EVERCASE E4252BEF5 or Antec ATX SX-830?

[arfcat]

Hey .. new to building systems .. have an AMD 950Mhz Durons and an ECS k7s5a motherboards .. which if these two cases should I get? They're both priced around $65 including shipping .. would like to get the best case for my money $$ ..

Which is better? Why?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-127-004
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/2887784/

Thanks for your advice!

 

[arfcat]

No advice? Anyone?

Thanks.

 

[JameyF]

I use the 840 and love it. I haven't used the other. that makes me biased, but I vote for the antec. In fact I ordered two of the 830's for future systems.

Pros on 830:

Great cooling features...support for 4 80mm case fans + one for HD cage
Perfect size...easy to get in and out of. Not too tall to fit under most desks or in tight spaces
Lots of rooom for goodies...holds 3 5.25 and 2 3.5 external devices while having room for 3 internal HD's
Easy access somewhat hinged door to get in and out of that locks
Drive rails that actually work and have the extra rails holder built into the case so they dont' get lost
Great looking design.
Quality throughout

Cons:
no front USB ports integrated
no slide out MB tray
only 3 5.25 external bays..it's enough, but I would like to see just one more (not at the expense of moving the floppy like chieftec).


If the cons don't bother you, you can't pick against the 830 in this price range.

 

[JoeBob]

Arfcat,
I have the Antec SX1040B and love it. It very similar to the SX830 and I find it to be extemely sturdy and well made. It cools very well and holds anything I want. I also just built a system for my cousin using the SX635 and similarly like it. Cusotmer service is great as well. The SX635 came with a broken beezel after shipping from Newegg and Antec is going to send me a new one. That plus a great product means I recommend the Antec.

 

[arfcat]

Looks like the consensus is the Antec .. it comes with 2 fans I believe .. what else do I need to worry about? additional fans? thermal compound? I'm a newbie and want to protect my investment .. at the same time, I don't want to spend too much ..

Thanks for your guidance!

 

[hoomza444]

yeah, i am going to have to say antec too....i love it, but i am biased since i have never tried the evercase. as for additional stuff, you CAN buy more fans, but you don't need them. just get a ncie heatsink and some thermal compound and you are good to go. a lot of stuff you might hear about the AMDs and all the extra cooling that people have is because they overclock them so much. if you don't plan to overclock then you really don't need all of the extra stuff. your two fans should be sufficient.

 

[tigerbait]

<< only 3 5.25 external bays..it's enough, but I would like to see just one more (not at the expense of moving the floppy like chieftec >>



i'm not sure what you mean by moving the floppy

newegg pictures:
Antec SX830 $79 + $19
Chieftec DX-01W $65 + $15

I'm probably gonna buy the Chieftec for my next system and throw in a few Panaflo L1As

 

[Amused]

<<

<< only 3 5.25 external bays..it's enough, but I would like to see just one more (not at the expense of moving the floppy like chieftec >>



i'm not sure what you mean by moving the floppy

newegg pictures:
Antec SX830 $79 + $19
Chieftec DX-01W $65 + $15

I'm probably gonna buy the Chieftec for my next system and throw in a few Panaflo L1As >>



If anything, the Chieftec is better because it ADDs a HDD cage. The Antec 8XX has only one.

 

[JameyF]

On the 1000 series and a chieftec series that doesn't have the door, but still has the 4 exterior 5.25 bays, the two 3.5" exterior drive bays have to be moved down and to the left in relation to the 800 series. That puts them in the first HD cage and off center. It doesn't look nearly as good to me this way. Plus, the front of the case doesn't have the cover or bezel part over the floppy like the 800 series does.

The chieftec isn't as cheap as the Antec can be had for right now.

Good point about the chieftec adding a drive cage, but I don't know how useful it will be. There is support for 3 HD's in the Antec 830 plus with the outpost deal, I'm getting the 830 for $70 after rebate and shipping so that make the antec cheaper. If outpost wasn't having the sale/rebate offer, I would probably get that chieftec.

 

[JameyF]

<< Looks like the consensus is the Antec .. it comes with 2 fans I believe .. what else do I need to worry about? additional fans? thermal compound? I'm a newbie and want to protect my investment .. at the same time, I don't want to spend too much ..

Thanks for your guidance! >>



Don't bother with extra fans to begin with. They are very easy to add later if you need them. Invest in some good thermal compound like artic silver. It's not expensive compared to the added heat transfer it adds. I purchased it through newegg when I built me system, but shipping sucks. There are a couple of other places that sell it for the same price but with free or much cheaper shipping. PM me if you need the info. If you plan on O/Cing, get a good/ large HSF. Alpha is the most recommended right now, but at $35 just for the HS, it's not the value leader. Check other posts for a couple of other recommendations on something that will fit your M/B and will provide a fairly quiet solution. Make sure you get something that will be enough to cool your next processor, if you don't already have a HSF. This way, when you upgrade to an XP processor, you won't have to upgrade your HSF.

 

[moocat]

Antec...great products and in my experience excellent customer service (not that you will likely need to use it). I've used both the SX830 and 600 series cases. You can't beat the price/performance.

 

[DashK]

Antec cases rule. Forget the 830, get the SX1030/1040. It's not much more and it's the best case on the planet.

 

[rch4001]

Antec - no question. I have both and the Antec is great - the Evercase is flimsy and cheap feeling.

 

[Triggerhappy007]

I like Antec too and I'm using one right now. But I'd recommend you get the Evercase for that system. The evercase is pretty much tooless. Easy to open and easy to install drives. It has pretty good cooling too. You should get the one that comes with the fan on the side. It has a fan mount in the front and back too. The evercase is smaller and has 4 ext. 5.25" bays which is a plus.

 

[JameyF]

<< Antec cases rule. Forget the 830, get the SX1030/1040. It's not much more and it's the best case on the planet. >>



How is the 1030 better than the 830? They each have strengths and few weaknesses. Both have the same PS, are the same size, are the same quality inside. The 1030 has an extra 5.25" exernal and 3.5 internal, but takes away looks. It has a flemsy door that more than one have commented on in a less than positive way. The door adds no security, and would barely keep out a pesky newborn even when locked. On the other hand, it looks to be easily broken, and is made out of fairly thin plastic. At a bare minimum, it certainly could be annoying if you actually use more external drives which is the reason to get the 1030 in the first place. Some even point out that they have removed the door so they wouldnt' inadvertantly open a drive while it's closed and break the door. Don't get me wrong, I think the 1000 series is well built and they have their place, but there are disadvantages to them.

That's why I decided on the 800 series. It has the same space to work in, but a more attractive look (IMO). The 800 series may cool slightly better with less drive bays in the way, but I wouldn't worry with either on cooling ability. If you don't need or foresee the need for the extra 5.25" external bay, there is no, none, zero reason to pick it over the 800 series, but a few reasons to pick the 800 series instead. He didn't mention lots of accessories, and he mentioned the 830, so I guess three 5.25" external bays are enough. When you factor in one can purchase the 830 at around $70 shipped after rebate...it seems to be a no brainer.