Need some advice on a Case

Sonikku

Lifer
Jun 23, 2005
15,802
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I'm building a new C2D system and as one who found out first hand how much you limit yourself with buying a small case (Q Pack; Micro Atx only), I figured it was time to buy one with the space for a full atx sized board. Antec is my prefered brand, but I'm open to suggestions if another brand can be found of decent quality and price. I don't want to spend a ton of money, I would be happy with something simple and elagent. I'll be running one video card, one harddrive and two sticks of ram so it may not have to have the most refined air flow in the world. What I've been looking at thus far is an Antec P180 case for about $148 shipped.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16811129154

Can I do better?
 

zero2dash

Member
Jul 28, 2007
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Originally posted by: Sonikku
I don't want to spend a ton of money, I would be happy with something simple and elagent. I'll be running one video card, one harddrive and two sticks of ram so it may not have to have the most refined air flow in the world.

I think you'd be silly paying $150 for a P180 with that minimal of equipment inside of it. Originally I was going to get a P180 myself but a) I can't get over the 'fridge' look, and b) seems like everyone and their grandma has one so I'd rather pick something equally well that is more 'out of the norm'.

Get a Lian-Li A05B. (or if you want a silver one, A05.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?Item=N82E16811112130
$99, free shipping. (the A05 is also $99 but they're still charging for shipping on it...$15)
It's a standard ATX, not a micro ATX like it appears. Check out the inside...the psu mount is at the front under the 3 3.5 bays, which is why the case is 'short' (but 'long') instead of tall and skinny like regular ATX midtowers.

Inverted mobo and reverse airflow (intake in the rear, outtake in the front near the HD - 1 120mm fan in each) is better for your cpu + gpu.

I just bought one Friday, I'm expecting it tomorrow (hopefully, if the UPS fairy is nice to me ;)). It'll be my first Lian-Li case, but I've always heard they make excellent, high quality cases.

And I'm putting a whole lot more in it when all's said and done. :) (once I order everything at least; for the time being, it will house my 3 year old P4 3.0C system with a Radeon 9500, 3 hard drives, and an 8x LiteOn dvd burner.)
Later this fall/early winter it will house a Q6600, Gigabyte P35-DS3R mobo, Tuniq Tower, eVGA 8800GTS 640meg, 4 gigs of Patriot ram (2x2), it'll have 2 SATA hard drives, dual 20x LiteOn dvd burners.
 

toughwimp11

Senior member
May 8, 2005
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i got the antec p182 (which is very similar to the p180) which is really nice and i definitely would not consider it a small case by any means. My specs are also very similar to yours (from the information given, check rig below). from my experience, it has excellent airflow and good cooling. i know that alot of people get it but i frankly dont care, if it works it works
 

zero2dash

Member
Jul 28, 2007
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If you really want an Antec I'd get a Sonata 3 because it comes with a great psu.

I think these other cases are not only overkill but a waste of money for what you're putting in them, but it's your money not mine. But I definitely wouldn't get a P180/182 or a 900 for a system with one HD and (probably) one optical drive...especially not a 900 unless you want to clean the dust out every few weeks.
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
1,221
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If you're looking for a P180 you're off your rocker to not consider rebates... I got a P180b from Newegg 2 weeks ago for $58 AR ($108 before) to the door. That's nearly half off for the rebate. If you want a smaller case, the Solo is similar to the P180 but smaller and without all the features.
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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If you decide on an Antec, http://www.provantage.com often has the best everyday, straight-up price (no rebate) before shipping on Antec cases. They drop-ship from warehouses around the country so ground shipping is usually pretty quick. Amazon used to have some good Antec prices too. The new NSK4400 would be adequate for the system listed and the PSU is more than adequate as well (I'm using the PSU that comes in the 4400 in my system - couldn't be happier with it).

.bh.
 

Daverino

Platinum Member
Mar 15, 2007
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I have a P180. The 182 is a nice upgrade to it, better cable management and roomier. The useless VGA duct is gone. Some other nice tweaks. But it's not small and it sure is heavy. The 182 also better supports watercooling, with radiator hose exits on the back. From the sounds of it though, you're wasting a lot of space. I think a much better suggestion would be the P150, the smaller cousin of the P180. Much smaller, equally quiet, and very elegant but subdued look. If you want something flashier, even the P160W is a good choice. Personally, I've always liked the look of the P160W.
 

alaricljs

Golden Member
May 11, 2005
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Understand that the P180s now shipping are NO different than the P182s except in the color of the metallic panels. Everything else is the same, new mobo tray wire routing, water cooling grommets and all that. And the VGA duct has been gone for a long time.
 

toughwimp11

Senior member
May 8, 2005
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frankly, i dont think any of the choices offered above would be a problem. they're all pretty solid
 

nubian1

Member
Aug 1, 2007
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Got to throw in my vote for the Thermaltake Bach VX. Looked long & hard at what was out there and it fits my needs 100%.
 

