Need Help Choosing Mid Tower Case!

[willx]

Hello,
I've been searching everywhere for a good mid tower case. What are the benefits of steel and aluminum, can someone please tell me? I'm searching for a case that has a depth less than 19", does anyone have one at the top of their head? One I found that is fits my needs is the NZXT Adamas but I don't really like the design. Any suggestions? Lian-Li? Silverstone? I'd also like for it to fit a Zalman 9700
Please help,
One week is enough I don't want to spend two weeks.
THANKS!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

We need a couple things before we can really help out. What's your budget like? Rank these three things: Silence, Price, Performance. What hardware is going in it? How many hard drives does it need to be able to fit?

 

[Modelworks]

19" depth is fairly common.
Is that the maximum depth ?
Have you accounted for the plugs in the back ?
Thats about another 4".
So your max case depth would have to be 15"

 

[Zepper]

Welcome to the AT forums. And fill out the second tab of your user Profile when you get a chance.

If you don't mind a lot of case for the money, see the Rosewill R5600 series - here's one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811147083.

See my review here: http://www.techimo.com/reviews...roduct.php?product=431 . Ooops, they are slightly over 19" deep. Well then, look at the R6A or R6X series, all of those are under 19" - those are the only ones worth looking at under Rosewill, IMO. You can find similar or identical cases under the HEC/Compucase brands as that is the OEM

The silverstone SST-TJ04 has always been a nice case - SundialMicro.com has them at the best price now, but shipping can change that depending on where you live - Sundial's shipping is high at $31. to me in central NY. Dealsonic has the best price to me, shipping included - Fedex ground at under $12.00! But they have only the model with window.

Oh, and SVC has the all aluminum, CoolerMaster Mystique 631 on sale this weekend at $10.00 after rebate + s/h. Their shipping is normally high, but the case is so light, it was even reasonable to me. I got one the last time they ran this special and find it is a bit flimsy and rattly, but that can be fixed with some judicious application of insulating tape. Door can be reversed so can open either way. Looks better in person than most pix can do. I haven't received my rebate yet, but it has been acknowledged and is in process. It is almost exactly 19" deep - I calculate 18.9". I can measure mine if you need.

That's all I can come up with lacking further info as you didn't give much. Budget? Door/no Door? Color? Window? Etc. The more we have to go on, the closer we can come.

.bh.

 

[willx]

If I were to rank these things, it would be... 1. Performance, 2. Silence, 3. Price.
I do have a maximum depth of 20.5" but I thought I just needed 1", if its 4" then my maximum depth would have to be 14.5" Thanks modelworks!

Zepper, I really dont mind about the price. I want the best case that suits me. I'm planning to have these parts in my PC:
780i evga motherboard
1x 8800 gtx 768mb
Zalman 9700led
2 dvd roms

That should fit in the silverstone right?

I do prefer aluminum, sturdy, cases that provide cooling.

THANK YOU ALL, I will definitely check out your articles from now.

 

[willx]

No Budget, Door does not matter, Black, Windowed.
I prefer steel or aluminum, and fans at the side and top for cooling.
Thanks!

 

[Zepper]

The new Lancool/Lian Li K7 might suit, but you'd have to do your own window - but aluminum is soft . And be careful not to tip it over as the HDDs could go flying...

.bh.

 

[willx]

Wow, thats a nice case- I'm getting it.

THANKS ZEPPER, sorry for bugging you so much

 

[Zepper]

The dimensions on the K7B on newegg are erroneous - the actual depth is a tad over 19.25" (489mm)

.bh.

 

[willx]

Thanks,
Is The Lian Li K7B is better than the Lian Li-60BPlusII, in terms of cooling?

 

[Doclife]

You might want to look at the Antec Solo case if cooling and quietness are what you're looking for. The review of the P150 (same as Solo) case is here

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article272-page1.html

 

[Zepper]

I'd say the 80mm exhaust would put the 60BPlusII out of contention unless you were willing to do my cooling mod: http://i52.photobucket.com/alb...r0/fanOnWaveMaster.jpg or similar. And, BTW, the Wave Master case in the pic is for sale...

