Suggestions for a mid-tower case with 120 mm fan housings

[frobnitz]

Does anyone here have a suggestion for a good case with 120mm fan mounts for intake and outflow? Dual 120mm outflows would be nice. I've noticed a lot of the 120 mm fans push a lot of CFM with much lower noise than the 80 mm ones, but I can't seem to find a case that has the 120mm holes. I know the case would be a lot wider, but that's not a problem.

Steel is fine, no need on my part to spend the added dollars on aluminum.

Thanks,
Frob

 

[clumsum]

KRI ......YY-W101

In my opinion, this case is way under rated, I've have one for my main system for several years and it's still my favorite.
The raised dimpled mb stand-offs are great and the entire structure is very sturdy and compact in size:
About the same dimensions as an Inwin S500 only slightly wider.
The front door works great and has vented cooling slots when closed, also extra security as this is an entry level server.
The only drawback is the top cover is a one-piece design ........ but even so, it is removed easily from the front (not from the rear) as the old case's required.
Once it's removed you have complete access to your pc, and everything is easy to work on.

 

[cheapgoose]

Antec makes a mid tower with 120mm intake and exhaust, I just can't remember which one. something like 2600?

 

[clumsum]

Elan Vital A10

Another one I would like to get some reviews or feedback on.
Looks like a nice case to me ........... not so much the styling, but the build looks high quality.
I really like that clear plastic cpu air duct!

 

[mechBgon]

Antec SLK3700AMB Nice PSU, too! 120mm fan in the back, room for another up front. Color is going to be a take/leave thing...

 

[tapir]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=11-129-122

It's the SLK3700AMB by Antec. Very good case. 1x 12cm in, and another one for exhaust. They even give you the exhaust fan.

 

[RalfHutter]

Antec SLK3700AMB linkified + pictures!. Plus a picture of my own SLK3700.

A great case. My favorite case since the Antec SX10x0 series. 120mm fans, high quality Antec 350W PSU, removable drive bays, lots of room, front USB, grommet-mounted HDDs for lower noise, snap-in drive rails for 5.25" bays. $73 + shipping from Newegg.

Edit - Antec claims this is "metallic bronze" but all of 'em that I've seen are a dark metallic gray. Not even a hint of bronze. They're a little lighter than the regular "Antec Black" color with a metallic look.

 

[CYoung]

I agree. The Antec SLK3700AMB is a really nice case with a high quality PSU and excellent layout. I built my last system a month ago using this case. I think I got mine from Directron since they were cheaper than Newegg at the time, and shipping was less too.

 

[HowAboutBob]

Nice Antec Case.
120mm in and 120mm out is perfect.

My advice to frobnitz:
cut out exhaust grille with dremel (or hacksaw?)
replace with a screen
add rubber grommets for vibration reduction
undervolt the fans to reduce noise

Bob

 

[mechBgon]

I edited my Tada! link to reflect what the target is. $70 shipped for Antec SLK3700AMB with SL350, get 'em while they're hot...

 

[DoobieOnline]

Another vote for the Antec SLK3700AMB. Best case I've ever owned - nice and quiet with a 7V connector mod on the fans!

RalfHutter, nice cable management! What did you use to cut out your exhaust grille?

Doobie

 

[Technonut]

The Compucase LX-6A19 is a very well built case also.

 

[DoobieOnline]

The Compucase LX-6A19 is a very well built case also.

The guts are identical to the Antec - just missing the crossbar and has a lower-power PSU.

 

[frobnitz]

Thanks folks! These are great suggestions! It's a little hard to shop for a case online with this criteria because it's not always described well product write-up. That Antec case looks very nice, though I would rather have not have the top section covered like that. Do folks find the color odd? All the rest of my systems in my office are beige... The compucase looks better in my opinion - I already have an Antec power supply, so coming with a cheap one doesn't bother me...

Another nice thing about a 120 mm rear exhaust is that it gives me the option of later retrofitting a watercooling kit on it, and using a 120 mm radiator, which performs better than an 80 mm radiator from what I have read.

Has anyone here added a watercolling kit like the Innovatek to the this Antec or Compucase one?

