Recommend me an excellent case

unkel · 15-09-2005 12:10AM #1

Silence is very important so fans should be quiet (probably 120mm). Weight is not important, won't have to carry it around. I'm not a gamer

Needs to be full tower as I would consider going watercooling in the near future. Would also be very interested in a pre-installed high quality water cooling case. My budget is pretty good, depending on the solution, so don't let that stop your suggestions

My parts that will go into the case: Asus A8V S939 mobo, Zalman 7000AlCu CPU cooler (or water), Zalman 400W PSU, AMD A64 3500+ clawhammer, 2*samsung SATA 160GB, DVD+/-RW, CD-RW, Audigy 2 soundcard, ATI 9600 passively cooled

hopeful · 15-09-2005 12:19AM

Howdy.

If you want big then you want a CM Stacker...this is mine just completed.

If you want preinstalled then HiTide do this... HiTide System

CyberGhost · 15-09-2005 02:09PM

I like Antec cases, all of them are very nice,

hopeful, that is very neat.

hopeful · 15-09-2005 03:07PM

CyberGhost wrote:

I like Antec cases, all of them are very nice,

hopeful, that is very neat.

Thanks for the compliment...my first watercooled attempt

I do like the Antec stuff too. The new P180 is very sweet indeed.

Endurance Man · 15-09-2005 03:27PM

Me also now like antec, i have the super lanboy. Its a lot smaller than most cases but its nice

. Fits my bits and bobs in perfectly.

lkman · 15-09-2005 03:43PM

Hey hopeful and Endurance Man...
I'm liking both those setups, cool lights EM...

Just wondering what temperature your CPU runs at with the watercooling setup??

unkel I'l have a look see can I suggest something.

hopeful · 15-09-2005 05:50PM

lkman wrote:

Just wondering what temperature your CPU runs at with the watercooling setup??

At idle my AMD64 3000+ is around 28c and under a full load it will top out at 48c

WizZard · 15-09-2005 06:29PM

Lian Li.

Zounds · 15-09-2005 09:08PM

Endurance man:

I'm considering getting that case, how quiet are the fans and can the leds easily be turned off?

Endurance Man · 15-09-2005 09:20PM

I'm considering getting that case, how quiet are the fans and can the leds easily be turned off?

Yo

. So far the fans have been quiet, but i am told they get a bit louder with age. I am going to be replacing them soon anway as they dont move enough air for radiator.
I added the led's, they came with a switch which i just mounted on the front

.

Its a nice case, im happy with it.

Zounds · 15-09-2005 09:24PM

Cool, thanks

unkel · 15-09-2005 10:47PM

Thanks for the suggestions so far, lads. Keep them coming!

I really want something excellent. I have a Thermaltake Xaser III Lanfire Midi Tower atm. I deffo want full size case this time

hopeful wrote:

If you want preinstalled then HiTide do this... HiTide System

Funny you should mention that. Before I posted this thread I was browsing a few sites and that very case on the hitide site got me interested!

Is is good value? Looks like it when it's priced @€;399 and the Innovatek XXD kit that's pre-installed sells separately for €270

Obviously this would be ideal

How about the Zalman Reserator? Anybody any experience with them yokes?

Endurance Man · 15-09-2005 11:37PM

Those ^^ are EXPENSIVE :eek: , would be great though.

Sparky · 16-09-2005 12:38AM

Endurance Man wrote:

Those ^^ are EXPENSIVE :eek: , would be great though.

nah i think [size=-1]$2299.00 is a bargain

[/size]

unkel · 16-09-2005 12:41AM

Sparky_S wrote:

nah i think [size=-1]$2299.00 is a bargain
[/size]

EEEEkkkk where did you get that quote?

Like yourselves, dudes, I just want a silent rig. I'm willing to spend a few bob, but obviously I won't spend as much as I spent on my BMW 7-series

WizZard · 16-09-2005 09:55AM

Zalman Reserator is very quiet, but it's awkward as a separate system from the PC, and will really only coolr your CPU, and maybe a graphics card too if you aren't intending on getting super temps.

If you are going for ultra quiet, and not too concerned about cooling (I mean about getting the lowest possibe temps) you should have a look here. There are some beautiful cases there with built-in cooling. IIRC, performance wise, they come in slightly below a DIY water setup, but are ultra quiet, and look very sexy.

<edit>I particularly like this one</edit>

po0k · 16-09-2005 10:16AM

Coolermaster Stacker.

unkel · 16-09-2005 03:57PM

WizZard wrote:

Lian Li.

