Good case for new gaming build?

[sticks435]

Hey all, I'm going to be doing a new gaming build here pretty soon, and wanted to get opinions on some cases. Right now I have the antec-900 with the parts in my sig, and it does all right, but it's pretty dusty and the cable management/accessibility is terrible. I did some reading around, and I think I've got some selections picked out.

I'm looking to spend up to $100 or so, and will be going with a SB 2500K, 460 or 560 with possible dedicated Physx card, and probably a SSD and regular HDD. I'm going to try and find an adapter for my CPU cooler, or get a 212+. Probably won't water cool, as SB seems to OC great on air, and noise isn't really a concern. I don't swap out components very often, so lots of tool-less is nice, but not a deal breaker.

My picks so far are:

Antec DF-35 - good dust management, but same bad cable management, good airflow it seems

HAF-922 - roomy, good cable management, ok dust management

CM 690 II - haven't read to much on it. Seems to have good cable management, good airflow, but not all have filters (though positive air pressure focused it seems)

Either Lancool K58W (20% off at the egg) or the K-62. - Good cable mangement, great dust control, but air flow might be restricted with only 1 intake fan. Figure on the K58 I can add my own 2 fans and paint the inside black myself and save $45 bucks.

 

[UpstartXT]

I have two 690s and I built a HAF for my friend.

HAF was wayyy better IMO. Much more solid quick bay locking, better cable management access holes. Also, the HAF case has these bulges on the side behind the motherboard that look decorative, but actually allow you more room to route cables behind there. I bent a Cosmos S side panel trying to get it on over some bulgy cables.

Also, one of my 690s has a defective top panel, so using the minijack ports for headphones and mic does not work 100% of the time because of a loose connection. I read this is a known recurring problem.

 

[oliharan92]

i have the antec 902 for my gaming build, i would reccomend this case it does everything i want! the only problem is that you have to manually control the fans and you cant do it through software

 

[Maximilian]

Eh i guess it depends on the individual, i think the new darkfleet cases are ugly as sin and the design isnt great either, whats with the optical bay doors?! Anyways i recommend the antec 300, ive got a 902 and a 300 here and the 300 is much more accessible with its easy to clean dust filters and its solidly built too, far less plastic than the 902, i wouldnt mind the 902 so much if the dust filters were easy to get at but as it stands theyre a nightmare to clean. If the 300 had a window it would be perfect imo.

I havent used the coolermaster cases but ive heard good things. Some say theyre not solid and theres a lot of plastic for the money but i dont know, might not bother you anyway.

 

[BoomerD]

I just built a new rig with a HAF 932. HUGE case...there's enough room inside that "m thinking about renting our rooms...

Well built, easy to work on/in, and considering that it's mostly mesh, surprisingly quiet. (of course, quiet components play a part in that.

I like the "rugged industrial" look of the HAF cases. Some folks might prefer the "polished" look of other cases...but I wanted a case with excellent air flow characteristics...and that's exactly what I got with the HAF.

 

[Makaveli]

I looked at both and choose the 690 II advanced. I found the HAF just fugly looking and preferred the simple yet clean lines on the advanced.

Also the poster getting a defective top panel might just be a first revision case I don't have that issue.

The 690 has filters on all sections that has fans I don't know where you read otherwise.

I would also suggest you take alook at the 600T by corsair also a very nice case.

This is my thread on the case swap from december.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2124879

 

[Continuity28]

If you don't mind the appearance, I would recommend the HAF series. Excellent cases they are. I've been very happy with them.

 

[UpstartXT]

Also the poster getting a defective top panel might just be a first revision case I don't have that issue.

Yeah that may be true I bought it a couple of years ago

 

[sticks435]

Yea, it's funny. When I was looking before, I looked at the haf 922 and the lian-li's, but the 902 had just come out, so best buy had the 900 on clearance, which is why I went with it. Now I realize why they replaced it. lol.

 

[sticks435]

The 690 has filters on all sections that has fans I don't know where you read otherwise.

Yea, I saw that it had filters on "all mesh area's" on Newegg, but there seems to be a lot of empty places for fans that don't have filters. Namely on the 2 side panels. Since you own one, do those side panels have filters and I just don't see them in the pics?

 

[Anomaly1964]

I just built a new rig with a HAF 932. HUGE case...there's enough room inside that "m thinking about renting our rooms...

Well built, easy to work on/in, and considering that it's mostly mesh, surprisingly quiet. (of course, quiet components play a part in that.

I like the "rugged industrial" look of the HAF cases. Some folks might prefer the "polished" look of other cases...but I wanted a case with excellent air flow characteristics...and that's exactly what I got with the HAF.

+1 (I'm getting this one for my new build)...

 

[Rifter]

Im loving my Corsair 600T

 

[Makaveli]

Yea, I saw that it had filters on "all mesh area's" on Newegg, but there seems to be a lot of empty places for fans that don't have filters. Namely on the 2 side panels. Since you own one, do those side panels have filters and I just don't see them in the pics?

That is the only area there are no filters. And with my setup i'm using a TRUE in push/pull there is no room for a top side fan anyways I just have one on the bottom slot. And you can buy a filter to put on the fans for a few bucks not really a deal breaker for me considering the price is lower than all the other cases mentioned.

And I plan to replace the side panel with the windows model which only has a bottom fan slot.

Example 1 120mm filter

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1830

 

[StriperMike]

I Have always been a fan of Antec but decided to go with the HAF 922 for my SB build and can't be happier. Awesome case all around IMHO.