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

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
18
81
you might want to get a PC power and cooling case, yes i know they are expensive but they are well worth the cash. Also a palo alto 600 is good. Very nice, case, light made of plastics, almost screwless even for the drives, i saw a dell with one and that is a marvel of engineering. And the s500 is also very nice if you are on a budget. Inwin seems to use thicker metal than enlight or antec now. Very good fit and finish, i myself have the microatx version of the s500 the v500 and couldn't be happier with it.
 

markymark618

Senior member
Aug 24, 2000
242
0
0
Fong Kai 320 atx!!!!! Heheheh...its about $100 at directron.com....its been getting really good reviews too!
 

Eeks

Senior member
Dec 8, 1999
457
0
0
Fong Kai
or the KS-188

The former is the rave of the tech sites
the latter is my own
 

abracadabra1

Diamond Member
Nov 18, 1999
3,879
1
0
aopen hx08.
great big case so you can do lots of mods...
added 3 side 80mm case fans and
2 fans at top rear blowing out

my brother recently got the addtronics 7896a and i must say it is gorgeous. i like my aopen a lot, but the addtronics does have a better layout for adding fans. plus all those vent holes help some too
 

Hittman

Member
Oct 12, 1999
153
0
71
I build using Antec SX830's and SX1030's and have never been let down by their quality or durability thus far.
 

Sid

Member
Oct 12, 1999
31
0
0
I just got an Antec sx830, $95 w/300ps, and the sx1030 is about the samething. This case is solid, quiet and all of the room in the world, runs very cool (I have only used 2 fans so far). I spend 3 years working in cramped smaller cases. This is one great case.
 

Stallion

Diamond Member
May 4, 2000
3,657
0
76
I have an Addtronics 6890A and it is a great case. Two fans in the lower front and one on each side and one in the rear under the PS. MB tray comes out, side butterfly off and top is removable.

What more could you ask for. :)
 

awakened

Member
Dec 27, 1999
43
0
0
I recently purchased a Fong Kai 603 while ordering the parts to assemble an entirely new computer. I don't have the computer running yet, doh!(stupid mobo I think), but having had to open the case a trillion times, install everything a couple times and get in and out of the case quite frequently, I have been REALLY impressed with the case. I didn't notice any really weak parts which is something that I normally discover, and break, quite quickly. The case is really easy to fiddle with, is solid, looks nice, and doesn't cut any of your fingers off in the process.
 

wizz0bang

Senior member
Sep 28, 2000
290
0
0
My favorite has always been Elan Vital (Asus) T10 mid tower. It's the _BEST_ case I have ever worked on (and I've worked on literally dozens). It has removable drive racks with lock in mechanism, tool-less design, heavy build, well made, good looking, well ventilated. I've seen them with 250w PS for around $75. My only gripe is noise, but then again I've never found a case that makes me happy in that respect.
 

Dravic

Senior member
May 18, 2000
892
0
76
Another vote for the antec s1030 soho file server case..

Lots of space. 4 fan slots, with 2 rear 80mm fans included... just ordered 2 more 80mm fans for the front slots.
 

Motorheader

Diamond Member
Sep 3, 2000
3,682
0
0
If you can get it - Palo Alto ATCX with the rear exhaust fan. No rails, takes almost any motherboard, and the case design and drive location makes for a suprisingly cool case even with high speed/higher than normal heat drives.

The 7237 is about $65 with an Athlon approved PS. I hate rails though. New design also has a rear fan exhaust in addtion to the front cooling fan.

The InWin 500 is also nice - extra rear exhaust takes a bit of creativity. Front fan blowing in - rely on the PS fan for out. The drive sits next to the PS in the upper corner of the case - not a good place for cooling.

The AOpen HX series are nice - solid and a good PS to boot.

Nothing forces cooling air across the drives though without extra help in any of these cases - with the exception of the PaloAlto ATCX of course -- hehe.