Recommend me a case under $200

[supertle55]

I'm putting together an I7 system. Originally was going to use my old case but found that my noctua fan/heatsink won't fit.

I fell in love with the cosmo 1010. I think I like cases that has no window to see through b/c i'm terrible in organizing the cable for a neat look so I rather not show my mess. Budget must be under $200.

I prefer a tower (midsize to full is fine) and a quality build. No cheap flimsy case.

 

[Rick James]

CM HAF or Sniper are good case's. Also a Antec twelve hundred.

 

[PCTC2]

Cooler Master RC-690, Cooler Master RC-840 (which is a cleaner looking version of the HAF932 basically)

Possibly the Antec P182/3 or P193.

 

[supertle55]

I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: supertle55
I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

Dude, I felt the same way when I got my 1200, I can't ever imagine going back to a mid-tower!

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: supertle55
Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

*cough* (snicker) *cough*

 

[BonzaiDuck]

For ready-made commercial cases, I am currently partial to the CoolerMaster HAF 932.

Like the older CoolerMaster Stacker 830 (also have one of those), there are so many ventilation and cooling options that you need to be selective in how they are used -- maybe even blocking off some aspects of the options if you have a directed and focused cooling-strategy.

There are oversized fans you can buy in case you need to replace or add. They're pretty inexpensive.

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: supertle55
I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

Dude, I felt the same way when I got my 1200, I can't ever imagine going back to a mid-tower!

Until you try to move it and pull your back because of it

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: supertle55
I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

Dude, I felt the same way when I got my 1200, I can't ever imagine going back to a mid-tower!

Until you try to move it and pull your back because of it

That's why one needs a case with wheels!!!

 

[bleucharm28]

i saw this at Fry's Electronics store. The cost was about $175. The quality/design is GREAT!!!!

Antec 1200

PIC 2

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: videogames101
Dude, I felt the same way when I got my 1200, I can't ever imagine going back to a mid-tower!

My co-worker has his system in an Antec 1200 in his basement computer room. He loves it.

He's having a heck of a time trying to overclock his setup (Asus 750i chipset board, E8400, won't clock at all) and I suggested he bring it in so I could fiddle with it.

He has yet to bring it in. Too heavy. Now that he's needing to move it just this one time, he's having second thoughts about the huge case, and is considering buying an Antec 902 (or whatever new model is).

 

[fluffmonster]

Antec 900 V2 is not a light case. I like mine, but loaded its well over 30 pounds.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: fluffmonster
Antec 900 V2 is not a light case. I like mine, but loaded its well over 30 pounds.

It's lighter than my HAF932 fully loaded.

I wonder if Fry's has the ATCS RC-840

 

[homercles337]

I just picked this up last week for $199: CM ATCS 840. Shipping was close to $40 though.

Shit, looks like the price went down: eWiz

 

[dmh1167]

Got rid of a thermaltake shark for an antec 1200 and Im very happy and hard pressed to find anything in its class and price thats mutch better for me.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Originally posted by: dmh1167
Got rid of a thermaltake shark for an antec 1200 and Im very happy and hard pressed to find anything in its class and price thats mutch better for me.

I haven't paid as much attention to the Antec cases as I should have paid.

I just looked over the "photo-album" on the Antec 1200 at a reseller's site.

ArchBishop BonzaiDuck gives "nihil obstat" and "imprimatur" to the Antec 1200.

Go in peace.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: supertle55
I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

sweet case, I saw it on demo at Frys when it came out and I was drooling. I see it's $140 AR on Newegg I might have to jump on this.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: supertle55
I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

sweet case, I saw it on demo at Frys when it came out and I was drooling. I see it's $140 AR on Newegg I might have to jump on this.

Why do so many people not like this case?

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Tullphan

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: supertle55
I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

sweet case, I saw it on demo at Frys when it came out and I was drooling. I see it's $140 AR on Newegg I might have to jump on this.

Why do so many people not like this case?

Maybe too big? beats me. This is by far the best looking case I've ever seen. But then again I find the Antec 600/1200 ugly as shit, and I know a lot of people love the Antecs. Cosmos is on another level. I even like the 1000s, thought not as much.

 

[ahenkel]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: Tullphan

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: supertle55
I pulled the trigger on the Coolmaster Cosmos 1000 for $150 AR out the door.

I'm so excited. First time buying a full tower. I don't need it. Call me weird, but I'm just loving the size of this thing.

sweet case, I saw it on demo at Frys when it came out and I was drooling. I see it's $140 AR on Newegg I might have to jump on this.

Why do so many people not like this case?

Maybe too big? beats me. This is by far the best looking case I've ever seen. But then again I find the Antec 600/1200 ugly as shit, and I know a lot of people love the Antecs. Cosmos is on another level. I even like the 1000s, thought not as much.

Yea its a big case, but it fits a ton of equipment and water cooling and a family of 4 could still live in it. As I seem to recall a lot of complaints regarding the Cosmos 1000 are heat issues. Due to the sound proofing (read insulation). Also the hard drives tend to get hot. ( although I found this fixed by moving the fan on the bottom to the mounting above the hard drive cages. Then screwing a fan to the bottom.

But if I was buying a new sub 200.00 case today i'd get an Acts 840. I like how it looks cleaner has the hole cut out for backplate mounting and the motherboard tray slides out.

 

[faxon]

Originally posted by: PCTC2

Originally posted by: fluffmonster
Antec 900 V2 is not a light case. I like mine, but loaded its well over 30 pounds.

It's lighter than my HAF932 fully loaded.

I wonder if Fry's has the ATCS RC-840

i know the palo alto store doesnt. you might want to check frys.com though. usually sunnyvale gets everything first, but if you have a frys near you we can ship products between stores for in store pickup

ed: looks like the ATCS isnt listed yet. a lot of the cases we carry dont even show up when you just go to cases, you have to search for them based on name. kind of strange if you ask me, but not much i can do about it sadly

 

[TidusZ]

My friend complains a lot about how moving his computer is a hassle and he probably wouldnt bring it to my place for $100, but I've got a loaded HAF and i can have it in my car and ready to go in 15 minutes - it's not that heavy. For a computer sure, but it's not like you are going to hurt yourself lifting it or you need to call a buddy or something, you just grab it and go. 30 pounds? sure. Heck you have to be able to lift 50 pounds to work at burger king. I just think people really overrate this. I'll take a 30 pound computer with good cooling and price over a 10 pound lian-li with less cooling and 2-3x the price for the case.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: BonzaiDuck

Originally posted by: dmh1167
Got rid of a thermaltake shark for an antec 1200 and Im very happy and hard pressed to find anything in its class and price thats mutch better for me.

I haven't paid as much attention to the Antec cases as I should have paid.

I just looked over the "photo-album" on the Antec 1200 at a reseller's site.

ArchBishop BonzaiDuck gives "nihil obstat" and "imprimatur" to the Antec 1200.

Go in peace.

Just in case anyone else besides me was curious: Definitions