.bh.

 

[chuckm]

The Antec 900 is $80 after MIR;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129021

 

[Zepper]

Geez, did you see what the Egg did to you today? "Ya know ya haveta finally decide, to say yes ta one and let the other one slide..." Sale on all cases (not sure if it's members only or all play) starts at midnight tonight (I also DK if it is 12 in your time zone or PST) - I know I have no intention of being up at 3:00 am here... 'Course the deals may not be hot enough for you.

.bh.

 

[chuckm]

Where did you see this Zepper?

 

[Zepper]

Received the Egg's deal newsletter an hour or so ago.

.bh.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

currently, my 2 favorite towers are the lancool k7 and the silverstone kl02. according to the manufacturer's specs, the k7 is just under 19", the kl02 just over. both will accomidate full-size vid cards, but the sata hot swap connector on the kl02 has to go (no loss at all imo). both cases appear to have excellent layout, cooling, build quality, and capacity. to me aluminum is of no benefit, as it does nothing for cooling and doesn't save much weight, while being a little more fragile and expensive.

silverstone kl02b (with mesh side panel)
$130

silverstone kl02b-w (with full window side panel)
$140

lancool/lian li k7
$100

edit: do you already have the zalman 9700? and, welcome to AT!

 

[Zepper]

You can just move the hot swap bracket on the KL02 up or down the HDD cage 'til it's out of the way, or move the whole cage up the 5" drive rack...

.bh.

 

[willx]

No, I dont have that zalman 9700 yet. About to buy it from newegg. I choose the 9700 because I feel that it cools the entire system, helps airflow. I'm still favoring that lancool/lianli k7 with tthe p60 side panel (currently deciding). Will the 9700 fit the silverstone/lianli k7? I'm thinking... if I were to get the Silverstone KL02, wouldn't the side collect dust? (I'm thinking with the relation to Hiper's Anubis case).

Thanks!

 

[ChefJoe]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Geez, did you see what the Egg did to you today? "Ya know ya haveta finally decide, to say yes ta one and let the other one slide..." Sale on all cases (not sure if it's members only or all play) starts at midnight tonight (I also DK if it is 12 in your time zone or PST) - I know I have no intention of being up at 3:00 am here... 'Course the deals may not be hot enough for you.

.bh.

Sale begins 12 am Jan 23rd for all of the following. Goes for 24 hours according to the email. It includes the $80 antec nine hundred.


http://promotions.newegg.com/cases/010808/index.html
The Quest for the Perfect Case Ends Here!

 

[The Boston Dangler]

willx, i suggest something other than the 9700. i have the 9500, and it's LOUD at full speed and unpleasant sounding. it's also impossible to replace the fan. check out http://www.frostytech.com/ remember, a 3dB difference means exactly twice as loud. i agree with you, the mesh side panel would get pretty dusty.

for example, this cooler is quieter and more effective. i expect the motherboard component temps to be about the same.

also, newegg has the scythe mugen/infinity for just $40.

as for the p60 side panel, i have no idea if that would fit the k7.

 

[Zepper]

I guess I'm mistaken - don't see any big deal at Newegg, at least on anything I'd want to buy.

.bh.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

the zalman would have minimal effect on the motherboard. more than zero, but definately not a huge difference maker. i noticed very little temp drop (measured with an IR thermometer) on the components around the cpu, going to the 9500 from an arctic cooling pro 64. the extra circulation caused by the zalman design extends less than 1 inch to the sides, from the middle of the cooler to the rear (measured with smoke).

with fresh air going in the front and exhaust out the back, everything in between is going to get enough to breathe. one thing i would not do is run a duct from the back of the heatsink to the exhaust fan. that would pretty much shut off air flow to the VRM and thingees. i guess there would be some from the power supply if mounted above the cpu, but i'm calling that a double black diamond level 100 ninja move.

i'm just posting my response here in case someone else has more info or a better idea.