Best Gaming Case under $120

[vikingblade]

Having difficulty making a final decision on a case. Need some input...

Size/Weight isnt important. Its staying where I put it.

Quietness isnt really an issue.

What i want is something high quality that has plenty of room, runs stable and cool with stock fans. i dont wanna have to add fans to stay cool or worry about motherboard, video card, power supply not fitting well. OH and looking awesome helps too

 

[Bona Fide]

You can get the P180 for around $120 if you look around.

 

[Shadowknight]

http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=B73523
P180 - $105

 

[kirbymixmasta]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
Having difficulty making a final decision on a case. Need some input...

Size/Weight isnt important. Its staying where I put it.

Quietness isnt really an issue.

What i want is something high quality that has plenty of room, runs stable and cool with stock fans. i dont wanna have to add fans to stay cool or worry about motherboard, video card, power supply not fitting well. OH and looking awesome helps too

=).

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=B73523
P180 - $105

Jackpot.

 

[cr0ssfire]

Even if you're not particularly looking for quietness, a P180 will give you more than enough cooling potential to keep your hardware nice and frosty. Not only that, but it's stylish without being excruciatingly blinged!

/me imagines all the Tri-Cools running at high speed...

 

[Rob_63]

Here is an economically priced Lian li, with 2 X 120mm fans. http://www.shentech.com/lipcplalecmi1.html

I debated for several days between that and this newer CM Stacker with 2 120mm exhaust fans. http://www.sundialmicro.com/Cooler-Master-Tower-Case-rc810skn1_1701_540.html

I ended up ordering the Cooler Master 810

 

[Zepper]

Enermax CS-10182 with Silverstone ST40F PSU. Another option: I normally don't recommend Thermaltake cases (too riced out for me) but the SViking or Swing are not bad.


.bh.

 

[vikingblade]

thnx... im trying to get my case from the same place as the rest of my parts..newegg. that p180 for 105 is a great deal..almost too good. are they legit. i dont wanna order then get in a backorder situation.

Also, i am liking the elegant black lian li cases. although nothing fancy, they look nice. any feedback on these.

 

[vikingblade]

Any opinions on the Coolermaster Centurion 530/532 and Centrion 5. Both look decent and well under $100.

Also, which Lian Li is the best bet...
PC-7B - PC-7B PLUS - PC-61

 

[johnnqq]

antec sonata 2, comes with a very reliable smartpower 450watt ps-109 at newegg

 

[cr0ssfire]

Antec's Sonata series of cases have very poor cooling, although they do look quite nice. If you're looking to get a case with great cooling that includes a terrific power supply then look no further than Antec's SLK-3800. It's basically an SLK-3000b with an included SmartPower 2.0 400w power supply. The 3000b, if you didn't know, is well-respected as a budget-minded case with great, quiet cooling.

I think the two Lian Li cases you'd be considering are the PC-60 plus and the PC-7 Plus. Here's a short rundown of the features of each:

PC-7 Plus

*One 120mm intake fan on the front and one 80mm exhaust fan in the back (although certain sites sell models with a 120mm exhaust fan instead)
*Ventilation slots for an 80mm exhaust fan to be installed up top
*Lightweight but sturdy aluminum construction
*No removable motherboard tray
*120mm blower fan can be purchased seperately and installed over the PCI slots
*Less expensive than PC-60 Plus

PC-60B Plus
*One 120mm fan in the front
*One 80mm intake fan in the back w/ shiny silver duct to guide air over CPU (although it may have to be removed if you have a big CPU heatsink/fan)
*One 80mm exhaust fan installed up top
*Lightweight but sturdy aluminum construction
*120mm blower fan included and installed over the PCI slots
*Removable motherboard tray
*More expensive than PC-7 Plus

Cooler Master's Centurion cases are very popular among people looking to get a decent case for a great price. You really can't say a whole lot of bad things about it, especially given its price range, but conversely you can't give it as much credit as you could with a Li-Li or P180. Lian-Li cases are all extremely lightweight and have good cooling, so they could be easily used for a LAN case. A P180 would no doubt have more cooling potential and special features than either a Lian-Li or a Centurion but it is quite heavy. But then again, if you're like me and you work out on a regular basis you can use a P180 for a LAN case too. Imagine that...I'm using my P180 as a LAN case!

