your opinions on case choice

[dethman]

looking for a new case to replace my beat up atx tower. need:

mid-full tower, must be tall.
4-5 5.25 bays
4-5 3.5 hard drive bays
2-3 3.5 bays.

running 3200+ with 4 HD (7200), 4-5 DVD/CDROMs, floppy+zip, nf7-s.

would appreciate opinions on:
aluminum vs. steel
modded vs. basic
power supply.

looking to spend $80-150

looking at basic chieftec/chenming tower, vs. modded superalien case with window+500WPS.

thoughts? other suggestions?

 

[Mday]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-124-034&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-124-032&depa=0

i have that case with a different front panel.

doesnt come with a PSU, but it's a great case for the price nonetheless.

case is made by casetek. it's the same frame used by some thermaltake cases.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I personally like ones that don't have powersupplies. I think the powersupply is important enough to pick out a heavyly reviewed and rated one. I also like steel, although it's torture when it's time to move out of dorms...

 

[ragazzo]

Kingwin Al w/window case

 

[scottws]

I have a Chieftec case. I like the look, though I'm disappointed there is no filter and you can't use individual fan filters due to the fan clips. Overall, I like the layout, though I wish it was a bit longer front-to-back, it had a removable motherboard tray, and it let you screw in the fans vs. just attaching them with plastic clips. My Radeon 9800XT is nearly in direct contact with the back of one of my hard drives (the hard drives stick out of the drive cage because a fan goes in front of them).

If I were to buy a case again, I'd get a Lian Li. I love how the internal layout in those are, but I can't say I'm a fan of their keenness for blowholes. I don't like blowholes.

 

[Zepper]

I think it's hard to beat the Antec 3700/Compucase 6A19 series for cool and quiet potential. Look at the Compucase on directron.com and coolcases.com (which also has a good write-up on the 6A).
.bh.

 

[Barak]

check this GREAT CASE OUT
I LOVE THIS CASE

 

[0roo0roo]

looking at basic chieftec/chenming tower, vs. modded superalien case with window+500WPS.

a good choice. it has everything you'd want already put in, and has extra 5inch bay compared to normal chieftec, and lots of cooling with speed control. nice window on the psu to boot.

aluminum is good in that its light, and nice and shiny. which is important since we have giant case windows and well i hate carrying giant steel cases... hard to beat, both excellent and unobstructed cooling with decent looks. interior build quality and engineering is also good, slide rails etc. door is also a good thing, hides ugly drives and muffles noise. can lock out fingers from power button.

 

[Rukkian]

I have the blue superalien and it is very nice, I like the looks, but it is also very well made. No sharp edges, nice solid feel, even though it is light, and the psu is good.

 

[dethman]

thanks for the responses, i'm probably going with the superalien, just wondering whether to go with blue or black. i think i might get the black and repaint the red parts with silver...