PC Case Roundup: Spring 2008
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Last response: in Reviews comments
Anonymous
June 13, 2008 6:10:03 AM
We take a detailed look at a diverse cross-section of cases from a variety of manufacturers and answer some key questions: What are the features? Which is the loudest? Which provides the best value?
PC Case Roundup: Spring 2008 : Read more
PC Case Roundup: Spring 2008 : Read more
More about : case roundup spring 2008
geotech
June 13, 2008 6:28:12 AM
bf2gameplaya
June 13, 2008 7:16:44 AM
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Gravemind123
June 13, 2008 7:55:32 AM
Anonymous
June 13, 2008 8:06:35 AM
otheos
June 13, 2008 8:22:40 AM
scherfistv
June 13, 2008 8:32:08 AM
TiberiumSoldier
June 13, 2008 10:27:39 AM
SinisterCanuck
June 13, 2008 11:12:21 AM
All mid tower cases... not one Full Tower! I haven't purchased a mid tower case in nearly 8 years for any of my builds because they are too crammed for my liking. As stated by other commenters, where's the Thermaltake Armor? Where's the Antec Twelve Hundred? etc. These were nice looking cases, but they are all middle of the road as far as I am concerned. You need to do a cases revisited or an enthusiast case round up! ...please do that
Score
1
Anonymous
June 13, 2008 11:13:57 AM
I have my doubts about your praise on 3R System case. I have similar model. Exactly the same inside structure but without the remote control, display and with different front side.
First of all, it's not that well-built. Sides bend and that inside metal (Al?) is really soft. And if you want to remove the front there are like 6 almost unreachable screws to be unscrewed which is pain in the a**.
Fans are really quiet though.
First of all, it's not that well-built. Sides bend and that inside metal (Al?) is really soft. And if you want to remove the front there are like 6 almost unreachable screws to be unscrewed which is pain in the a**.
Fans are really quiet though.
Score
1
Anonymous
June 13, 2008 11:28:43 AM
ilovebarny
June 13, 2008 12:30:29 PM
Dogsnake
June 13, 2008 12:40:39 PM
HyperBladeST
June 13, 2008 12:53:32 PM
No need to add the good old 900 and P182. We all know they're good and it's not a coincidence that the NZXT and the Raidmax looks so much like the 900
As for the 1200 : it's a bigger 900 so there's nothing much to say about it.
But yeah it would have been more appropriate to use case from all company to make a round-up.
As for the 1200 : it's a bigger 900 so there's nothing much to say about it.
But yeah it would have been more appropriate to use case from all company to make a round-up.
Score
1
spaztic7
June 13, 2008 1:28:26 PM
retratserif
June 13, 2008 1:29:03 PM
I have the Cosmos S, its the best water cooling case out there next to the Mozart. You can easily get 2-3 Radiators in and installed with no mods what so ever. Plus the heat sensitive power button is very impressive. It may not get you laid, but it sure will fit into any modern or high tech lifestyle. The Nine Hundred is quite old in comparison to these cases. I have not seen a new stacker... I think the Cosmos is closest thing to them.
I was skeptical of the Cosmos s at first. But after everything went in without a hitch, I had to really appreciate the work that had gone into this case. The thing I like the most is the rails. Its not that easy to move a 60+ lb case with 2 rads and at least a liter of water.
Good job guys. I enjoyed the round up. I would like to see a more practical round up in the future for more budget PC's. To see more cases that have good practical usage and lower prices. They should all have 2 120mm fans minimum though. 40$-100$ cases.
I was skeptical of the Cosmos s at first. But after everything went in without a hitch, I had to really appreciate the work that had gone into this case. The thing I like the most is the rails. Its not that easy to move a 60+ lb case with 2 rads and at least a liter of water.
Good job guys. I enjoyed the round up. I would like to see a more practical round up in the future for more budget PC's. To see more cases that have good practical usage and lower prices. They should all have 2 120mm fans minimum though. 40$-100$ cases.
Score
0
Kurse
June 13, 2008 2:04:54 PM
Lumberboy
June 13, 2008 2:12:15 PM
byebye
June 13, 2008 3:24:14 PM
xsamitt
June 13, 2008 4:19:39 PM
We really need a list of full tower cases.........High end if you wish............Pretty Please.
