Edit: Recommend me a case for my new SB build

[KIAman]

EDIT: Went with Corsair 600T
Thanks all for your recommendations.

It's time for my bi-annual pc rebuild.

I need the case to have the following requirements.

Price: Less than $150
Size: Mid-Tower but must fit HD6950 and Noctua NH-D14
Cooling: Good cooling (3 fans minimum)
Cable Management: Must be decent
Noise: Quiet
HDD: Atleast 3
External 5.25: Atleast 2
External 3.5: Don't care
Color: Don't care
Design: Don't care
Bling: Don't care
Weight: Don't care
Other featues: Nice but really don't care

Future requirements.

Must fit 2nd HD6950

 

[ZipSpeed]

My personal favorite at the moment is the Corsair 600T.

 

[yingyan]

coolermaster haf 932
cable manage is best on this case

 

[BoomerD]

coolermaster haf 932
cable manage is best on this case

I'll only disagree with you because the HAF X is far better for cable management...oh yeah, the Corsair cases are EXTREMELY good for cable management as well.

OP, if you don't want a full-tower, then how about the HAF 922?

http://coolermaster-usa.com/upload/download/157/files/HAF 922 product sheet 0327 editable.pdf

Or MAYBE the HAF 912 Advanced:

http://coolermaster-usa.com/upload/download/244/files/HAF912Advanced-productsheet-1014.pdf

 

[KIAman]

You think the HAF 912 Advanced can meet my size requirement?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Lian Li PC-9F is one I like a lot.

 

[Yellowbeard]

My personal favorite at the moment is the Corsair 600T.

I just did a build in one and I think it will meet all the requirements listed by the OP. Also, our 650D will be nice if you like the Obsidian look combined with more of the 600T features. But, I am not 100% sure if either will meet the retail pricing requirement.

 

[Erudite21]

Hey KIA, also check out the Rosewill Blackhawk for $100. I just received it yesterday and so far it looks great. The case has plenty of room for long graphics cards. It also has three hard drive bays (2 drives per bay) that are each independently removable if you need more space.

 

[BoomerD]

The specs for the HAF 912 show it will work with a cooler up to 175 MM tall, and the Noctua NH-D14 is 160 MM tall, but the video card may be a bit too long. IIRC, you can remove the upper portion of the HDD cage, (or maybe it's the lower portion that's removable...don't remember) so it MIGHT NOT fit your card...
Get the HAF 932...FABULOUS case. It's a BIG mother...but well built.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2125015

 

[Diogenes2]

Hey KIA, also check out the Rosewill Blackhawk for $100. I just received it yesterday and so far it looks great. The case has plenty of room for long graphics cards. It also has three hard drive bays (2 drives per bay) that are each independently removable if you need more space.

That is a nice looking case.
The SATA dock on top is a great touch ..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ll%20Blackhawk

I have the COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

Cable management is not as great as it could be, could use a little more space under right side cover, but it works for me..

 

[ViviTheMage]

My personal favorite at the moment is the Corsair 600T.

I have this case, I love this case.

 

[KIAman]

Thank you all for your recommendations. I tested all the cases in this thread and I ended up going with the Corsair 600T.

Couple reasons. First, it matches all my requirements but still smaller than the other cases. It has excellent cable management and is reasonably consertive without LEDs and bling, which I didn't think was important until I saw many of them.

Once I get all my components in and get it set up, I'll post some pics!

 

[Diogenes2]

Do you have a good source?
Looks like Tiger direct has for $139, FS and a $10 rebate..

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...150&CatId=1842

 

[Juji]

+1 on the HAF X. Atleast if you're going to run air cooling, i would go obsidian 800d if i considered watercooling.

 

[Maligx]

I just ordered a 600T also because my two 6950's barely fit in the antec 300 i have.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I have 2 6950's in my 600T ... plenty of room :

 

[KIAman]

I'm starting to add the components to the case. I like how much room there is to manuever.

One small complain so far. The front USB3 connecter is a USB plug? Are there motherboards that offer a USB plug on the board itself?

I'll fit the rest when I get the components and take a pic.

Thanks vivi for the image, the cables look clean!

 

[BoomerD]

I'm starting to add the components to the case. I like how much room there is to manuever.

One small complain so far. The front USB3 connecter is a USB plug? Are there motherboards that offer a USB plug on the board itself?

I'll fit the rest when I get the components and take a pic.

Thanks vivi for the image, the cables look clean!

Most boards have several USB connectors on the back I/O panel. The front case USB connectors connect to the USB ports on the board itself.

 

[KIAman]

Most boards have several USB connectors on the back I/O panel. The front case USB connectors connect to the USB ports on the board itself.

