Best quiet, black case with no door

Rizban · Post by **Rizban** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 5:01 pm

I have been reading the case reviews here and elsewhere and it looks like a case with dual 120mm fans is the best choice for cool and quiet cases. However, it seems almost all of the good cases include a door. For me, doors are inconvenient and often flimsy.

The only case I've found that has the option of having two 120mm fans and doesn't have a door (plus matches my black drives) is the Silverstone SST-TJ04 Gloria. This looks like a good option but I haven't read many good reviews of the case and it doesn't seem very popular for some reason.

Does anyone have any better ideas for a good case?

Thanks.

xlyz · Post by **xlyz** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 5:19 pm

what about this: http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=15778

bcat · Post by **bcat** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 5:47 pm

Here is a case that meets your needs

http://www.coolcases.com LX-6A19 (D8000)

Same case as the 3700AMB by Antec but without the door.

Directron.com also carries this case w/out a PSU (look for Compucase LX-6A19), but the front bezel is not all black, the front intake vents are silver.

luminous · Post by **luminous** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 3:16 am

http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1219.html

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 4:56 am

I'd vote for the black 6A19 from Coolcases, or a black Evercase 4252 from Newegg. Both are the best cases you can use to build a quiet PC.

nickdeck · Post by **nickdeck** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:07 am

FWIW, I've removed the doors from both of my 3700BQE cases. Doesn't look like Antec designed the doors to be easily removable, but a little judicious prying is all it takes.

Straker · Post by **Straker** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 4:47 pm

especially if you hate the door and will never want to use it... just hack/smash it at the top and bottom and pull the pins out after.

Trip · Post by **Trip** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:12 pm

What about that case with the plastic air tunnel at the bottom for the CPU? (the mobo is upside down with the PCI slots by the PSU and the PSU at it's normal position. W/o a front fan, I bet that setup would work well.

If it'll fit, taking that case Ralf mentioned and adding the new 12cm thermalright heatsink blowing upwards would be pretty badass. I'll have to check but I doubt it'd fit.

Elimbroc · Post by **Elimbroc** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:18 pm

They're expensive ($199), but very well made: you might consider a Lian-Li PC-V1200B. In addition to being very solidly built, it has an interesting design with the power supply on the bottom of the case, with a separate airflow. And of course the case is attractive, to boot.

Also in the high end, the Cooler Master CMStacker case is phenomenally versatile with black drives (although it has a combination black/silver motif). It runs about the same price. Its advantage is that, if you can put up with a LARGE and heavy case, it accepts ATX and BTX motherboards, up to two power supplies, and up to eleven 5.25" drives... overkill but future-proof.

Project · Post by **Project** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:29 pm

i dont recommend the v1200. I personally own a v1100, and sure the parts are partitioned off, but the hd heat doesnt have anywhere to go, ergo it explained why my hd temps were around 45'c in the summer. After i drilled holes in the front panel, the temps dropped to a 34'c, BIG difference.

jabba · Post by **jabba** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:52 pm

$34.99 + Shipping

EverCase Black ATX Mid Tower Case with Fan Duct, Model "E4252B-81" -RETAIL

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 047&depa=0

Case Type: Mid-Tower
Color: Black
Material: Steel
Drive Bays: 5.25" x 4/0, 3.5" x 2/2 (external/internal)
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Ports: 2 x USB2.0
Power Supply: N/A
Cooling System: fan duct
Motherboard Compatibility: Up to 12" x 9.6" ATX M/B
Dimensions: 7.5" x 19.3" x 16.8"

I think that is a 2x120mm Intake/Exhaust plus side CPU Fresh Air intake. This is an SPCR recommended case I believe. It is EAR HDD Grommet compatible out of the box (EAR grommets available at McMaster-Carr).

SPCR Review of 99% similar case: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article147-page1.html

Also available with non-ducted side-panels, with or without PSU, and in other colors (Search newegg for Evercase).

If I didn't own the BQE, I would own this case, especially for the price.

Trip · Post by **Trip** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:00 pm

It looks like the fan duct will fit over an 80mm fan.

jabba · Post by **jabba** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:06 pm

Trip wrote:It looks like the fan duct will fit over an 80mm fan.

The duct is removable and I think you can probably mod a different sized duct into there.

