Which case is best for cable management?

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simsalabim24

Senior member
Jan 5, 2005
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Right now I am using an Antech 900 and I would just like something a little more cable management friendly without having to use power tools (live in apartment).

Anything under $150 would be great but understand if it has to be more.

Fan cooling is fine.

The system consists of 4 gigs ram
evga 8800 GTS 640MB Vram
AMD A64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ Running at 2.73GHZ
Raptor 160 gig sata hdd
Seagate 300gb sata hdd
DVD burner
The cpu has one of those monolithic thermaltake heatsink/fan combos (I think fan is 150mm something).
TT 750watt PSU

It would be nice if this case could be quiet too, but if I have to sacrifice quiet for excellent cable management I am fine with it.
 
RockinZ28

RockinZ28

Platinum Member
Mar 5, 2008
2,171
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Corsair 800D has been widely known for its excellent cable management. Course it does cost quite a bit, think you can get them for around $230 at Microcenter. It is quiet as well, but that's because the fans don't move much air though. Better off replacing them with a few of your choice if you're strictly using air.

Maybe too expensive for your liking, but to me the cable system was a seller as I've never been able to keep a tidy pc, especially when I'm breaking it down every other week it seems. Just added a new cpu block and some other minor things today actually:

img0561f.jpg
 
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Jpham792

Junior Member
Nov 9, 2004
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Look no further than the Antec P183. I used the 900 for a friend and absolutely hated it. The vents were clogged with dust one month afterward and it was hell on earth to manage the cables. Granted, the P182 doesn't offer the same airflow as the 900 but it is more than sufficient.
 
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CurseTheSky

Diamond Member
Oct 21, 2006
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The 800D is currently the best (as far as I have seen). Other good cases include the ATCS 840, FT02, P182/183, and several other Lian Li / Silverstone / CoolerMaster / Antec offerings. From what I've heard, stay away from the Antec 900 / 902 / 1200 if your primary goal is neat cables, though.
 
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simsalabim24

Senior member
Jan 5, 2005
444
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CurseTheSky said:
The 800D is currently the best (as far as I have seen). Other good cases include the ATCS 840, FT02, P182/183, and several other Lian Li / Silverstone / CoolerMaster / Antec offerings. From what I've heard, stay away from the Antec 900 / 902 / 1200 if your primary goal is neat cables, though.
Click to expand...

What Lian Li offerings would you recommend. I like that 800d but really that is just too far out of my price range as I want to invest in a new modular psu as well.
 
MisterDonut

MisterDonut

Senior member
Dec 8, 2009
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I modded my Antec 900, and I have no cable management issues whatsoever...

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee257/pikeruinhisigloo/RIMG0285.jpg

I've changed the exhaust to a Scythe GT and my 9800 GTX+ to a 5850 since then.

After mod, it's top notch in airflow and is a dust magnet, but well...that's probably cause it has top notch airflow...Get some filters if you really want to. But seeing as how you can't really mod it (I would just take it to a nearby shop or garage), you could check out the CM 690 II. It's a sweet case with all the holes pre-drilled, and you should have NO problems hiding them. The Antec P18x is also superb, but it's made for silence, and though its airflow is decent, it's nothing like what you would get out of the Antec 900. The 800D is hands-down the nicest case out there, but my wallet screams no...:(
 
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simsalabim24

Senior member
Jan 5, 2005
444
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I should mention I have throttle back the cpu to the stock 2.2 ghz.

I do not game anymore with the exception of a little d2 now and then. So the case does not need to accommodate overclock really.
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
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It really depends on how far you want to take cable management. No case is perfect and if you want to hide everything you're going to have to learn how to use a Dremel.

The 800D is pretty good and the rubberized coverings on the openings is a nice touch. However I prefer to cut in just at the edge of the motherboard so the only thing that is seen is the wiring coming around the board.♦
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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simsalabim24 said:
What about the Lian Li offerings anything that fits the bill?
Click to expand...

I have a PCP-80A that's cable managed to the max. LOTS of cutting to the mobo tray. At least it was not as hard as getting the cables run down from the PSU as the Stacker 830 was.

The Cosmos was difficult too. The foam padding had to be stripped from the side panel (PIA!) and the metal cut to allow wires to be run behind the tray. Very time consuming and the tray is steel.
 
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Corporate Thug

Lifer
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
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Rubycon said:
I have a PCP-80A that's cable managed to the max. LOTS of cutting to the mobo tray. At least it was not as hard as getting the cables run down from the PSU as the Stacker 830 was.

The Cosmos was difficult too. The foam padding had to be stripped from the side panel (PIA!) and the metal cut to allow wires to be run behind the tray. Very time consuming and the tray is steel.
Click to expand...

pics?
 
B

BadOmen

Senior member
Oct 27, 2007
249
1
76
I just finished assembling my new rig on a P183.

Cable management looks very good, BUT I still couldn't manage to put the cover back in place. It seems that the area between panel and motherboard tray is not exactly vast. Well, I didn't try too hard, had to leave for work.

In conclusion, as my first case with cable management, I think I like it. But I'm pretty sure there are more advanced and clean options out there.
 
zod96

zod96

Platinum Member
May 28, 2007
2,872
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I just ordered the Lancool Pc-K62 to replace my Antec P180B. I've had that cases for like 4 years and wanted something that had a black interior and good cable management and something that was a tad smaller than the antec and the Lancool fit the bill perfectly. Got for $100, will go nice with my new I7 2600K and Asus P67 Pro MB I get weds :)
 
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Petey!

Senior member
May 28, 2010
250
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Corsair 600T would fit nicely into your budget, has all the cable management of the 700/800D and it's a quiet enough case although aircooling isn't the absolute best, probably just a few degrees warmer then your 900.

The RV02 has fairly decent cable management, but is extremely cool and a fairly quiet case.

For your setup i'd probably recommend the 600T though, seems it would suit you just fine without having to spend 200+ on a 700/800D
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
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The FT-02 and RV-02 are nearly identical in terms of cable management. I believe the newer versions all have the new fans as well. Mine did because it was the special edition version.

side.jpg
 
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Petey!

Senior member
May 28, 2010
250
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Nice setup Ruby. You should try running the PCI-E power cables along the front of the case to see if it cools your 580s better. They suck some air in through the bottom and when you run the powercables that way it can block the air flow a little. I moved mine and lowered my temps 1-2 degrees.
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
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Well I was actually going to have a pcb made up that would snap over the top like the SLI bridge and the wiring harness would plug into a connector over the right side. It was very stealthy and really only for looks. Perhaps the temps would be better but they are already quite low (idling in the upper 20s and load with Furmark in the 80s!!) Not too shabby. Even my 480s did not get as hot as most. Now on the bench with little forced air the 480s would hit upper 90s after an hour of furmark. The peak would be close to 100 and as the fans screamed running temps would drop back to the mid 90s. Quite toasty considering its pretty cool where I run it.

The 580s are in a completely different league of their own as far as noise is concerned. :)
 
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