Please help me pick a good case

[TemjinGold]

I'm looking to build a new intel rig w/ an 8800 gtx in it so I'd like a case that can keep it cool and it must have ample clearance for its length. My priorities are quality construction, lightweight, good cooling, and quiet. Price is not too much of a concern but I'd probably have a hard time justifying a case that's much more than $250.

I don't use a lot of hardware (1 video card, 2 HDs, 1 dvd drive) and prefer a minimalist approach (don't like having too many 5.25"/3.5" bays since I won't use most of them). Currently use an Antec 500 HE PSU and plan on keeping that if possible. I don't plan on ever going SLI or doing watercooling or anything like that.

A case that I like is this but I wanted to get some more opinions. My current dvd drive is black so a black case is preferred but not a requirement (wouldn't mind getting another dvd drive since they are cheap if you recommend an awesome non-black case). If there's any more info that I can provide to help with suggestions, let me know. Thanks!

 

[Mavtech]

I suggest a Thermaltake Armour or a Coolermaster Stacker 830 (or similar). The TT is only $140 or so. The Stacker is over $200 though. I have the Armour with the 25 cm side panel fan. It blows right on my CPU heatsink and the front fans bring cool air right to my 8800GTX.

 

[Zepper]

Hmmm, I don't think either of those could be described as having few extra drive bays. But it is hard to find smaller than the typical 10-bay case for reasonable money. Though I usually wouldn't consider Lian Li when buying cases (though they probably sell more cases in the US than anywhere else, yet they don't even have a support office here in the States), the A12 looks pretty good at Newegg's current special price. Though you can get a base version Silverstone Temjin 5 (SST-TJ05) for just a bit more ($115.00 +sh - still significantly less than the A12's regular price) and you get a lot more room (especially for long cards) and a full complement of modern features (which Lian Li cases routinely lack).

.bh.

 

[Engraver]

If you are worried about 8800 GTX temps Lian Li cases are good for their inverted motherboard setup. Then get a Scythe Kama drive bay fan to blow air directly on them. Only draw back is you have to get one of the more expensive ones to get enough drive bays, it takes 3 if I remember correctly.

Example:
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/526/dsc00251dq2.jpg

 

[manimal]

I have a TJ09 and love it. I have a 8800gts 640 that I clock aggressively and the way air is drawn over the graphics cards keeps them really cool even with the high summer ambients. With a name like yours OP I cant believe you dont have a Silverstone

 

[Zepper]

The Scythe Kama Bay fan hardly moves any air at all...

.bh.

 

[TemjinGold]

Thanks for all the advice.

You guys mentioned some pretty nice cases but what I really wanted was something smaller if possible as I'll only have one optical drive and 2 hard drives (so don't need much more room for anything else). The length to support the GTX is important but I was hoping someone reading this knew of quality smaller cases (though if that doesn't exist, I may just go with a bigger case).

manimal: My nick actually refers to the arcade game, Virtual On Cybertroopers, NOT the Silverstone line of cases, though that might not be a bad idea...

Zepper: You mentioned that the Silverstones have some "modern features" that the Lian Li's don't. I don't know much about cases. Would you care to elaborate on what you meant?

Out of curiosity, has anyone used or heard of anything regarding the case I linked in the original post? Is it a good case? The size seemed nice and it did have 2 fans...

 

[Zepper]

Toolless features, drive rails, rubber bushings for the HDDs, etc. "Toolless" to LL means thumbscrews... :roll:

.bh.

 

[Zepper]

The Chenbro SR10568 is a nice case. It is a serious workstation case - short but deep. Usually find the best price at eWiz.com. The NZXT Duet may be a possible. There are a couple of ATX cases that put the PSU at the lower front and have limited drive bays. On Newegg, it's hard to separate the small ATX cases from the microATX with an easy sort. Athenatech has several small ATX cases but there may be a problem with long cards even though the case is nearly 20" deep (newegg carries a couple of them). Some of the LL cases of the 5 series are short and deep but mount the mobo upside down and have strange airflow that may not work well.

.bh.

 

[Old Hippie]

the A12 looks pretty good at Newegg's current special price.

Will wonders never cease.