Need to start shopping for a new case...

[skeedo]

I plan on doing a long overdue build in November and I can't say I've researched cases at all. Some absolute musts of a new case:

-Mid tower! Full tower just seems so stupidly large. I mean cmon, what's the purpose of a full tower unless you have like 9 drives? Sure maybe it's a little cooler but jeez...my last build I went with full, and I gotta say I'm missing the convenient size of a mid.

-Dust covers. I have abnormally dry skin, and I work for home so all the dust choking my current PC to death mostly comes from me. I'm looking for a case that will allow for a virtually dust free inside.

I'm not planning on overlocking off the bat, but I would like something that is capable of keeping everything cool when I get around to OCing.

That's all I can think of at the moment, please let me know if anybody has any recommendations.

 

[AntonioHG]

How many 3.5in/2.5in/optical drives do you plan on using?

AIO cooling, air cooling, or custom water cooling?

Do you mind sacrificing ease-of-use/assembly for aesthetics?

For example, the FT05 looks really nice, is really good for air cooling, can only store 2 3.5in HDDs and a couple SSDs and can only fit a slim optical drive. My girlfriend's X500 have like no cable management, lol, and require some work to make it look decent.

What's your budget?

 

[skeedo]

As far as drives really only planning on an SSD, storage Sata and a DVD drive. Standard air cooling should be fine. I do like stylish looking cases, but I also do not like PITA installations so there's bound to be some happy medium somewhere. Budget for my build is around $2000, I'd like most of that to go towards the hardware.

 

[AntonioHG]

Fractal Design Define R4 $99
Fractal Design Core 3300 $69

Corsair 300R $89

Quirky, but sexy (imho), only slim, slot load optical:

Silverstone FT05 $168

Hopefully some others can throw in some candidates and eliminate some of mine to help you out.

 

[skeedo]

Not bad, maybe looking for something a little more stylish. Anybody else have suggestions?

 

[Charlie98]

To what he suggested I would rule out the Core... while it has filters, they are simple mesh and not very effective. (I know, I have a Core 1000 and Arc Mini.)

I DO have 2 Define Minis... the R4's little brother... and, like the the R4, it has full filters and door. It's about the smallest full-featured mATX case out there before you start making compromises. Previously I had a CoolerMaster HAF922, and even with aftermarket filters it still gagged in my absurdly dusty house; the Define Mini fixed all that.

AH! ...good question: ATX or mATX?

 

[skeedo]

ATX is fine, like I said just goin for a mid tower...full just takes up way too much space.

 

[greybaby]

Such a gross thing when you think about it, the dust being formerly us! I love the R4 but it is heavy.