I Need Some Help Deciding on a Case

[jgonzalez]

The main thing I'm looking for in a case is that it be silent and have good ventilation. I'm only gonna have one hard drive, one video card, and one optical drive so I don't need a HUGE case. Also, NO LEDs and nothing too flashy. I want it to look "cool", but nothing too distracting. Just clean cut.

I was settled on the Antec P182, which fits my needs pretty well, but someone suggested I look at Lian Li cases. The Lian Li cases look pretty promising so now I'm confused about what to get, the P182, a Lian Li case (if so which one), or something else. My budget is about $150 but don't be afraid to go over that if you think it's something that's worth it.

 

[DSF]

Generally speaking Lian-Lis aren't going to be as quiet as the P182 due to their all-aluminum construction. I would imagine some models are quieter than others though, and I don't know specifically about each model. AnandTech recently reviewed a pricey Lian-Li (check the Cases/Cooling/PSUs section of the articles) but I didn't read it very thoroughly.

For a single video card, single drive setup you might even like the Antec Solo. It's a bit cramped to work in though, and it doesn't fit enormous video cards without modification. (It will fit an 8800GT or GTS just fine, but not a GTX.)

Edit: And keep in mind that no case is an all-consuming silent box. Having a quiet computer is as much about the internal component choice as it is about the case. If you have to have silent computing you're going to want to look at aftermarket cooling for the CPU and a GPU with a quiet or aftermarket cooler. Quiet system fans, PSU, and hard drives are also important.

 

[RallyMaster]

Get a Cooler Master Centurion. No need to spend $150 on a case.

 

[Zepper]

Or a Rosewill from the R5600 series. My review:
http://www.techimo.com/reviews...roduct.php?product=431 . One of the few series of cases in the price range in which the average buyer rating is 5 eggs for each version over several hundred total comments. This chassis can also be found in the Tt SViking (hard to find the SV any more).

.bh.

 

[jgonzalez]

Originally posted by: DSF
Edit: And keep in mind that no case is an all-consuming silent box. Having a quiet computer is as much about the internal component choice as it is about the case. If you have to have silent computing you're going to want to look at aftermarket cooling for the CPU and a GPU with a quiet or aftermarket cooler. Quiet system fans, PSU, and hard drives are also important.

Yes, I realize this. I probably should have written the I need a case that is oriented towards quietness. The biggest source of noise is probably the CPU and system fans. Silent was an overstatement. I'll probably just need an aftermarket CPU cooler to keep it acceptably quiet.

I have a Pentium D with a stock CPU cooler which I think broke or something because it is ridiculously loud. My CPU cools fine but sometimes I can hear this fan over loud music. Anything quiet enough will probably be close enough to silent for me. I'm looking into one of the Zalman CPU coolers for this new box and maybe the old one before I sell it. I don't overclock or anything so I can probably keep them in silent mode.

I like the Antec Solo's technical specs, but it looks ugly and generic. Shallow I know, but I'll probably have this for a while, and I want something sleeker.

 

[jgonzalez]

Dang now I'm split between the Centurion and the P182. The P182 has more features and it would probably be quieter, but I don't know if it's worth the extra $90. I guess now it's up to me, but I was wondering if there's something I might be missing that would make me go one way or another.

 

[RallyMaster]

If you want something really quiet, get a Scythe Ninja for the CPU, an Accelero S2/S1 for your video cards, run both passively and pair it up with a Cooler Master Centurion 590 or 534. Those things are tanks in build quality. Not sure you would need the P182 refrigerator because you'll get a slightly quieter running case, but you're also paying a good $90 more.

EDIT2: Zalman CPU coolers are overpriced mediocre performers.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
EDIT2: Zalman CPU coolers are overpriced mediocre performers.

I was going to add this as well. Zalman is sort of living on their reputation from a few years ago as far as CPU coolers go. There are better coolers now, especially when you consider the price of most of the Zalmans. $30-40 coolers easily equal or outperform the $50-70 Zalmans.

 

[jgonzalez]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
If you want something really quiet, get a Scythe Ninja for the CPU, an Accelero S2/S1 for your video cards, run both passively and pair it up with a Cooler Master Centurion 590 or 534. Those things are tanks in build quality. Not sure you would need the P182 refrigerator because you'll get a slightly quieter running case, but you're also paying a good $90 more.

EDIT2: Zalman CPU coolers are overpriced mediocre performers.

I should have read your comment earlier. I bought a Zalman fan and heatsink for my current Pentium D yesterday. This one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835118223 Is it bad compared to the Scythe Ninja or just overpriced? Anyone else recommend the Scythe Ninja or something else? I have to stop picking components based on Newegg ratings.

Also, those centurion cases have LEDs so I can't use them.

 

[RallyMaster]

Zalman sinks are overpriced and for the price is a crappy performer. I've seen reviews that put the CNPS9500s at the same performance level as an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7/64 Pro, which is less than half the price of the Zalman.

The fans are removable (I do not run any of my Cooler Masters with LED fans even if they came with them originally). Just buy a couple Yate Loons and throw them in. You can probably get three YLs for under $20 shipped.

 

[Tullphan]

You stated you didn't want a "huge" case, but the P182 is one of your "finalists".
I've had the P182 & it ain't all that. Heck, right now i'm running a Stacker 832 & it's more quiet than my P182 was...& I was running quiet stuff in it!
Look at the cases that Zepper recommended. They're good quality cases...every bit as good as an Antec.
As far as coolers go, check this out. I've got one & it cools good & is quiet. (Credit to aigomorla for the link)