Please recommend a case

[Flor]

If someone could give me a head start on some good case choices I'd
appreciate it. Budget is not really an issue and I'm looking for a
mid-tower with at least 4 x 5.25 bays and 6 x 3.5. I'd like 4
well-placed fans, a slide-out motherboard drawer, and at least 1
window. I've been looking at Kingwin, Cooler Master, and Antec but am
not sure how to choose or what the real-world differences are.

Thanks for the help!

 

[KC Computers]

If someone could give me a head start on some good case choices I'd
appreciate it. Budget is not really an issue and I'm looking for a
mid-tower with at least 4 x 5.25 bays and 6 x 3.5. I'd like 4
well-placed fans, a slide-out motherboard drawer, and at least 1
window. I've been looking at Kingwin, Cooler Master, and Antec but am
not sure how to choose or what the real-world differences are.

We are a dealer and I recommend an Antec Plus1080AMG.
It's sturdy, has an excellent quality power supply, has good cooling,
etc.

 

[Bobbie Leslie]

I agree on the Antec case/power supply. I just finished building up a
system with the Antec mid tower/server case and PS (smaller than a
full tower but taller than a normal mid tower). Easy to work on,
sturdy and nice looking. Other than that I have always used Inwin 500
series full towers.

 

[Joseph]

I recommend the coolermaster AT201 black cases. Mercedes Benz of cases.
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage...25-08.jpg/11-119-025-01.jpg/11-119-025-02.jpg

take a look at the case

 

[Dave Kistner]

If someone could give me a head start on some good case choices I'd
appreciate it. Budget is not really an issue and I'm looking for a
mid-tower with at least 4 x 5.25 bays and 6 x 3.5. I'd like 4
well-placed fans, a slide-out motherboard drawer, and at least 1
window. I've been looking at Kingwin, Cooler Master, and Antec but am
not sure how to choose or what the real-world differences are.

Thanks for the help!

The Chieftec aluminum server cases are very nice. Check them out at
Newegg.com. They have nice big side windows and I'm very impressed by how
functional they are -- just nice cases to work with. You can match it up
with a great Antec power supply and you're in great shape. Good luck.

 

[Mitchua]

That case doesn't look so nice. The Antec Sonata is much more Mercedes-esc.
It looks like a grand piano.

--Mitchua

 

[Glenn M]

If someone could give me a head start on some good case choices I'd
appreciate it. Budget is not really an issue and I'm looking for a
mid-tower with at least 4 x 5.25 bays and 6 x 3.5. I'd like 4
well-placed fans, a slide-out motherboard drawer, and at least 1
window. I've been looking at Kingwin, Cooler Master, and Antec but am
not sure how to choose or what the real-world differences are.

Thanks for the help!

I went with the Kingwin KT 424...excellent case and less then $100.00.
Five fans when you use an Antec True 550 power supply.
Rolled edges, slide out motherboard tray that works,toolless or screw
in drives,rubber grommets to act as shock absorbers for hard drives,
front USB/Firewire...
Excellent value and build...
Glenn M

 

[Timothy Daniels]

I went with the Kingwin KT 424...excellent case and less then $100.00.
Five fans when you use an Antec True 550 power supply.
Rolled edges, slide out motherboard tray that works,toolless or screw
in drives,rubber grommets to act as shock absorbers for hard drives,
front USB/Firewire...
Excellent value and build...

Got a link to a photo? Where are the 5 fans placed? Fan sizes?
Are all the HDs to be mounted label up? Any fans dedicated to
HD cooling?


*TimDaniels*

 

[Russell]

The case itself has 3 fans; the power supply's 2 fans are figured into the
quoted 5 figure. There are 2 vertically-mounted 80mm ball bearing fans
intaking air and blowing into the case and directly on the hard drives in
front of the HD drive bays. There is a fan speed dial hidden behind the
front case bezel, along with a removable filter. The rear fan is also 80mm
ball bearing above the AGP slot. All hard drives are installed label up
with interface connectors facing the rear of the case. Good cases; I use
them on our systems.
http://tastycomputers.com/bistro_menu/components/cases/kingwin.htm .

Russell

 

[Dave Suwala]

Your search for a case which provides cooling for the HDs will be difficult.
I found one which I have used on two on my creations called Nuke and Nuke2.
The Black Chieftec SX1040 I bought from Xtreme Gear does provide a fan for
this in the bottom 3 drive bays. There are ten bays, 6 for HDs and 4 for
the CDs. I bought mine w/o the PS and used a Vantec 420W instead. The four
120GB drives in a RAID 0/1 array generate a lot of heat so I'm glad I have
all the fans. Altogether there are five case fans, three inflow and two
out. The PS has another 8cm fan. This doesn't count the Thermaltake for
the cpu and the little one for the graphic card. Nuke runs a website 24/7
and the temperature of the cpu is 37.0°C! I just searched and found
pricewatch.com lists the SX1040 with a 420W PS for $69 with $6-15.90
shipping. Good hunting.

Dave