What's the best case for me?

[bladefd]

Hi, I was looking to buy a new case with a PSU included for my computer parts. My current case is small and messed up so the air circulation sucks. The PSU in my current case sucks also(I cannot remove the PSU because its like soldered against the case so this case is worthless). I would have to cut the whole PSU off the case - Its better to just keep the case the way it is and buy another instead of ruining the whole PSU. The videocard air has nowhere to escape also so its causing overheating problems. I need a case that has room on the bottom for the hot air to escape.. I looked at many cases on newegg myself but if you guys have any suggestions, that will be even better. Mid-tower wouldn't really be a problem to me. I am looking to spend no more than 100 bucks. It really doesn't matter to me if its silent or not, or if its too bright or not. The main factor is the cooling. Good cooling comes before noise or anything else in my book.

The other option I got is like buying a 50 buck case and get a 50 buck PSU or something. My pc specs are Epox 9npa+ Ultra, eVGA 6800GS, Corsair 1GB valueram, Opteron 144 Socket 939 overclocked to 2.45 GHz. I just need a better case so I can keep all that cool.

The final option I got is cutting the PSU out of my current case and getting a pretty decent PSU instead buying the whole case. Do the prices of the cases change real fast? If so, I was looking at the Antec P-180 and I love that case. If I get a pretty decent PSU right now, I might be able to get the Antec P-180 if the prices go down in 3-4 months. The only problem with this is that my videocard temperature will just go high EVERY time I play a newer game. This is risking my videocard dying so its not a very good idea now that I think about it.

One more thing. The main reason why I am doing all this is pretty much due to my videocard. It has been going up to 90 Degrees Celcius everytime I played Oblivion or some other newer game for like an hour. I posted on a whole bunch of different forums but very few people have been able to provide me with answers for the videocard that would help. I thought that if I got a better case, it might solve the problem. Taking all the facts into consideration, what's the best option I got right now? Thanks again guys.


Already looked at the following:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811133156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811144125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144157
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146007
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811166014
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811105144

Edit 2: I haven't looked at any cases without a PSU yet so I prolly will have to do that also.

 

[bladefd]

bump bump =p

 

[greenwar]

NZXT NEMESIS ELITE BLK - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146007 - seems to have nice cooling - 3 120mm fans!!! I have no clue about the quality of the psu though.

This antec sonata II is a nice case, good built quality, but has only one 120mm fan, air flow might be an issue. However it will come with a decent psu.

Thermaltake Soprano - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811133156 - looks like a nice case with 2 120mm and 1 92mm fan, so it should have good airflow with fairly low noise. Thermaltake power supplies - I have no clue though. I tried to not recommend cases with 80mm fans as they will be noisy.

I am no expert in cases, but recently got a lot of help from great guys from here. TrevorRC and galvanized and other's name that I cant remember right now, may have better recommendation. I am just trying to return some favor to the community.

In your situation, I would buy a cheap but decent case and buy a good psu. Psu is more important than good looks. So I would buy a decent FSP power supply with dual rail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954 and a case like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147024 and put some 120mm fans to cool the system down. I could not find a nice case which accepts 2 120mm fans, this one seems to fit the bill if my eyes dont need to see the doctors before its 6 month schedule.

Take my suggestions with a grain of salt ofcourse.

If you want to keep your current case, see if you can do any mod to put some more fans and may be get a nice zalman gpu cooler.

 

[Howard]

http://www.provantage.com/antec-slk3000b~7ANTG02Y.htm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811127060

Are you using the stock cooling on the video card? What's the case temp at full load?

 

[Luckyboy1]

Cases that come with a power supply and especially thermaltake have power supplies that are complete junk.

 

[Zepper]

Thermaltake cases generally don't include PSUs. Some places will bundle one but as mentioned above, it will likely be junk. You could be a lot worse off than trying an XClio case with an XClio PSU (made by ChannelWell and sold separately). I also like the Kingwin 523 but that doesn't leave a lot out of your hundred for a decent PSU.
The Antec 3000-B mentioned above is also an excellent case. The Compucase 6A19 series is the same as the 3000-B except w/o the door. The Ever Case 4502 or any of the 42x2 series (the 4292 is also sold under the AMS brand) have some of the best cooling and noise characteristics out of the box. Plenty of good PSUs out there - the new Fortron series among them.

