Need to know if these cases are right

[evti]

I am going to build the following: http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/k3Sy

AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor
ASRock FM2A75 Pro4 ATX FM2 Motherboard
Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 1GB Video Card
Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply
Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer

I have not yet chosen a case. I am a noob, and only know the very basics of case choosing. I know I need 7 expansion ports in my case, as well as either 2 120mm fans, or 2 80mm and 1 120mm. The drive bays aren't really an issue since I don't imagine I will need more than 2 3.5" bays and 1 external 5.25" bay. So I chose either one of the following:

RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238WU
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811156223

Azza Orion 202EVO
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=59013&vpn=CSAZ-202EVO&manufacture=AZZA Technology&promoid=1258

Any reason I should forgo these choices? Remember, I am a noob. Thanks

 

[blastingcap]

Your specs are ambiguous... is this to be an HTPC or heavy duty gaming rig or somewhere in-between?

If you want a high-performance case, then as a rule of thumb, stay away from cases that aren't at least 8" thick. You want nice, fat, juicy ones because those will have more space for CPU coolers as well as room behind the motherboard for cable management.

E.g., http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139011 (over 8", fits 160mm tower coolers with ease and has some cable stashing room)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119196 (over 8", ditto)

A casemaker that doesn't skimp on width probably doesn't skimp on other things like fan mounting holes and such, in my experience.

Based on reviews, that RAIDMAX case you linked to would be acceptable for a lower-wattage mATX build and only if you don't plan on ever making a high wattage rig with it. It has only a 120mm rear fan and a side 80mm fan if I'm reading that right, which is not enough to really cool a high-wattage rig and thus limits your expandability in the future if that matters to you; and some reviewers say it's really cramped and not really for full ATX. It seems to lack the niftier stuff that higher-end cases have, but you can probably live without them... it just makes working on them a little more time-consuming but not a big deal. Lack of front USB 3.0 isn't great but you can always use back USB ports with your mobo or get a hub or something.

Avoid the AZZA case you linked to like the plague.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Not sure what you build is. Please fill sticky and we can rebuild it for you

 

[evti]

Your specs are ambiguous... is this to be an HTPC or heavy duty gaming rig or somewhere in-between?

It would be somewhere in between. I would like to be able to expand and upgrade in the future, so that would need to be factored in, but I won't be making any crazy gaming rigs or anything.

I am liking the Cooler Master case you linked to.

Not sure what you build is. Please fill sticky and we can rebuild it for you

What do you mean "fill sticky"? I don't see a sticky involving anything to fill out to post in this forum if that's what you mean.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Sticky in general hardware.
Your build. Its trinity with a discrete GPU.
I would go with an i3 3220 and a cheap h77 motherboard. With that GPU since you'll be able to upgrade to as high as a i7 3770k.
For trinity/fm2 you're bound to the A6,A8, or A10 which cannot compete with the i3 except in gaming, but that won't matter since youll have a discrete card

 

[evti]

Sticky in general hardware.
Your build. Its trinity with a discrete GPU.
I would go with an i3 3220 and a cheap h77 motherboard. With that GPU since you'll be able to upgrade to as high as a i7 3770k.
For trinity/fm2 you're bound to the A6,A8, or A10 which cannot compete with the i3 except in gaming, but that won't matter since youll have a discrete card

This build was suggested to me on the Tom's Hardware forums based on what I said I was going to do with it. I am also on a budget, which was taken into account as well. Unfortunately, since I am relatively new to all of this, I couldn't put your advice into action because it's kind of beyond me lol Any suggested reading?

blastingcap: I also found this: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811147061

It is 7.88", which is almost 8", but it says it has support for up to 7 fans. It's also got two 120mm and one 140mm fan, which sounds pretty good. It also has a USB 3.0 header

 

[blastingcap]

This build was suggested to me on the Tom's Hardware forums based on what I said I was going to do with it. I am also on a budget, which was taken into account as well. Unfortunately, since I am relatively new to all of this, I couldn't put your advice into action because it's kind of beyond me lol Any suggested reading?

blastingcap: I also found this: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811147061

It is 7.88", which is almost 8", but it says it has support for up to 7 fans. It's also got two 120mm and one 140mm fan, which sounds pretty good. It also has a USB 3.0 header

The Ranger is decent, but there are plenty of good cases at that price so don't feel like you need to buy the Ranger. You only need good front and rear fans anyway; the side/top/bottom aren't necessary so long as you have good front-to-rear airflow. If you wait for a sale you can usually a Ranger for a lot less than $70, at least in the USA version of newegg's site.

If Tom's recommended that build, that forum is suckier than I thought it was. You don't need GPUs on both the CPU and card; just one or the other. I second the motion that you fill out the sticky in General.

 

[ramj70]

I built a computer for my mom and used that raidmax tornado case because she liked the color and looks. I didn't like the case that much, its pretty flimsy and the interior is cramped. I would recommend against getting that case.

 

[evti]

The Ranger is decent, but there are plenty of good cases at that price so don't feel like you need to buy the Ranger. You only need good front and rear fans anyway; the side/top/bottom aren't necessary so long as you have good front-to-rear airflow. If you wait for a sale you can usually a Ranger for a lot less than $70, at least in the USA version of newegg's site.

So would the reviews be the best method in determining a good case, aside from what I require out of it?

If Tom's recommended that build, that forum is suckier than I thought it was. You don't need GPUs on both the CPU and card; just one or the other. I second the motion that you fill out the sticky in General.

Alright, should I do it here or make a new thread?

 

[jtatech]

Get this and call it a day

http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-Enfor...aster+enforcer