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[Solved] Quick Comparison of Cases

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] Quick Comparison of Cases

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Best answer from jbakerlent.

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I'm looking to purchase a case, tonight, to avoid losing out on newegg's discounts.

Currently, my top picks are:

Antec 900 (well-spoken off, no air filters)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021
Antec 902 (air filters, poor motherboard placement)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129058
CoolerMaster HAF 922 (more USB ports, less reviews)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119197
CoolerMaster HAF 932
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119160

I've combo-ed both Antecs with the TruePower-650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371021

... and both CoolerMasters with the SilentPro-700
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171037

My question is: Which is best?
A simple answer will suffice, but to anyone with a better psu/case combo for roughly the same cost (including shipping) feel free to post it.

If the other parts I'm considering are a factor in this decision, here's a link to a thread discussing them.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] w=0&nojs=0

Many thanks for your time, and I would appreciate any responses (I'm running out of time).

My favorite is actually this one
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62 Black 0.8 mm SECC, Plastic + Mesh ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112239
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Definitely the HAF 922, but change the combo. I'm not sure exactly which GPU you've chosen, but if it's just a single 4870/5750 as mentioned in that thread then a 500W will be fine.

COOLER MASTER HAF 922
+
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W
Combo Price: $149.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.274115

Reply to build

I am going with the HAF 932 when I put my build together, but all reviews I have read say the 932 and 902/1200 are fairly equal

Reply to cades

1 vote 932 (Cades)
1 vote 922 (build) with different combo

Thanks for the input, guys.

Anyone else agree with them?

Reply to ti1706

C'mon folks, I could really use some more opinions.

Reply to ti1706

I'll bump this once more, and then let it die.

So far, it seems that CoolerMaster seems to be the favorite both this thread, and others.

... but which to get?

Anyone with an opinion, please post it.

(... and price is not an issue, so long as it's one of these four. If the 932 beats the 922, vote for it.)

I apologize for taking up your time... again... but I'm buying a case tonight, before newegg cycles into next week.

Reply to ti1706
Best answer

My favorite is actually this one
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62 Black 0.8 mm SECC, Plastic + Mesh ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112239

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Reply to jbakerlent

Not bad, but as there's no significant advantage of it over the others (not trying to offend you) that I can see, I'd rather go with something made from steel... and in a slightly larger size.

Currently, I'm favoring the 932.

... but I still have about 3 hours to change my mind... heh.

Still, thanks for the input.

Reply to ti1706

It actually is steel... Also, I'm not sure if it bothers you but the 932 and 900 are huge. Here's two brief reviews I just found on google

http://www.techspot.com/review/191 [...] l-k62-k56/

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/for [...] eview.html

2nd choice: 902

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Reply to jbakerlent

Apparently, I've been mis-informed... I had thought that newegg stated it was plastic/mesh.

On an interesting note, I just discovered that the Antec 1200, with a MUCH louder/lower watt psu, costs the same as the 932 with the better psu.

Any thoughts? Should I switch to favoring the 1200?

... and size isn't much of an issue, as this will be pretty much the only thing on my desk.

Reply to ti1706

Looking over reviews on other sites, it seems that the Haf 932 is superior to the 1200... despite the newegg reviews, which state the opposite.

... with only 2 hours left to choose, I'm back to the 932.
... unless someone can bring up a good point on the 1200 (Air filters were nice)

As for the Lian Li, it just doesn't seem mainstream enough for me to feel comfortable with it. Good looking cases, though, I might try one on my next build.

Reply to ti1706

ti1706 wrote :

As for the Lian Li, it just doesn't seem mainstream enough for me to feel comfortable with it.



I respect your opinion, but Lian-Li undoubtedly has THE highest build quality of any case manufacturer and is definitely mainstream.

Reply to jbl91

jbakerlent wrote :

0.8 mm SECC = Steel.



Guess I don't know my acronyms, heh.

Reply to ti1706

jbl91 wrote :

I respect your opinion, but Lian-Li undoubtedly has THE highest build quality of any case manufacturer and is definitely mainstream.



Thanks for the respect.

I'm looking at the one jbakerlent recommended, and it seems like there's something about it that seems better... unfortunately, being a bit of a novice, I can't figure it out.

As I understand it, the HAF 932 has:

better cooling and airflow
more drive bays
good cable management (though not necessarily better)
better options for water-cooling (which I'll probably never use)

Lian Li's entry has:

more attractive appearance
less drive bays
a more compact and solid feel to the drive bay positioning
fewer USB ports (an issue with me)
good cable management (same as above)

Additionally, the Lian Li doesn't come with free shipping (though I'm a bit worried about it being non-FedEx) which could add somewhere around $50.00... plus the cost of a non-combo psu.

Keep in mind, that I could be wrong. After all, I've never used either case, so feel free to correct me.

Reply to ti1706

Closing the thread, I'm 20 minutes from purchase... and so far, I'm going with the CM 932.

Many thanks for the input, guys.

Best answer goes to jbakerlent for drawing attention to the Lian Li, which looks great... and the brand will be a serious consideration in my next build.

Reply to ti1706
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