Top 5 Mid Tower cases under $100 with good features.

teh_pwnerer

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Oct 24, 2012
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#1 - Antec Gaming Series One $59.99 - 1 year warranty, front USB 3.0 / Audio, 120mm fans.

11-129-181-Z01

#2
- Fractal Arc Midi Black $68.99 - 3 year warranty, front USB 3.0 / Audio, 140mm fans.

chassi-tower_fractal_design_arc_miditower_black_no_psu-16260720-frntl.jpg

#3 - Corsair Carbide 300r $89.99- 2 year warranty, front USB 3.0 / Audio, 140mm fans.

300r_top.png

#4 -
Antec 300 Illusion $54.99 - 3 year warranty, front USB 2.0 / Audio, Blue LED 120mm fans.

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#5 - Zalman Z9 Plus Black $75.99 - 1 year warranty, front USB 2.0 / Audio, Blue LED 120mm fans.

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These 5 cases go on sale all the time so they are worth watching out for. Sleek cases with good features at a good price. Can't go wrong there. :thumbsup:
 
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lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
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Antec One, 300R and Arc Midi are all nice in my book.

I've heard bad stuff about Zalman's build quality, and it looks horrendous to me. I would not include 300 Illusion, its cable management sucks and it lacks USB 3.0 on the front, I also dislike LED fans. Replace with:

CM 690 II Advanced $50 AR AP
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Antec P280 $80 AR
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teh_pwnerer

Member
Oct 24, 2012
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Everyone has their own taste for cases. Some like ones with clear side panels, a lot of LEDs, or just a sleek black case.

There is actually a new Zalman Z9 with USB 3.0. I believe it's otherwise the same as the Z9 Plus.

I am a fan of blue LEDs or White LEDs such as the Corsair 500r.
 

blastingcap

Diamond Member
Sep 16, 2010
6,654
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I like my cases black and thick (8+ inches), and without too many distracting add-ons like over-use of LED lights. The width means more clearance for fans and coolers and space behind the motherboard, which is important for cable management.

For high-performance cases, 5.25 bays with holes would be good to get more airflow up high. I can make my own filters but I don't want to have to drill my own holes. But it's not a dealbreaker as long as there are at least 3 bays, because then I can remove the bay covers and stick a five-inch fan in the resulting hole and drop the CPU temps another few degrees C.

Everything else is optional, even USB 3 which I can always use back ports and hubs/extensions for. And a strong front to back airflow can make up for lack of side cooling.
 

VulgarDisplay

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2009
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Fractal Cases are amazing.

I can't wait for the Fractal Design Node 304 to get in stock at stores. Must have one for a HTPC.
 

Rezist

Senior member
Jun 20, 2009
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Isn't the cooler master HAF 912 a pretty good case? Also the bitfenix shinobi.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
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Yeah those two are pretty good as well. Also NZXT Phantom 410 and NZXT Tempest 410 Elite.
 

teh_pwnerer

Member
Oct 24, 2012
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Fractal Cases are amazing.

I can't wait for the Fractal Design Node 304 to get in stock at stores. Must have one for a HTPC.
What Fractal case do you have or have built a system with? The one I linked above is very sleek.

I may build my next system with that. :thumbsup:
 

VulgarDisplay

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2009
6,188
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What Fractal case do you have or have built a system with? The one I linked above is very sleek.

I may build my next system with that. :thumbsup:

I currently have a Corsair 650D but I should have gotten the Corsair Define XL instead.

I plan on getting a Node 304 for a HTPC/Server.

DSC_6816_575px.jpg


So sexy.
 

bamaland101

Senior member
Jul 21, 2012
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arc midi, and p280 both very good cases, as for the shinobi, i wouldnt touch it for free unless it was the shinobi XL.

other good cases include the silverstone ps07b, the little sister of the tejmin08, found it very easy to work with cable management wise, and can hide 2/3 SSD's behind the psu/mobo tray easy.
 

teh_pwnerer

Member
Oct 24, 2012
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arc midi, and p280 both very good cases, as for the shinobi, i wouldnt touch it for free unless it was the shinobi XL.

other good cases include the silverstone ps07b, the little sister of the tejmin08, found it very easy to work with cable management wise, and can hide 2/3 SSD's behind the psu/mobo tray easy.
Do you have the Arc Midi?
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
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DSCF1633.jpg


Far left bottom - 500r white (Box only since I sold it to Lazlo :) ) Left top - Antec One, Left middle - Bitfenix Merc Alpha (best case you can buy for $40), Right middle - CM Storm Trooper (My main rig), Far right - Bitfenix Prodigy white (Amazing ITX case)
 
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crazymonkeyzero

Senior member
Feb 25, 2012
363
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Pretty good list,I'd actually buy any of them myself except for that Zalman, which looks kind of awkward, imo.
Here's another case that gets my vote. It's $99.99, which is the upper limit.

CM Storm Scout 2
Scout_2_package_front.jpg
 
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