First build and I need a case!

[Shortass]

I haven't totally decided on the motherboard since I'm mainly afraid of the 2nd tierness of it, but other than that I've pretty much decided on these parts. I'll need a few more most likely, as I haven't gone through the list too thoroughly yet, but it's a basic idea.

I'm looking for a fairly nice case with a lot of room inside and maybe even a PSU and a couple fans already, though I guess it's not a huge deal either way. Looking cool is a plus, as is a darker color, but none of these things are all-important. I'd like to keep it reasonably priced, but I'm open to suggestsions. It is my first build and all.

(likely to change, but not too much)
-Athlon64 3000+
-Chaintech VNF3-250
-512mb Mushkin PC3500 Level one (will upgrade to a gig once I get more money)
-Sapphire Radeon 9800pro
-Lite-On 52x32x52x16
-maybe a dvd rom and most likely a Raptor harddrive.

Also, I will be overclocking up to (hopefully) 2.4GHz, so that may affect case choice.

If someone has a better pick of parts, go right on ahead. I could use some more opinions.

 

[Falloutboy]

I'd go for a antec Sonata. comes with a 380watt trupower power supply which is a very nice unit.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-127&depa=0

nice setup by the way.

 

[jswjimmy]

i love enermax somuch... but because of the psu i have to go with Falloutboy525 on this one. the enermax comes with a 350 i would want to get a 400watt for that rig so the antec 380 is a lot better.

 

[Zepper]

Obligatory Kingwin 424 series recommendation.
" " Antec SLK3700AMB/Compucase 6A19 (twins under the skin) recommendation (see coolcases.com)
Athenatech/A GPB 800 series, Enermax 1018x, etc... And a lot of enermax cases don't necessarily come with the same nice PSU that they sell separately - caveat emptor.

.bh.

 

[Shortass]

Apparently the Sonata has some air circulation problems, and since I'll be OCing that may be a problem. Are there any good overclocking cases for about the same price?

 

[akseli]

Originally posted by: Shortass
Apparently the Sonata has some air circulation problems, and since I'll be OCing that may be a problem. Are there any good overclocking cases for about the same price?

I'm personally running the Antec Sonata with ONE 120mm fan at the rear (the one shipped) temps:

CASE: 34ºc
CASE: 30ºc
CPU: 46ºc (Volcano 11+ @ 2400rpm)
HARD DRIVE: 40ºc

sounds like high doesn't it ... well... it's not, considering this computer is sitting in a room where the room temperature is: ~27ºc (I'm in spain but I've had my insulating "persianas" lowered the whole day.

Now, for the summer, when I'll be getting ~43ºc inside when my AC isn't on i'm going to add a second silent 120mm fan to the front to cool the hard drive and the front part of the case (the first CASE measurement is located somewhere on the frontal half of the motherboard.)

note that this computer has been running non-stop for 48+ hours and I've been encoding movies until ... 2 hours ago ...

 

[M0NEYSH0T]

http://www.coolerguys.com/yhst-24067115789173/840556007005.html

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: Shortass
Apparently the Sonata has some air circulation problems, and since I'll be OCing that may be a problem. Are there any good overclocking cases for about the same price?

never heard of a problem with them but you could always get a chieftec dragon for 50 from directron and pair it with a Antec Tru 430 PSU. very solid case well built