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Picking a case for gaminig PC

C

Craig234

Lifer
I have two cases already owned to pick from for a gaming PC.

The Antec Sonata 3 comes with a 500W power supply and is a nice full size.

I'd got a Thermaltake Armor case as the recommended one from Sharkyextreme, but it's huge. I'd probably use it with the Apevia 700W supply if I don't get a nice brand name one.

I'm interested in help deciding which to use. It's for an AMD 965, 4870, Soundblaster. The 4870 recommended 600W so the Antec 500W is iffy - I could swap the Apevia in as a third option if needed.

I just look at the Thermaltake and say 'man it's huge'. It fits one place I might put the PC but would be huge on a desk.

What factors should I consider to pick one or the other?
 
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i'm saying that yes, the sonata (while a mediocre quality case) is better than Thermaltake's toys.
And if u use that apevia low quality PSU and it takes down your MB CPU and RAM, will you just get better ones of those too?? i wouldn't touch that psu if it was used to power a lightbulb
 
I would go with the Armor if you didnt need to move it around a lot.
Meaning once u built it, and set it up, you arent gonna move it, or tug it to a friends house...

If you are gonna be moving it around a lot, then go with the lighter sonata.

You can pull off better cooling options on the Armor without worries, then you can on a sonata. Also you can replace the internal fans to much quieter ones on the Armor, and make it fairly quiet.

And i wouldnt trust that apevia power supply either...
Higher number does not always mean better power supply.
 
The Sonata III is a very nice quiet case, but I wouldn't recommend it in your situation.

The 4870 is going to be loud/hot and long cards block the optional intake fan mounts on the Sonata.
 
You should have asked before you bought. Both suck.

I have the Thermaltake and you're right it's huge - never used it. Still in box in garage.

The Sonata front panel feels/looks cheap and comes with a garbage loud PSU.

My Suggestion is get money back and get a Antec Solo, probably their best case ever if you like subdued, reasonable size and quiet and drop a Corsair or Seasonic PSU in there.

If you can't do that use the sonata 3 and get a real PSU.
 
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Zebo said:
The Sonata front panel feels/looks cheap and comes with a garbage loud PSU.

My Suggestion is get money back and get a Antec Solo, probably their best case ever if you like subdued, reasonable size and quiet and drop a Corsair or Seasonic PSU in there.
Click to expand...

AFAIK the Sonata III comes with an Earthwatts 500W, which (to most people) is neither loud nor garbage.

Will the 4870 fit in either Sonata or Solo?
 
The Earthwatts 500W in the Sonata is certainly not garbage, but it's no high-end psu either. I'd take that over the Apevia psu though.
 
I've burnt 3 Antecs and they in the process burnt my stuff on at least one. They are garbage. Case and PSU for $100 when antecs solo which is similar sells for $100 by itself? Corners are cut somewhere and since you get what you pay for and decent PSUs start at $100 both is the answer.
 
Zap said:
Will the 4870 fit in either Sonata or Solo?
Click to expand...
A 4870 will definitely fit in the Sonata, but it will preclude the use of an intake fan unless you get creative as it blocks the mounts located on the back of the drive cage. 😉
 
Zebo said:
I've burnt 3 Antecs and they in the process burnt my stuff on at least one. They are garbage. Case and PSU for $100 when antecs solo which is similar sells for $100 by itself? Corners are cut somewhere and since you get what you pay for and decent PSUs start at $100 both is the answer.
Click to expand...

I've been running only Antecs for about 8 years now without an issue. Rock solid and dead quiet. Maybe you were overloading them?

For what it's worth, I have the Sonata II and love it. Replaced my Sonata I which I also loved.
I don't run two OCed video cards, I don't run a 4 disk RAID, I value quiet systems over 20 fan systems, and once I get them up and running solidly with a modest OC I really don't open them again for a few years unless something dies or I need more HD space or a new vid card.

The Sonatas have been great for me, and I'm hoping they put out a new rev with eSATA and USB3 ports on the front. I'll buy it.
 
The 4870 will fit into the sonata but you will lose the use of the internal 120mm fan mount even with slim fans. 600w is really overkill for those parts. I used the sonata case with my set up briefly and the 500w earthwatts was more then enough.

I went back to my antec 300 as the temperatures for both cpu/gpu went up between 5-9c.
 
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