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Whats a good ATX case around $80 without a PSU with a side window.

gamefreakgcb

gamefreakgcb

Platinum Member
I currently have a Sonata II case which I like a lot but I am looking for something that has a side window, basically a show off case that hasa good airflow, reasonably priced and easy to work with. It will be used for the rig in my sig.

Edit: A mid-tower case and not a full tower.
 
Kingwin 523 is OK. Or several CoolerMaster Centurions that are really pretty much the same case. AMS XG-4292 with at least one factory option, maybe a few more.

Perhaps the S6000 at buildtoorderservers.com

.bh.
 
The CM Mystique 631 can be purchased with a side window, but the price would be around $120 before a $15 rebate which requires the purchase of said case by tomorrow, 6/26.
 
The S6000 looks taller than it is - it's less than 18" tall from the top to the bottom of the feet but at 21" it is a bit deeper than most mid-tower cases. The others I mentioned are under 17" high and not abnormally deep for mid-tower cases. See my review of the Silverstone Berserker here: http://www.techimo.com/reviews/ in the Cases section. It is basically the same case as the S6000. But if none of those will fit, give us a max height and I'll try again.

.bh.
 
The height of sonata is perfect, the depth could be a bit lesser, and like I said, it will be housing the system below, so airflow and noise should be balanced. I will get back with the proper measurements once I'm home. Black case with a side window preferred.
Edit: Interested in This.
 
Definitely go with the CM centurion over that... I have used 8 of them in builds and have loved everyone of them, the drives just slide in and the interior lay out is good and free of things to cut yourself on.

Nat
 
Originally posted by: blckgrffn
Definitely go with the CM centurion over that... I have used 8 of them in builds and have loved everyone of them, the drives just slide in and the interior lay out is good and free of things to cut yourself on.

Nat
Click to expand...

No window in there? Also is it feasible to make your own windows in the Sonata?
 
Here is the results of a search on Newegg with your criteria (black mid-tower, no PSU, side window, price $50-75): Case Search. From those, the Kingwin 523, the Tt Swing and the Aerocool AeroEngine seem to stand out to me. The Kingwin would probably be the quieter of the three but you'd have to rig some rubber mounts for the HDDs and fans to equal the Sonata. None of the three have rubber HDD or fan mounts like the Sonata. jab-tech.com sells nice rubber fan pins.

You can get the Centurions with side windows. But the price usually goes above your bracket. The Kingwin 523 is identical to the Centurion case inside, but with a side window and a door (can be had with blue or red lighting which can be unplugged). Directron shows a case similar to the Superflower under the AMS brand.

Another option, if the Sonata II meets your needs otherwise, is to have a window installed. coolcases.com puts windows in the Compucase 6A19 routinely - its side door is nearly identical to the Sonata, so it should be no problem for them to do that for you.

If you can stretch the budget a bit, the Silverstone Temjin 4 (SST-TJ04) looks like a possible.

.bh.
 
Coolermaster sells a windowed side panel for the Centurion 5, 532 and 534, I couldn't find anyone who sells it but I just did a cursory search. You can get a Centurion 5 with a window for around $80 but the Centurion 5 is getting a little old and has a 80mm intake fan instead of a 120mm. The newer 5xx have room for 2 120mm fans but are a little more expensive, I couldn't find any with a side window and coolermaster only sells a side window for the 532 and 534. The Coolermaster Centurion is a great case but it might be a little expensive to get it with a window.
 
Originally posted by: fierydemise
Coolermaster sells a windowed side panel for the Centurion 5, 532 and 534, I couldn't find anyone who sells it but I just did a cursory search. You can get a Centurion 5 with a window for around $80 but the Centurion 5 is getting a little old and has a 80mm intake fan instead of a 120mm. The newer 5xx have room for 2 120mm fans but are a little more expensive, I couldn't find any with a side window and coolermaster only sells a side window for the 532 and 534. The Coolermaster Centurion is a great case but it might be a little expensive to get it with a window.
Click to expand...


True. They were easier to come by a year ago, you could get any color you wanted + a window for an extra ~$20 over the non-windowed version.

I didn't realize that the Kingwin was virtually the same chassis, I'll have to go check that one out.

Nat

*The kingwin is nice internally with a nice window, but that door is fugly. Besides that, I hate doors, but to each their own.

*That aerocool case looks like a really cheap chassis, but if you like the loud fan thing, it seems to be a good choice.

*Tt finally makes a good case in the swing 😛 Hopefully it will have more room internally that the Tsunamis, at least the HD's are facing the right way for that...
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
Here is the results of a search on Newegg with your criteria (black mid-tower, no PSU, side window, price $50-75): Case Search. From those, the Kingwin 523, the Tt Swing and the Aerocool AeroEngine seem to stand out to me. The Kingwin would probably be the quieter of the three but you'd have to rig some rubber mounts for the HDDs and fans to equal the Sonata. None of the three have rubber HDD or fan mounts like the Sonata. jab-tech.com sells nice rubber fan pins.

