Trying to choose a case

[SuperSilicon]

here is some interesting choices if u have the $$ http://www.arctic-cooling.com/pc_case1.php

 

[JDrake]

http://aspireusa.net/product.php?pid=157&xcSID=0a1c4bba0f21ddfa15e7db8637c2a6e6
*drools*
$58 on newegg w/o power supply

 

[harobikes333]

um.............:\

 

[harobikes333]

here's a review on the centurion

http://www.pcmech.com/show/casereviews/872/

 

[RampantAndroid]

Originally posted by: SuperSilicon
here is some interesting choices if u have the $$ http://www.arctic-cooling.com/pc_case1.php

I think I've seen reviews of those cases that say, while the cases ARE quiet (among the most silent cases the reviewers had tested) they weren't great for space.

 

[ND40oz]

I have the aspire x-dreamer II as well as an antec 3700blk and titan. The antecs are just better cases then the aspire. If you like taking the whole case apart just to mount a dvd burner, then the aspire is your case. If you are putting parts in and out of your case all the time, then your lian-li's and antecs are your best bet. I've heard good things about the thermaltakes, silverstones and coolermasters, but I have no first hand experience with them.

 

[harobikes333]

thanks for the replies

I'm leaning towards a Cavalier 3 or Centurion 5 .........but I donno this is my first build...:\

 

[harobikes333]

any suggestions, comments, etc. ??

 

[us3rnotfound]

get the cavalier 3 black, its no disappointment. that door is SOLID, will last for years.

that's antec's only fault, their doors are flimsy. i had a sonata, so i know from experience.

get the cavalier

 

[SuperSilicon]

Speaking of doors, ive had bad experience with aspire doors, not a big issue for me though.

 

[sportzforlife3]

noooooooooo. not the centurion 5. nonononno. that case is soo hard to work with.

 

[rf03]

Take a look at the Thermaltake Soprano. Decent price, beautiful case, excellent cooling.

Another beautiful case is the Aspire X-CRUISE although its cooling is pretty average.

 

[SuperSilicon]

cavalier 3 looks like a sweet case, might consider that one myself.

 

[RampantAndroid]

My problem with CM cases has been that they always use a wire mesh which has small holes in it...this mesh really restricts airflow...and then they put their filter behind that mesh, cutting the overall airflow below half. Then they make it very hard to clean the filter by attaching it to the mesh.

I replaced this mesh and filters on my two CM cases, and my case temps dropped immediatly. Hence why I will never touch any CM cases until they learn how to use filters. The P180 has removable filters that are easy to remove (the P160 does not have that) I'd really consider the P180, because unlike the Aspire cases (which look spacious and nice) they have rail systems than can be a pain.

the P180 has rubber grommets to mount all drivers, decreasing noise, as well as rubber lining the are the PSU mounts to to further decrease noise. Of the two HD bays, one slides out revealing a handy compartment to keep loose screws in. Lastly, unlike the Aspire cases, Antec uses layered side panels (metal on plastic on metal to decrease noise.) The Side panel is easy to remove, as they secured it with thumb screws. Hard to beat the P180 since it only coasts 100 compared to the 200 USB Lian Li case which has a similar design.

EDIT: Don't forget the 120mm fans that have built in speed controllers.

 

[harobikes333]

I'll take a look at the P180 then^^

Does anyone else agree with him about the CM cases..?

 

[harobikes333]

bump:\

 

[SuperSilicon]

go with the cav 3, antec & aspire doors are flimsy, cav 3 looks like a all around sweet case that you can't go wrong with especially with the price tag on it.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Originally posted by: SuperSilicon
go with the cav 3, antec & aspire doors are flimsy, cav 3 looks like a all around sweet case that you can't go wrong with especially with the price tag on it.

Come on people...if you are going to respond, read the thread...what the OP wants is someone to confirm or deny what I've said.