.bh.

 

[RallyMaster]

In that price range, I would recommend the Lian-Li PC-7B Plus. High build quality, double 120 mm fans, simple and beautiful design.

 

[fireontheway]

Text

 

[bladefd]

Originally posted by: Howard
http://www.provantage.com/antec-slk3000b~7ANTG02Y.htm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811127060

Are you using the stock cooling on the video card? What's the case temp at full load?

I am using stock cooling with my videocard. It idles to 52 celcius(that's normal) BUT at full load, it goes up to like 94 celcius.. This is without overclocking btw. The ambient temp goes up to 66 celcius.

I like the Lian-LI case someone recommended up top but then I would have to buy a PSU with that. would bring price up pretty high. The other problem is tax. Newegg seems to be running a monopoly with that Lian-LI PC-7B. I just checked pricegrabber. Only newegg is selling PC-7B........... The price would go up high with tax for case AND psu.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: bladefd

Originally posted by: Howard
http://www.provantage.com/antec-slk3000b~7ANTG02Y.htm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811127060

Are you using the stock cooling on the video card? What's the case temp at full load?

I am using stock cooling with my videocard. It idles to 52 celcius(that's normal) BUT at full load, it goes up to like 94 celcius.. This is without overclocking btw. The ambient temp goes up to 66 celcius.

Well, if it wasn't for the generic PSU, I'd suggest you get an aftermarket VGA cooler. But seeing as it is, I'd go for a cheap (but good) case+PSU+VGA cooler.

 

[bladefd]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: bladefd

Originally posted by: Howard
http://www.provantage.com/antec-slk3000b~7ANTG02Y.htm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811127060

Are you using the stock cooling on the video card? What's the case temp at full load?

I am using stock cooling with my videocard. It idles to 52 celcius(that's normal) BUT at full load, it goes up to like 94 celcius.. This is without overclocking btw. The ambient temp goes up to 66 celcius.

Well, if it wasn't for the generic PSU, I'd suggest you get an aftermarket VGA cooler. But seeing as it is, I'd go for a cheap (but good) case+PSU+VGA cooler.

If I get a new PSU, I would get the fortron. I would still have 50 more bucks to work with. What's the best case for 50 bucks? +-5 bucks


What you guys think about the Antec case? It seems pretty decent. Correct me if I am wrong but the PSU doesn't seem bad. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811144125

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: bladefd

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: bladefd

Originally posted by: Howard
http://www.provantage.com/antec-slk3000b~7ANTG02Y.htm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811127060

Are you using the stock cooling on the video card? What's the case temp at full load?

I am using stock cooling with my videocard. It idles to 52 celcius(that's normal) BUT at full load, it goes up to like 94 celcius.. This is without overclocking btw. The ambient temp goes up to 66 celcius.

Well, if it wasn't for the generic PSU, I'd suggest you get an aftermarket VGA cooler. But seeing as it is, I'd go for a cheap (but good) case+PSU+VGA cooler.

If I get a new PSU, I would get the fortron. I would still have 50 more bucks to work with. What's the best case for 50 bucks? +-5 bucks

Depends on what you're looking for. Color? Front door or not? Window?

Correct me if I am wrong but the PSU doesn't seem bad. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811144125

Nope, PSU is bad.

 

[pkme2]

I haven't seen Lian-Li PC-60 listed. It doesn't come with a PSUand costs $99. You can do better than those cases with bundled PSUs. To start with, a Fortron 450W at $51 is a good start.

The LL is not flashy or pretty but very functional and well built. Once you got one, you know why many of us do.

 

[Zepper]

I guess a lot of people can't read. OP needs to get BOTH a PSU and a Case for $100. How does s/he do that with a Mystique or a Lian Li, etc.???

Did you look at the XClio cases and PSUs on newegg that I mentioned above?

.bh.

 

[pkme2]

Since he asked for the best case possible, I gave him my opinion, which is as good as any. I believe this is an open forum and if he wanted opinions, I guess any would be welcome. He can take it or leave it, he has the right of choice. I can put in my 2 cents because its my opinion like 90%of the others out there.

