Experts, any suggestion on what the best ATX case is??

Cybordolphin

Platinum Member
Oct 25, 1999
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Go to Addtronics.com. Pick the case you like. Then look for the guy here (can't recall his name), that sells them. He is a member here with website you can purchase these cases from.

Do a search here for "addtronics" and see which case will better suit your needs. There are lots of discussions here about this brand case.
 

Quickfingerz

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2000
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get a nice shaped case one with all the curves you like. After that, buy two cans of spray paint. Spray paint the whole case silver. then from far away, let spray the black paint to give it a a speckeled look. You'll love it and people will give you lots of compliments.
 

Cybordolphin

Platinum Member
Oct 25, 1999
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Yes.... the 7237 is a good case. I have one as well. But I am not sure that it qualifies as the "best".

I like the idea of being able to put a 120mm fan up front. The Addtronics comes with this fan installed I believe. I also think the Addtronics may be more versatile. IMO.

 

Renob

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2000
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My vote is for the Tornado 2000 at 3dcool.com I have one and my temps droped bigtime. Plus it is easy to work in your mobo slides out. I stripped mine down to bare metal and shot six coats of black car paint then 3 coats of clear over that and bought all new black drives with green light on then look great.BTW this badboy comes with 4 80mm fans two on the side to blow on your video and cpu and two on the basck to suck out all the hot air. I took out the psu and put in a 400w
 

Mikewarrior2

Diamond Member
Oct 20, 1999
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3dcool cases are decent, but those kinds of mods are easily done by one's self, and can be done with a better case than hte InWin Q500 and be done to have more airflow.

Not to mention that 3dcool cases are overpriced.

My vote for the best, an Addtronics 7986A(the one above mentioned with teh 120mm intake fan). Second best, probably a coolermaster atc-200, but the cost is ridiculous.

As far as the 7237 goes, its my personal favorite for low cost Mid-Tower ATX(and my favorite midtower ATX, and the case I currently use) but it isn't the best case around....


Mike
 

keensyntax

Junior Member
Jul 18, 2000
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I'm going to have to put a vote against the Enlight 7237. Unless things have changed in the past couple of years since I bought one (which I seriously hope), I'd avoid this case. I can't stand that the case was all 1 piece. It means more screws and struggle to get in and out of the case. If you have your cases' left side against a wall or desk leg or something similar, this can be an annoyance. I prefer cases that have a seperate right hand side panel. Makes things easier. If Enlight's changed things I don't know.

Also, a problem when I bought mine (I found out later) was that the Enlight power supplies had a nasty tendency of going bad and taking the motherboard with them. This happened to me. The motherboard blew when the power supply blew (which was within a year). I've had power supplies blow since but never take a board with them. I've sworn off Enlight. The Tornado 1000 at 3dcool.com looks nice. I have the same case without the side fans and a different front panel and I love it. Thumbscrews, sidepanel, expansion (10 drive bays!).... kicks ass. I vote for it or a cheaper, less 'fanned' sibling. I'm actually hunting for one myself for a new linux box.

I appoligize if Enlight has changed things in this case but I think Enlight gets too much credit for a case design that came out 5+ years ago just because they are the most well known and 'whored around the net' brand out there.
 

Mikewarrior2

Diamond Member
Oct 20, 1999
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THe Enlight 7237 changed about a year ago...I haven't heard anything bad about their newere power supplies, but i dont' use htem either.

They are now built with separate side panels.

They are also not a whored about case. The current design is no more than a year old, and they one of only a handful with 4 5.25 inch bays in a mid-tower.

I would believe that most people out there are using the newer design. Also, a price of $36 without power supply is very appealing.

My Enlight 7237 and my friends enlight Imperiums Case. Both are the newer design enlights.

Mike
 

Cybordolphin

Platinum Member
Oct 25, 1999
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I also have an Inwin Q500. I don't recommend this case. The power supply on mine is mounted caddywampus and blocks air circulation... and there is nowhere for a rear fan unless you want to "mickey mouse" it. It DOES fit a front 120mm with modification (not the easiest either). I DO like the slide out motherboard tray.... but I am overall not happy with this case. It just does not allow enough cooling unless you modify it pretty heavily.

The Addtronics is all ready for whatever you want to throw at it. Lots of fan possibilities,
and options.
 

Siamskunk

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2000
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Enlight 7237 is the best of the bunch between the cheap choices.
To say the least, Chenbro Genie or Lite-On fs020 is the best choice but will likely break your wallet as it did to me when I got rid of my 7237.
 

derekjr_1

Member
Dec 4, 1999
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I think the Antec Sx1030 is the best...I really love it and it cools so very well! Just my vote though! My second is definetely an addtronics.
 

BigSmooth

Lifer
Aug 18, 2000
10,484
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My experience with my Antec KS282 has been very good, and the price is good on the case as well. It comes with a nice 300W power supply.
 

rvivian

Member
Dec 6, 1999
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ride525

Golden Member
Oct 14, 1999
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Does the Enlight 7237 still come with the fan installed in the lower front of the case?
 

raxafarian

Senior member
Mar 25, 2000
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I'll cast my vote for the enlight 7237. Got mine in march... has separate side panels and 80mm fan in bottom front. I recommend drilling some of the tiny holes in the front panel (at the bottom) to help out with airflow. thats about all I saw wrong with this case.

PS. Drill with the front panel REMOVED from the case :)
 

dawheat

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
3,132
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For a $50 case the Enlight 7237 is not too shabby- 250W PS, 2 80mm fans, plenty of space.

If you want something nicer- I'd either get the Chenbro Genie Jr from jhanson- 2 120mm mounts, 1 80mm mount- talk about incredible stock cooling. I'd get either that or the Addtronics 6896a, the 7896 is just too damm big for me.
 

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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I had the coice about 5 months ago to get the enlight 7237 but instead opted for an INWIN s500 midtower case, with a coupon it was the same price as the enlight witout a powersupply.

Granted the stock ps with the s500 is weak I only use a fortron source unit in my system so that wasn't an issue

I think the build quality of the Inwin units is far superior to that of the enlights, but there are far better cases out there than both of them it is all dependant on what you want to spend, addtronics would have to be one of the best.