Thanks,
Frob

 

[Soldat]

another case to look at is the lite-on fs020 . It has room for 2 120mm exhaust fans and 1 120mm intake. I built a watercooling system utilizing one. One major qualm I had with the case was size...it's too damn big....and thus it now sits unused in my garage. I'm close to building a new watercooling system and will utilize the antec mentioned above.

 

[Technonut]

Has anyone here added a watercolling kit like the Innovatek to the this Antec or Compucase one?

I have This Larger Compucase with a Black Ice Xtreme radiator installed in the rear 120mm exhaust. The case is built like a tank, roomy, and I really like the quality. . Newegg has it for $67.00 shipped. I imagine the smaller version would work also. It would be my second choice for a smaller watercooled case.

 

[frobnitz]

Ralfhutter, that looks like a very clean setup you have. Do you have some pictures that show the inside looking towards the back? I would like to get a better look at the clearance of the CPU fan area and the 120 mm exhaust fan...

Soldat, I haven't been able to find the FS-020 around. Is it made any more?

Thanks,
Frob

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: frobnitz
Ralfhutter, that looks like a very clean setup you have. Do you have some pictures that show the inside looking towards the back? I would like to get a better look at the clearance of the CPU fan area and the 120 mm exhaust fan...
Thanks,
Frob

Here. Is this good enough? If not I'll post some close-ups later or tomorrow morning.

 

[Soldat]

link

you can probably find it for cheaper elsewhere

manufacturer's link

 

[element]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
Antec SLK3700AMB linkified + pictures!. Plus a picture of my own SLK3700.

A great case. My favorite case since the Antec SX10x0 series. 120mm fans, high quality Antec 350W PSU, removable drive bays, lots of room, front USB, grommet-mounted HDDs for lower noise, snap-in drive rails for 5.25" bays. $73 + shipping from Newegg.

Edit - Antec claims this is "metallic bronze" but all of 'em that I've seen are a dark metallic gray. Not even a hint of bronze. They're a little lighter than the regular "Antec Black" color with a metallic look.

That IS a hella nice case. Question, RalfHutter, what is that card in the middle PCI slot in that pic? looks like a 4 port hub or something.

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: element®

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
Antec SLK3700AMB linkified + pictures!. Plus a picture of my own SLK3700.

A great case. My favorite case since the Antec SX10x0 series. 120mm fans, high quality Antec 350W PSU, removable drive bays, lots of room, front USB, grommet-mounted HDDs for lower noise, snap-in drive rails for 5.25" bays. $73 + shipping from Newegg.

Edit - Antec claims this is "metallic bronze" but all of 'em that I've seen are a dark metallic gray. Not even a hint of bronze. They're a little lighter than the regular "Antec Black" color with a metallic look.

That IS a hella nice case. Question, RalfHutter, what is that card in the middle PCI slot in that pic? looks like a 4 port hub or something.

That's an Adaptec Firewire + USB 2.0 card.


And for frobnitz - Here's a pic of the inside/back of the case.

 

[frobnitz]

Ralfhutter,

And for frobnitz - Here's a pic of the inside/back of the case.

Thanks - exactly the shot I was looking for. This looks like a very nice case indeed.

Also, I really like how you folded the IDE cables, and that the seems to have a nice path for the folded cables to be run through it. I installed rounded cables in my existing Antec SX840 case, but they are too long and wind up cluttering the case's interior quite a bit. Using the plain old IDE cables with the right set of folds would seem to be a very superior combination for neatness and airflow.

It does look like you pretty much would have to put the watercooler radiator on the exhaust mounting rather than in front, because you wouldn't have space for the hard drives otherwise. I kind of like the idea of the raditor in fron t because it's cooled with room air rather than case air, and should be a bit cooler that way. But this should work pretty well in any case.

Thanks,
Frob

 

[Technonut]

I kind of like the idea of the raditor in fron t because it's cooled with room air rather than case air, and should be a bit cooler that way. But this should work pretty well in any case.

I have my radiator installed in the rear exhaust drawing air in from the outside. My front fans draw in also. My Antec TruePower 550 has a bottom intake that pulls the air up and through the PSU exhaust fan. Works quite well...