New case for first time build.

[GoCobbers1]

I am looking for a pretty specific type of case. Some requirements for case are as follow.

-Good ventilation. Will be running a overclocked E6600, 8800GTS and 680i mobo.
-have new Arctic 7 cooler but no other Aux. case fans in my possession.

-Needs to be able to fit a 8800GTX which I have heard take up to 11in with mounts.

-Pretty conservative looking, no side windows, crazy LED lights or crazy graphics.

-And probably most important it is for a friend who has heard that it can be a nightmare to install motherboards in some cases. So he is looking for a case that is simple enough and quality enough for a first time builder.

Price range is $75 to $100 USD

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Zepper]

Rosewill R5601 or R5604 (last I looked they were on special). See my review here:
http://www.techimo.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=431&sort=7&cat=3&page=1. Has 11" of card space.

.bh.

 

[LintMan]

The Enermax Phoenix seems like a pretty nice, cheap case that should have good cooling and isn't too glitzy.

Newegg calls it ECA3092, but I'm pretty sure it's the same case.

I'm not 100% on it fitting the 8800GTX, but the case list shows the Chakra fits it, and the Phoenix is pretty similar. Maybe someone here can confirm that it fits.

 

[GoCobbers1]

both cases are great. I really like the Enermax case. Will both these cases make for EASY installation of motherboard? (Its the one area of the build that is making me nervous.)

thanks for the help

 

[mechBgon]

Installing a motherboard is typically pretty easy. I put up some photos of the general procedure starting on this page. Put standoffs into the case where the mobo has holes, put the I/O shield into the hole, and gently put the motherboard against the I/O shield and bolt it down snug but not super-tight. Then take a snack break

 

[Zepper]

If you read my review, you would know that the R560x uses almost no standoffs as the most common locations are pressed right into the case metal. So you just put the custom I/O shield that came with the mobo into the opening for it (goes in from the inside), lower the mobo straight down in, slide the ports into the I/O shield, line up the mobo mounting holes (those usually have silver lands (circles) around them now) with the standoffs and then screw it down. I leave the screws loose a bit and mount two add-on cards (one at each end of the array of slots) and use the slack to make sure the cards line up with the least possible tension on them (so all the cards should stay put in their slots) and then tighten the screws down - but not too tightly as you can damage the mobo by overtightening the mounting screws. It could hardly be easier except for the few that don't use screws.

The Chakra/Phoenix use many standoffs that have to be screwed in at the right spots. Use Mechbgon's "New Builder's Guide" to avoid most mistakes. What you don't want in this regard is extra metal standoffs where they don't belong as they can cause shorts. I use extra plastic standoffs in holes that aren't necessarily meant for standoffs for extra support - I modify them for length as needed.

The Chakras are nice too - basically a Coolermaster Centurion case with the big fan. But they don't rubber mount the HDDs and they have the mesh front that doesn't block much noise. The R5601 does a good job of blocking noise at the front and has rubber bushings in the HDD mounting rails.

I think Yate Loon is selling 140mm fans now - you could put a couple of those on any case's side panel for the same effect as the big fan in the Enermax cases.

.bh.