HAF 912 case, best bang for 60 bucks shipped?

[LarryJones1]

I've got a budget of $60 for a PC case. $60 after tax and everything. I'm in California, so I deal with tax with newegg. Amazon.com has the HAF 912 for $59.99, which seems like a pretty good deal. The Antec 300 is also a consideration.

Here is my build so far:

CASE = Haf 912 or Antec 300 (haven't bought yet)
Motherboard - Asus P8P67 - regular version, not Pro or Deluxe and not LE version
CPU = i5 2500k
CPU Cooler = Cooler Master Hyper 212+
Memory = G.SKILL RipJaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (haven't bought yet)
GPU = GTX 460 1 gig - not sure which brand/version (haven't bought yet)
HDD = Samsung SpinPoint F3 1 TB Internal HDD
PSU - Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650-Watt TX Series 80 Plus - or something equivalent (haven't bought yet)


One of the things that I was concerned with, was having enough room for the video card (I'm starting out with a GTX 460 which isn't too bad, but will upgrade in future to a longer card maybe), the CPU Cooler and the ram that I'm getting which has these tall fins on the ram for cosmetic reasons... I guess. This is my first PC build in OVER 10 YEARS! ... So I just want to make sure that I'm not really screwing things up by getting something that won't fit everything properly. I do want to have some decent airflow, because I will be overclocking the i5 2500k. I'm not sure if I'll try to overclock the memory or video card.

Any comments or suggestions relating to the HAF 912 or Antec 300, or even another case would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mosox]

The HAF 92 is nice. The Antec is also good. Get a HD 6870 with custom cooling if you can.
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-100314-2SR/dp/B004E0KV3I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1303668234&sr=8-3

The new Corsair 650
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-compatible-platforms/dp/B004LB5AZY/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303668455&sr=1-5

 

[davcon]

Antec One Hundred Computer Case - $49.99
http://www.amazon.com/Antec-One-Hundred-Computer-Case/dp/B004AGXHKK/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303671212&sr=1-4
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjU1MQ==
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjQ=

 

[LarryJones1]

The HAF 92 is nice. The Antec is also good. Get a HD 6870 with custom cooling if you can.
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-DL-DVI-I-SL-DVI-D-PCI-Express-100314-2SR/dp/B004E0KV3I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1303668234&sr=8-3

The new Corsair 650
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Enthusiast-Certified-compatible-platforms/dp/B004LB5AZY/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303668455&sr=1-5

I want to mess around with Nvidia's 3DTV Play thing, reason being, I have a 50 inch 1080p 3D plasma that I'll sometimes use this PC with. I've heard that Nvidia's drivers are just much better in regards to 3D support without a lot of issues. I know that ATI has their own 3D stuff, but everything that I've heard suggests that Nvidia is still the way to go if you're concerned about 3D.

My other problem, is that my budget for a GPU is about $140 shipped. It's going to be hard enough for me to find a legit 1 gig GTX 460 for $140 shipped, much less a HD 6870.

 

[LarryJones1]

Antec One Hundred Computer Case - $49.99
http://www.amazon.com/Antec-One-Hundred-Computer-Case/dp/B004AGXHKK/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1303671212&sr=1-4
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjU1MQ==
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjQ=

So, you're saying to get the Antec 100 to save a measly $10? Would I be better off spending just $10 more for the 300, or does it really matter? I'm guessing that you prefer Antec over the HAF 912 ?

 

[davcon]

What i'm saying is i see no difference really between the 100 and 300.
The 100 is pretty much the same size has better cable managment then the 300 and the exact same fans except the rear exhaust is 2 speed instead of 3.
The 300 and 912 are fine cases.
I was just throwing out an alternative that's all.

 

[k1114]

I want to mess around with Nvidia's 3DTV Play thing, reason being, I have a 50 inch 1080p 3D plasma that I'll sometimes use this PC with. I've heard that Nvidia's drivers are just much better in regards to 3D support without a lot of issues. I know that ATI has their own 3D stuff, but everything that I've heard suggests that Nvidia is still the way to go if you're concerned about 3D.

My other problem, is that my budget for a GPU is about $140 shipped. It's going to be hard enough for me to find a legit 1 gig GTX 460 for $140 shipped, much less a HD 6870.

I think a 460 will struggle with 3D. Here's a 5850 which performs near a 6870 and its $140. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102932

$10 isn't much, go for the case that you think looks better. I'd go for the 912 or 300.

 

[mosox]

If you live near a Microcenter you can get the CPU cheaper. Also you can get a cheaper PSU like the Antec Truepower New 550 or Corsair CX 600.

 

[k1114]

He stated what he hasn't bought yet. This psu is better and lower price AR, even than the antec 550 or cx 600. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207007

 

[mosox]

Also you don't need 8G of RAM
http://www.amazon.com/G-Skill-Ripjaws-F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL-PC3-12800-unbuffered/dp/B002RPCLH6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303687506&sr=1-1

And get a GTX 560 Ti or a HD 6870. Nvidia isn't better for 3D, on the contrary I'd say.

 

[LarryJones1]

If you live near a Microcenter you can get the CPU cheaper. Also you can get a cheaper PSU like the Antec Truepower New 550 or Corsair CX 600.

I bought the CPU and Motherboard at MicroCenter last friday. They had a combo deal in which the CPU was $179.99 and the P8P67 was $139.99. Only problem is, I had to pay tax, so it bumped it up a bit. I don't have a MicroCenter anywhere near where I live, but I was on vacation, and the MicroCenter was off the freeway on the way back. With tax, the CPU was $196.64, and the motherboard was $152.94 (only a tiny bit better than Amazon). I was in a hurry, so I only had time to get the Motherboard/CPU combo and leave. Wasn't able to stay and look at their prices for all the other stuff. Might have found some other deals, but the TAX is really high in Santa Clara, CA.

 

[LarryJones1]

He stated what he hasn't bought yet. This psu is better and lower price AR, even than the antec 550 or cx 600. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207007

The PSU in your link, quite a few people are complaining about a clicking sound. If you read the most recent reviews, it seems like maybe this is a PSU to avoid. Or maybe both of those guys just got a few bad apples. Hard to say.

 

[ghnader hsmithot]

I want to mess around with Nvidia's 3DTV Play thing, reason being, I have a 50 inch 1080p 3D plasma that I'll sometimes use this PC with. I've heard that Nvidia's drivers are just much better in regards to 3D support without a lot of issues. I know that ATI has their own 3D stuff, but everything that I've heard suggests that Nvidia is still the way to go if you're concerned about 3D.

My other problem, is that my budget for a GPU is about $140 shipped. It's going to be hard enough for me to find a legit 1 gig GTX 460 for $140 shipped, much less a HD 6870.

I dont think your 50 inch plasma is going to work on nvidia 3d vision.Only few of the lcd monitors support 3d vision please read the requirements as below.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-vision-requirements.html

 

[k1114]

I did read that about the psu but it is made by seasonic and is high quality components but it seems xfx stuck a not so good fan on it. I'm sure xfx knows this and that's why there's a big MIR on it. If you get a good one it's a good price but I'd understand if you would go with these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005