Most of the cases you picked out I wouldn't consider at all.Mid tower is not where things are going....Some cases have 10 Expansion slots.......I belive we need a review thats with the current trend...as we live in the now ...not the past.
Most of the cases you picked out I wouldn't consider at all.Mid tower is not where things are going....Some cases have 10 Expansion slots.......I belive we need a review thats with the current trend...as we live in the now ...not the past.
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0
hellwig
June 13, 2008 4:36:46 PM
I'm shopping for a new case, and the one thing I need to know is, does everything fit? If a case has 3 5.25 bays, 2 external 3.5, and 4 internal 3.5, will it fit drives in all 9 bays? With all 9 bays filled, can I fit a single or dual-slot full-length graphics card (3870 or 9600)? If the internal bays have room for a cooling fan, will the graphics card fit if I install the fan? For the record, I have 4 HDDs, 1 Floppy (XP + RAID), 2DVD drives, 1CD-RW (I could live without). My old Alienware/Antec case would have room for a large gfx card, but I would have to remove the fan from the HDD caddy, and with 4 HDDs that would be begging for problems. Also remember room for SATA and PCIe power cables! I expected more from a Tom's review.
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0
falchard
June 13, 2008 5:00:50 PM
Ogdin
June 13, 2008 5:20:26 PM
lopopo
June 13, 2008 5:34:54 PM
1971Rhino
June 13, 2008 6:43:28 PM
garydale
June 13, 2008 6:50:25 PM
Too rich for my blood. I like my cases simple. I like to have my drives screwed in place, making good metal-on-metal thermal contact. And I hate front doors that obstruct access to the DVD writer. I keep my computers well off the floor to minimize dust intake, so I prefer side or front USB ports. And I've found that the screwless card clips too temperamental and not all that secure.
I do like the Sigma Unicorn's fold-down MB & card holder. Heck, I'd even re-arrange my desk for that feature. However, I think I'll stick with the cheap cases for now. I just don't see the point in paying twice the price for "features" that I consider flaws.
I do like the Sigma Unicorn's fold-down MB & card holder. Heck, I'd even re-arrange my desk for that feature. However, I think I'll stick with the cheap cases for now. I just don't see the point in paying twice the price for "features" that I consider flaws.
Score
0
TSIMonster
June 13, 2008 7:03:16 PM
judgedredd
June 13, 2008 7:09:17 PM
I love my CM 690...THAT HAS "tremendous airflow". And quiet...140mm fans...6 of them or you can run 120mm or 92mm or even 80mm since they drilled the openings for all those sizes except up front. The front fan is 120mm and there is a slim 80mm you can have on the backside of the motherboard where your CPU sits.
It is not a flashy case but it is like a hammer...doesn't have to be flashy to get the job done and done well.
It is not a flashy case but it is like a hammer...doesn't have to be flashy to get the job done and done well.
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0
a 6pack in
June 13, 2008 8:31:05 PM
srslider
June 13, 2008 8:49:44 PM
srslider
June 13, 2008 8:50:48 PM
eclecticfortune
June 13, 2008 9:13:36 PM
1971Rhino
June 13, 2008 9:39:23 PM
hellwig said:
I'm shopping for a new case, and the one thing I need to know is, does everything fit? If a case has 3 5.25 bays, 2 external 3.5, and 4 internal 3.5, will it fit drives in all 9 bays? With all 9 bays filled, can I fit a single or dual-slot full-length graphics card (3870 or 9600)? If the internal bays have room for a cooling fan, will the graphics card fit if I install the fan? For the record, I have 4 HDDs, 1 Floppy (XP + RAID), 2DVD drives, 1CD-RW (I could live without). My old Alienware/Antec case would have room for a large gfx card, but I would have to remove the fan from the HDD caddy, and with 4 HDDs that would be begging for problems. Also remember room for SATA and PCIe power cables! I expected more from a Tom's review.Everything you have should fit nicely in and Antec 1200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043&Tpk=antec%2btwelve
It has loads of room and tons of airflow!
and as I always say....You'l get so much TANG
Score
-1
Anonymous
June 13, 2008 11:44:08 PM
fadirocks
June 14, 2008 12:06:19 AM
my last case was discounted on newegg for $50 and had 450W PSU everything is super loud but heh it did the job for a cheap built, maybe next time i get something better but yea there are alot missing cases but then as the review said only picked few cases, maybe some companies should've donated some cases to tomshardware so they can use it for comparison!
