Need advice for a new case

[Ealdric]

Hello. I just signed up.
I am looking for advice on a case. I am considering building my own system, for the first time.
I am figuring on a mid or maybe full tower. I don't need fancy styles or lights, etc. I just want a plain, functional case with plenty of room to expand later. I am Not concerned about the noise level, as long as it isn't ridiculous. PSU or not doesn't matter. Don't need a window.

I have been shopping online, and found some possibilities:
Lian Li :
PC-800USB B2
ThermalTake:
Matrix VB2000BNS
Swing VB6000SNS

Antec seems to have possibilities, but I noticed a number of user reviews mentioning poor documentation. As a beginner, this is a concern.

I would prefer to stay under $100, but might go to $150 for the right one.

What advice can anyone offer on the above cases, or what else should I look at?
THANKS!

 

[frank84]

Hey Ealdric, Welcome to Anandtech

Poor documentation should be the least thing you want to worry about.
After all, no computer case has 20page manuals.

As long as your IQ is not lower than 100, you should be able to figure things out with no problem.

If you do not care about noise level or windows or anythign else that is un necessary,
you have a big variety to choose from.

go through websites, pick one you like in looks,

-frank

 

[JM Aggie08]

Well if you don't want fancy lighting, stay away from Thermaltake.

Go for something like an Antec P180. Plenty of space, nothing flashy, just a good all around case.

 

[Harvey]

I'll recommend this Antec Sonata II, just because I built a couple of systems for friends with it. The 5.25" bays have spring releases that let each drive snap out from the front, and the hard and floppy drive bays, inside, are also removable from the side (with the case side open).

It comes with a 450 Smart Power 2 supply, and it has adjustable internal ducting that separately vents heat from the CPU to the outside.

If you live near a Fry's Electronics, they usually sell it for around $120, but I've seen it on special, there for around $80.

 

[vietbboibrave]

Centurion 532, Antec P180, Lian Li PC-60/61/65 plus II, Lian Li PC-7 plus II

Check those out.

 

[krotchy]

If you buy a Lian-Li you will not regret it, no matter what model, because the craftsmanship and design are fabulous, I became a fanboy after my first lian-li purchase. This one would be good for you as a first build:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...roduct_info&cPath=104&products_id=2709

As far as Antec goes, the P180 is good, but im not a fan and it is just to big for a home computer. I personally prefer mid-tower cases on home computers, unless you need a ton of 5.25 bays or like 10 hard drives. But you cant go wrong with a 180.

If your willing to spend 150 dollar shipped, this is a great case to look into:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...roduct_info&cPath=104&products_id=2832

It has a top blow-hole as well as a blower fan that mounts above your graphics cards to dump heat out from your PCI cards.

 

[Howard]

http://www.provantage.com/antec-slk3000b~7ANTG02Y.htm

 

[Zepper]

Yes, welcome to the AT Forums.

Actually Thermaltake has some quite conservative cases these days, but you can still get your bling there if you want it. Here are the basic points for a decent mid-tower case:
1- 120mm fan mounts front/rear (or capability of being modded to that).
2- rubber HDD isolation
3- indirect sound path to the front (only if low noise is really important to you).

Beyond that, I like the HDD mounts to be "normally" oriented - meaning front to back - sidesaddle drive cages only work really well with SCSI or SATA drives (where there is only one drive per cable or long cables don't pose a problem).

Some low price cases that meet those criteria: Antec SLK3000-B, HEC/Compucase 6A19, Ever Case (aka Evercase) 42x2 series and others (requires a HDD bushing kit for each 2-drive bracket which often isn't included due to the ignorance of the resellers). Some Ever case-made models are also sold under the AMS brand (at least on Newegg).

If you want to pay a bit more, the new CM Mystique case has most of the mentioned features and fairly easy to mod for the other if needed.

.bh.

 

[pkme2]

Lian Li either PC-7B or PC-60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...mit=ENE&Manufactory=1375&SubCategory=7