A case for cases

[shiato storm]

On sale at Komplett at the moment (deal of the week) is a cooler master Cavalier3 case. I pondered this as a chance to upgrade the current case I have to put all my new bits in - so everything is new. Infact I measured the dimensions of this case and compared them to mine (Height, Width, Depth)
mine = 45 x 18.5 x 42
cavalier = 43.5 x 20 x 50
so dimensions are similar, only its deeper but I reckon thats for the 'front door' thing it has on it. I have just got my new PSU, a tagan, and its got hundreds of cables and such...therefore to accomodate these surplus (or otherwise) cables, including ide's/sata's etc. I think I need a bigger case, anything like the one I have will just be constricting air-flow.
Any recommendations as to which are decent, and not 'earth costing' cases...

p.s. and where does the grounding thing that comes with my psu go? I didn't have one with the old psu...!

[Thorsson]

How much are you willing to spend on the case? I love my Antec P160, but it's not the cheapest case on the block. It's that bit bigger than a normal mid-tower, the airflow is good and construction is easy. Drives are stealthed rather than having those doors, which just get in the way IMO.

The earth wire is supposed to attach to the case (metal).

[Daymonkey]

as far as the excess cables go they can always be shoved behind the mobo tray, when it comes to the grounding thing i would think it would touch the case but i am not sure, never used one myself.

[shiato storm]

there's little to NO space behind the mobo tray, just the side of the case up against it...so it seems there's no way I can stuff all the cables away...

[malfunction]

Or... Also from Komplett - another bargain case - how about a Beantech Igloo for £49?

I like the look of the Igloo 4 personally:

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=301965&cks=PRL

[shiato storm]

ah yes, nice colour etc but still, its dimensions are the same, or smaller than, mine
again: H, W, D
mine = 45 x 18.5 x 42
cavalier = 43.5 x 20 x 50
beantech = 44.2 x 21 x 48.3
not much in it to be honest...

[Exopaladin]

If you are willing to pay the price there's always the option of a CM Stacker, I've got one of these myself, lots of room to work in and good airflow, especially if you put all 7 possible fans in.

[shiato storm]

when it says extended atx mainboard format does that mean it'll still take the bog-standard atx format...?

[malfunction]

ah yes, nice colour etc but still, its dimensions are the same, or smaller than, mine
again: H, W, D
mine = 45 x 18.5 x 42
cavalier = 43.5 x 20 x 50
beantech = 44.2 x 21 x 48.3
not much in it to be honest...

What I tend to do with surplus cables in my case - Lian Li PC61 (and the beantech is supposed to be very similar) is stash as many cables as possible up above the PSU and the top 5.25" drive - there's about a gap above each that around 1cm IIRC and 'holds' the cables in place quite nicely. Failing that can't you just stuff them in the empty 5.25" bays? Should keep them out of the way of any air flow. What case do you have?

[malfunction]

when it says extended atx mainboard format does that mean it'll still take the bog-standard atx format...?

Yes - it just means that the case is deeper and has mounting points for wider motherboards

[shiato storm]

my case is an old one, was an Atlas Meridion i got ages ago...well, 2001 anyway. wasn't too great as it died fairly rapidly but there you go.

[BUFF]

Tagans fit fine in Beantech Igloos
For £49 they are terrific cases.

[Lu-tze]

why not the akasa c62? plently of room, great airflow, front usb. i think www.overclockers.co.uk are having a deal on them at the moment in the weekly offers section along with a load of other akasa stuff. you'll need new fans also, and the akasa pax power 120's look good.

Edit - there no longer on offer. there being sold at £85 though.

[Thorsson]

The Antec P160 is 51.5 x 50.0 x 20.6. That's 53045cm3 compared to your current 34965, or around 52% extra space.

[shiato storm]

I found this (linky go to the 5th one down or go here for detailed spec.s) and was wondering if its worth the 45 squids it'll cost (incl vat and p&p)...?
here's a piccy I found too (there's lots but this gives best overall view)

and inside

it has a nifty blue cold cathode, which I may not use anyway but its rather cool all the same. oh and it has a fan on the window in the centre of the 'X'
looks reasonable to me for 45 all in...

edit: almost forgot these thingys hiding away!

[MD]

no removable motherboard tray tho :/

parsonally I just built my new system in a Antec P160, its so easy to work with, I just wish I could shut my 6800GT up tho lol, cos now thats all I hear overt he top of the 120mm fans....Antec P160 ALL the way.

m@