Yeah the Lian Li PC-V1100B Plus is gorgeous:

WizZard wrote:

Zalman Reserator is very quiet, but it's awkward as a separate system from the PC, and will really only coolr your CPU, and maybe a graphics card too if you aren't intending on getting super temps.

Agree, but it does come as standard with CPU and GPU block (NB block is optional extra). Bit pricy for what it does too

WizZard wrote:

<edit>I particularly like this one</edit>

Yeah that one stands out alright, nice

SyxPak wrote:

Coolermaster Stacker.

On my shortlist too, but top fan a lil' noisy

WizZard · 16-09-2005 04:55PM

I have two V series Lian Li's and I can say they are fantastic!! Quiet and cool. I was very surprised at the quality of the fans that come with them tbh.
Go on, get one!

The Real B-man · 16-09-2005 05:53PM

just got my Super Lanboy deffo have to say nice size & light enough for lans plus the window allows you to show your bling off

unkel · 16-09-2005 06:36PM

Any views on the Thermaltake Armor?

linky

Drapper · 16-09-2005 07:03PM

unkel wrote:

Any views on the Thermaltake Armor?

linky

sexy little number !!

Endurance Man · 16-09-2005 07:12PM

Those really are MASSIVE though, the picture does not do justice to how big they are :eek: , you would need a fork lift to transport that thing around

.

Drapper · 16-09-2005 07:17PM

Endurance Man wrote:

Those really are MASSIVE though, the picture does not do justice to how big they are :eek: , you would need a fork lift to transport that thing around .

I have the Shark Thermaltake and its huge!!

heffo9 · 16-09-2005 09:11PM

thermaltake shark, full tower, 2x120mm, pre-drilled for water cooling pipes.
sure here have a look yourself, i have the black one.

http://www.circotech.com/thermaltake-shark-va7000swa-va7000bwa-full-tower-aluminum-computer-case-va7000.html

also have the hardcano 13 fan + temps controller

http://www.thermaltake.com/accessories/a2259hardcano13/a2259hardcano13.htm

unkel · 16-09-2005 10:43PM

Should I worry about BTX compatability? Pardon my ignorance, but when is that gonna happen? Both Intel and AMD?

Kintarō Hattori · 17-09-2005 12:08AM

I'm afraid I'm inclined to agree with everyone who's recommended the Stacker. It's an excellent case for the money, it's HUGE and so easy to work with. ATX, E-ATX and BTX support, dual PSU support, up to 4 x 120mm fans, it kicks ass.

This be mine!

shanethemofo · 18-09-2005 03:20PM

endurance man.... u do realise that ur gfx card has cardboard sellotaped around it... lol... only messin

WizZard · 18-09-2005 03:54PM

The TT cases are generally rip-offs of other cases/styles and have not come out good in any direct comparison review that I have seen (last one was in Custom PC mag).

The Stacker is huge and a very good case. I considered it myself, but for decent (read triple BIX/heatercore) watercooling it requires modding, sometimes lots of. That's what put me off it.
The new model is supposed to have changed all that - with allowance for two dual BIX on the side panel or something similar.

<edit>What do you think of the new Stacker 830?</edit>

Endurance Man · 18-09-2005 07:20PM

The TT cases are generally rip-offs of other cases/styles and have not come out good in any direct comparison review that I have seen (last one was in Custom PC mag).

This is true, but then they are good cases, with good looks at a cheaper price. I dont care who they ripped off, as long as im getting good build quality cheaper

. Take the coolermaster vs tsunami.
I have seen both and while the coolermaster does look better, the tsunami is cheaper and i think has better features.

Kintarō Hattori · 18-09-2005 10:05PM

I'm afraid I'm inclined to argue against that. When the Tsunami first came out I was really impressed by it and bought one. The build quality though was AWFUL to say the least. The mertal was so thin, and the quality of the metal was dubious. It had a big problem fitting stuff into the 5.25" bays, my Musketeer wouldn't go back far enough and just stuck out- leaving me unable to close the door on it.
And don't get me started on the noise, for a case with two 120mm fans and a 92mm fan, it's noisy as hell, it was crap. I had it for a week and brought it back to work and paid crap loads more, which I didn't like and just bought the stacker.

Thermaltake are generally muck. I do the purchasing in work and in th early days bought in a wide variety of stuff to give them the go- I gave it the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't the best, it was slow to sell and it was generally always a copy of something someone else made. Why stock the clones, just go for the original material in the first place!

That's my rant. Rant Over.

Recommend me an excellent case

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