That's the last straw... I want a new case.

[CurseTheSky]

My Thermaltake Kandalf LCS has been a great case, but I'm finally sick of it. It has plenty of room, some decent features, and LOTS of options for water cooling. However, if you want to go with your own custom watercooling setup, you'll have to make up your own brackets and other hardware, which, with limited tools and supplies, can be a nightmare. I've been running the crappy Intel HSF for two months now, and my temps are idling around 55C. Coupled with the 50-75 pounds that I have to lug around every time I want to move it, a few broken front panel leads, a rattle that recently started, and the '66 Mustang that I'm dedicating most of my free time to, it's time for a change.

I'm still thinking about watercooling, but I'd prefer to switch to a midtower case (which will make it a bit more difficult). I'd love to stay with a 3x120mm radiator, but I can deal with a 2x120. I want a well-built, decently roomy, smaller, and lighter case that looks great.

Here's the two I have my eye on so far:

Antec P182SE - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129026
Likes - the mirror finish (A LOT); dual-chamber design with PSU on the bottom; motherboard tray; grommets for water cooling; locking front door; good front panel placement; great wire management; professional look
Dislikes - no front-panel eSATA; complaints that 8800GTX doesn't fit with HDD cage; complaints that PSU cables are too short; the top vent (why couldn't it just be flat?); no side window (then again, it looks awesome... who needs it?); $200

Thermaltake Soprano DX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133040
Likes - front eSATA port; dual locking front door; dust filter; stylish design; 8800GTX will fit; $115
Dislikes - bad front panel placement (same as Kandalf); side air vent (don't like the looks); emphasis on bling; square-shaped air intake on front is ugly; getting disheartened with Thermaltake

Two computers I built for other people used a Soprano DX and Tsunami Dream (very similar cases). Compared to this Kandalf LCS, they were a breeze to work with. Not extremely roomy, but not too bad (a lot of the free space in the Kandalf is wasted). If nothing else, I would buy one again.

A lot of people swear by Lian-Li cases. I'm sure they're VERY high quality, but I personally think they're ugly. They're just TOO plain for me. I don't want a spaceship on my desk, but I also want something I can look at and take pride in. I looked into Silverstone as well. The TJ-07 is very nice, but it's full tower. Their midtowers aren't as impressive.

All suggestions or testimonials are very welcome. I'm leaning towards the P182SE right now, but the 8800GTX may be a problem, so I'm a bit worried. I also need to make sure my PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16817153036) will fit.

Thank you.

 

[spacecowboy9891]

Ascetically speaking, that antec is a beautiful case. I have heard that it does need a good swab occasionally to keep the mirror finish.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Keeping it clean is something I'm not worried about. I have a chinchilla next to my desk (funny little animals, but great cage pets), and they need a regular dust bath in a fine volcanic powder. I use a microfiber cloth on EVERYTHING in here at least once a week.

I'm getting so tempted to hit the buy button. What would really make my day is if someone came forward saying they've used an 8800GTX in this case before, and had no problems with PSU cable length.

A final concern is that my PSU has a large fan on its side. I hope this case will still work ok with it...

 

[mlahatte]

This is the case I want. I want to go water cooled!

http://www.mountainmods.com/u2...diamond-top-p-257.html

 

[MichaelD]

I'm not sure if that Thermaltake has a dust filter on it...didn't see it when I looked at Newegg's page.

I will throw my vote in for the P182SE. You sound like a man that likes a nice, clean case. I can attest that the filters (there are two, 1 for HD/PS chamber, 1 for upper chamber) work very well in the P18X series of cases.

I love my P180.

Don't worry about not being able to use the upper HD cage w/a 8800GTX unless you're trying to run 6 hard drives in your case. The lower HD cage holds 4 HDs. You can still use the upper cage with a 8800GTX; you just can't put a HD in the lower bay of that cage. You can fit a 5th HD in the upper bay of the cage and still fit the 8800GTX. The PCI-E power connector for the video card will intrude into the space for that lower HD.

