Best Case for under $120 ?

Look at Antec, or my personal favorite.. lian li.

lian li makes some of the best quality cases you can buy these days.

Buying a cheap plastic case wont make people say "wow"  

Look at the Antec 900. Personally, I prefer the looks of the P182, but since you appear to go for gaudy...  

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

the p182 is a dream to work with, ive never seen a case that installed optical drives that easily. I just wish newegg had the p180b still, the silver version is nice... but I prefer black

This is an awfully good case for the money (now $100.00). Lots of fans, plenty of room, reliability, good company, etc. This is what I'm getting in a few months for my new build (waiting for Yorkfield/Wolfdale).


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=E...

Thanks guys, some good info there, as said I do like the gaudy, but I do kinda want a temp gage on the front, any ideas, But trust me, I am thinking over all the cases here.

With the Apevia, you will definitely need that Temp Gage alot more than with the cases which have better cooling.

haha touche, yeah I hear ya, thats why I am here, Hey I love the Eagletech case, but thing just screams problems.

Ant,

One of my friends has a different version of that Apevia case but it has the same 3 gauges on the front door. From experience, those gages are the farthest thing from accurate. and the temperature Doesn't give you the CPU temp if just gives a general case temp (depending on where you put the sensor can change the read out too). I own the Armor, It is a very nice case but I would also recommend the antec900 and the coolmaster (links at end). Go for a case that will support what you want and has nice airflow then pick looks. You can always pick up a front panel temp gauge to put in a drive bay that will look cooler and work better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... (looks cool with LED fans)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... (This one looks cool but I think its all plastic   )

Hideous case you like, it looks like a horridly modified Civic.

Why not something with class and quality like an aluminum Lian Li?

Shadow, thanks for great post, some reason Newegg sometimes comes up restricted at work, but I will check all those out, and thats a great idea about the front panal temp gage! I am going to check those out.

And Noya, I know I have a weird taste is cases, I am not defending it. I like crazy colors with lots of lights everywhere, its a study, so I dont mind it being bright.

I am gonna vote for the Cooler Master 690
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
I actually like it better them my Antec 900.

My favorite and probably the best cooling cases I've seen in this thread thus far are the Antec 900 and Coolermaster Stacker. I own the Antec 900 and the air flow is awesome. With 200mm and 120 mm exhaust fans right next to the cpu fan, its perfect for overclocking.

Personally, I don't like cases with doors on front. I owned the Super Lanboy 2 before I owned the 900 and It was always annoying having to open the door to put in or pull out a cd. Which is why in the end I'd always pick the 900 over a coolermaster stacker. Although looks wise, I'd say that the stacker looks a bit cooler than the 900.

The only real disadvantage I can think of with the Antec 900 is that it is a little heavy lugging to lan parties and such. I will say that I've had many friends compliments it though. So it does have the "wow" factor.

Shadow, is this what you are speaking of

http://2cooltek.com/Product/logisys-525-multi-purpose-d...

Are there more of these types of products out there?

That sucks, dude. I place more than half of my newegg orders from work and have them delivered to my work address 90% of the time so that there is always someone to sign for them.  

I have them delivered to work, and I use newegg a lot as well, just doing this research while at work on a slow saturday afternoon and will have to check them out when I get home...

Ok nm, thanks so much guys after doing a quick bit of research I am 99% sure I am going with the 900, just need to switch out those blue fans for some red =)

Thanks!

Re cm 690.

I have one and I love it. I looked at the antec 900 and I didnt like as I though it was ugly. My impressions in terms of quality is that they are both about the same.

I have a server dust problem in my house due to 2 boys, 4 big dogs and 2 cats. I cleaned the inside about every month. LOTS of dust. I still clean the inside about every month, but I have way less dust on the inside. I am not sure why yet, could be the filters in front or I have better air flow (last case has very good air flow imho)

I dont like the plastic front, but I really like that I can take it off without any problems to clean the front air takes.

If you a search of my name, you will see how I put my case together along with some customization. I have 5 x 140mm, 2 x 120mm fans and a 80mm slim fan blowing on the back of the mobo.

Fans on the side panel will make air noise due to the holes. I cut a hole for the fan to stop that.

Otherwise, the case is very quite. Only real noise I have is a 10yr hd that is very noisy as it spins which is no fault of the case.

$30 after rebate, and free shipping!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Yup, something like that will be much more useful with the additional functions too.
My friend is VERY happy with his Antec 900. It's a good choice.


Sorry I took a while to reply. Here are a few more if your still looking.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=E...

Newegg again  

Lots of leds and typical look of "omgprettycase"? That screams like Thermaltake ones to me.

http://www.thermaltake.com

Another vote for 900, imo it's a good looking and cooling gamer case ever.


But there are new antec, 1200 and 300 to be considered about.
http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=359

Antec 900, 45 dollars including shipping, made this a no brainer, If anyone else needs one...

http://www.slickdeals.net/

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
This is the case I have and paid $260 for. It is now $110 after rebate with free shipping and is an outstanding case.

I got an Apevia case (X-QPACK2). The design was great (so was cooling), but it was marred by flimsy materials, and the drone who assembled it put a screw through the power switch wires. I replaced that with a CoolerMaster 534-series. Very solid, but the standoff screw holes were not all properly threaded, and needed to be at least 1/16" closer to the rear to allow proper grounding of the mobo connectors. I was disapppointed. I've bought plainer CM Elite 330-series cases that were better.

I also find front doors irritating. If I needed another case, I'd jump on that 900 for $45 in a heartbeat, even if really didn't want all those LEDs (a problem with easy solutions).

I'd like to ask why that is. I am trying to decide between these two cases myself. My question to you as a CM 690 owner:

I looked at the pictures and noticed that there is a wall infront of the the harddrive casing area from the rest of the pc. Doesn't this effect the airflow from the front fan to the back?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?Image=11-1...

Another question is does the bottom case fan mounting have a grill under it? If not, what is your opinion on that.