Score
0
Shadow703793
June 14, 2008 12:44:13 AM
Anonymous
June 14, 2008 1:36:04 AM
Pei-chen
June 14, 2008 2:32:33 AM
Anonymous
June 14, 2008 4:59:57 AM
MTLance
June 14, 2008 7:49:59 AM
jevon
June 14, 2008 4:58:28 PM
For the price (~$80) of the Coolermaster 690 and what you get, I just could never spend more on a different case! Esp when you start adding in the extra fans, etc. I know some people really need the extra space of some cases or want to do it for purely aesthetic reasons, but I like the simple design and full features of the CM 690.
That's my story and I'm stickin to it!
That's my story and I'm stickin to it!
Score
0
rgsaunders
June 14, 2008 8:16:53 PM
aihyah
June 14, 2008 8:21:33 PM
basically they all fail the tap the finger on the side panel test that only the antec p182 passes. tap these cases and they ring like bells instead of the nice dull thud from the thick antec p182/92 case, the panels are thin and resonate. noise just passes straight through. and even if they bother with thicker metal, its generally nullified by a plastic window that just bleeds noise through. considering the price of these cases its rather sad they don't take noise seriously, they are mostly built for looks these days and well thats just not acceptable when better cases like the antecs exist.
Score
0
dobby
June 14, 2008 8:52:27 PM
Shadow703793
June 14, 2008 9:44:09 PM
blacklightknight
June 15, 2008 2:25:03 AM
I've been building puters since 2000 and it amazes me the nerve these manufacturers have to charge these adsurd prices for a metal box to put your parts in. There is nothing that justifies $120 and above for a pc case. Most of thses things are mass manufactured from stamped steel in the same assembly lines they build $25.00 cases and they are not much better. And please don't try and sell me that a Thermaltale or any other is worth what they charge because they use better metal or fans or blah, blah, blah.....it's all a rip-off. I guess they get away with it because teen-age noobs with mom's money don't really care what it costs as long as it looks "cool", which these cases can't even claim. Talk about boring. Sheesh!
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0
Crashman
June 15, 2008 4:33:30 AM
Lame...not the article, the comments. Dozens of comments like "I can't believe you PICKED those cases" and "How the heck did you chose this junk!"
You guys know how this works, someone at the site contacts all the manufacturers he can and asks for them to send a sample. Most don't reply on time. Those that do often send samples that nobody likes. You can't blame the author, who probably only got paid for a couple day's work out of the entire process.
Those of you who wanted the author to buy the case for more money than he was getting paid should slap some sense into yourselves...or offer to pay for them yourself.
You guys know how this works, someone at the site contacts all the manufacturers he can and asks for them to send a sample. Most don't reply on time. Those that do often send samples that nobody likes. You can't blame the author, who probably only got paid for a couple day's work out of the entire process.
Those of you who wanted the author to buy the case for more money than he was getting paid should slap some sense into yourselves...or offer to pay for them yourself.
Score
0
pdjh
June 15, 2008 9:10:33 AM
No1sFanboy
June 15, 2008 2:26:41 PM
I agree with most of the comments here and felt no need to add my own comment until reading Crashman's. I find it incredible that you single handily dismiss the feedback from the readers and backup up your comment by presenting excuses. So let me see if I got this straight. The so called "roundup" ignores the many of the more relevant cases because:
-we got a poor response from case manufacturers
-companies are more eager to send us cases that are not selling well
-Tom's writers don't get paid enough to invest any real time
-If you want good parts reviewed then buy them for us.
In my work if I pass off poor results with a list of excuses I'd be shown the door. I'd see these as challenges that need to be overcome and not used as crutches to pass off irrelevant roundups. If Tom's traffic/revenues are just fine with these half efforts then this kind of writing is by some measures, adequate.
-we got a poor response from case manufacturers
-companies are more eager to send us cases that are not selling well
-Tom's writers don't get paid enough to invest any real time
-If you want good parts reviewed then buy them for us.
In my work if I pass off poor results with a list of excuses I'd be shown the door. I'd see these as challenges that need to be overcome and not used as crutches to pass off irrelevant roundups. If Tom's traffic/revenues are just fine with these half efforts then this kind of writing is by some measures, adequate.
Score
0
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