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Why is a PC case so hard to chose?

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hello. i'm doing my own heading here. i want to chose a PC case (only have around £80), preffibley a Mid-case because i only have a M-ATX MOBO on my gaming PC and the smaller the Cheaper.

i've looked at three main companies to turn to: Antec, CoolerMaster,Thermaltake.
at the mo i have a Jeantech AQUA Gaming case, and it's not very good (no dust filters so my new shiny 9800GT is filled with dust.) i'm not the person that actually has a social life (goto lan parties) so i don't care about how heavy the case is.

the main cases i've been looking at are:

thermal take M9D
thermal take Element G
thermal take Armour + MX
thermaltake V9
thermaltake Xaser MX
Cooler Master Haf 922
antec Mini P180 - my favourate

Can you help me choose

Why is a PC case so hard to Chose?

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Depends on your system specs really so post them and we'll see, but good airflow is always the main thing to consider.

Personally I'd go from something not on your list: Antec 300

Reply to LePhuronn

Because they're not that complicated so there's lots of companies building cases that fit your needs.

Usually if it has a front intake fan, an aft exhaust some decent cooling and enough space to house all your components, it will be fine.

Message edited by Gulli on 09-25-2009 at 11:12:15 PM

------------------------------ CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @3.2Ghz, MOBO: Asus P6T SE, RAM: 3x 2gb OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK, GPU: Sapphire HD 5870, PSU: Corsair HX520W, HDD: Seagate ST31000528AS 1Tb 32mb, COOLER: Scythe Mugen (S775 version), CASE: Coolermaster CM690
Reply to Gulli

The reason that it is so hard is that even after you weed out the crap, there are still a lot of good cases to choose from. I had pretty much made up my mind to get a HAF 932, and then the Antec 900 went on sale, so I bought that.

Read the reviews, remember that none of them are perfect, and even the good ones have bad individual boxes. If you are getting a big CPU cooler or GPU card, make sure it will fit and then get one. If it doesn't work out, RMA it and get another one.

Reply to Prescott_666

plus one for the antec three hundred.

the three hundred is probably my absolute favourite gaming case. its cheap, looks awesome, and has absolutely excelent airflow.

with a few LED fans in the front it can look pretty bling.

Reply to welshmousepk

A friend of mine got an Antec 300 in the spring. I talked to him about it recently. He is very pleased with it.

Reply to Prescott_666

It's hard to choose because it's tough to give advice- my criteria (love the industrial look of my antec 900 that cost me $69) may be different from your criteria (maybe you want it to look like Optimus Primes head, or want to spend $300 for something that'll accommodate water cooling)

That said, the one thing I don't llike about the Antec 900 and maybe the 300 too, is that if you want both fans in front, you only have 3 5.25 (or 2 5.25 and one 3.5 bay) to use.

Reply to bliq

antec 300? i would rather upgrade that and see if i can get the 900 or even the 902 for £80.

my specs are:

AMD Athlon 2.7 GHz Black edition Processor (planning to overclock (A little new to this pc modding stuff)

Gigabyte M61PME-S2 MOBO

pinoneer Disk drive (which has lasted me for 12 Years)

a Maxor 250GB HDD (can't tell you the Freq. at the mo. i'm on MAC OS X(Dual Boot))

A HEC 550Wat PSU (planning to upgrade VERY soon)

A Nvidia PNY 9800GT

a Belkin Wireless G+ Reciever

I REALLY like the Mini P180 the Haf 922 and the Element G.

Reply to naf456

There are too many choices. Currently newegg.com has over 800 pc cases listed in a variety of formats, styles, and colors. The largest category is atx mid-tower cases with 466 listings.

Reply to JohnnyLucky

Go for the HAF 922, it's the best of the 7 you listed, or pick the CM storm sniper if you can afford it, both share many good features but the sniper is larger and better, in fact I see it as the best case in its price range.

------------------------------ Antec 902--ASUS P5KSE, thermaltake extreme spirit II--FSP 500w--E6750 @ 3.6 Ghz, Zalman CNPS 9500--OCZ reaper HPC 4 Gb @ 1081 mhz--GF 8800GT @ 700,1700,920, Zalman alcu700--WD caviar Green 1TB--Maxtor 160 Gb--BenQ T2200 HD--Benq FP72E--7RC ultimate 64bit
Reply to avatar_raq

You say you have a M-ATX mobo?

I have a TT Lanbox. It's ok, but there's only 2" clearance between the PSU and CPU cooler (I have a TT Toughpower 750W and Q6600). I'd love to OC my CPU but I can't get a decent cooler due to space restrictions.

Having said that though, I love when people see it and go "WTF is that?"

Also love not having a big-ass tower taking up half the room

Reply to r0x0r

I recently bought a CM Storm Sniper and it was love at first sight, it cost me £119 with free shipping from Ebuyer.
Its got a mesh side panel but you can get accessories from C.M. on-line parts shop such as extra 200mm fans &
a side panel with a perspex window but the main thing i like is the ability to control the speed of all the fans from
the single controller knob which also has a button for switching the L.E.D`s off. Cable management and air circulation
are first rate and if you go to LAN parties, the keyboard and mouse cable lock shud come in really handy for protecting
those really expensive peripherals.

I like the Antec 300 but for me it has to have the right PSU; if you happen to have one with a 120mm fan underneath
then you are gonna have to mount it upside down which makes cable management ugly and increases the possibility
of dropping a screw in there when changing a drive or something. Its a great case if it has the proper Antec PSU with
front to back airflow aided by 2x80mm fans.

The other case i really like and is within your budget is the CM Storm Scout and it has a good air flow, looks good and
designed for Lan Parties so its lightwieght.

Hope you make the right choice :pt1cable:

Reply to Stiffex

I confess i'm a cheap bastard, i'll use whatever case that has decent airflow and will hold my components. I'd rather spend my money on things that increase performance. So +1 to the Antec300 or even the Antec200.

Reply to dirtmountain

yep the Storm Sniper is too expensive so i've decided to go with the Storm Scout:

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/29 [...] ?srcid=867

and this leaves me £20 for some case mods

Message edited by naf456 on 09-27-2009 at 09:49:00 AM

Reply to naf456

Good Choice. I have the Storm Scout and love it. The only bad thing about it is that it might not fit one of the new 5870's.

It seems like it would if the 5870 extended a bit into the 5.25" drive bays but if you wanted to Crossfire them then that's not possible.

But you have a 9800GT so that will fit fine.

It's a great case and has good airflow.

------------------------------ AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.6GHz -- MSI GD70 -- 3GB Corsair XMS -- Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 -- 500GB Caviar Black -- Corsair HX750 PSU -- Cooler Master Storm Scout -- Cooler Master V8
Reply to Jonnyinter

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Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - Why is a PC case so hard to chose?