PC CASES (A bit confused. Help please)

[Terrapin]

I have pretty much narrowed down the components for my new system, but am getting stuck on what case to use. I'll list the components, but basically the few questions I have are:

1) Is there any advantage to a TOWER as opposed to MID TOWER, if a Mid Tower provides al the expansion room you will ever require? (Is a Tower Cooler because it's larger)?

2) Is the additional cost for an Aluminum case worth the expense? I realize they are nice looking and light, but do they really provide that much more of a cooling environment then a regular case?

My Components:

OS Win XP Pro
Asus P4T533-C
P4-2.4B
512 Corsaire 1066 Rdram
WD 1200JB 120GB 8MB Buffer HD
Teac 1.44 Floppy
Toshiba 16/48 DVD-ROM
Plextor 40/12/40 CD-RW
Asus GF4 Ti-4600 Ultra Deluxe
SB Audigy Plat.
Promise Ultra 133 IDE (so CD drives can be on seperate controllers)
Antec True 430 Wat

Cases being considered:

Coolermaster ATC 101 Aluminum Full Tower $250ish
Lian Li - 70 Aluminum Full Tower $209ish
In Win Full Tower Non-Alum $70ish

I'm really stuck on what the heck to do about a case. This system is costing a lot as it is and while I'm willing to get the appropriate case, I don't want to spend anymore at this point then I feel it reasonable too.

Thank you,

Terrapin

 

[LostHiWay]

I have the new Aluminum Chieftec Dragon case (antec 1030 clone). This has all the room you could ask for and has great cooling. It's also MUCH MUCH cheaper than the Lian-Li and Coolermaster.

You can get them in beige, black, blue, yellow, and green

Here's a LINK

 

[clumsum]

You don't need the aluminum case and can save $$$ by just using a regular steel high-quality model .........
The Aluminum case is basically for looks ......... if you have the extra money and like the looks ........... go for it, but they are definately not necessary to your pc's performance!
Use the money you save on a better Monitor .......... that's what YOU look at the most!

The Inwin's are good cases ........ and a good value.
So are the Fong-Kai, Antec, Yeong Yang, LiteOn and many other cases.
Why not just go with one of the Antec SX cases, since you want to use an Antec psu and save some money by not having to buy them separately?

Just IMO, smaller is better .......... you really don't need a full-tower ........ for the system you have listed.
Make sure the case you decide on is a P4 model (most are now) ....... they generally have improved cooling.

 

[Terrapin]

Good suggestion. Think Ill get this Antec.

Save myself a few hundred bucks.

Thanks guys,

Terrapin

 

[mrman3k]

I got the Chieftec (They manufacture the Antec cases) Blue Dragon with the window from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=Blue+Dragon&page=1) It is cheap and it has excellent cooling. It is basically the same case that Alienware uses.

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: mrman3k
I got the Chieftec (They manufacture the Antec cases) Blue Dragon with the window from Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=Blue+Dragon&page=1) It is cheap and it has excellent cooling. It is basically the same case that Alienware uses.

I just got that case a few days ago too Oddly enough my CPU temps dropped 5c with a case change, different air flow with more fans too. But not questioning that at all.

 

[mrman3k]

Also, it is very quiet and you have a fan blowing directly on top of the graphics card, it helps to cool the GF4 TI4400 memory even better!