bit. Very nice, though.

 

[SolMiester]

Check out Silverstone cases, next best thing to the Lian Li's

 

[Zepper]

This might do you (Tt Bach) - it is very like the Antec SLK3000-B which has excellent casitude. Doesn't come with a side fan but it has a vent where a fan may be added - you could mount the fan to the outside thus avoiding any space conflicts.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133042 Some other Tt model may be as good or better for you.

Here's another (NZXT Apollo): http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811146028 - lacks the front fan but there is a 120mm mount there and as was said above, you can get Yate Loon fans for under $5. each. Maybe one of the other NZXT might be suitable as well.

I also like Silverstone cases but the best price I've seen on the base version of the Temjin 5 is a bit over your budget and the Temjin 4 might be a bit cramped inside plus you'd have to rig your own side fan if you really need one... I see that there is one Temjin 4 (SST-TJ04-BW) on eBay with only 9 hours to go and no bids - unfortunately it has a reserve price so you have to find what that is before the bidding can begin in earnest. I always liked the swoopy oval window on those.

.bh.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: Zepper
This might do you (Tt Bach) - it is very like the Antec SLK3000-B which has excellent casitude. Doesn't come with a side fan but it has a vent where a fan may be added - you could mount the fan to the outside thus avoiding any space conflicts.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133042 Some other Tt model may be as good or better for you.

.bh.

i've owned 2 x TT case's, bought one, which was utter crap, then being the nice guy that i am, gave TT another chance and the second case was utter crap. heres a rundown of the worse things a computer case can have:

-SHARP EDGES on the inside.. cutting your skin/wires when installing parts
-loud stock fans which don't follow the common dB scheme.. basically lying about the company's fan specs
-heavy as hell.. both weighed about 50-60lbs WITHOUT any parts installed. For comparison purposes.. if i wanted to lift up those two ThermalCrap case's and throw them as far as i could i'd probably get it a good 10 feet if i'm lucky. if i wanted to throw my Lian Li V1000 case i could probably throw it 25 feet. i understand that some designers want their case's heavy, but not ridiculously enough to give users trouble lifting it from the horizontal-> vertical position after installation is complete.
-have a fan controller with at least 20 unnecessary cables which make cable management impossible.

ok thats all i can think of off the top of my head.

 

[Ammocyte]

I know you said you don't like top case fans but antec 900 has 2 120's in the front which are movable.....1 120 in the back and a place for a 120 on the side and a 200mm on the top...just not sure on your heat sink clearance requirments...http://www.newegg.com/Product/...m=N82E16811129021....I just built 3 computers with this case and really liked it.....also has fan speed switch for every fan...just my 2 cents