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Recommend me a Case

M

MrCodeDude

Lifer
It's time to put my Chenming 301KE to rest and I'm in the market for a new case. I've looked at a lot of cases, but haven't found one that really struck my eye. The closest case that I've liked is the Antec P160W. I had high hopes for the P180, but ended up hating it.

Here's some of the main things I'm really looking for:

[*] Mid-Tower ATX
[*] Removable motherboard tray
[*] Drive-Rail System for the 5.25" Drives
[*] Side-Loading HD Rails (where the power and data connectors face the side of the case, like what the Sonata II and P160 have)
[*] A minimal/simplistic look
[*] I would prefer a 120mm exhaust and 120mm intake for optimal silence

I've looked at the Sonata, the Sonata II, the Wave Master, the P160, P180, Super LANBoy and numerous Thermaltake options. I've found suitable options in full-sized versions, but I'm really looking for something that is a Mid-Tower.

If anyone wants to make an argument for their case, I'm in real need of options.

Thanks in advance!
 
I have the P160. It's a good case. I like the look of it. It doesn't look like a refrigerator (P180) or an alien. The temperature display works nice. When I was shopping around for a case, the P160 caught my eye because its ports/buttons are at the top of the case, which works nicely with me putting the case on the floor next to my desk.
The P160 has a lot of substance to it. It has lots of room, especially above the power supply.
 
Originally posted by: soydios
I have the P160. It's a good case. I like the look of it. It doesn't look like a refrigerator (P180) or an alien. The temperature display works nice. When I was shopping around for a case, the P160 caught my eye because its ports/buttons are at the top of the case, which works nicely with me putting the case on the floor next to my desk.
The P160 has a lot of substance to it. It has lots of room, especially above the power supply.
Click to expand...
The only thing I didn't like about the P160 was the front's design with the three dimly lit cylinders. Also wasn't a fan of how you installed the exhaust 120mm fans.

Thanks for your input though 🙂
 
Very difficult to find cases with removable mobo trays any more. The only one I know of for sure under $100. is the Skyhawk server case (MSR series) on Dealsonic.com . Is that really a MUST or just a WANT?
Other than that, check out the Aerocool: Masstige (the one that Newegg calls the Masstige is actually the BayDream on the Aerocool site and has 0.8mm SECC instead of the 0.6 that the Egg lists, ten 5" bays and twist locks on the 5" bays instead of slides - the Masstige has 8x5" bays), CoolView (same as the BayDream except with a door and a Gatewatch display/control panel - Xoxide is selling it for even less than the Masstige! - only silver in stock), Spiral Galaxies - the Silverstone SST-TJ05 (no mobo tray but VERY roomy - you can remove the side arm if it gets in the way for you) or the TJ06.

Xoxide beats the Egg by a bunch on the Masstige/BayDream, CoolView, etc. Especially if you live on the East Coast for lower shipping.

You might also want to consider the "entry-level server" cases from ServerCase or BTOS like the CK800A. Their shipping to the East Coast is onerous, but it might be reasonable to you. The CK800A is very like several cases based on the same chassis so the mobo tray may be removeable but I'm not sure. The S-6000 at BTOS has a removable mobo tray with unusual snap-on mobo mounts - identical inside to the Silverstone Berserker I owned and reviewed in the Cases section of http://www.techimo.com/reviews/

.bh.
 
I got the LX-6A19 from Jim @ Coolcases.com. You can get them modified just about any way you wish. I went with the Mod 4. 92mm right side intake...92mm left side exhaust (over video card)...120mm front intake & 120mm rear exhaust.
If you want to save some money & don't require any modifications, go to Directron.com & check out their LX-6A19. It's the same case, just not modified & only comes w/1 120mm rear exhaust. Of course you can add an extra.
It has all the requirements you're wanting, I believe, with the exception of the removeable motherboard tray.
Give it a look-see. I like mine!
 
Neither the Raidmax nor the 6A19 mentioned above are very roomy. And the drive bays aren't sidesaddle on the 6A. You might want to check out the Rosewill (YeongYang) R560x series via the Rosewill thread here.

.bh.
 
Thanks for the recommendations of the X-1 and the R5604, I'll see if I can get a hand on those to test them out. Both seem to be prime candidates.
 
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