What is THE BEST case

[rileychris]

I prefer more subtle cases like ones from Silverstone, CoolerMaster and Antec. My favorite is the Silverstone TJ05. I was a big wavemaster fan, but the Silverstone has close to the same look, possibly better, but should COOL MUCH BETTER (120 >>>> 90mm Fans). I do like the fact that the CoolerMaster is all Aluminum.

Silverstone Cases

 

[Spike]

Hmmm, "Best" case is kinda vauge. If you mean best quality, best preformance, best everything then it would probably be a $300 Lian-Li case. But in the real world, only a few can afford a case like that so if you mean best case for the money (ie best price/performance ratio) then I would say Antecs (naimly the Sonota and super lanboy). It's like CPU's, the FX-55 is obviously the best, but you could spend a fraction of the cost on a A64 3200 or 3500 and get almost the same performance, so that makes them the best bang for the buck.

Just my opinion

-spike

 

[nick1985]

cooler master

 

[MDE]

I love my Sonata.

 

[Shinare]

meh... I guess I'll be one of the few that says that $35 cheapies are the best. I''ll sink my money into other aspects of the computer such as one step higher in the CPU or one step higher in teh vidcard. (I'm also not hemorrhaging money either)

 

[webekyle]

Originally posted by: Shinare
meh... I guess I'll be one of the few that says that $35 cheapies are the best. I''ll sink my money into other aspects of the computer such as one step higher in the CPU or one step higher in teh vidcard. (I'm also not hemorrhaging money either)

lol

 

[BOLt]

I like Lian-Li's high-end products, the Chenbro Gaming Bomb II, and the Antec P160. I'm settling for an Antec Super LANBoy because of the weight (almost 3 lbs. lighter than the P160) and price (~$45 from CompUSA after rebate, but I have to drive over 75 miles to get to the store for in-store pickup, as that is the only option they give for purchasing the case). My major problem is airflow for the Super LANBoy, but I'm going to modify the case by adding an 80mm or 92mm fan on the top for extra ventilation, and the Vantec Spectrum PCI Fan Card for more cooling on my BFG 6800 GT OC PCI Express, which I hear runs VERY hot under high load.

All in all, I like the Chenbro Gaming Bomb II the most, and it just saw a $80 price drop at MicroCenter.com. It now sits at around $175, includes two 120mm fans, a 92mm fan space on the top and plenty of features and aesthetics to boot, but I think for $170 dollars less after rebate, the Super LANBoy is hard to beat.

 

[Salvador]

I don't think that I'd buy anything with a Tsunami name on it at this point.

Sal

 

[LED]

Biggest and most Popular belongs to Chenming

 

[PC911mickster]

This thread is further proof that there's a wrench for every nut.

My favorite is the new one Antec is introducing at CES...the P-180. It should hit the street in February and I'll be first in line. It's got that BTX wannabe layout(power and hdd's in bottom) along with 2-120mm fans and space for an additional on top. The exterior is sexy as hell. The guys over at SPCR.com are really excited about this one because the designers appear to have fixed problems from the Sonata, LanBOY and P-160 lines. It looks like a perfectly cool and quiet case.


The following is the list of details courtesy of MikeC at SPCR.com
The P180 features include:

* Plastic / aluminum multi-layer panels for high acoustic damping (like Antec Aria)

* Bottom placement of PSU in separate, isolated ducted chamber with 120mm fan option in middle

* Four HDD cage in the bottom ducted chamber in silicone rubber suspension mounts

* Two 120mm fan exhaust vents in top chamber, one on top panel over CPU area

* 120mm intake vent for top chamber in front of two drive bay with same silicone rubber mounts

* Ducting system for VGA/CPU heat to be exhausted out the back panel with up to two additional fans; this is not shown in the pic and also does not have to be used

* 3-position speed switch for each of the 3~4 included quiet fans.

* Front door hinges open 270 degrees to get out of the way

* Front bezel has side vent slots all around for unrestricted airflow even with door closed

* Extensive use of damping materials at panel contact points to reduce resonance / vibration noise


Feedback on 2 of the cases mentioned in this thread.

a) The Silverstone TJ06 Temjin. If you're looking at this case, take a look at Aerocool's Spiral Galaxy. The exterior is not quite as nice as the Temjin, the chassis itself, along with the fans, are identical to the TJ06...and it's $43 cheaper. http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-196-006&depa=1

b) I used the CM WaveMaster for my PIC(partner in crime)'s business system over a year ago. PIC loves it. She says it's the sexiest computer case she's ever seen. She still loves it. It is a decent case, but the layout and cooling are old school.. My feeling is that it's over priced for an old school case.

