Recommend a case ?

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16-07-2006, 09:54 AM
Chunkers

Recommend a case ?

Looking for preferably largish midi or tower case for my next build and would be interested in your recommendations.

Would like something of good quality (doesn't have to be aluminium) with or wiithout PSU, these are my preferences :

- No door (they just get in my way)
- Bling lights, windows, garish colours, neon lights etc are not my cup of tea
- Good airflow and preferably 120 mm fans
- Prefer removable MB tray
- Some ports / USB etc accessible on the front somewhere
- Good sound insulation / performance

I have always bought Antec cases in the past and like the P150 except I have read the PSU is dodgy :

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/99110/rb/20444753544

What do you reckon?

Cheers

Chunks
16-07-2006, 10:26 AM
sawyen

Akasa Eclipse.. without the window bit..

Nothing gets better than that..
16-07-2006, 12:19 PM
Chunkers

Unfortunately the Akasa Eclipse seems to have a door at the front, but thanks for the suggest :)

Chunks

Edit : Oops sorry, you are quite right it doesn't have a door, will have a closer look
16-07-2006, 01:18 PM
amjedm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunkers

Unfortunately the Akasa Eclipse seems to have a door at the front, but thanks for the suggest :)

Chunks

The new Akasa Mirage has a door, the Eclipse doesn't.

Sound insulation is the only 'if' from your list with regards the Eclipse. You could use dampening material?

On the Eclipse I've cut out fan grills and hd is suspended with round elastic. Fans have Blu Tack to dampen fan vibrations. About as silent as I can get it without spending more on a hd enclosure.

There are issues with the Neo HE psu - the latest version should be ok but I'm not sure if you can find out which one ebuyer are selling as their pre tech support is naff or non existent.
16-07-2006, 01:33 PM
Veles

An acousti case is probably right up your alley, similar to my Antec SLK 3000B but without the door and has sound insulation.

AFAIK it has a front and rear 120mm fan intake and some vents to the side, removable HD and floppy cage, etc.

EDIT: Unfortuneately I think they've stopped making them :S Tried to find a link from shops I knew used to sell them and exerone has removed them from listings.
16-07-2006, 01:36 PM
athlon_xp_2800

The Akasa Eclipse definitely gets thumbs up from me too!

Only 2 points to mention, 1. If you have a Raptor harddisk it's very noisy in this case, I know because I have just replaced my raptor and put it in my old Xaser III !
I now have a 250Gb Maxtor SATA II, much quieter!

2. No I/O ports on the front of the Eclipse 62, so you'll need to find a way round that too. (Sorry, only 2 USB ports, but that's all)

Other than those two points it's an excellent case, very easy to work with, lots of room inside!
16-07-2006, 02:40 PM
pr0p4g4nd4

I'm happy with my budget Lian-Li PC7 Plus :)
16-07-2006, 02:42 PM
owen1978

My next case for my conroe system is................. (fanfare, drumroll etc....)

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...ory_oid=-28015
16-07-2006, 04:16 PM
amjedm

Quote:

Originally Posted by owen1978

My next case for my conroe system is................. (fanfare, drumroll etc....)

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...ory_oid=-28015

Nice case but I had an accident with the Phong 1 when setting up my nephews PC. Sliced my finger - an injury I still remember.
16-07-2006, 04:21 PM
amjedm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veles

An acousti case is probably right up your alley, similar to my Antec SLK 3000B but without the door and has sound insulation.

AFAIK it has a front and rear 120mm fan intake and some vents to the side, removable HD and floppy cage, etc.

EDIT: Unfortuneately I think they've stopped making them :S Tried to find a link from shops I knew used to sell them and exerone has removed them from listings.

The OEM of the Acousticase and the SLK I believe is Compucase - http://www.compucase-hec.co.uk/mainp...tail.asp?pid=7.

I believe the new version has the cpu duct and the grill for the graphics card. I had the one in the link and it is a nice case. Now passed on to my brother.

Still available
http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/Compucase_6A19_.html - both old and new versions here
http://www.lcsuk.com/acatalog/Compucase.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...04&cat=0&page=
16-07-2006, 04:22 PM
MantisCSS

akasa eclipse is a nice case, highly rated.
16-07-2006, 04:54 PM
ash_rm

Go for the akasa eclipse or the Antec P180 (door can be folded all the way round)
16-07-2006, 05:47 PM
nvening

Eclipse anyday
16-07-2006, 07:42 PM
athlon_xp_2800

Quote:

Originally Posted by amjedm

The OEM of the Acousticase and the SLK I believe is Compucase - http://www.compucase-hec.co.uk/mainp...tail.asp?pid=7.

I believe the new version has the cpu duct and the grill for the graphics card. I had the one in the link and it is a nice case. Now passed on to my brother.

Still available
http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/Compucase_6A19_.html - both old and new versions here
http://www.lcsuk.com/acatalog/Compucase.html
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...04&cat=0&page=

That is a lovely case for my next purchase, to replace the old Xaser III.
Also good for a bit of modding I think!;)
16-07-2006, 08:31 PM
arthurleung

Only bad thing is the Eclipse's airfilter is not up to the job and I keep getting loads of dust. (And the sidepanels are a bit "leaky" and dust also got in from there)

I love the PCI bracket thingy and I have 2 eSATA port up in the front.
Too bad the giant heatsink I use on the NF4 on my DFI blocks off the USB headers (and 2 of the SATA ports) so I don't have front usb :(

The HDD Bay is sometimes a tight fit and since I replace HDD quite often its troublesome. It keep hitting my X-Fi (and gfx) when I try to remove the hdd cage. I suppose they could have copied the design from the Xaser III (A very nice case except the 80mm fans)
16-07-2006, 09:00 PM
amjedm

Quote:

Originally Posted by arthurleung

Only bad thing is the Eclipse's airfilter is not up to the job and I keep getting loads of dust. (And the sidepanels are a bit "leaky" and dust also got in from there)

I'm using a Bounce (fabric freshener) sheet instead of the standard filter. I believe this blocks more dust.

It's tricky to hold in place so I've used some aluminium tape (I think that's what it's called) which works well as the adhesive is quite strong.
16-07-2006, 09:52 PM
arthurleung

Quote:

Originally Posted by amjedm

I'm using a Bounce (fabric freshener) sheet instead of the standard filter. I believe this blocks more dust.

It's tricky to hold in place so I've used some aluminium tape (I think that's what it's called) which works well as the adhesive is quite strong.

I tried something more dense and it didn't help all that much. Since I reduced the airflow through the filter so the air now gets into the system through the 5.25" (and the 3.5") slots. Adding a floppy drive / extra optical could probably help.

I think that might be why they discontinue the Eclipse.