Shadowknight

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
3,959
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Originally posted by: Zepper
Antec's B-stock store generally has excessive shipping charges.

.bh.

Yes, but it's under $116 with shipping, which is $32 cheaper than the price he mentioned in the first place
 

Wigwam

Senior member
Dec 26, 2002
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Originally posted by: zero2dash
If you really want an Antec I'd get a Sonata 3 because it comes with a great psu.

I think these other cases are not only overkill but a waste of money for what you're putting in them, but it's your money not mine. But I definitely wouldn't get a P180/182 or a 900 for a system with one HD and (probably) one optical drive...especially not a 900 unless you want to clean the dust out every few weeks.

my only concern with the Sonata 3 is airflow - if looking to run a quiet machine GFx and cpu would be passively cooled [or else using a cpu cooler such as a Scythe Ninja] and the single 120mm fan at the rear would just not be up to the job. I know there is a 120mm fan mount behind the hdd cage but this only recirculates air doesn't it and restricts gfx card size?
 

zero2dash

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Jul 28, 2007
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The idea behind the Sonata 3 drive cage fan mount (AFAIK) is to pull cool air in from the front due to pressure and fan/air direction, but I think it's somewhat hogwash. They should've put the 120mm fan mount in front of the cage, sandwiched between the cage and the front like most cases, but for whatever reason they didn't. I think if they would've done that, they could've also given more room for long graphics cards (rather than the cage where it is and a fan behind it), but again...that's their bad not mine.

I was in the market to buy an Antec, but I grew sort of ticked off at their 'answers' to questions I sent them. I really wanted a 900 case but I did not want to deal with the dust. Where are the dust filters? Hmm? I sent them two messages; one prior to Computex and one after. At Computex they showed the 1200 case, which is nothing more than a 900 with 3 more bays and (on one model) a liquid cooling setup. Both 1200s feature DUST FILTERS. Since the 1200 drive cages are the same as the 900s, you'd think Antec would release a revised 900 with the dust filters from the 1200. Bzzt WRONG. Not so! says their customer service staff.

The other thing that bothers me is that they have good ideas in several of their cases. Room/separate chambers in the P180/P182. Cable management of the P150/Solo/Sonata Designer. Airflow of the 900. Where's the combo case that invokes all the above?

I also read that their cases (now) use a pretty cheap flimsy plastic (especially on the tabs) that are prone to breaking especially if you tweak around or move things in and out...upgrade often. What's up with that? This build...I went with a Lian-Li becase I didn't feel like waiting for Antec to come up with 'the perfect case for me'.
 

Shadowknight

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
3,959
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Originally posted by: zero2dash
The other thing that bothers me is that they have good ideas in several of their cases. Room/separate chambers in the P180/P182. Cable management of the P150/Solo/Sonata Designer. Airflow of the 900. Where's the combo case that invokes all the above?
If you wade through the SPCR case article section, Mike Chin worked with them on the P180 - he got them to use th multi-ply Al/plasti/Al that they had used in their Fusion case, suggested the PSU duct, the air vents on th side of the bezel instead of the front, etc. They, for some bizarre reason, added the useless VGA duct and (I think) the blowhole on top. They came up with the revisions for the P182 themselves (better cable management).

So... going by that, it may require another outside consult with, well, anyone, to get the almost-perfect-case right.
 

zero2dash

Member
Jul 28, 2007
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Yeah...I guess really "the perfect case" is a misnomer, because they've all got their quirks. ;)
I was really wanting a 900 though so I was devastated when I got a "no" two times on a dust filter idea. I'm too lazy to dust it out myself that often heh heh :D
 

Wigwam

Senior member
Dec 26, 2002
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just to update: I built a Q6600 system with a passively cooled 2600XT in this case using Acrtic Freezer 7 Pro for HSF and it is absolutely silent with the rear fan on low.
CPU temps 32-35 idle and 49 fully loaded.
Case Temps 35-39C

Infact it is so quiet the wife is insisting I bump the fan up to medium to she knows it is on [ie if the monitor is in standby and she is passing by etc]:thumbsup: