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What other cases compare to the 800D in that price range?

C

ChorniyVolk

Senior member
Just been thinking about extending my case budget by $150 from $150 because of how high my total build budget is, I shouldn't be skimping, not to mention that the 800D looks delicious, but then thought, are there any other cases that compete with it in that price range, so naturally, I had to ask the pros.

On a side note, anything similar to the 800D looks-wise at in the $150-$250 range? Something simple and clean, like the COSMOS 1000 or something (doesn't look like the 800D very much, yeah, but it's simple, clean and stylish for the most part).
 
Cooler Master ATCS 840.

Several Lian-Li and Silverstone cases.

Most of them are lacking in features compared to the 800D, but most of them are also all aluminum (the 800D is mostly steel).
 
the 800D is a wonderful case if u dont mind how it looks.

It has the best wire management systems ever.

All of them ive seen fully built, looked very clean and very sharp.

Its one case where u dont need to be a pro modder to have it look good inside.

Originally posted by: ChorniyVolk
Isn't steel better than aluminum in every area other than weight?
Click to expand...

not if its annodized.
Annodized alu is pretty durable, scratch resistance, and very strong, as well as light.

Thats why the more expensive cases u'll see are alu, with annodized.
 
What do you mean, don't mind how it looks? It looks awesome!

I looked through all those cases, and I don't know, in my opinion, the 800D meets and in a few areas, beats them all.
 
Have you seen the Black Pearl? OEM by LL and sold under several different brand names: ABS, Tagan, A-Plus Case, the European dist for Enermax, etc. the Egg was selling the ABS version for under $100. + shipping. OOS now and IDK whether it'll be back. Search around. It's all aluminum.

Aside: It takes special effort to get paint to adhere well on aluminum, so the better cases are generally anodized to get the color.

.bh.
 
I was looking for one of those "flag ship" cases earlier this year and I looked at all of them.

I ended up going with the Cosmo "S". I read all the reviews on all the big cases at Newegg and narrowed it down. As it turned out, Frys put the "S" on sale for $149 (I think it was still normally $249). As I was almost deadlocked and unable to decide, I went for the $100 savings.

My focus is on building an affordable, nearly silent gaming system that looks good.

This is what I love about the Cosmo "S" case:

1. unique look (the "runners" and that is almost looks like something from the Atomic age)
2. It's big - freaking ENORMOUS!
3. Well put together
4. Easy to work on - the side panels are awesome and the front bay covers come off easily
5. I am not big on lighting and bling, but I added some subtle red CFLs (casts a soft red glow underneath) and a red lit Crystalfontz and I love the look.
6. Very little dust build up (positive pressure?)
7. Room to do just about anything
8. Easy to get replacement parts
9. Super quiet
10. The looks
11. Wire job was very easy.

What I don't like
1. The front bay covers are not as tight as I would like
2. I think the push-button drive bay locks are worthless - I removed them
3. The side fan is great, but height limits your CPU HSF

A few cool things about this case:

1. I originally put in a "stealth" optical drive - I sanded the edges of the bezel just a little and mounted it set back about 1 inch. This allowed me to keep the drive bay cover over the drive and I could keep a game disc in the drive (BF2142 at the time) and I had an exposed DVD drive for the kids to use. When it came time to swap discs, I would just remove the bezel (snaps off super easy) and swap discs. I also have a 5.25" bay storage compartment hidden in the same way for disc storage.

2. Sooo much room - but especially the 5.25" bays - I suspended my hard drives for noise reasons.

3. VERY quiet. Not SPCR "silent" but extremely quiet - as in, you can't tell it's on unless you put your ear on it (or look at the lights)

Sorry to go overboard, I think all the cases you mentioned are probably great, but give a look at the Cosmos S.
 
You may also want to look at a Thermaltake Armor+. Really nice case with a removable motherboard tray. I own 2, bought one from Microcenter for $129, and the other I won as part of a Really nice gaming setup. I just bought a 800D because i've been getting into the whole cable management thing, and I think it is a spectacular case. Looking forward to building out a machine in it in the next month or so, before I give my Fiancee my old one.
 
Zepper, my problem is the layout being backwards, the way I position my case, I like the ass of the case facing me, and the case will sit to my left against the wall, so I don't know about the Black Pearl, I'd have to take it down to open it up and mess with the insides.

david, I've looked at the S, and I think I prefer the 1000, I've also heard it's a bit better than the S, though that may not have been true. Either way, the 1000 looks better to me, and if i'm not mistaken, it does sound-proofing better. But thanks.

Syran, thanks for the recommendation, but it's kind of ugly. For that price, I'd just go with the COSMOS 1000, it's like my middle-ground, I'd like something like it but cheaper, and if it's more expensive, I'd go for the 800D or it's competitors (hence this thread).

I'm thinking of just saying fuck it and getting the 800D, I only wonder where to buy from, will have to check some sites.
 
Well, you have to go with what looks best and works best for you.

For the sake of other readers, I would just point out that the Cosmo 1000 has very poor ventilation for hard drives and while I think the dimensions are the same, the S version is significantly lighter due to being mostly Al instead of steel.

Also - in terms of quiet performance, the 1000 is probably a better case to muffle noisy components, but if you select your components carefully, especially in the case of a fanless video card like my Gigabyte HD4850 and you use a quiet HSF, I think the S model offers better ventilation and the potential for a very quiet system.

My Cosmo S is *extremely* quiet because I don't have any real sources of noise - my video card is passive (and it loves the big quiet side fan) and my HDDs are suspended and all my other fans are quiet or on a speed controller and turned down to be inaudible.

Again, to each his own, but I think it is a common misconception that a Cosmo S is going to be a louder system when that is not necessarily the case.
 
Originally posted by: davidrees
Well, you have to go with what looks best and works best for you.

For the sake of other readers, I would just point out that the Cosmo 1000 has very poor ventilation for hard drives and while I think the dimensions are the same, the S version is significantly lighter due to being mostly Al instead of steel.

Also - in terms of quiet performance, the 1000 is probably a better case to muffle noisy components, but if you select your components carefully, especially in the case of a fanless video card like my Gigabyte HD4850 and you use a quiet HSF, I think the S model offers better ventilation and the potential for a very quiet system.

My Cosmo S is *extremely* quiet because I don't have any real sources of noise - my video card is passive (and it loves the big quiet side fan) and my HDDs are suspended and all my other fans are quiet or on a speed controller and turned down to be inaudible.

Again, to each his own, but I think it is a common misconception that a Cosmo S is going to be a louder system when that is not necessarily the case.
Click to expand...

For harddrives, I don't mind so much, I was planning to stick my SSD OS drive in one of the slots above the 6 slots, where an ODD would go, you know? The rest are just storage drives, they're not going to get a lot of action, or at least not enough to blow them up heat-wise.

As far as weight, don't mind that at all, if anything, I like the added weight and power.

And right now my choices for video cards stuff like 2 4870s, or a 5850/5870, so I don't know how quiet they'd be. As far as an HSF, I'm getting a high end air cooler, which would also probably make quite a bit of noise.

Basically, for the same price, I think the 1000 is better for someone like me, not to mention I think it looks better.

But again, I'm thinking of going for the 800D instead.

How is it in terms of noise reduction?
 
So I did a bit of googling, and it seems the 800D has airflow problems.

I'm going all air as far as cooling, so now I'm worried, should I not consider this case anymore?
 
Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
I was thinking of something for the 800D - The window is nice. But I am thinking of possibly a full cover. I really don't need to see inside of it.
Click to expand...

Well, performance-PCs and silverPCs carry Lian Li side panels there are a few others out there. I'm sure it's the same size as one or another of the LL doors. Just ask them if one fits the 800D. have the measurements handy when you call - also the mounting hole spacing (down from the top to the center of the hole, ditto up from the bottom.

.bh.
 
VG,

Raven has some problems, a lot of people don't like having the door on the right side. My Aerocool Coolview is in the closet mainly for that reason. The card slots are on the top, etc.

.bh.
 
seems good for me. i like the bottom to top cooling and big overpessure (dusty environment). also, my machine is on the left side of my desk.
 
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