Looking for Silent Midi-Tower

[beginner99]

Hi,

I'm kind of having trouble finding a case. There are just too many out there...

What I would prefer:

max. 3 5.25 external. Don't need any more (2 would be fine too).
At least 4x 3.5 internal and 1 2.5
(Place for 1 ssd and 4 normal HDD's)
Space for long video card

Real silent fans (or at least be able to easly replace them)
Dust filter would be nice (or are separate options usable?)
decoupled HDD mounting.

 

[Binky]

Look at the Antec Sonata.

 

[nyker96]

Look at the Antec Sonata.

+1 sonata III and also P180 mini

 

[Fayd]

+1 sonata III and also P180 mini

depends on how long a video card.

i dont think the sonata can take a full length video card. it barely fits my 3870.

the p180 mini should be able to do it, if you remove one of the internal harddrive bays. it still should have enough internal 3.5" ports, though.

 

[beginner99]

If one hdd cage is removed in the mini, how many still fit in there?

Edit:

looks like the lower cage that must be removed fits 2 hdds. so i would have space for 3 and could use the 2 lower 5.25 for another 2 hdd's with an according brackets?

I just don't get it, why so many cases have like 5 5.25 bays. anyone ever uses more than 3?

 

[Fayd]

If one hdd cage is removed in the mini, how many still fit in there?

Edit:

looks like the lower cage that must be removed fits 2 hdds. so i would have space for 3 and could use the 2 lower 5.25 for another 2 hdd's with an according brackets?

I just don't get it, why so many cases have like 5 5.25 bays. anyone ever uses more than 3?

in my full size p180, i only use 1 for an optical drive. the other 3 are taken up by a 120mm fan.

 

[beginner99]

in my full size p180, i only use 1 for an optical drive. the other 3 are taken up by a 120mm fan.

So a 120mm fan can only be but there if the drive cage is removed?

Seems so looking at pictures. But 1 120 mm fan at height of the gpu should be enough.

Main drive wiwth os will be an ssd anyway which you could just fix at the bottom of the top compartment with tape in case I need more space for drives.

Yeah so should work.

 

[aigomorla]

Budget?

I can think of a lot of mini cases which would fit your match.

But they start at around 70 dollars and go as high as 300 dollars.

 

[frostedflakes]

Fractal Design Define R2 might be worth looking into. Similar to the P18x cases in noise reduction features, but they cut some corners on quality to sell the cases cheaper. I know you can get them in Canada, but no US availability yet AFAIK. Actually I think NCIX will ship from Canada to the US, but for a big case like this it's expensive, probably at least $50.

 

[beginner99]

Budget?

I can think of a lot of mini cases which would fit your match.

But they start at around 70 dollars and go as high as 300 dollars.

300 $ is a little too much 200$ maybe 250$ would be ok. I don't live in US and most things here are more expensive than in US so I would have to check anyway how much it costs here and if I it is actually available.

I also had a look at Silverstone fortress ft02 or the antec p193. They seem cool but too large.

Fractal Design Define R2 might be worth looking into. Similar to the P18x cases in noise reduction features, but they cut some corners on quality to sell the cases cheaper. I know you can get them in Canada, but no US availability yet AFAIK. Actually I think NCIX will ship from Canada to the US, but for a big case like this it's expensive, probably at least $50.

Is available here. Rather rare to see computer stuff available here in europe before US. But then fractal design is a swedish company, so it makes sense.

The Antec mini and the Fractal Design Define R2 would cost exactly the same (about 120 $). Doesn't make it easier to choose.

 

[modestninja]

I also had a look at Silverstone fortress ft02 or the antec p193. They seem cool but too large.

I have the FT02 and it's very quiet, but while it's the height of a mid-tower, it's basically a full tower case thrown on it's side so it's really deep.

 

[beginner99]

I have the FT02 and it's very quiet, but while it's the height of a mid-tower, it's basically a full tower case thrown on it's side so it's really deep.

yeah 60 cm is just too long but with smaller footprint I would probably choose it.

That's the downside of the rotated mobo design. Neesd to be so deep to fit the psu.

 

[aigomorla]

Have u looked at lian li V1000 series?

Also Qmicra V2 is a very nice and small case.

Ultimately in a case you want to change fans so there quieter.

 

[beginner99]

I kind of liek the antec but i'm worried about the mATX form factor. it doesnt leave any Room for upgrade cards like SATA-3 and usb-3 because one slot will always be covered by the gpu.

What happens if as example i put a sata-3 card in the second pci-e16x slot?
in a 8x/8x board will the gpu run in 8x mode only?
That's why i would prefer a design like the MSI P55M-GD45 has where first pcie is 16x always.