Which case would you choose?

[ndee]

Here's the list:
CHIEFTEC Dragon AX-01SLD (CS-601), Aluminium, silver
COOLERMASTER ATC-200, Aluminium, silver
COOLERMASTER ATC-201, Aluminium, silver
COOLERMASTER ATC-210, Aluminium, silver
LIAN LI PC-60, Aluminium, silver


Money is no object. The case just needs good air-flow. My current case (inwin midi tower POS) is horrible. I have a Athlon XP 2400+ with a Alpha PAL 8045 and it's getting about 64° Celsius under full load. And when I touch the side of the case, it's FREAKIN' hot(nearly burn my finger), so I want to get an Aluminium Case cuz I really think it's worth it.

Which one do you recommend?

 

[mechBgon]

Aluminum is an unnecessary luxury if you want a cool-running case. If you get into a hot, hot car in the summer, what is going to matter more... what the body is made out of (steel versus aluminum), or how many windows you can open to get some airflow going? The windows, right?

Relying on an aluminum case to passively radiate heat is silly... what you need is airflow. The air in the case should not have TIME to get hot, it should be turned over every 15 to 30 seconds, and to do that, you need good vents. I would get a plain old Antec SX835II and five 80mm fans. Even the ultra-quiet $2.50 NMB's from SVC will keep the free-breathing SX8xx chassis cooled down, and I would know, because that's what I use at work. Interior temperature is essentially the same as room temperature, and my CPU puts out only a few watts less than yours does (plus I have a 15000rpm SCSI drive).

So that is my recommendation: get one of the steel Antec 800-series or a clone of it, if you are after good cooling. They're very strong and easy to work with, too. Not light, however!

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Aluminum is an unnecessary luxury if you want a cool-running case. If you get into a hot, hot car in the summer, what is going to matter more... what the body is made out of (steel versus aluminum), or how many windows you can open to get some airflow going? The windows, right?

Relying on an aluminum case to passively radiate heat is silly... what you need is airflow. The air in the case should not have TIME to get hot, it should be turned over every 15 to 30 seconds, and to do that, you need good vents. I would get a plain old Antec SX835II and five 80mm fans. Even the ultra-quiet $2.50 NMB's from SVC will keep the free-breathing SX8xx chassis cooled down, and I would know, because that's what I use at work. Interior temperature is essentially the same as room temperature, and my CPU puts out only a few watts less than yours does (plus I have a 15000rpm SCSI drive).

So that is my recommendation: get one of the steel Antec 800-series or a clone of it, if you are after good cooling. They're very strong and easy to work with, too. Not light, however!

thanks for your reply.

I think I'm on this I-need-an-aluminium-case because my mid-tower gets really hot. I can't get an Antec case here in Switzerland. The next two links are cases I can get:
1 and 2. I would prefer actually a mid-tower. Well I once had a 80mm fan in bottom-front for the intake and a 60mm fan on the top-back for the outtake. The temperature didn't change a degree I'm gettin' anyway the Papst Fans for this case, no way I gonna stand 4 loud 80mm fans Well I like the feature of the Coolermaster cases, that you can take out the mainboard, etc. I also like a stylish-case actually

 

[mechBgon]

If you have one of the Inwin S-family cases, such as the S500, then I can suggest some effective ventilation modifications that will help the CPU and overall case temperature. If you have the A-family, such as the A500, then it's not worth the effort. I had an S500, an A500 and a Q500, and did modifications on all of them.

The Chieftech chassis you mention is a clone of the Antec, or they are both clones made by Chenming... same difference. They make the DX-01W (link) which is the equivalent to the Antec 800-series. If your dealer carries Chieftech, look for that one too. Of the cases that you mention, the Chieftech is the one I would pick. Notice that it is the only one that has two 80mm exhaust fans next to the CPU, where it matters most.

 

[Zepper]

I like the Chenming/Cheiftec/Antec/ style case for its well thought out design and tank like strength. I like the Codegen 9000 series for its drive space and nearly unlimited flexibility (plus the wheels are cool !)
.bh.

 

[OulOat]

Psh, if money is no object, get a water cooling system. Your system will run cooler than any of these air cooled systems.

 

[Tab]

He is right. If I were you and money is no object, get a Kool-Lance case

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: OulOat
Psh, if money is no object, get a water cooling system. Your system will run cooler than any of these air cooled systems.

Well money IS an object, I don't want water-cooling. A friend of mine has this koolance case, I would rather build one myself then this really loud case. Those 3 top fans are REALLY really loud and yeah, that just costs too much. They cost about 400$ here in Switzerland.

 

[Soldat]

i've said it many times here before that the antec (and clones) are the best value and awesome cases at any price. Having owned quite a few cases I think i can safely assert that the Chieftec will allow for the best airflow in that group. If you can afford it however you will not be disappointed with a Cooler Master case....I'm using one right now and it's probably the longest period i've gone without purchasing another case. I would agree that the whole aluminum and cooling thing is a bunch of bunk.

 

[redbomberman]

Try the Antec Performance Pro SX1080 AMG. You can find it for about $130 with a 430W TruePower PS which is quite possibly the quietest thing in my entire system. Airflow is excellent in my opinion with the option for 5 x 80MM case fans.

Temperatures:

AMD Athlon XP 2000+ / Idle / Stock HSF with AS3 41C
KT333 Northbridge / Idle / Thermaltake Blue Orb with AS3 25C

Those temperatures are based on 2 intake fans (one front and one on the side panel) and 1 exhaust fan, 30CFM each

-Matt

 

[Davegod]

i think you'll be happy with any of those cases, personally out of those i'd go for the atc210, atc110 or 201 purely on aesthetics. I'm not keen on the 200 at all. I recently got a atc-710 which is based on that cheiftec chasis but in steel (unlike the other ATC's the only alu on this is the frontage). excellent layout, looks great etc but comp weighs a LOT, the upside is no mofo is theiving mine in a hurry

Generally though, any case you find with the "cheiftec/chenming chassis clone" (theyre not really 'clones', theyre all actually made by cheiftec, its even stamped inside, theyre just modded) gets my vote.

 

[mechBgon]

I put up three pictures of my modded Inwin S500 here in case you want to try modifying the case you have. I put a low-noise Panaflo L1A 120mm fan on the side panel, centered at the level of the AGP slot, so it cooled both the CPU area and the top several cards. Also, I cut away the metal where the front and rear 80mm fans are, and chopped off the bottom edge of the bezel to improve airflow. I added some 2cm-tall rubber feet to the bottom to raise it a little.

These mods still didn't focus airflow on the hard drives, something which the Lian Lis and Chenming/Chieftech/Antecs will do better.

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I put up three pictures of my modded Inwin S500 here in case you want to try modifying the case you have. I put a low-noise Panaflo L1A 120mm fan on the side panel, centered at the level of the AGP slot, so it cooled both the CPU area and the top several cards. Also, I cut away the metal where the front and rear 80mm fans are, and chopped off the bottom edge of the bezel to improve airflow. I added some 2cm-tall rubber feet to the bottom to raise it a little.

These mods still didn't focus airflow on the hard drives, something which the Lian Lis and Chenming/Chieftech/Antecs will do better.

Thanks Well I don't have the tools to do it and over the years (2 actually), I really started to dis-like my case