Need case recommendations

[opeeum69]

I'd like to stay within $200 for my new case, and I'd like the case to have:

1. great quality overall (i.e. good case material and overall thoughtful design that include the small things like: rubber/plastic that prevent sharp edges from cutting your hands, etc);

2. be pleasing to the eye (i.e. looks sleek, cool, and sturdy but minimalist: non flashy, or wierd alien shapes, or excessive leds/lcds etc, i prefer cases with no windows but that's not really important);

3. a removable motherboard tray with good cable management (i.e. allows for tucking the wires/cables behind the motherboard, and holes in motherboard that help secure the wires);

4. filters everywhere if possible to keepout all dust

5. ample room inside with several thoughtfully placed case fans to give great, but silent airflow;

5a. silent overall..

6. easy installation (tool-less preferred), compartmentalized interior (like the mac pro), rubber molds?(not sure what it's called) that reduce case vibration are all pluses



I'm building my computer for the first time, and right now I'm only planning on having 1 graphics card (hd4850) and 1 hdd, and I probably won't SLI/CF or have multiple hdd anytime soon, so mid towers are fine, or mAtx cases even



Cases I looked at:

antec p182: no removable mobo tray, interior color looks a little cheap but that's just from one photo i saw earlier on the forum, but i liked the mini version, especially when it was on sale, can't really make up my mind if i should get this case

cosmos 1000: seems a little too big, and some reviews say the space behind mobo is too cramped for effective cable managment, but i liked the many quality fans they have in there, the noise dampening foam, and how the hdd drives pull out

lian li cases: likes their interior in general, especially the aluminum color, from the aluminum of course


so there, srry for the long read, but feel free to recommend what comes to mind

 

[mpilchfamily]

Go to newegg and use there advanced filters to narrow your search to a few cases. Then pick the one you like the most. People can throw reccomendations at you all day but in the end its a matter of what you like not what they like. So take the time and do your own research.

 

[Zepper]

Silverstone sells a few good looking cases but their people are designers, not cyberphiles, so they continue to make mistakes in their designs that computer people wouldn't, but I like my Kublai KL03... I have a few cases in my FS/T thread - check the links below.
. Beyond that, check out the Ultra m998 and perhaps the Aluminus. The Lancool (Lian Li) PC-K7 and K10 have been discussed a lot around here. The last are three all only available in black. I tend to prefer silver too as I don't care for big black lumps sharing my space...
. More details on the system to be contained and your preferences could yield more targeted suggestions.

.bh.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Silverstone sells a few good looking cases but their people are designers, not cyberphiles, so they continue to make mistakes in their designs that computer people wouldn't, but I like my Kublai KL03... I have a few cases in my FS/T thread - check the links below.

What kind of mistakes? I've never looked closely at Silverstones.

 

[Zepper]

DSF, it is mostly form over function matters. For example, the Kublai series have front panels that are trimmed with black "mesh" as is very common these days, but at the bottom of the front panel is usually the location for the HDD cage which has an intake fan in front of it. The mesh is restrictive and quickly gathers a skin of dust (functions as a de facto filter). I'd say that instead of trying to make the whole front look the same, they could make that area look like a fan lives there and put in a proper filter. It is not hard to come up with similar issues on most of their cases.

..bh..

 

[imported_bloodbath]

Im liking the look of this new Akasa case http://www.akasa.com.tw/

I cant find any reviews out yet tho =(

Edit: it doesnt want to link to the page, ur have to click on products, AK-BKCSE-05 (Omega case)

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Originally posted by: opeeum69
I'd like to stay within $200 for my new case, and I'd like the case to have:

1. great quality overall (i.e. good case material and overall thoughtful design that include the small things like: rubber/plastic that prevent sharp edges from cutting your hands, etc);

2. be pleasing to the eye (i.e. looks sleek, cool, and sturdy but minimalist: non flashy, or wierd alien shapes, or excessive leds/lcds etc, i prefer cases with no windows but that's not really important);

3. a removable motherboard tray with good cable management (i.e. allows for tucking the wires/cables behind the motherboard, and holes in motherboard that help secure the wires);

4. filters everywhere if possible to keepout all dust

5. ample room inside with several thoughtfully placed case fans to give great, but silent airflow;

5a. silent overall..

6. easy installation (tool-less preferred), compartmentalized interior (like the mac pro), rubber molds?(not sure what it's called) that reduce case vibration are all pluses



I'm building my computer for the first time, and right now I'm only planning on having 1 graphics card (hd4850) and 1 hdd, and I probably won't SLI/CF or have multiple hdd anytime soon, so mid towers are fine, or mAtx cases even



Cases I looked at:

antec p182: no removable mobo tray, interior color looks a little cheap but that's just from one photo i saw earlier on the forum, but i liked the mini version, especially when it was on sale, can't really make up my mind if i should get this case

cosmos 1000: seems a little too big, and some reviews say the space behind mobo is too cramped for effective cable managment, but i liked the many quality fans they have in there, the noise dampening foam, and how the hdd drives pull out

lian li cases: likes their interior in general, especially the aluminum color, from the aluminum of course


so there, srry for the long read, but feel free to recommend what comes to mind

Lian Li Lancool PC-K7 $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811112154
or the quieter but more expensive
Lian Li Lancool PC-K10 $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811112155

These cases share the same basic layout - removable Mobo tray, dual 120mm intakes (allows use of low-speed intake fans) with filter, 5x HDD with noise isolation, excellent wire management, adjustable HDD orientation, steel frame with aluminum exterior.

The K10 adds a front door and sound absorbing foam to the side panels for additional silence. Here's a review: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/523

 

[Zepper]

Nothing really new with the Akasa - just the Eclipse/Mirage with an aluminum door instead of plastic. Besides Akasa cases are made of unobtainium here in the states. The Ultra m998 mentioned above is about as close as we get.

.bh.

 

[Syran]

Check out the Thermaltake Armor+. I just built a machine in one, and I like it mostly better then my old Armors. Lots of room (okay, the case itself is HUGE), motherboard tray, removable HD trays, etc. The clip for the expansion slots if better then the old one as well. I does have some windows however, as well as purty blue lights.

 

[fierydemise]

The one thing to look out for with the above mentioned Lian Li cases is that they are all aluminum which will hurt their sound output. While the K10 has sound dampening foam on the inside which will adsorb sound and reduce cavity resonance however the panels are still lighter then a traditional steel case meaning you will get more vibration noise from the cases (the rubber HD grommets will help keep noises down but unless you decouple the fans as well there will still be more vibration noise then there would be in a steel case).

More detailed info on vibration noises from SPCR

 

[Kirby64]

If you can live without a removable mobo tray, the Antec P182 seems to fit the bill pretty well. It's very quiet, built like a tank, has plenty of airflow, and works wonderfully for cable management (assuming you want to put the time into good cabling)

<- Proud Antec P182 owner

 

[aussie greg]

My Gigabyte Aurora case, fails in not having a lift out mobo tray, but is great in all other respects. The new version, the aurora 570 is slightly longer to accommodate the new larger video cards. This http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php is a link to an Australian site, which is hugely better than Newegg's[one of my other favourite sites] for looking at cases try it , but in the end, 'mpilchfamily' is right...the case you want/like is really personal choice.

 

[Zepper]

The Lian Li/Lancool K7 and K10 are not all aluminum. The inner chassis is steel with only the skin being aluminum.

.bh.

 

[Cheex]

Antec 1200

/thread

 

[RallyMaster]

Originally posted by: Cheex
Antec 1200

/thread

Ricey cases with windows FTL. Novelty factor fades fast.