Case recommendations!!!!!!!!!!

[slyver]

Alright.

I need a new case. And right now, it's down to those Alienware-looking Chieftec cases (cuz they're nice and they're cheap) or a Lian-Li (very nice, but a bit more change.) Any other recommends along those lines from the caseheads out there?

[BobyJo]

The Antec 1030 tower case is one of the best. You may purchase the Chieftek version of this with power supply for quite a good deal. Without window and lights this case can be purchased for $65 + sh. Best air circulation of anything in the price range, even the above case in Aluminum is $99 + sh. Is a super deal. The very expensive cases I have found are not much better. This case comes in your choice of 6 colors and you can get it with a large window in the mb side, with cold cathode lights or neon lights. Looks really great, has enough places for fans to keep the system cool.

[Raven]

I would recomend something like an In-win S500, it's not a big and fancy case. But if you like to mod it offeres a lot of room to play.

I liked it cause you had the ability to remove all the panels... which makes moddin really easy.

There are also some realy nice clear cases... Like the C3 or the ClearPC.

I think the chieftec is a good bet too. You really can't go wrong with the Lian-li, has a really nice look with the aluminium.

[Omega]

If you'd like a big case, with good cooling, and a nifty case in general, check out the 3dCool.com Tornado 3000 or Hellstorm 3000. They're pre-modded, and feature a "hydraulic" front panel. The difference between the two is the paint (one is dull, one is polished, with automotive paint), and the Hellstorm has a window. They're going to cost a bit, though. I have the Tornado 3000 in black.

You might want to state what you're looking to do with the case. If you want a case for lots of LAN parties, you might consider light/small/sturdy. If you want modding potential, you might want big, nice front bezel, etc. If you want the coolest-looking, biggest, most expensive case on the market, that's something completely different. Something to take into account is what you want to do for expansion. In my Tornado 3000 there's only 1, 3 1/2" drive cage, so I'm having to put my new hard drives in 5 1/2" drive bay coolers, and consequently have to get longer IDE cables. Cases with an integrated duct for CPU cooling are nice too.

[mooseboy84]

those cheiftec/antec cases have great cooling because ther HUGE. i was in compusa this weekend, and there was one sitting next to a lian li aluminum, the antex is like 1 inch taller and just as thick, but the lian li was deeper by about 1.5 inches. i was shocked at how large the case was though. the lian li has a sliding out mobo however. either case is nice, just depends on how much money you have. im ordering a small maxtop case with a side window. its nice and comes with. fuck it just sold out. damn i was going to order this case today. god damit

came with a fucking 350watt psu for 54 dollars, damn. http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=11-150-044-01.JPG/11-150-044-02.JPG/11-150-044-03.JPG/11-150-044-04.JPG/11-150-044-05.JPG/11-150-044-06.JPG

[eviltechie]

that nice too

just becareful what CPU you are planning to put in that case with the PSU

cause nowadays PSUs have to made to the standards to match the CPU in most cases

[CiKoTiC]

Here is my cheiftec case. I still need to clean up the pwr cables to the hard drives. (ran out of loom). I've also added 2 blue crystal LED fans to the back of the case that isn't shown is the pic. I'm going to add 2 more similar fans to the front in the near future. :biggrin:

http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/lig/c/i/cik01/Picture%20001.jpg

right on... thanks for the reponses. i'm lookin' for a case that's lighter (so's it easier for gamin), but with larger interior volume for airflow/upgradability, which is why i was scoping the aluminum chieftecs. but, the alternatives being suggested are pretty tempting, as well.

mooseboy - bummer on the sell-out.

cikotic - killer case. dragging me back to my cheiftec choice

have an InwinQ500, and a Lian, both good and would recomend, Inwin cheap, but full tower, Lian a little more$$, but alloy/mid tower, but wider, both have mods,windows/lights/case fans, can't speak for the Ailenware style case, but can say I luv the one's I have!

[eviltechie]

think of your needs

also for a Lian Li to look really good, u need those silent mods...

those cd-rom front plate covers made of aluminum to match the case...
so all added up, it could be quite some money...

[accurateimage]

Would not give up my Antec 1040 for anything :) Best case by far I have ever owned and I have owned quite a few :) below is some pics, some older some newer. Hehe I see your heat pipe Cik :D

[accurateimage]

You do not want to see the insides right now *LOL* 13 fans and actually not loud at all, video card has active cooling,ect... *LOL* :)

[eviltechie]

do you have active cooling for video card RAM also???

[BobyJo]

I agree with accuarateimage, we use these and recommend them to all our customers. Comes in 6 different colors, mods to the case are not expensive at all. Especially if you order them when you order the case.

[accurateimage]

Bought mone for $99 and then bought a black $20 side panlen, replaced my old one withthe clear and then sold my old one on e-bay for $18 hehe :)

[CiKoTiC]

I finally got the fans installed. I must say that CompZilla is looking pretty sweet now. :)



http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/lig/c/i/cik01/pic1.jpg

[accurateimage]

sweetness dude :) Will post pics of my rig later on, is completley full of fans right now :D

[eviltechie]

so is that tri light or quad light?

antec cases are sooooo awesome for modding eh?

im getting one for my next comp
maybe next year if i can gather some money...

[accurateimage]

yeah so far the antec style cases have proven to be the best in my opinion.

[CiKoTiC]

so is that tri light or quad light?

It's hard to tell in the pic but they are the quad light. One LED in each corner of the fan.

You can go here (http://www.coolerguys.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=840556014126&Category_Code=F-80) for more information about them.

[eviltechie]

doesnt look very different from tri light
but still cool! :biggrin:

[Gixxer420]

I've got the tri light made by antec

[Calhoun]

Anything Antec or the Chieftec equivalent.

[eviltechie]

one thing with some chieftec cases is they have a PSU support bar that sometimes gets in the way of cooling for PSU