Cases with Hinged Sides

[SkyDiver]

Hi All,

Question for you. I'm casually looking for my next case. I've noticed that most of the new ones seem to come with hinges on the side panel. This would not work well for me. My case sits between my desk and the wall. It is an area in width of about 19 inches.

It doesn't look like a hinged panel would give me easy access to the case unless I disconnect everything and pull it out from its spot.

Is it easy to take the panel off in spite of the hinges? I see that NewEgg takes a lot of pictures with the panel removed.

Seems like this might be a common question, but I haven't seen anyone else address it.

Thanks,
SkyDiver

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Can you give us a link to one of the cases you're refering to. very few cases have hinged side pannels due to cost and the difficulties it adds during manufacturing. Newegg does usually take the side-pannels off and set them at an angle to the cases so you can see the inside of the pannel which does make it look a bit like they're hinged.

 

[SkyDiver]

Well...I feel kind of stupid now.

Here is the Antec P182 shot from NewEgg
Antect P182

Rosewill R5604
Rosewill 5604

NZXT Zero
null

and finally, the Rosewill R5601
Rosewill R5601

Does anyone want to vote on which one of these is the best case? I don't need HUGE airflow. I'm overclocking my C2Duo 2.4 Ghz to 3.0 and it is all in a CoolerMaster Centurion right now.

Thanks,
SkyDiver

 

[DerwenArtos12]

you're not the first and I'm quite sure you won't be the last. If you dig around for a while there are actually a few reviews on neweggs case pages that give 1 oe 2 stars because they bought a case thinking it had hinged side pannels.

IF the price on all four was the same I'd say get the NZXT for pure performance or the P182 for the quietest of the bunch.

Which centurion is it in now?

 

[SkyDiver]

It is the Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel (Link)

The two things I don't like about it are 1) The optical drives keep the front panel from coming off and 2) The PCI fasteners are cheap plastic clips that don't work very well. One of them that is supposed to keep my huge X1950XTX in place is broken. The card moves too much within the slot for my taste.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Ah, an original cent 5. I still use a 532, thats why I asked.

Well, if all four are within your budget I'd say get the NZXT for highest performance or the P182 for the quietest of the bunch. Both the 560Xs are good cases and actually have interiors similar to that of my 532. I'd like to point out though, the Cooler Master CM690. It is among the best values in cases out today.

Also, if the NZXT is within your budget I'd have to suggest you look at teh Lian-Li K7 and the Lian Li PC-17B. They're both less expensive than the NZXT and though a little smaller are both monsters for air cooled mid towers.

 

[Zepper]

Yup, if the links in the OP are among those on your short list, then it's time to narrow the definition as you have apples, oranges and pears there. On a short list, the cases should be quite similar.

.bh.