 

[vikingblade]

THANKS FOR THE INPUT GUYS... Im actually looking for a case without a power source. ive decided on a Fortron 450 PS.

 

[Shadowknight]

Techonweb is legit; I ordered one for my brother with no problem, tons of people on different forums have received their cases with no complaints.

The Sonata II straightened out the cooling problems of the Sonata I, and is a good case as well. The only advantages over the P180 is that it's a little cheaper, comes with silicon grommets for fan mounting, and comes with its' own power supply.
Here's a link that somes up the differences between different Antec cases offered (except the Titan 550: a server level case that costs around $200);http://www.antec.com/pdf/CaseComparison.pdf

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: Bona Fide
You can get the P180 for around $120 if you look around.

 

[chrisrod01]

For that price mostly the P-180 but if you want a window go with the lian li 7b plus I have it great its the one that TRUKER recommended

 

[Glib]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
thnx... im trying to get my case from the same place as the rest of my parts..newegg. that p180 for 105 is a great deal..almost too good. are they legit. i dont wanna order then get in a backorder situation.

Also, i am liking the elegant black lian li cases. although nothing fancy, they look nice. any feedback on these.

It's a good idea, within reason. When shopping for a new box, I generally get most of my stuff from NewEgg. But when it comes to things like cases and speaker systems, the shipping is so damned expensive, I consider them the exception and shop around.

 

[Rob_63]

Originally posted by: vikingblade
Any opinions on the Coolermaster Centurion 530/532 and Centrion 5. Both look decent and well under $100.

Also, which Lian Li is the best bet...
PC-7B - PC-7B PLUS - PC-61

I have a 61 (modded for cooling, 2nd rear 80mm fan, 120mm top blowhole, 2 X 92mm front fans) and a 65b. (just sold my PC V1200b) If you can live without the removeable mainboard tray I would say go for the PC-7b Plus (with the 120mm rear fan).

If you have never owned a Lian before you will not be disappointed with fit and finish, they are a quality case. I have had all the Antecs that have been mentioned in this thread except the P-180 and would take a Lian over them all anytime.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[kamranziadar]

Buy Ultra Glossy Case with Ultra 500 watts or 600 watts Powersupply and you will be happy for rest of your life.

Ultra Case

Ultra power supply 500watts

All you have to do is to find the combo deal, like i did i bought Ultra case + 500watts powersuply for $59 after rebates from tigerdirect.com and i got all the rebates back.
This case is so beautifull i cannot tell you it comes with 2 x 80mm fans for back and you can also put 2x80mm fans for front intake and the best thing is you don;t need screws.
Ultra cases paint job is the best of any case out there!
Check the reviews it beats any case in its class including Lian Li or what ever.

 

[QueBert]

Kingwin 424! only has 80mm fans, but my system stayed at nice temps without 120mm's. The case is very well built, fairly light, and has tons of room inside.


I don't care what people say bad about Ultra, that case dude posted in the link above me is niiiiiice.

 

[Zepper]

The Ultra case is just a Chenming/Chieftec Dragon case with a shiny paint job.

.bh.

 

[Rob_63]

Originally posted by: kamranziadar
Buy Ultra Glossy Case with Ultra 500 watts or 600 watts Powersupply and you will be happy for rest of your life.

Heh, I thought that too when I first spent more money than normally on Antec's top of the line "Performance" series case. I rationalized spending more money because "it would be the last case I would ever need"......... But as it turns out there is always something better coming down the line just around the corner that us compulsive enthusiasts just have to have.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

That P180 for $105 is definitely too good to pass up. Go for it!

 

[vikingblade]

great suggestions...thnx.

105 for the p180 is sweet. im concerned about the powersupply motherboard cable not reaching as has been reported. how do i know if my PS will reach ok. im gonna be paying someone by the hour to put my pc together, and cant afford any lengthly installation problems.

 

[Novercalis]

building a comp shouldnt take an hour.. for someone who knows what they are doign..
so becareful with paying someone else...