For the P180, here is a good review with a wealth of pictures: Link

 

[harobikes333]

cav 3 looks good...

the p180 I just don't care for the look of it. I donno mabe I'll take another look at it... Also so you think that it is a good first time builder case? also is there plenty of room in it...? Quiet? ...:\ I took a look at the review...

 

[ranmao]

Well I'm currently doing a build with and P180 and it's a pain. It's a great case for what it accomplishes but it's still a pain to setup. So for a first time builder I recommend the Centurion 5. I just finished a build for my brother using that one, and I was impressed. The pictures on newegg really don't do it justice(he got the blue trim one). The case quality is great, noise level is low(even with stock fans), cooling is good, and even the documentation was good( really nice if you're a first timer). The only thing that I didn't like was that there really wasn't a place to put a fan in the front top area, however I did put one on the side duct. So if you're on a budget and you still want a good case, I would get the Centurion.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Originally posted by: harobikes333
cav 3 looks good...

the p180 I just don't care for the look of it. I donno mabe I'll take another look at it... Also so you think that it is a good first time builder case? also is there plenty of room in it...? Quiet? ...:\ I took a look at the review...

OK...to be frank, I don't see why people have to much trouble with it. My only complaints are these:

One of the fans (top) had one of the 4 blades broken at the hub. I superglued it and contacted Antec. They replaced it without any issues, didn't even want the old one back.

I know a friend who's side panel got mashed in shipping...Antec replaced it. THey have good support.

The bottom of the mobo is a little close to the bottom of the main compartment. This can make the LED hookups and power/reset hookups hard. Have a needlenose pliers at hand.

The bottom compartment is a wee bit cramped, but I dealt with it (stuck excess PSU cables on top of the PSU, my PSU draws air directly from the back)






As for quiet, hell yes. I complain about it being too loud at times, but when I go to my older rig I realize I have no bloody right to complain. Combo of the rubber grommets, noise deadening side panels, silent fans and my VF700 (which makes the most noise of anything) its quite. If I turn the VF700 to silent, I am never sure if my comp is on without looking.

The plastic is, yes plastic...but sturdy. I'd trust the case with my full weight (I did already, it held all 160 lbs of me fine).

The case is on the heavier side, but not too heavy (my 3 HDs and 2 optical drives really add the weight) I got a large sized LAN party carrying strap to help when I have to move between college and home.

Again, I am unsure of the current CM filter scheme, can you comment here ranmoa? Is it easy to clean them, or are the foam filters held in my metal tabes that will break if moved too much? Is it at least easy to remove the filters? For the P180, the filters are a plastic mesh that doesn't look to be much aat first, but I forgot to clean them for a few days...they got filthy. Plus, the door opens with a little push in (it then pops open) and the filter snaps out. Wash it, get all the water out and put it back in. You're done.


Maybe I don't find the case hard to use because I've built numerous comps before...but the ones I used as my primary rig were CM Praetorian/Centurions with mobo trays....I really don't miss the mobo tray in the P180 which says a lot to me.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Link, 96 USD P180

 

[ranmao]

The filtering isn't like the P180. The front of the centurion is perforated metal with a thin filter material attached to the bezels. It isn't something that you can just pop off and wash,although that doesn't mean you can't clean it, just takes more work. However I don't think that it was really made to be a filtration system, just an open air design. I was mainly recommending the case because for the price it's really good, especially for a first time builder who's on a budget. While the P180 is a great case, I think that the money that he saves he could either pocket or spend it on other components. By the way that is a nice price on the p180.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Yeah, I see why you recommended it, but I guess that depends on what you want in in a case.

I think I can summerize this then? If you want a good case that you will reuse for many of your builds, try the P180 and accept its one or two flaws, and promptly forget them since you cannot even hear the computer....

But the centurion if on a tight budget and looking for a decent case that will be an easier build, though (possibly) higher maitenance.

That do it? Or did I forget something.

 

[ranmao]

Yeah that's about right. I really like my P180 so far, it's just that all of my builds before were with cheaper cases so when I got the Centurion 5 I was genuinely impressed. But it mainly comes down to budget and needs.