whats the best case for around 100 dollars w/o PSU

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dalearyous

Senior member
Jan 8, 2006
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building new computer, ive pretty much decided on the thermaltake tsunami because its aluminum, black, and sleek looking. i hate the cases with all the flashy, gaudy lights and crap. but there are so many that i probably haven't looked at. whats your opinion?
 
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GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Yep, get the P-180 if you value quiet above all else. But be ready to deal with a warped
front door, broken hinges, seperation of the side panel bonding, difficult PSU cable runs
and 31# empty. Aside from that it's a fine case. Pay more for the SPCR model in black.

You did say that black was a priority.

Front doors are a pain and most restrict air flow. My priorities when looking for a case are:
No front door.
120mm intake fan, for decent quiet air intake.
Slide-out/removable motherboard tray. This makes for an easy to work with case.
PSU adapter plate. This make removing or installing the PSU from the rear of the case possible.
For rear exhaust. Atleast 2-80mm fans or 1-92mm fan. A 120mm exhaust if possible.

From what I've read on this forum, an Antec P-160 or SLK 3000B would be better than the
P-180. Neither have a slide out MB tray or PSU adapter plate.


...Galvanized
 
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Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
5,908
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Well I havnt had all the other stuff happen but, I can vouche for the front door warping. :p
 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
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76
Originally posted by: Howard
The Antec SLK3000B comes without a case and is quite the value.
Click to expand...

I would like to see that, but something tells me ther wouln't be much to actually see. :p

 
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Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
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Originally posted by: Ike0069
Originally posted by: Howard
The Antec SLK3000B comes without a case and is quite the value.
Click to expand...

I would like to see that, but something tells me ther wouln't be much to actually see. :p
Click to expand...
OMG

How did I type that? :confused:
 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
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Case look is extremely subjective, But I agree that the Wavemaster is among the top cases in this price range.
 
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GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
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A member of this forum was having a cooling problem with his WaveMaster. So while I
was at Fry's one got a real looking over. The case is striking in apperance, a very good
looking/well built case indeed. But it has one major flaw.

The two 80mm front intake fans are mounted 20mm away from the inner front panel with
no type of shrouding that will force them to draw in fresh air. The intake holes in the front
panel are small in diameter and few in number. These holes are behind the vertical bit at
case front. The end result is this case relies on it's exhaust fans.

To mod this intake set-up would be a pita because the inner front panel is *not* flat but
has a wave form. Form over function?? Eh, yes.

For a case of this type a Kingwin KT 424 would be a much better buy.

OP, go to http://www.dealsonic.com/ and look at the color cases. There are some black
Kingwin cases there with front lighting and 120mm fans for <<$100. They look good.
They are a mix of steel and aluminum.


...Galvanized
 
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dalearyous

Senior member
Jan 8, 2006
836
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wow thanks for all the posts. im looking at every case right now. about the wave master, isn't that pretty much this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811133137


does the wave master come in black? edit* YES, but expensive found it here

i really like the p180 design with the psu on the bottom but thats about it. i don't like the full door on the front either. any good cases with mobo and psu positions swapped?

edit** tomshardware reviewed the wave master here if anyone else is interested. i think im sold on it. the only bad thing is that its kinda short and i have 3 hard drives, 2 cd drives, audigy plat connection thing. hope it all fits with good airflow
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Shop around I got my sons wavemaster for $89. Also I cut out the front fans and don't even use rear one.. Even stock the front fans are reasonably quiet, temperature controlled ones. The rear can be made quiet if you use motherboards fan controller. This case will primarly rely on PSU to get air out of case - so I'd get a PSU with a large 120mm fan like seasonic. As far as space, easy - holds 6 hard drives and 4 CD ROMS.
 
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imported_Graeme

Member
Dec 19, 2005
49
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Aerocool Masstige

I am not going to say this is the 'best' simply because I have not tried many of the cases previously posted in this thread BUT I will say its a danged nice case. The 'grill' type front bay covers allow plenty of airflow as do the side panel 3-80mm fans for blowing across up to 2 harddrives.

Just wanted to kick this one in for consideration. One thing to remember its a BTX layout in that the board mounts upside down and reversed from normal setups. The other kicker being that if you use alot of PCI cards this one gets tight at the top if you do a window mod.

All in all however I have to say I really like mine ;)
 
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zagood

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
4,102
0
71
Originally posted by: Zebo
Shop around I got my sons wavemaster for $89. Also I cut out the front fans and don't even use rear one.. Even stock the front fans are reasonably quiet, temperature controlled ones. The rear can be made quiet if you use motherboards fan controller. This case will primarly rely on PSU to get air out of case - so I'd get a PSU with a large 120mm fan like seasonic. As far as space, easy - holds 6 hard drives and 4 CD ROMS.
Click to expand...

Also note that he's using water cooling so don't try this at home kids! He is a trained professional!

(in other words, unless you're using WC or phase change do not just cut out the front fans and not use the rear one).

Also, great deal on the P180.

-z
 
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