Another Look At Elite ATX Cases
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If you missed part one of this three-part series, be sure to check out Best Of The Best, Part 1: Who Makes The Most Elite PC Case?
We began our search for the cream of the crop in ATX cases by first setting up some fairly stringent qualifying criteria. Any case over $180 could compete, but every case would be judged primarily on whether or not it was worth more than enclosures priced under that mark. After filtering out more ordinary offerings, we were to choose cases offering the highest construction and material quality. Then, after turning away even the most common high-end cases, we'd look at feature sets to help us determine a winner.
Because we're getting our hands on high-priced hardware, we'd need to briefly suspend our normal value-oriented analysis in favor of a more cost-based approach. But we still ended up receiving a few value-oriented parts. Stuck side panels and low-cost materials are no way to win in a round-up of premium kit.
In this part two of three, we compare a trio of cases that really are worth at least as much as our $180 entry point. They would have been a great way to wrap up our coverage. However, a handful of late entries give us enough hardware for a third feature; we'll all have to wait a little while longer to learn the ultimate winner of this face-off.
| Dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 22.4" (w/o feet) | 22.3" | 23.0" |
| Width | 11.2" | 9.7" | 9.4" |
| Depth | 22.8" (w/o handle) | 22.3" | 23.8" |
| Space Above Motherboard | 4.4" | 3.2" | 2.7" |
| Card Length | 20.2" | 18.1" | 14.5" |
| Weight | 23.8 Pounds | 23.3 Pounds | 29.7 Pounds |
| Cooling | |||
| Front Fans (alternatives) | None (2x 120 mm) | 2x 140 mm (None) | 2x 200 mm (2x 140, 3x 120 mm) |
| Rear Fans (alternatives) | None (1x 120 mm) | 1x 140 mm (1x 120 mm) | 1x 140 mm (1x 120 mm) |
| Top Fans (alternatives) | None (4x 120 mm) | None (3x 120, 2x 140 mm) | 1x 200 mm (2x 140, 3x 120 mm) |
| Left Side (alternatives) | None | None (None) | 1x 230 mm (9x 120 mm) |
| Right Side (alternatives) | None | None (None) | None (None) |
| Drive Bays | |||
| 5.25" External | 11 (4x mounts) | Three | Two |
| 3.5" External | None | None | One*** |
| 3.5" Internal | Two | Six | Eight |
| 2.5" Internal | Two | 4 + 6* | Eight* |
| Card Slots | Eight | Nine | Eight |
| Noise Dampening | |||
| Sides | None | None | None |
| Top | None | None | None |
| Front | None | None | None |
| *Shared on 3.5" tray **w/o Center Cage ***By 5.25" Adapter Tray |
