Case Advice Wanted

[mydeadpresidents]

I'm looking for a home pc case offering decent active cooling and low
noise. However, I don't care about shiney paint, flashy lights, or
windows that let you see inside. In otherwords, I want funciton and
don't want to have to pay for cosmetics. I also don't require a lot of
bays, but I would like front ports for USB and maybe audio. Of cousre
I don't want something flimsy, but I don't need a tank either because I
don't intend on moving it around much. If power supply comes with
case, 450watt minimum.

I've found a few cases (power supply included) in the $70 that are
close to what I want, but not quite. I've found some cases I like in
the $110 (and over) range, but in most cases there is no power supply
and, as mentioned, I'm just paying for cosmetics. I'm hoping to find
some middle ground.

Any links for online case reviews would also be very helpful. What
I've found so far isn't very inclusive.

Thanks if you can help!

 

[WindsorFox]

I'm looking for a home pc case offering decent active cooling and low
noise. However, I don't care about shiney paint, flashy lights, or
windows that let you see inside. In otherwords, I want funciton and
don't want to have to pay for cosmetics. I also don't require a lot of
bays, but I would like front ports for USB and maybe audio. Of cousre
I don't want something flimsy, but I don't need a tank either because I
don't intend on moving it around much. If power supply comes with
case, 450watt minimum.

I've found a few cases (power supply included) in the $70 that are
close to what I want, but not quite. I've found some cases I like in
the $110 (and over) range, but in most cases there is no power supply
and, as mentioned, I'm just paying for cosmetics. I'm hoping to find
some middle ground.

Any links for online case reviews would also be very helpful. What
I've found so far isn't very inclusive.

Thanks if you can help!

Active cooling?? I think we have different definitions of that
word, but I'll just say the guys at my forum who have built new machines
lately seem to like this case a lot...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119042


--
I used to have abs. Now, I've just got ab.
One big ol' Ab. - BigSkiff www.titanspot.com

Pyongyang sounds more like the sound effect an ACME catapult makes
as it goes off at precisely the wrong moment for Wile E. Coyote. -
Cadbury Moose

 

[Jan Alter]

I used this case about a month ago to build a system along with a 430 watt
Thermaltake PS. It is both sturdly made and finely finished. What's more is
that it was quiet. I liked the wire mesh front for the added air
ventilation. The blue led is a nice touch. The only thing I would have
preferred is the start button to be a little higher on the box for those
placing it on the floor. Additionally besides the front USB ports it has a
1394A port and speaker/mic port as well. $67 shipped


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119047

 

[Al Pilarcik]

I'm looking for a home pc case offering decent active cooling and low
noise. However, I don't care about shiney paint, flashy lights, or
windows that let you see inside. In otherwords, I want funciton and
don't want to have to pay for cosmetics. I also don't require a lot
of bays, but I would like front ports for USB and maybe audio. Of
cousre I don't want something flimsy, but I don't need a tank either
because I don't intend on moving it around much. If power supply
comes with case, 450watt minimum.

I've found a few cases (power supply included) in the $70 that are
close to what I want, but not quite. I've found some cases I like in
the $110 (and over) range, but in most cases there is no power supply
and, as mentioned, I'm just paying for cosmetics. I'm hoping to find
some middle ground.

Any links for online case reviews would also be very helpful. What
I've found so far isn't very inclusive.

Thanks if you can help!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155

 

[mydeadpresidents]

Thanks, I'll check it out. On first glance I like that it's BTX ready,
but $115 without a power supply isn't exactly cheap. Sorry for my
layman terms. By active, I just meant with fans as opposed so some
sort of liquid cooling system.

 

[mydeadpresidents]

hmm... I'll put that one to the top of my wish list. Thanks.

The Lian Li's SOHO PC-201B is one that just caught my eye too.
http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling/showdoc.aspx?i=2758&p=5

Thanks

 

[mydeadpresidents]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155

Ah, this was already on my short list. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[JohnS]

Active cooling?? I think we have different definitions of that
word, but I'll just say the guys at my forum who have built new machines
lately seem to like this case a lot...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119042

Just missed a sale on it at Newegg too. I think it was in the 30s but
only for 1 day a few days ago.

I like that one and I really like the other Cooler Master with the
bars on the front. The two big silver bar handles. I think that one
costs more though.

 

[John McGaw]

I'm looking for a home pc case offering decent active cooling and low
noise. However, I don't care about shiney paint, flashy lights, or
windows that let you see inside. In otherwords, I want funciton and
don't want to have to pay for cosmetics. I also don't require a lot of
bays, but I would like front ports for USB and maybe audio. Of cousre
I don't want something flimsy, but I don't need a tank either because I
don't intend on moving it around much. If power supply comes with
case, 450watt minimum.

I've found a few cases (power supply included) in the $70 that are
close to what I want, but not quite. I've found some cases I like in
the $110 (and over) range, but in most cases there is no power supply
and, as mentioned, I'm just paying for cosmetics. I'm hoping to find
some middle ground.

Any links for online case reviews would also be very helpful. What
I've found so far isn't very inclusive.

Thanks if you can help!

My last system was built in an Antec Sonata II case which is well-made,
sturdy, and very quiet. I discovered that it could be made even more
quiet by swapping out the standard PS with a Seasonic using a 12cm fan.
The standard PS is nothing to sneeze at and is more quiet than most. The
case has a moderate number of bays (I'm currently running mine with 4 X
400gB + 1 X 160gB HDs and a DVD-RW and a combination floppy/flash drive
and still could add a couple more if I wanted to.

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15139

 

[WindsorFox]

Thanks, I'll check it out. On first glance I like that it's BTX ready,
but $115 without a power supply isn't exactly cheap. Sorry for my
layman terms. By active, I just meant with fans as opposed so some
sort of liquid cooling system.

Generally active cooling means a Peltier device or sometimes
refrigerated water cooling. At any rate I recommend a case that uses low
speed 120mm fans. They are a lot quieter.

--
I used to have abs. Now, I've just got ab.
One big ol' Ab. - BigSkiff www.titanspot.com

Pyongyang sounds more like the sound effect an ACME catapult makes
as it goes off at precisely the wrong moment for Wile E. Coyote. -
Cadbury Moose

 

[WindsorFox]

Ah, this was already on my short list. Thanks for the feedback.

That's a really good case. I used one to build a machine for my grand ma

--
I used to have abs. Now, I've just got ab.
One big ol' Ab. - BigSkiff www.titanspot.com

Pyongyang sounds more like the sound effect an ACME catapult makes
as it goes off at precisely the wrong moment for Wile E. Coyote. -
Cadbury Moose

 

[Clint]

I've got the same Sonata II case, and I love it. It's quiet, had extras
that other cases in it's price didn't have (extra 120mm "tri-cool" fan,
rails for HD and optical drives, etc), was a good price. And the way my
motherboard, processor, and case line up, the heat from the processor is
sent straight out the case. I've got a Scythe Ninja cooler, and the fan on
that is set to the lowest speed, blowing towards the back of the case. The
fan on the back of the case is set to the lowest speed, and blows the hot
air out. The motherboard is an Asus P5LD2, since that probably matters.

Clint