 

[JerryT87]

Originally posted by: PC911mickster
This thread is further proof that there's a wrench for every nut.

My favorite is the new one Antec is introducing at CES...the P-180. It should hit the street in February and I'll be first in line. It's got that BTX wannabe layout(power and hdd's in bottom) along with 2-120mm fans and space for an additional on top. The exterior is sexy as hell. The guys over at SPCR.com are really excited about this one because the designers appear to have fixed problems from the Sonata, LanBOY and P-160 lines. It looks like a perfectly cool and quiet case.
The following is the list of details courtesy of MikeC at SPCR.com
The P180 features include:

* Plastic / aluminum multi-layer panels for high acoustic damping (like Antec Aria)

* Bottom placement of PSU in separate, isolated ducted chamber with 120mm fan option in middle

* Four HDD cage in the bottom ducted chamber in silicone rubber suspension mounts

* Two 120mm fan exhaust vents in top chamber, one on top panel over CPU area

* 120mm intake vent for top chamber in front of two drive bay with same silicone rubber mounts

* Ducting system for VGA/CPU heat to be exhausted out the back panel with up to two additional fans; this is not shown in the pic and also does not have to be used

* 3-position speed switch for each of the 3~4 included quiet fans.

* Front door hinges open 270 degrees to get out of the way

* Front bezel has side vent slots all around for unrestricted airflow even with door closed

* Extensive use of damping materials at panel contact points to reduce resonance / vibration noise

Wow, that does look like a nice case.
I'm gonna start an upgrade soon?, but may wait to see how this case reviews come out before I pick up a new case.

 

[Degrador]

I have to agree with Spike here - "best" is very subjective for cases. I'm a fan of the CM Stacker personally, but I certainly know it's not for everyone. For one, it's a whopping 14kg, and big. Many people look for small light cases these days to help for transport, but I just prefer the cooling potential and expandability of a big case. Some people are looking for just a decent cheap case, which again rules this one out. And then there's those that want a case to look good - and there's never gonna be consensus on that. I suppose one of us should probably make lists of good cases for particular needs to help out people looking to buy a case.... umm... anyone else want to volunteer?

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: PC911mickster
This thread is further proof that there's a wrench for every nut.

My favorite is the new one Antec is introducing at CES...the P-180. It should hit the street in February and I'll be first in line. It's got that BTX wannabe layout(power and hdd's in bottom) along with 2-120mm fans and space for an additional on top. The exterior is sexy as hell. The guys over at SPCR.com are really excited about this one because the designers appear to have fixed problems from the Sonata, LanBOY and P-160 lines. It looks like a perfectly cool and quiet case.


The following is the list of details courtesy of MikeC at SPCR.com
The P180 features include:

* Plastic / aluminum multi-layer panels for high acoustic damping (like Antec Aria)

* Bottom placement of PSU in separate, isolated ducted chamber with 120mm fan option in middle

* Four HDD cage in the bottom ducted chamber in silicone rubber suspension mounts

* Two 120mm fan exhaust vents in top chamber, one on top panel over CPU area

* 120mm intake vent for top chamber in front of two drive bay with same silicone rubber mounts

* Ducting system for VGA/CPU heat to be exhausted out the back panel with up to two additional fans; this is not shown in the pic and also does not have to be used

* 3-position speed switch for each of the 3~4 included quiet fans.

* Front door hinges open 270 degrees to get out of the way

* Front bezel has side vent slots all around for unrestricted airflow even with door closed

* Extensive use of damping materials at panel contact points to reduce resonance / vibration noise

Man... I love my new super-lanboy so it is really annoying when they release a case even better... I may have to look at this but as I have used my lanboy for a whole month now, my wife won't be too keen on my upgrading again...

-spike

 

[bluslice]

huge vote for coolermaster wavemaster case. cleanest looking case out there.

 

[doublejbass]

I'm going to wait for the P180 for sure, that looks optimal.

 

[thenotebook]

Originally posted by: doublejbass
I'm going to wait for the P180 for sure, that looks optimal.

It doesn't have a window though. Can you live with that?