The front case USB3 connecter plugs into a USB port, it does not have mb connecters like the USB2.

For some reason, this case designed it that way and I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it and just live without the front USB3 connecter inactive.

 

[BoomerD]

The front case USB3 connecter plugs into a USB port, it does not have mb connecters like the USB2.

For some reason, this case designed it that way and I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it and just live without the front USB3 connecter inactive.

Ah...gotcha. That's actually normal...for now. The HAF X has a similar set up. You run cables from the front panel to the back panel. Basically, this gives you the option of the USB3 on the front or back.
From the Haf X FAQ's:
"HAF X is the first available full tower chassis with USB 3.0 support. Currently the NEC controllers on USB 3.0 motherboards do not support a standardized header. To use the USB 3.0 ports, route the extension cables from the I/O behind the motherboard and through the rear hole in the motherboard tray. You can then use one of the three rubber water cooling ports on the rear of the chassis to meet the USB 3.0 port on the motherboard. As soon as a better solution is released with a standard USB 3.0 motherboard header on chip, Cooler Master will provide the internal header USB 3.0 cables as a free part exchange."

 

[KIAman]

Ah...gotcha. That's actually normal...for now. The HAF X has a similar set up. You run cables from the front panel to the back panel. Basically, this gives you the option of the USB3 on the front or back.
From the Haf X FAQ's:
"HAF X is the first available full tower chassis with USB 3.0 support. Currently the NEC controllers on USB 3.0 motherboards do not support a standardized header. To use the USB 3.0 ports, route the extension cables from the I/O behind the motherboard and through the rear hole in the motherboard tray. You can then use one of the three rubber water cooling ports on the rear of the chassis to meet the USB 3.0 port on the motherboard. As soon as a better solution is released with a standard USB 3.0 motherboard header on chip, Cooler Master will provide the internal header USB 3.0 cables as a free part exchange."

Nice! I hope Corsair offers the same service. Right now, the cable is about 3 inches too short to route all the way back to plug into the back panel.

Tonight, I'll finish up the build and put some pictures up. That Noctua cooler is going to obscure most of the motherboard, LOL.

 

[Fedaykin311]

It's time for my bi-annual pc rebuild.

I need the case to have the following requirements.

Price: Less than $150
Size: Mid-Tower but must fit HD6950 and Noctua NH-D14
Cooling: Good cooling (3 fans minimum)
Cable Management: Must be decent
Noise: Quiet
HDD: Atleast 3
External 5.25: Atleast 2
External 3.5: Don't care
Color: Don't care
Design: Don't care
Bling: Don't care
Weight: Don't care
Other featues: Nice but really don't care

Future requirements.

Must fit 2nd HD6950

Antec P182 or whatever the current revision is. Not sure it meets the HSF reqs (probably) but is a good mix of the other qualities you want.

 

[KIAman]

LOL, I found a way to use the front USB3 port. The ASRock motherboard comes with a front 3.5" USB3 adapter that plugs into the motherboard. I'm going to leave that tied inside the case and plug the front case USB3 connecter to it.

This works out fine considering the case doesn't even HAVE 3.5" external slots.

Now to find a good place to hide the ASRock USB3 panel somewhere inside the case... maybe one of the unused HD racks...

 

[Cebu]

I love my HAF 912. It allows the upper hard drive tray to be removed (I did) so you can fit larger video cards in it (I have a 5970). You can also move the 2.5 hard drive tray from behind the 3.5 hard drive tray and mount it on top. I also love the fact that it can handle a 200mm intake fan and 200mm exhaust fan on top. It also will accept a 120mm fan in the back and either a 120mm or 140mm fan on the door. The only mod I did was install another 120mm fan in the 5.25 drive bays. Plus it handled my 212+ heat-sink and has great cable management. All this for $60.00.

i almost went with the corsair 600T myself. However, I read too many complaints about the lack of sufficient cooling and the inability to replace the front and top fans with aftermarket fans since the stock fans are 20mm thick and there is no room for thicker fans such as the Coolermaster Megaflow. That was a deal killer for me.

 

[kittysox]

LOL, I found a way to use the front USB3 port. The ASRock motherboard comes with a front 3.5" USB3 adapter that plugs into the motherboard. I'm going to leave that tied inside the case and plug the front case USB3 connecter to it.

This works out fine considering the case doesn't even HAVE 3.5" external slots.

Now to find a good place to hide the ASRock USB3 panel somewhere inside the case... maybe one of the unused HD racks...

If you want you can use a 3.5 to 5.25 adapter so you can mount the usb box in the drive bays, thats what i did on my 800D. I'm very happy with how it turned out the adapter is made my silverstone.