The Lian-Li provides good cooling and that is what he wants first.

 

[fireontheway]

He looked at the P180 and liked it which is generally $30 more than the Mystique.

 

[Zepper]

I like them too, but if his budget is $100 for both, why even suggest them?

.bh.

 

[Luckyboy1]

Maybe poeple should examine their case budget to a degree. That said, point taken!

I also wanted to clarify my statement about Thermaltake. Please DO NOT assume all Thermaltake power supplies are junk. While the vast majority of them are junk, like most marketers of power supplies, they make several grades of power supplies. As a result, like with everything else PC, you need to go by actual specifications rather than this fanboi brand over that fanboi brand. Pay attention to the little asterics and disclaimers. Also, go around to like PC Power & Cooling and OCZ's website and other makers who report specs fairly completely and honestly to get an idea of what information should be included in the specs. Most often, you don't have to fear the specs posted, but the specs left out, like the fact that most power supply marketers have their specs with the power supply pulling in ambient air temps of 25C and tell me when that's going to happen in the top of your mid tower case?

 

[MadScientist]

My son's setup is very similar to yours. He's using, as previously suggested, the Antec SLK3000B with 2-120mm fans and the XCLIO 450W PSU. Price plus shipping of the case, another 120mm fan, and the PSU should be around $100. total.

This post at Hardforum is a bit dated, but still contains some good info.
Recommended PSU

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: pkme2
Since he asked for the best case possible, I gave him my opinion, which is as good as any. I believe this is an open forum and if he wanted opinions, I guess any would be welcome. He can take it or leave it, he has the right of choice. I can put in my 2 cents because its my opinion like 90%of the others out there.

The Lian-Li provides good cooling and that is what he wants first.

Is this how you advise all the other people who come to you as a computer consultant?

 

[Luckyboy1]

MadDude, I need your e-mail address so I can get the pager for your connection, because when it comes to power supplies, I really, really should be smoking your brand man! Look at these absolute half truth, dishonest and garbage specs...

Hold-up Time >20ms at full load, nominal line

Ok, if I run my PC longer than 20 microseconds, which I fully anticipate that scenario happening quite often, then what are the specs? How far degraded are they?

Efficiency >70% at full load, nominal line

We're killing or kids, the Iraqi kids when they should be dating each other's sisters and you want us to stick with 30% + and it's the plus part I worry about?

MTBF >80,000 hrs at 80% load, 25 °C ambient

Can I assume those already pathetically dubious specs are only good at 25C? What PC runs at the top of the case at an ambient temp of 25c?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
Hold-up Time >20ms at full load, nominal line

Ok, if I run my PC longer than 20 microseconds, which I fully anticipate that scenario happening quite often, then what are the specs? How far degraded are they?

Just to let you know, ms is the abbreviation for milliseconds, not microseconds. More importantly, you're misinterpreting "hold-up time". Scratch that; it doesn't seem like you know what it means.

We're killing or kids, the Iraqi kids when they should be dating each other's sisters and you want us to stick with 30% + and it's the plus part I worry about?

Uh, what?

 

[Luckyboy1]

Howie, please go someplace and bounce twice, if not three times if possible. Yes, it's milliseconds, you are exactly right and yes dumb, dumb, I know the difference is off by 1,000 times, but the result is the same. I plan to run my PC for longer periods than 20 milli's, so what then? How come the great State secret on constant duty specs? What are they hiding?

As far as our children, God help them if your gene pool progresses on that one!

 

[greenwar]

The antec solution and the xcolio or the fortron psu should do what you need for your setup while keeping the system cool.

bladefd - in case you have something against this recommendation let us know, we will try to find different case, psu combination for you.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
Howie, please go someplace and bounce twice, if not three times if possible. Yes, it's milliseconds, you are exactly right and yes dumb, dumb, I know the difference is off by 1,000 times, but the result is the same. I plan to run my PC for longer periods than 20 milli's, so what then? How come the great State secret on constant duty specs? What are they hiding?

Alright, Licky, I think you should go educate yourself as to what "hold-up time" means, and then come back and explain it to me.

Even better, go look at your favorite PSUs and tell me what they list for hold-up time.

As far as our children, God help them if your gene pool progresses on that one!

Did you really want to start a flame war?