Case Selection Help <$75

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trickynick

trickynick

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Jan 22, 2010
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Trying to put a computer together and set aside a budget of <$75 for my case.

At first I was going to get the Rosewill Challenger(link below) but been looking around and have stumbled across a couple of others that will do a good job.

I do keep my computer on 24/7 & very rarely turn it off. I let it do updates & anti-virus scans while I'm at work or sleeping. Not sire if this is needed or not, but know size of GPU does matter. I have an Radeon HD 5770.

Cases I was looking at (including the one listed above)
Rosewill Challenger
Antec 300 Illision
RAIDMAX SMILODON

I like the front of the RAIDMAX. I'm looking for something that won't sound like a fighter jet taking off but would also like to have good cable management & cooling. I don't plan on overclocking or CF/SLI.

Are these good cases for my criteria? Are there better ones within my budget range?
 
Solution
davcon
Not even in the same league as far as quality of construction and materials go.
looking at the weight of a case can help you determine the quality of steel used.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050002120&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=7%7C11-119-215%5E11-119-215-TS%2C11-208-036%5E11-208-036-TS%2C11-146-061%5E11-146-061-TS%2C11-146-025%5E11-146-025-28%23
There is no substitute for choosing cases in person it can change your mind in a hurry.
If you have a decent pc shop in your neighbourhood i encourage it.

I went with a client to the local pc shop and looked at cases he liked from browsing online and had a budget in mind of $60 tops for a case.
Gamma($20)wow so cheap,Antec...
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abully

abully

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Thermaltake V black editions (V3, V4, V5 and V6) are also excellent options for that price range... so is CM Haf 912... Antec has the best build of all the cases, Haf has the size to accommodate a lotta things inside and TT's have insane airflow...

The rosewill challenger is also a good overall case but i have faced QC issues with them before...
 
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Petey1013

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300 Illusion or the HAF 912 are you're best bets. 300 especially if you don't mind doing a little light modding to make it more cable management friendly.

Otherwise if you have any extra 120mm or 140mm fans kicking around, I'm sure you can find a CM 690 II Basic or if your lucky and advanced for under 75 bucks. Better case then all the rest. The extra fans really only applies to the basic but can't hurt either way.

Edit: Davcon beat me to it.
 
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trickynick

trickynick

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Does the Cooler Master have air filters?
Found this for 90 - but http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00336EM0W/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

Went to local computer shop, they have a Thermaltake V9 for $99. Is that good?

The link to NewEgg that Davcon posted doesn't work for me.


Both of the ones I listed above go over what I budgeted, but I can lower the my budget in other areas.
 
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davcon

davcon

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Yes the 690II Basic/Advanced versions have intake filters .
The Advance has some extra features.
And free shipping is nice.
Refresh your browser if the link is doing that goofy about/blank thing.
Just watch the vid at the CM site i linked or this one.
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/27448-cooler-master-690-ii-advanced-video-review.html
btw i don't usually slag products but Thermaltake isn't near the same quality as Antec or CM.
 
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davcon

davcon

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The Advanced has a couple of extra features like the hdd hot swap,the ssd drive cage,gpu retention bracket,and a 140mm top exhaust fan.
I happen to have the Basic version and the only thing i added was a 140mm top exhaust fan and just ordered a windowed side panel that's made for both version.
http://cmstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?products_id=447
http://cmstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?products_id=460
Btw i've also replaced an i3 530 cpu and H55 mobo with an i5 760 and P55 in the case and no problems with the front panel.
And that includes discrete sound cards also hooked up through the front panel.
Don't know where you got that from but i haven't had any issues after 10 months of use.

 
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trickynick

trickynick

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NewEgg reviews...the one and two egg reviews talk mostly of that, but that was on the advanced one, not the basic.

I don't really need any of the extra features, so I should be fine with the basic, right?
 
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davcon

davcon

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Absolutely i don't miss or need the hot-swap or the fancy brackets.
It's a great case with excellent cable management and plenty of room for large gpu's.
It's also wide enough for any 160mm tall cpu cooler which is like 99% of them.
 
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davcon

davcon

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Not even in the same league as far as quality of construction and materials go.
looking at the weight of a case can help you determine the quality of steel used.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050002120&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=7%7C11-119-215%5E11-119-215-TS%2C11-208-036%5E11-208-036-TS%2C11-146-061%5E11-146-061-TS%2C11-146-025%5E11-146-025-28%23
There is no substitute for choosing cases in person it can change your mind in a hurry.
If you have a decent pc shop in your neighbourhood i encourage it.

I went with a client to the local pc shop and looked at cases he liked from browsing online and had a budget in mind of $60 tops for a case.
Gamma($20)wow so cheap,Antec 300($55),ThermaltakeV3($40)was his favourite, after actually handling the display models he saw and felt the difference in quality (thickness of steel/especially the side panels)
The Gamma and Thermaltake are featherweights = gauge of steel.
He liked the 300 but was concerned about cable management i suggested the CM690II($70).
He could see the value and features in the CM690II and it was worth the extra $15 to him.
You have to remember that most people use their cases for more then one build.
Cases are a personal thing so choose whatever you like but just keep in mind what i just posted.
All i know is that Antec and CM stand behind their products.
I can tell by your last post that you obviosly like flashy/gamer style cases.
I like gamer style cases too but with much less of a plastic look.
 
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Solution
trickynick

trickynick

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I'm just looking for something that looks good, but within my budget. Had some expenditures come about where I can technically still afford the more expensive case, I'd like to keep it within my budget I had assigned earlier.

The local computer shop really only had the V9 in stock and they were saying it's really what I should choose for a gaming case.
 
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