You can get the Centurions with side windows. But the price usually goes above your bracket. The Kingwin 523 is identical to the Centurion case inside, but with a side window and a door (can be had with blue or red lighting which can be unplugged). Directron shows a case similar to the Superflower under the AMS brand.

Another option, if the Sonata II meets your needs otherwise, is to have a window installed. coolcases.com puts windows in the Compucase 6A19 routinely - its side door is nearly identical to the Sonata, so it should be no problem for them to do that for you.

If you can stretch the budget a bit, the Silverstone Temjin 4 (SST-TJ04) looks like a possible.

.bh.
Click to expand...

The first one in that search, the aspire with the three orbs in the front, really catches your eye but am wondering on it build quality. I also checked out the Silverstone and the window looks nice but the front is too plain. I have questions here because the only cases I have used are the sonata II and Thermaltake Xaser III case (which had a window but was too big for me) before which my 2 other rigs were generic beige cases. That is why I want to put my newer rig in a better case quality-wise and with some with some looks.
 
I have an Aspire X-Navigator and love it. I nearly went with the X-Cruiser, but I wanted a bigger case.

Aspire makes nice cases. Are they the best? No, but then they aren't priced that way either. Build quality is good, airflow is good, and they aren't too loud. In fact I have a Sonata I with 2-120mm fans (1 being a fairly loud TT fan) that is significantly louder than my Aspire case with 4 Aspire fans (1-120mm, 3-80mm) using the built in fan controller. It also runs much cooler than my Sonata.

One warning though; depending on the length of your PSU, you may not be able to install the top fan. Some PSU's are too long and the top fan must be removed. Check the deimensions of your PSU and the case to see if it will fit. I personally think the top fan is very helpful in keeping my case temps cool.

I would have no reservations about going with an Aspire case again.
 
The Silverstone TJ04 does look plain on newegg. go to silverstonetek.com for perhaps better pics. The front panel is a nice heavy slab of aluminum with gem-cut and polished trim. VERY much "elegant simplicity" in person. Read some of the buyer reviews of it on Newegg.

The Tt SViking http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133142 may be another possibility - falls just above my search limit. Has rubber bushings in the HDD slides. The swing has all plastic HDD rails with grippers that go into the screw holes.

And don't get hung up on Newegg, they seldom have the low bottom-line price on cases unless it's a free 3-day shipping special (and sometimes not even then). Try Froogle and pricegrabber. Even ChiefValue (Newegg's east coast alter ego) beats them by a BUNCH on the SViking.

.bh.
 
i just ordered this one.....

ultra wizard case

uv reactive window.... has good air flow....air duct.....smaller than most case enough room.... looks like the old alienware ccase but smaller... ordered from ultra website and got it for $40
 
Ultra Wizard? Isn't that just like Ultra/TigerDirect.?. Roughly copy the Antec/Cheiftec/Chenming door/bezel and slap it on a gutless box with a fancy finish. Helllooo, Ultra X-connect ring any bells?

Sorry to be so harsh, but those people really frost my petunias..

.bh.
 
Whoa. That said, I do find this this one very pleasing, positive reviews, the front mesh(my sonata II sucks in dust from the 5.25" bays, a negative pressure effect I guess)
 
Hmmm, mesh front you say? Dust in, sound out - no rubber for HDDs... Newegg seems to have it at about the same as the AR price, but you do have to pay shipping, but you don't have to pay sales tax like you would at RS. I'd probably still go with the Tt Swing or SViking over that. No hurry, take your time and choose wisely.

.bh.
 
Bought the TTSwing, for now it looks good and feels good, my only complaint is the fact that I am having a hard time organizing wires in there, unlike my Sonata II in which I was able to hide them effectively but I guess it can be worked around.
Also I picked up that Ultra Wizard mentioned back a few posts earning $18 after rebate from microcenter.
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
Ultra Wizard? Isn't that just like Ultra/TigerDirect.?. Roughly copy the Antec/Cheiftec/Chenming door/bezel and slap it on a gutless box with a fancy finish. Helllooo, Ultra X-connect ring any bells?

Sorry to be so harsh, but those people really frost my petunias..

.bh.
Click to expand...

case isn't bad at all, the finish is waaaay to shiny for me, but for the price a big thumbs up. As for the Ultra X-Connect, easly the most unfairly sh!tted on PSU ever. I will be an X-Connect user until a better modular psu comes around (best PSU I've used overall) If you don't mind the mirrow finish and the fact it's based off an old case design. The Ultra cases are good stuff
 
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