The best case out of these

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Alright, I'm building a new system and the case selection is making me very perplexed. I'm looking for the best quality case that provides the best airflow, and these are the ones I've found so far: (I don't mind having the cool looks and lights, but quality/airflow comes first)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119077
(Woul d have been a no-brainer if it had the side air duct)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811144151
(Does this have a place for a front fan?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119106

http ://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
(Thinking this is the best for airflow since it has 1 X 80 fan in the front, 1 X 120 in the back, and a side air vent. Does not have the side window though :()

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119094


P.S. I'm not going to pay much for the case. Max is $60-$70 (that includes the shipping also). If you know any others with better features for the same price, then please share. Looking for a Mid Tower case btw :P

Thanks in advance!

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by nightscope on 07-30-2007 at 11:35:52 AM
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I would suggest the Centurion 532 or the 534.

The 532 has a 120 mm intake fan in front of the HDD and space to mount a 120 mm exhaust. It has a duct for the CPU HSF.

The 534 on the other hand seems to let you mount 2x 80 mm fans (one front and one side) and has a 120 mm exhaust.

What CPU and and GPU are you putting in?

I personally prefer the 532 but you might want to use the 534 if you require more cooling.

Reply to Eru

I'm going with the q6600 and probably the 8800 GTS, and will probably overclock so I need the best cooling solution possible among these choices. I heard that if you have a lot of intake (meaning a 120 mm fan instead of a 80 mm fan) that it is worse than having an 80 mm fan infront...is that true? I'm going to have a 120 mm fan at the rear so yeah.

Are you sure you can mount a fan in the front in the 534 case? Because it doesn't specify that you can put one in the front. And if you can put one in the front, then it will be infront of the harddrives as well; therefore being the better cooling solution out of the two, right?

Reply to nightscope

If you look at the lower left pic on Newegg, you can see that the Apevia has a place for a front fan.
I've used three Coolermaster Elite cases this year. They're a step down from the Centurion; they have the space for it, but the front fan is not already present like it is on the Centurion. They have side air ducts also. These weren't performance boxes, but they are dual core, and have not had problems. My wife's is barely audible with its stock fan.

------------------------------ There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
Reply to jtt283

Assuming you're building now, swing for the 534. I built a rig for my mom with that case. It cools pretty well and it is dead silent with 120mm fans and low end overclocked components.

And yes a fan can be mounted in the front of the 534. IIRC correctly you remove the front panel to install the fan... took maybe two minutes.

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy

Forgot to tack this on...

If you end up waiting to build watch for killer deals on cases like the Antec P180(B). They are great at MSRP and a real steal if you can get them in the $70-80 range.

I'd wait about two weeks or so before you buy that 8800GTS. I know a guy who knows someone inside ATI that is in the know... he isn't leaking any details, but I think you should consider this one word:

R650

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy

Man if this had been a few weeks ago, I pick up an Antec 900 for $78 shipped no rebate from Frys.
Great case, lots of air flow.

Reply to bobbknight

I got a P180 for $79 shipped from Newegg... I'm still excited about it.

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy

Hey, I have a Silver Thermaltake Tsunami Case tower that I WILL SELL TO YOU! I'll take $80 (that includes shipping). Price negotiable. It has 1x120mm Front Fan, 1x120mm Rear Fan, and 1 x 90mm side Fan. AND I WILL include ANOTHER Zalman or Thermaltake Silent Cat 90mm fan if you want! I need to get rid of it because I'm moving to college!!!

 

It also has a side window, and can be found here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811133133

 

Condition (Outside): Window has scratches, but only noticeable under certain lighting and if you look close and I think one scratch on the door.... I can take and send pics if you like - or if anybody else on this forum wants a new case.


Message edited by PCKid777 on 07-30-2007 at 07:40:07 PM
Reply to PCKid777

The only thing I'd say and it's been mentioned, go with a case that sports 120mm fans and not 80mm, you'll end up with a much quieter case. That's one grip I have with many cooler master cases, is that many of them still use 80mm fans while most other good case maker have move up to 120mm .


Message edited by fatcat on 07-30-2007 at 07:29:18 PM
Reply to fatcat

Yes Fatcat, but isn't it better to have 80 mm front fan than a 120 mm? Or am I wrong?

akahuddy, does that mean that the price of the 8800 gts will go down? Or something better in the same price range will appear? I'm patient with this build and am in no hurry, I can wait for the best time to buy easily :)

So all in all it comes down to this, does it make a difference that the 534 has a fan on the side and the 532 doesn't? Will it make that much of a difference? And can you put a 120 mm fan on the front in the 534 or does it have to be 80 mm?

