Wallpaper
+303|6260|The pool
Im fed up with the evil POS I currently have. It must have been designed by a drooling retard! The PSU is mounted parallel to the mobo so there is almost NO room for a CPU cooler, and theres a big metal plate (that cannot be removed) that covers half of the damn case.

Anywaayyy... Im looking for a case that will last me a while, but with budget limitations I might have to just get one to last until my next major upgrade. Preferably something in the $50-70 range, but I can go up to $110 if the case is really good.

Features I would like:
Room for expansion
Good cooling
Fairly light (not totally necessary)
Front USB ports (not totally necessary)
Be able to fit my mATX mobo

Features I dont need/want:
Uber cooling, because I wont do crazy OCs
Screaming colors... Example: that nasty looking green Scorpio
PSU, but if its cheap, no problem
Tool-less doesnt matter
Lots of 3.5/5.25 bays, I highly doubt Ill ever have more than 2 optical/hard drives each

Looking at these cases:
Antec 900. Its highly rated, but Im concerned about space for longer GPUs
Antec SOHO. Heavy as hell, but solid&sexy. Also not sure about room for GPUs
Rosewill R5604-BK. Not the best, but I want to see what you guys think
Cooler Master Mystique. Sexy , but that bottom HDD cage thing may get in the way...

Opinions on the above cases? Im also open to other suggestions

Thanks

Last edited by Wallpaper (2008-10-26 22:45:37)

max
Vela Incident
+1,652|6834|NYC / Hamburg

P182. Awsm case

Wallpaper wrote:

Be able to fit my mATX mobo
I wont do crazy OCs
does not compile
once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot  xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.
Brasso
member
+1,549|6897

mATX - |_()|_

P182 if you're not overly concerned about cooling.  the others i haven't even heard of, besides the 900, which i <3.

Last edited by haffeysucks (2008-10-26 17:28:16)

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"
phishman420
Banned
+821|5948
Just got an Antec 300 for my mom. Really nice budget case.
Wallpaper
+303|6260|The pool
The P182 IS an awsm case, but its too expensive (read ze OP ). The mATX mobo I have now came in a ultra-cheap combo deal, so I cant complain. I dont plan on OCing at all with this mobo, but I do plan on it with future mobos

Last edited by Wallpaper (2008-10-26 17:42:06)

jaymz9350
Member
+54|6844
Also look at the CM-690.  If you can get one for a good price (I paid $65 at Micro Center for mine) it fits pretty much all of you needs.  It is really roomy for a mid tower and has 5 5.25 bays and 5 3.5 bays.
signa
~~~~~
+50|6995|Michigan, USA
P182 is nice, but its not a light case. its almost 15kg empty.  (i have a p180b).

I did a build recently with this case.  Its very light (but thin), looks good, and was surprisingly quiet with a q6600 + thermalright ultra120.  the lower part holds 3 hdd's, unless you have a big gfx card, in which case you can only fit 2 hdd's.  plus you could mount hdd's in any of the disk/cd drive slots.
Catbox
forgiveness
+505|6983
the Coolermaster HAF 932 is great... it's big and moves a lot of air... it's heavy though(well built) and it goes for about 150 bucks US

Last edited by [TUF]Catbox (2008-10-26 22:39:00)

Love is the answer
Wallpaper
+303|6260|The pool

jaymz9350 wrote:

Also look at the CM-690.  If you can get one for a good price (I paid $65 at Micro Center for mine) it fits pretty much all of you needs.  It is really roomy for a mid tower and has 5 5.25 bays and 5 3.5 bays.
Sweet, thanks. So theres enough length for a big GPU in there? How long are the power cables from your PSU to mobo? Was it a stretch to get them to plug in? Ive heard of people having trouble with that when it comes to cases with PSUs on the bottom... I want to make sure that if I get the case I couldnt have to fork out more money for a new PSU.

haffeysucks wrote:

the others i haven't even heard of, besides the 900, which i <3.
Same as above... But if the bottom HDD cage is out it gives a fair amount of room right?

phishman420 wrote:

Just got an Antec 300 for my mom. Really nice budget case.
Thanks, will look at it

EDIT:

signa wrote:

I did a build recently with this case.  Its very light (but thin), looks good, and was surprisingly quiet with a q6600 + thermalright ultra120.  the lower part holds 3 hdd's, unless you have a big gfx card, in which case you can only fit 2 hdd's.  plus you could mount hdd's in any of the disk/cd drive slots.
Looks pretty good, but it doesnt support micro ATX boards

[TUF]Catbox wrote:

the Coolermaster HAF 932 is great... it's big and moves a lot of air... it's heavy though(well built) and it goes for about 150 bucks US
I would get something like that, or a P182, but (as I said in the OP ) I cant really go over $110

Thanks for the help and suggestions so far, keep em comin!

Last edited by Wallpaper (2008-10-26 22:54:57)

Mint Sauce
Frighteningly average
+780|6553|eng
Lian-Li PC-61, NZXT Zero Black, NZXT Hush, Coolermaster Centurion 5 or ThermalTake Tsunami. All seem to be good cases

I heard that the Silverstone Temjin and Lian-Li PC-P80R are awesome..
#rekt
signa
~~~~~
+50|6995|Michigan, USA
what about the mini P180?  the white one is on sale for $69 after rebate @ newegg.
Jenspm
penis
+1,716|6999|St. Andrews / Oslo

Antec Pee One Eight Two
https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/26774/flickricon.png https://twitter.com/phoenix/favicon.ico
Madiz
is back
+26|7023
https://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc328/Madiz991/signa.jpg
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6720|The Twilight Zone
Lian-Li PC7se
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
jaymz9350
Member
+54|6844

Wallpaper wrote:

jaymz9350 wrote:

Also look at the CM-690.  If you can get one for a good price (I paid $65 at Micro Center for mine) it fits pretty much all of you needs.  It is really roomy for a mid tower and has 5 5.25 bays and 5 3.5 bays.
Sweet, thanks. So theres enough length for a big GPU in there? How long are the power cables from your PSU to mobo? Was it a stretch to get them to plug in? Ive heard of people having trouble with that when it comes to cases with PSUs on the bottom... I want to make sure that if I get the case I couldnt have to fork out more money for a new PSU.


EDIT:

signa wrote:

I did a build recently with this case.  Its very light (but thin), looks good, and was surprisingly quiet with a q6600 + thermalright ultra120.  the lower part holds 3 hdd's, unless you have a big gfx card, in which case you can only fit 2 hdd's.  plus you could mount hdd's in any of the disk/cd drive slots.
Looks pretty good, but it doesnt support micro ATX boards
If it supports ATX it supports Micro ATX, they use the same hole just ATX has more of them



I don't remember the exact length of my PSU cables but i did have a few inches of play.  I'd measure but the 8 pin runs behind my mobo and is a pain to get to.  THe 8 pin is at the top of my mobo and I still had enough play to get it all hooked up.

AS for the longer cards, not sure of the length of them but I have about 3 in. past my 8800gt.
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7032|Cambridge (UK)

Jenspm wrote:

Antec Pee One Eight Two
Whilst that's a very nice case, you have to admit it is getting a bit on the wee side (what with these bloody new bloody extra bloody long bloody PSUs and bloody Video bloody Cards)

So, on space for future upgrades, I'd favour the Thermaltake Armor+ Super Tower.

Wallpaper: dunno US prices, but you're probably gonna have to spend more money on a case if you want to be sure of having room for say a GTX280 or 3...

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-10-27 14:47:46)

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