Please help me choose a case for this system

[jerrysdean43]

I have been looking at these 2 cases, any suggestions?

NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower (might be an overkill)

IN WIN IW-F430.BL Black 0.8mm SECC/ Japanese Steel ATX Mid Tower (I like this one a lot, enough cooling)?

I want to keep the cost as close to $100.00 as possible. I am not a fan of Antec 300.



I wish to do some minor overclocking and I am not a gamer. Thank you.

I would like to make a case decision and order today.

System build.


ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply

CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit

Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7200

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD

ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

I am using existing Geoforce 8500 GT 512mb from existing system for now.

 

[doomsdaydave11]

Well, my current case is the XION Onyx:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208021

It has a good amount of space, it's very cheap, solid for the price, and looks awesome in my opinion. The fans do run a little slow, but at least there's airflow, and they are very quiet. It's very easy to upgrade them, and there's space for more fans too.

The IN WIN case looks like a good quality one, even though I personally think it's ugly. For minor overclocking it should have good enough airflow, and if you feel that you need more, you can always buy more fans.
10 80MM fans for $12.90 shipped... can't beat that!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150007
You could mount 2 at the front by the hard drive bays, 2 on that side vent, and remove the side duct and put one there too! I don't think cooling will be an issue. If you like the case go for it!

What are you looking for? Mid Tower? Mini-Tower? HTPC? Would you like a side window? LEDs? A front door?

 

[jerrysdean43]

Mid tower, no front door, not a fan of side window but wouldn't rule it out for a good case.

 

[fleakiller]

I like my cm690

 

[jerrysdean43]

Inwin case has no mounts for side fan, and only 1 in front.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

Say NO to the 80mm fans, the NZXT Tempest looks like a cooling monster and seems to be built very well. Personally I would stay away from IN WIN cases.

 

[jerrysdean43]

I;m using an Inwin case now for about 4 years, great fans, great power supply, great quality for the cost.

 

[1971Rhino]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec+Nine+Hundred

I love the Antec 900....It has tons of cooling....yeah it has a side window, but it looks nice....tons of room too.

 

[shadowthor]

The P182.

 

[jerrysdean43]

P183, great but too expensive for me.

 

[badge]

Jerrysdean, don't let them talk you off that Ferrari red case. I thought about it from your previous post yesterday and picked one up for myself! It drives me! LOL!

I have a spare Antec 300 new in the box out in the garage. You can take it for spin if you like.

 

[jerrysdean43]

Thanks badge, I am just a little concerned about the cooling, other then that I like it, they have an orange and black one also.

 

[badge]

Thanks badge, I am just a little concerned about the cooling, other then that I like it, they have an orange and black one also.

The front panel is solid as opposed to mesh which is a major disadvantage as far as a 'cooling solution'. The front intake fan will make up for some of that, but it is near the bottom for the hard drives. That's good. But to get a useful airflow from front (intake) to back (exhaust) will be difficult and end up a weak central flow at best. No side fan (?), no roof fan like better designed cases. 120mm in the back helps a lot. If that were 80mm I would use an 80 to 120mm adapter. I have cases designed this way. I had to velcro an 80mm fan to the floor of the one Inwin case I own to keep my A8N32-SLI/4800X2 cool! I built with a micro e8400/G965/8600Gt/2 HDs/ 4 GBs RAM/Zalman 9500 and used a Coolermaster elite 340 micro case. Every fan in there including the Zalman 9500 except the 8600GT's is set to the lowest speed available. I used Antec Tri cool fans. That system is very quiet, only the video card is audible sitting at the desk. Cool too. So, with the hardware available today, it depends what you put in there that makes the system hot... Good price FS here, but I went with Newegg and the rebate.

http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=D23708&src=PG

 

[badge]

Working space is at a premium when you start considering which CPU/HSF's the case will house. Looks like build space is a little cramped. My house is so full of stuff, small is in around here!

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/553/1/

 

[jerrysdean43]

Yes I read that review, which CPU/HSF would you recommend?

 

[badge]

I use seven or more of these, I lost count, on my systems. This is the 9500 and the review is using the 9700 (wider), so this will do the job. Great HSF, but if the fan goes out it's not so easy to replace. A smaller dimension PSU would ne nice when your thinking abiout space available to buiild.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118223

I have a new one of these in the box. I wanted to use it. Looks like I may have to use a micro atx PSU if I'm gonaa do that with this case. Probably won't work in there. These type HSF's are easy to replace the fan. The Zalman 9500 will do fine and fit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154001

 

[badge]

If you want a nice fan for a reasonable price, this wil work well, I have several of these. No back plate mounting with this one. Neweg has this one on sale often.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

 

[jerrysdean43]

Well, I ordered everything but the case, still going back and forth.

 

[jerrysdean43]

Do you think that the artic would fit the Inwin?

 

[doomsdaydave11]

Say NO to the 80mm fans, the NZXT Tempest looks like a cooling monster and seems to be built very well. Personally I would stay away from IN WIN cases.

Why?

And @ OP, there are simple ways to mount the fans without the use of screw holes. You can drill your own screw holes, use silicone and/or glue, or even wire ties.

 

[badge]

The Artic Cooler is a rear exhaust set up (fan blows to the rear or exhaust and heat is pulled out by the120mm exhaust fan in the case). It is a littlle smaller than the Zalman 9500. And the article uses the Zalman 9700, which is wider. be sure to install the Artic Cooler to the CPU/MB BEFORE you screw down the MB inside the case. I imagine the case with that AC gets a little challenged for building space before you are done.

A large fan like the AC offers would do real well sitting in the middle of the case. You can get even more air flow to the MB, under the video card, by velcroing an 80mm fan to the floor of the case. I have that done on this computer I'm using at the office. Works well when you just need a little more 'centralized; airflow and there is no side fan or roof fan.

 

[badge]

In the absense of a side fan, I have two of these I use on my systems. These give airflow straight down on the MB over the RAM and other chips of the MB also, like the NB. They work pretty well if you need more airflow onto the MB. Starts to get far too noisy with all these fans.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835704001

 

[jerrysdean43]

If the AC exhausts to the rear, I guess one could take the side vent off and mount two fans on the side panel.