 

[imported_Scoop]

Cooler Master CM690

Cheap mid-tower enclosure, looks awesome, fits two 8800GTX in SLI with all HDD bays filled, PSU on the bottom. You can place a 2x120 radiator at the top of the case. All filtered mesh design. "Front" esata and other connectors on TOP of the case, which is so much better than the front if you ever need to use them. Comes with three 120mm fans. Should fit a PSU with a 140mm fan since you can place a 140mm fan on the bottom right next to the PSU.

I suppose it's bad side is that it's a bit noisy but that figures when it's so ventilated.

Your link to the PSU doesn't work by the way.

 

[ric0chet06]

I wouldnt go with the Soprano, I quickly got tired of its cheapness and flimsy construction. It looked cool for the first month, then it just looked generic.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I ended up shelling out the money for the P182SE. After reading review after review, the case really seems like it's made to impress. It's certainly a step away from the open-air, loud, blingy-but-sophisticated cases that I'm used to, but I think it's a step in the right direction.

Having worked with one already, I really do like the Thermaltake Tsunami Dream and Soprano DX cases (not the vanilla Soprano, which are pretty cheap). However, Thermaltake is quickly losing my trust with each small flaw. They seem to focus more on having a wide array of products, rather than a few very well designed ones. After being assured that the 8800GTX will fit, just without a HDD in the slot (I only run two), and the PSU will still draw adequate air and fit with the lower fan moved, I was sold on it. It does weigh 30-35lbs, which is decently heavy... but it's AT LEAST 20lbs less than my current case. I won't lie either, the mirror finish is what finally made me buy it.

Thank you all for the help. I'll be posting my experiences with the case in the near future (hopefully I can rip myself away from the car long enough to transfer components over) and comparing it to the Soprano DX, Kandalf LCS, and Tsunami Dream.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
I ended up shelling out the money for the P182SE.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

You'll love it dude.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
I looked into Silverstone as well. The TJ-07 is very nice, but it's full tower. Their midtowers aren't as impressive.

OMG dude... the TJ-09 has the be the blingest mid tower case you can buy. Also one of the most expensive. But when setup and done right, i havent seen a mid tower yet that outdoes a TJ-09



Go CM690 and cut it up like i did. Its a cheap case for you to learn to mod on.

Originally posted by: Scoop
Cooler Master CM690

Cheap mid-tower enclosure, looks awesome, fits two 8800GTX in SLI with all HDD bays filled, PSU on the bottom. You can place a 2x120 radiator at the top of the case. All filtered mesh design. "Front" esata and other connectors on TOP of the case, which is so much better than the front if you ever need to use them. Comes with three 120mm fans. Should fit a PSU with a 140mm fan since you can place a 140mm fan on the bottom right next to the PSU.

I suppose it's bad side is that it's a bit noisy but that figures when it's so ventilated.

Your link to the PSU doesn't work by the way.

Sorry, but you cant fit any radiator on top of th CM690 for 2 reasons.

reason 1. the second fan hole wont allign up. The fans at top were ment for 140mm fans, with a spacing for one as well. Meaning 120x2 radiators wont fit....

reason 2, the Thermochill PA120.2 might fit becaus the fan spacing is a bit wider. However now you run into a motherboard high issue. When i was playing with the case, i wanted to mount the fans on the inside below the radiator. Wont work, the mounting gear for the CPU block will block it. And if you hard mount, then you got tubes going around being blocked. So no, unless you mount the fans externally, cant mount the rad internally. [Maybe with a GTS] althought i still ran into issues with the mounting bolts for the cpu block.

 

[imported_Scoop]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Sorry, but you cant fit any radiator on top of th CM690 for 2 reasons.

reason 1. the second fan hole wont allign up. The fans at top were ment for 140mm fans, with a spacing for one as well. Meaning 120x2 radiators wont fit....

reason 2, the Thermochill PA120.2 might fit becaus the fan spacing is a bit wider. However now you run into a motherboard high issue. When i was playing with the case, i wanted to mount the fans on the inside below the radiator. Wont work, the mounting gear for the CPU block will block it. And if you hard mount, then you got tubes going around being blocked. So no, unless you mount the fans externally, cant mount the rad internally. [Maybe with a GTS] althought i still ran into issues with the mounting bolts for the cpu block.

Ok, well that's good to know for the future