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Hello all,
Well I need a new case due to city link being heavy footed/ handed a while ago. So I am using the LAN as a perfect excuse to get a case.
I was looking at something like the Antec 1200 in size, ideally after a nice sized case, with room for expansion (hoping to add SLI GFX in future) and obviously decent airlow.
I am willing to got to the same amount as the 1200, but before I just jump in feet first, I was wondering if anyone can recommend another case?
Cheers,
I would look at this case:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...source=froogle
Are those images reversed or something? Cos that case is back to front :\Quote:
Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH
That is the way the case is orientated!Quote:
Originally Posted by matty-hodgson
I think that Mr Panda(aka as TAKTAK) has one.
Seems to be out of stock at Scan but a few other places have it too:
http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=L...l=en&scoring=p
It is supposed to be one of the lightest ATX cases available.
Don't get the A05 unless you are willing to mod it, the back to front airflow is all well and good...
But because of where the GFX card sits it creates a thermal pocket at the top of the case, which you need a blow hole to get rid of, nice and quick to do mind, but something to be aware of...
Also, you may need to mod the drive bays to suit your needs, as with a tower cooler with fans in push pull the HDD bays get blocked (top bay hits the GFX card if you try to take it out), not bad though as long as you put HDDs in before you mount the cooler.
This piccy shows the blowhole at the top:
http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k...K/IMG_8771.jpg
also shows the limited distance between the HDDs and the cooler.
You'll need to be able to keep cables fairly tidy too as most of the exhaust is done via the HDD cage and the PSU.
You should be able to fit 4 HDDs and one optical, although things would get interesting if you went SLI as you would need angled SATA data + power i think.
Obv if you have SSDs then you can just velcro them somewhere out of the way and ditch the HDD cage, you should be able to fit one on the side of the PSU and the optical cage.
'Tis a very nice case though :), just needs some TLC to get it spotty dog :)
Umm a 1200 for a lan case? isn't it a big big a clunky for a lan case?
You could consider the NZXT panzer box, as long as you don't have more than 1 or 2 hard drives
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/NZXT-...r-Case-w-o-PSU
My not be to your taste but maybe the Antec 600 ?
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec...Window-w-o-PSU
For high air flow there always the HAF 922
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Coole...nt-Fan-w-o-PSU
Is that Antec not just a 300 with uglyness strapped on? The inside looks pretty similar to my case tbh.
An Antec 300 maybe, Anthony?
I have the PC-05 as my spare rig (which I believe Matty will be using at the LAN!). It's actually a good little case, but wouldn't recommend it for SLI. I modded mine to take 2x120mm fans at the top, which works fine with one graphics card but I would imagine it would struggle with 2.
Should have made myself clearer, the case will be the case for my normal PC, but i need it before the LAN!.
Hmm
Its 300 or something else.
I like that HAF, but the huge fan on the side I dont like.
I would ideally want something with decent size to be honest, plenty of expansion room as mentioned above...
The 600 is a bit longer and wider than the 300 and has the 200mm big boy fan on top (like the 900, 902 & 1200)Quote:
Originally Posted by matty-hodgson
and yes it's an aquired taste.
I sort of like the industrial look to it, just not the colour combo.
Here is a small list of what I am looking for to make it clearer.
- Cable Management - YES
- Space for atleast 3 HD's
- 2 Drives at present
- Fan's 4 - 6 (?) 120mm in size is max..good mixture between cooling and noise
- GPU - 8800GTS at present (295 in future)
- PSU - Would prefer bottom mounted.
- Would like sideways HD installation for cable management, but isn't essential
- Not to bothered about the PSU section being partitioned
- Not to mithered about the LED side of things
- I have a couple of fans 4 or 5 120mm's if I remember)
- Preferably black
- Tool less would be good, but not overly essential
What about a Coolermaster CM690:
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...following.html
Or Lancool k58 / k62, that would be my choise of case if I was goint to spend £50-90 on a case.
K62 = all balck + blue led fans + window
k58 = cheaper, grey in side, not top fans (need to get lian-li screw kit OF-01 http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_2424.html & 140mm fans only)
Both have the best toolless features of any case (well execpt the lian-li which they are based off) and personally I love the look of them.
Got a CM, want something different.
Matty has just came up with a rather good wild card!
Here
Here is a review:Quote:
Originally Posted by Disturbedguy
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/201...-case-review/1
Edit!!
Link now corrected!!
Or here even
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/201...-case-review/1
reveiw of the Fractal case
Got to add this bit - http://www.bit-tech.net/blog/2010/01...-r2-follow-up/Quote:
Originally Posted by kmac
Shows the case with a couple more fans, running with the bad-boys, and beating them.
:laugh: yeah.. mattyQuote:
Originally Posted by Disturbedguy
:p
The Lian Li Tyr PC-X500 is very nice:
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1034430325
Passively cooled and overclocked Core i7 920 FTW!!
It is "slightly" expensive though:
http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=T...l=en&scoring=p
The fractal is nice :)
I'd also look at the CM 690 II (not rev2) more expensive but it does have some good improvements over the original.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/191197
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6638
Bit pricey, Raven2 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Silve...Window-w-o-PSU
Here's another curve ball for you
Zalman GS1000-SE
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Zalma...g-Case-w-o-PSU
But I still say LanCool :P
Since we're posting up "expensive" suggestions, i really like this one:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Chenb...U-Ultra-Hi-End
I have to say I'm a bit of a sucker for the aluminium cases. They add nothing to the cooling ability of the case but they sure do look good
Now if that Fractal design case was aluminium.....
I just recased my machine from an Antec Sonata to this
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec...plus120mm-fans
I really like it, built a PC for a friend last year using one of these as he wanted a small machine but didnt want to stretch to Shuttle prices.
I liked the case so changed my P5Q-E to a Maximum Gene II thing and all is well, usual Antec build quality...
The Lian-Li PC-P50 is also quite nice too:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...c-p50-review/1
It is cheaper than the Lian Li Tyr PC-X500 though:
http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=L...l=en&scoring=p
Some nice suggestions, one or two a little pricey though..
yeah but which one wins?Quote:
Originally Posted by Disturbedguy
So far, the fractal is top of my list
Well considering the antec 1200 is £130 they are all cheaper than that :P
That's why I keep saying the LanCool, it's the same case but in steel, with an improved hard drive cage and half the price ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH