recommend me a case

[\(\) |V| 3 G A]

hey all,

i think i need a new case, as my midi tower just dont fit the bill anymore.

this is my check list
i WANT:
at least 1x 120mm fan slots (2x would be better)
room for watercooling kit (hence 120mm fan slot)
tool-less setup
4 HDD bays + 1 floppy (i have 2x SATA RAID0 WD raptor drives, and wanting a
free HDD space between them for cooling)
HDD cooling (eg fitment of fan)

would like:
HDD vibration reduction method (like antec? rubber HDD mountings)
removeable HDD caddy
aluminium made
removeable motherboard tray

dont want:
stealth front panel (to hide CD drives etc)


anything else like windows, temp monitors, front panel connectors, fan
controllers etc i`m not too bothered about. useful, but wont buy a case JUST
cuz it has, or hasnt, got these additions.

i think due to me having watercooling, a full tower will be very much
nescercery - my midi tower just aint big enough anymore.

so, any ideas?

tim draper

 

[Russell]

Antec is coming out with a new case in a week or so, the P160. Have a look
at it at:
http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_en_performance1.html
Looks like a winner.

Hope this helps,
Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

 

[\(\) |V| 3 G A]

i think u hit the nail on the head there!

not 100% sure about those 3 black inserts on the lower section of the front
panel that apprently are lit with blue LED's but it could be a case i will
buy. i certainly like lthe idea of 2x 120mm fans, i can place Water cooling
radator on the rear of it and buy a 2nd fan for the front intake.

thanks for the post russell - will add this to my 'i want' list.

tim

 

[Russell]

I'd imagine the front black areas on the lower front are just air intake
vents with an air filter. You can probably opt to just not plug in the
power molex for the LEDs if they bother you. I'm planning on testing this
case out as soon as I can get one, to possibly use in selling customized
"quiet PCs."

Glad to have helped you in your case search.
Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

 

[Phisherman]

Very nice new Antec case. I want one!

Antec is coming out with a new case in a week or so, the P160. Have a look
at it at:
http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_en_performance1.html
Looks like a winner.

Hope this helps,
Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

 

[\(\) |V| 3 G A]

it's not the LED's that bother me - i got a NEST caseatm, and it has 2 blue
'neon' bars down the height of the front panel which is illuminated with 4x
blue LED's.

more of the actual black bits that i`m not 100% sure on. the antec site dont
have to many different angle shots of the case, so maybe once i see the case
in flesh, or from a different camera angle i might be more decicive on
weather i like it or not.

email has been sent to antec for more pictures if they have them aswell as a
few tech questions.

also with a re-pipe of my watercooling system with the new case, it gives me
a good excuse to move to 1/2" pipe (i`d have to buy new pipe anyway) and
maybe a new resovior.

tim

 

[Phisherman]

Antec is coming out with a new case in a week or so, the P160. Have a look
at it at:
http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_en_performance1.html
Looks like a winner.

I am bit disappointed this Antec P160 case does not come with a
P/S--that will drive the cost up. It will be interesting to see some
prices on the P160. I might go with the Antrec1080 AMG which has a
TruePower 430w P/S already in the case--$123, delivered.

 

[Russell]

D&H (wholesaler) has it listed at $109.65, so that means it's probably in
the neighborhood of $130 - $150 retail.

 

[\(\) |V| 3 G A]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk can confirm that the antec P160 will be
stocked. price and arrival date is unknown as of yet.

i found an australian site
(http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?code=CA-CSXP160) that
was pre-ordering the p160, worked out to be around £105 UKP. another £20 or
so for the windowed side panel.

as for another post in the thread concering a PSU - it dont bother me - got
myself an enermax 550w psu thus the antec PSU would add to the price which i
wouldnt use anyway.

so long as overclockers.co.uk (or preferably over-clock.co.uk so i can get
upgrade to w/c kit too) stock the case in time, i`ll be purchasing early
next month (when next wage comes in!)

tim

 

[Nathan Brazil]

A Matter of Fax has them listed for $115.15 with free shipping but they're
out of stock right now.
http://www.amatteroffax.com/Products2.asp?MANUF=ANTCSE&MGRP=B3

nb

 

[Ed_]

I'd imagine the front black areas on the lower front are just air intake
vents with an air filter. You can probably opt to just not plug in the
power molex for the LEDs if they bother you. I'm planning on testing this
case out as soon as I can get one, to possibly use in selling customized
"quiet PCs."

Glad to have helped you in your case search.
Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

Hey Russell,

Thanks for the info on the case. Oh my, I think I may have to have one of
those. Maybe you could post a review when you test it.

Especially would like to know if the fans come with those funky rubber screws,
like the Sonata. I'd like to have more of those.

Ed

 

[\(\) |V| 3 G A]

Especially would like to know if the fans come with those funky rubber
screws,
like the Sonata. I'd like to have more of those.

cant say if it's like the sonata, but the p160 does come with some sort of
noise reduction 120mm fan fixture method. its somewhere on the antec p160
page - possibly in 1 of the pdf's

tim