Anyone know if there's going to be any price deductions on the antec 900 or 180?
Also, do a lot of online stores have big sales on black friday?

Reply to nightscope

Well, I don't know all the exact details about R650 or what a release of it would do, but I know someone who might could get me some info for you... although I may end up banned before I can get it to you... we'll see though, I have a second username if that happens.

Here's my thoughts:
534- Move the side fan to the front and you'll have a case that should perform well in mild OC situations. That will move air better than a side and rear combo. I don't remember what size the front will take... I kinda think it is for 120's only but I could be wrong. My CM case (Praetorian 730) will take 2x80's or 1x120 in the front..

532 - Only 1 fan and mesh front. Should perform alright but really could stand to have a front intake fan. The mesh front will result in a slightly louder case than than the 534.

I don't know about any sales, but there were some huge Black Friday deals last year at the egg. Sign up for their newsletter... you never know what type of deals are going to appear. That's how I got off an extra $30 on my P180B.

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy

I'm just deciding on whether to wait for a big sale (like black friday) or to buy now, very hard decision. Did black friday deals cover everything last year? Or just particular stuff?

On the 532 it comes with a front 120 mm fan and a rear 120 mm fan and a side air vent...but the 534 has a side one as well, not sure if that will help much.

Reply to nightscope

I don't know what all you're buying so here's some additional recommendations:
CPUS: Buy it now
RAM: Especially buy it now. Prices are going back up and it should still DDR3 can match DDR2 in performance.
Motherboards: whenever
PSU: You can buy it now or then... you're bound to end up with a good deal one way or the other.
Case: Black Friday typically has some insane deals. It's an excellent time to buy cases. I don't specificly remember, but I believe that the sales generally are a little bit of everything here and there. Cases, PSU's, CPU+MOBO combo's... you never really know.

I didn't see that the 532 had both fans... my oversight. Both cases have side vents. The 534 shouldn't have a front fan but I would definately move the side fan to the front. Both would be nice cases, it's really a matter of preference. I'll stick to my guns and say that the 534 will be a touch quieter, especially if you have any type of high-RPM CPU fan.

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy

I'm limited in what I can say, but let's just say that these are cool new cards.

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy

Well if black friday can hold insane deals on everything I'm buying, then is there a reason not to wait? On the CPU I heard that in a couple of weeks prices are going to go down a little bit and settle and the GO stepping will become more abundant...I mean think about it, if I buy this stuff now and on black friday I could have saved $200, wouldn't you think I would be sad? :P And there's no reason to build this rig now if ati is releasing some new stuff soon....argh this stuff is perplexingggg!

Reply to nightscope

I'd say wait two weeks to see what R650 holds before you pull a trigger. That should help the B3 stepping processors clear out as well. Then enjoy your rig and if Black Friday comes and you see a sweet deal on a case or something else you want then you can pursue that.

Remember if you always wait for the next best thing, you'll never get any use out of your computer.

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy

Remember if you always wait for the next best thing, you'll never get any use out of your computer.

EXACTLY!! You always say what if I wait some more, or what if I go up $10 and get this better thing, and it keeps on going...and going...and goingggg!
Yeah I guess I'll wait for R650, but the question is, will they be priced accordingly?

Reply to nightscope

nightscope wrote :

Alright, I'm building a new system and the case selection is making me very perplexed. I'm looking for the best quality case that provides the best airflow, and these are the ones I've found so far: (I don't mind having the cool looks and lights, but quality/airflow comes first)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119077
(Woul d have been a no-brainer if it had the side air duct)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811144151
(Does this have a place for a front fan?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119106

http ://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
(Thinking this is the best for airflow since it has 1 X 80 fan in the front, 1 X 120 in the back, and a side air vent. Does not have the side window though :()

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119094


P.S. I'm not going to pay much for the case. Max is $60-$70 (that includes the shipping also). If you know any others with better features for the same price, then please share. Looking for a Mid Tower case btw :P

Thanks in advance!



No offense, but I refuse to look at a website that won't sell to my country

Reply to croc

I wish I could tell you how much the R650's were going to when they hit... but I'm only one mortal man that knows a guy that knows a guy... I'm just going to say go ahead and buy the rest of your parts now and wait for the GPU... there really is no telling how it will be priced or how it will affect the 8800's pricing.

croc wrote :

No offense, but I refuse to look at a website that won't sell to my country



Not really sure where that fits in... :heink:

------------------------------ I'm a.k.a. huddy.
Reply to akahuddy
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