HELP: Case Advice/Recommendations

[klitscher]

Hello all, I'm looking for some advice between two (or more) cases I'm looking to get. First I'll let you know what's going in it, and it's use.

I plan on putting a Shuttle AK35GTR w/ XP 1700 or 1800 along with a Pioneer 16x DVD, Lite-on 24x or 32x CD-R, 60 GB 7200 RPM HDD, Creative Labs SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum and ATI All In Wonder 7500. I do not plan on overclocking, and it will be used primarily as a home office computer (I will be a seminary student) and a little bit of Video Editing.

Now, the cases I am trying to decide between are this one and the MAXTOP 147KG2F-USB BLUE (third one down)

The one at AMKComputer will have 80mm, 31 CFM @ 28DB intake, top blowhole, side blowhole upper and back plate fans, as well as an upgrade from the Deer 300W PSU to the Enermax 365P-FCA to bring total cost to $180 CAD (~$110 USD) + shipping.

the Maxtop has a 350W PSU I've never heard off, the top and side blowhole fans, and space for a back plate and intake fan I can get seperately and install. The cost for the Maxtop is $49 USD + shipping + 2 fans.

I really want the front USB ports both have, so my question is, is it worth it to spend twice as much on the AMKComputer custom built case with the Enermax PSU, or is the Maxtop with the QMax PSU fine? or are there any other suggestions?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot. Ken

 

[klitscher]

^bump^

Little help, please!

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

For your uses, and especially since you're not overclocking, I really can't see a need for either of those cases unless you really like noise, hehe. For your purposes, blowholes'll be pretty useless. I'd go with an Antec SX830 or SX1030, if I were you. Lian-Li and Supermicro make nice cases too.

 

[DrDr]

I just built my system with the Antec SX840. I purchased it from EMS Computing in Florida for $122 shipped. EMS does not have a very good reputation around here, but I had a flawless transaction. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing my case, and I think this is the best one around for the money. While I didn't want to spend this much initially, I'm convinced after working with the case (easy easy easy) that it was a good choice. It's roomy, and the best part is the 400 Watt power supply. Even if you don't think you need it now, it leaves room for expandability and Antec's PSUs are top notch. Oh, and the case has four fan mounts, and two fans are included for the rear. I purchased an extra 80mm fan ($5 from Newegg) and I am running an Athlon XP1700+ on an K7S5A with lots of bells and whistles at a case temp of around 25-28 degrees, and a CPU temp of 41-44. Not too shabby.

Good luck,

Dave

PS The Maxtop case looks kind of cool, but that top fan sucks. You don't nead those open fan holes, especially since stuff can fall down in there, and I store some things (CDs, etc) on top of the case itself anyway.

 

[dunkster]

I have Antec 1030. The only criticism I have is the noise of the Antec sleeve-bearing case & ps fans.

I played with case fan configurations, including 2 80mm front intake + 2 80mm exhaust at rear. The impact of the front intake fans was minimal, so I removed them. The 2 rear fans provide a very efficient short-path exhaust of hot air from the cpu cooler. Internal case temp is just a few degrees above room ambient air temp. Good basic case ventilation design.

It's my personal opinion that redundant case fans just put an unnecessary load on the PS.

I just replaced the Antec fans with cheap Panaflo L1As and all temps remain the same, with lower fan noise. I bought an extra Panaflo to try on my Alpha 8045U, but the Delta fan supplied with the 8045U isn't really noisy. Didn't replace it.

Hope this helps!

 

[klitscher]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I've looked at the Antec SX800 series a bit, and that was what I was originally planning on getting. The SX1000 series won't work, as I will be getting an Audigy platinum, and the door won't close with the drive mount in. One thing I liked about these two cases was the front USB connectors, as I do have quite a bit of USB devices. I also did like the Enermax 365P-VE-FCA PSU included in the AMKcomputer one, but if y'all think that with the system I described in the first post, that I won't need a ton of fans, or the cooling system of the Enermax, maybe I'll reconsider. Newegg also has the same case as the one at AMK with a QMAX 300W PSU for $39.00 plus shipping. It has spots for front intake and rear exhaust, as well as the one in the PSU. I don't know, thanks for the suggestions, and if you have more, please feel free! I guess I have some decisions to make.

And here I ripped on my roomate for not building his computer for 4 months, cuz "He was waiting for all the right parts"

Ken

 

[nowallet]

This is the Case I am consider maybe buying. I plan to add Audiogy MP3+ and a Radeon 64MB video card. I mainly use my computer for listening to music and do video editing with my new Sony DCR TRV 140. What kind of Motherboard or CPU will have enough power for me to do this?
BTW, I'm a new member of this board and please forgive me if I'm not clear enough or not following the rule of this board.

Thank You. Looking forward to your input and advices.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

I would highly recommend you stay away from Antec's. They eminate too much noise even with quiet equipment because of a low building standard. More so stressed since this will be for a home office computer.
Supermicro makes a really sweet case for the noise department, the SC760A... However it looks like you are shopping around for a mid tower. I am still in search of one that does not put out noise.

However if noise is not a issue for you, by all means get those cases you linked to or a Antec. Or if you have the money, try a Lian Li.

 

[nowallet]

Thank You for your input and I greatly appreciated. What you say is true and I'm looking for to buying a Lian Li. But first I have to figure out the stores to get these from. (as cheap as possible of course :8p)