Better pic of Side Intakes:

Trip · Post by **Trip** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:23 pm

If you could find a duct to mod on, that'd be great. I guess the new thermalright heatsink with a duct around its 12cm fan would be a good set up for a hot CPU.

jabba · Post by **jabba** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:26 pm

Trip wrote:If you could find a duct to mod on, that'd be great. I guess the new thermalright heatsink with a duct around its 12cm fan would be a good set up for a hot CPU.

I'm thinking a 120mm Fan Duct available@ mnpctech.com would be pretty nice. You'd have to whip out a dremel or nibbler though. I'm not a big fan of cutting big holes into side panels though.

Edit: Non-mod solution -- I suppose you could use the existing holes, use mock screws to make it look decent, and use some silicone glue or something to mount a larger fan duct. You are stuck with a smaller intake but then you could cover a larger 120mm fan ala XP-120

Trip · Post by **Trip** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:30 pm

http://www.mnpctech.com/FanDuct.html - thanks

I'm not planning anything, just looking.

I've never seen this store before. I like it.

Heh, that duct is large enough to suspend a HDD.

I wonder how they squeezed a 4.7244094 inch (12cm) diameter fan into the 3 7/8" tube for the picture...

Rizban · Post by **Rizban** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 6:13 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions. I like the Evercase 4292. Can you stick a 120mm fan in front?

Is there a reason people don't recommend the Silverstone SST-TJ04 Gloria? I can see that the grilles are a bit restrictive, but I could nibble them out and replace 'em.

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 5:34 am

Rizban wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions. I like the Evercase 4292. Can you stick a 120mm fan in front?

Search these forums for "4292" for some previous discussion about this case.

Rizban wrote:Is there a reason people don't recommend the Silverstone SST-TJ04 Gloria? I can see that the grilles are a bit restrictive, but I could nibble them out and replace 'em.

Crappy front ventilation is a deal killer for this case. The rear grill would definitely have to go too, but otherwise it looks decent.

Gholam · Post by **Gholam** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:15 am

I'll second the suggestion for HEC/Compucase 6A series - great internal design, and a wide variety of styles to match your preferences. Note that all of the front panels have good venting slats, U6 being a partial exception. You might also want to look at 69 series if you want something bigger, but they have dual 80mm in front, instead of a single 120mm.

luminous · Post by **luminous** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 12:17 pm

The first pic of the 6A series looks very like the Acousti case sold by quietpc.com In fact it looks identical apart from the sound dampening etc.

Gholam · Post by **Gholam** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 1:24 pm

That's because they buy a containerful of 6A19 cases from HEC (or less from local importer), install sound dampening foam and triple the price. Coolcases.com does the same with 6AU6, although they keep calling it 6A19 for some reason. In Russia, 6AR2 is sold as Asus Ascot 6AR, even though Asus is in no way related to it.

luminous · Post by **luminous** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 1:37 pm

The cheely badgers

At least they add a few bits and bobs to the case. I will look into whether its cheaper to get the case and then add the bits rather than getting the Acousit case to start with.

Gholam · Post by **Gholam** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 1:50 pm

Well, for my part, I can tell you this: our price (from Israeli importer) is $56 per case, including an HEC-300AR-T power supply (thermally controlled, fairly quiet). I'm guessing that HEC price for a bare case (no PSU) is around $35, maybe $30 - but that's in container qualities. In your wierd currency, that's about £20 or so...

luminous · Post by **luminous** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 1:59 pm

Somebody is making some profit along the line methinks

Bill Owen · Post by **Bill Owen** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 3:51 am

I offer another twist on Coolcases version of 6A19, the SC135 with 3, 120mm Globe fans and optional willtec acoustical foam or SC195 w/ 120mm adj Enermax fan and Panaflo L1As.

SC135 = stealth cooled @ 135 cubic feet per minute
SC195 = 195 cfm

Whats the twist? Both cases include my own

intake grill conversion for maximum airflow

MonsterMac · Post by **MonsterMac** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:57 am

bcat wrote:Here is a case that meets your needs

http://www.coolcases.com LX-6A19 (D8000)

Same case as the 3700AMB by Antec but without the door.

Directron.com also carries this case w/out a PSU (look for Compucase LX-6A19), but the front bezel is not all black, the front intake vents are silver.

I have that case (in black) and it's great in terms of airflow and silence. If I had to do it all over again I'd still get that case!

Best quiet, black case with no door

Best quiet, black case with no door

LX-6A19 (D8000)

Re: LX-6A19 (D8000)