Raidmax Smilodon Casing or Antec 900?! Advice needed, help!

[nforce256]

Here's the Raidmax:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156063

Here's the Antec 900 which most are probably familiar with already on these forums:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

So here's the thing. I personally think the Antec 900 looks killer and better in comparison. However, this is my first build. While the Antec looks sexy, the Raidmax is cheaper by $30 or so and the side that holds the motherboard tray actually latches out. I've been adding hard drives/RAM/graphics card for years now, but this is my first build from scratch, so the Raidmax sounds easier to work with for a first timer. What would you guys suggest? Is the Antec case hard to work with for someone building their first system, or could it be described as user-friendly (despite the intuition-demanding wire management)? I just love the front grill design on the Antec, but I don't know. Any advice would be appreciated!

Btw, here is what I'm going with:
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L mobo
Antec 550watt PSU (already bought)
Core 2 Duo E6750 (I would go with the e8400 except the board requires a BIOS flash and I don't have a spare processor)
2x 1GB 667MHz PC5300 DDR2
Nvidia 8800GTS

And the purpose of this system is to play UT3/Team Fortress 2/Crysis

 

[g-paw]

Nice set up. Antec's make very good cases and they are very easy to work with. I've had 7 or 8 Antecs over the years likes all of the. If you're getting a good brand and both are, it's really a personal thing, ketchup or mustard, what your like best that fits you're budget. As for wire management you can always get a PSU with module cabling but they cost a bit more. These 2 Antecs are pretty good prices given they have the module cabling. Have the 550w and happy with it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103940
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103941

 

[skippyjojimbob]

I have a smilodon xtreme black with green lights. i love the case
its easy to work with and very heavy......but mine came cracked on
both the top and the bottom of the door where they screwed in the wire mesh to tight.... wasnt worth shipping back so i just kept it... I bought mine at newegg also.... But anyway it is a real nice case.

 

[makoau58]

I bought the Antec 900 about 6 months ago and it is an awsome case with no need to run the fans higher than the slowest settings. Unfortunately if you plan on installing anything more than the very basics inside the case you would do better to look for a larger case. I have stripped out my parts and replaced them into my old Xaser 3 ( no longer available) even though they have just released a new version. The relief to get arms and elbows back inside the case to have room to work with and hide wiring and excellent airflow was fantastic. As much as i love the Antec 900 the nightmare of efficent wiring and room is its only downfall and dont bother bying a fan controller as the temp diff between high and low is negligable. It also had enough room for a thermaltake big typhoon cpu cooler but as for wiring and allowing the fans to do their job i wasted $200 Australian. Havent seen the other case you mentioned but if your into more hard drives and goodies think bigger is better. You can always add fans.

 

[chookman]

id go with the 900