Need advice on case choice

[DeadPoetic86]

Ok, here's the ground rules. I'm looking for something around $120-$150 for the case, P/S, and all case fans. I'd prefer not to have to do any case modding also.

In order of importance to me:
1. Cooling
2. Functionality ( sturdy, tool-less, etc.)
3. Style ( I really prefer a window. A temp led on front would be nice)
4. Noise. On the bottom because I'm not that concerned about it. Quieter is better, but cooling and the rest come first.

Anyway, here are two i'm looking at. I'm more than open to other suggestions as well. This is the one piece of hardware I'm really not sure on still.

Thermaltake Tsunami and Thermaltake Xaser respectively.

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-133-138&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-133-124&depa=1

One thing I'm worried about with those two is the P/S's 400W and 420W. My system will be the following:

DFI lanparty or VNF chaintech ( Can't decide )
A64 2800+
Venus12 HSF /w arctic 5
Leadtek Geforce 6800
OCZ performance pc3500 2x512
DVD/CD writer
2 7200rpm HD's (unsure on sizes still)

I'm hopping to get a 266 MHz overclock ( 2.4Ghz CPU speed), and am aware a good quality P/S helps tremendously for OC'ing.

Also wondering if the % OC i'm hoping for is reasonable with that set up? Can manage that fine with the chaintech, or will I need the lanparty for that kind of OC? Anyway, bring on the advice

 

[Xatrix]

That second thermaltake looks really nice. I like the temp gauges.

 

[prometheusxls]

I have exactly the same setup WRT CPU and MOBO. Mine Chaintech VNF3-250 and 2800+ @ 2.4GHz this is a conservative OC for my chip IMO. The most imposrtant factor on the motherboard is adjusting the Hypertransposrt and adjsuting the ram speed down.

I suggest getting the best ram you can afford interms of base clock speed. A good 533MHz would be safe and would let you run Sysc At 266FSB which is what it takes to get to 2.4GHz on this CPU. I had to underclock my Corsair Value select 3200 to the 3:5 133MHZ Multi which is running 2.5-3-3-7 @ 354 MHz becuase it will not handle the 4:5 166MHz Multiplier adjustment with the system bus set to 266 MHz.

 

[BW86]

Thermaltake cases are very ugly if not the ugliest cases ever made. Thermaltake doesnt make the "best" products and their psu's arent that great either. Look for Antec, Cooler Master, Silverstone, Lian Li. They make some nice cases.

here are a few nice cases

Silverstone SST-TJ04
Cooler Master Wave Master
Lian Li PC-60

 

[Nickel020]

I would get the Tsunami for the dual 120mm fans. These will provide better airflow than four 80mm fans at a lower noise level.

 

[CraigRT]

holy freaking cable mess... neither are for me! LOL

and all the fans, so much dust!!

I'd get the Tsunami over those too.. the Xaser ones are tacky IMO.

 

[fibes]

I think this is a cool case Cooler Master

And this PSUSuper Flower

 

[ciwell]

400WPSU is fine on the Tsunami.

 

[cowdog]

I have a Lian-Li PC-65 that is a great case. I also have a Lian-Li PC-70 tower that is great but a little too big for me. I have used several Antec cases that are solid and very functional, but nothing as nice as the Lian-Li. My only problem with the PC-65 is that I have way too many case fans (2 front, 2 side, 1 rear, 1 top). The cooling is fantastic, but I want to try to get similar cooling with a little less noise.

Going with that experience, I ordered one of the groovy new Lian-Li PC V-1200 cases (silver). It is slightly larger than the V-1000, which offers room for dual proc boards and other things like H20, I hope. The V-2000 seems too huge.. I am still awaiting for the V-1200 to arrive (Monday, 10/25), but I have my fingers crossed that it will be an excellent case for me that should hold me over for many years like my previous cases. At $187 from Excaliberpc it is slightly more than your price range. I have simply come to the conclusion that I will either get a low cost Antec (great bang for buck) or spend the cash and get a great case. YMMV.

For Power supplies, I picked up an OCZ Powerstream 520. Nice PSU!