Help me pick a case, please!

[logansdad]

Hi folks -

I'm about to start building my second system. The first was 4 years ago (how time flies!) and was a nice AMD T-Bird 1.2G with 512MB and a 40GB WD 7200.. anyway, it was kewl at the time! I got a pretty nice case which was kinda easy to work with as a complete newbie and was highly reccomended on NewEgg. [An Enlight mid-tower ATX]

Anyway, I am going to build a P4 with an Intel ATX MB. This time I'm not interested so much in overclocking and bleeding edge tech. This one's for my wife and she just wants rock solid reliability with no hassels.

I've been out there looking at reviews -- but there's a WHOLE lot out there to digest and I need to start building soon. Also most of the reviews focus on cooling - and again that isn't so much a factor here.

So! How about we play a game. I give you the top requirements and you give me suggestions. Er... that is, case suggestions. Help from the case gurus would be very much appreciated by me, my wife, my kids and their hamsters.

Requirements (in order of importance):
-- ATX, mid-tower
-- Very reliable and stable PSU (300/350Watts should do it, i think?)
-- Sturdy with good fit and finish
-- Easy to assemble (good drive rails, screwless would be nice) with lots of working space
-- Preinstalled Fan(s)
-- Quiet
-- USB ports in front and back
-- Firewire on front
-- Kewl looking - - Yea, something a little different looking than the standard corporate beige box. Maybe with lights.

Price range is flexible for the right case... targetting about $65-75...

Right now I have my sights on a couple of possibilities...
ANTEC Performance Plus or Solutions series'
FOXCONN Super Case MID TOWER
Chieftec ATXA1ESW-BL/420
Any thoughts on those?

Thanks!
jim

 

[fenrir]

Check out the Raidmax Scorpio 868 Mid-Towers at XPCases (scroll down a bit) or at Ajump. Newegg has many different views you can look at and get a better idea on the case. I should be receiving the yellow version of this case tonight. This is for a computer I am building for a friend, so I have never used this case.

It doesn't meet everything you are looking for (a bit small, not sure of realiablility of PSU, no front Firewire, but it looks like you could add it). I think it is a pretty cool looking case for the price.

Matt