Case Recommendation Help...

dawgpound6985 · Post by **dawgpound6985** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:12 am

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum but I've been through the website a few times and read a few of the recommendation articles. I wanted some help in choosing a case and maybe other components. At the moment my current PC rig is as follows:

Thermaltake Xaser III w/side window
Thermaltake 480 Silent PurePower Xaser Edition
Asus A8N-E Deluxe
Athlon 64 3200+ Venice core (OC'd to 2100 MHz at 1.45V)
1 GB PQI PC3200 RAM (2-3-3-5)
Cooler Master Hyper 48 CPU heatsink
Geforce 6800GT OC'd to Ultra Speeds
Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum
2 Hard Drives
2 Optical Drives
1 Floppy

I'm looking for a new case cause at the moment my PC is a lot louder than I really want it to be and the Xaser case is really HEAVY and kinda disappointed with the cooling of the case. The noise is more from the power supply as it is not silent as they say it is.

Temp wise it is okay but could be better as I idle @ 38C and load @ 47C. I want it lowered somehow even with my Cooler Master Hyper 48. I've already clean all the wires and made as much airflow as possible but I really just think the case is everything to do with the temps.

Question:

Which case do you guys recommend that is light (around 20-25 lbs), quiet and can fit all of the stuff I have now with very good airflow? Also, should I look into replacing the fans with quieter ones and maybe even the power supply? I want to move this PC around without breaking my back. Price range would be around $150 max for the case.

I was looking at the Silverstone TJ06 and it looks like it matches my criteria but please provide some feedback. Thanks in advance.

Shadowknight · Post by **Shadowknight** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:00 pm

There's the recommend list, but...

I would recommend either the Antec 3000B or the Sonata II. Both should serve you well. I think the Sonata II has an irremovable right panel, so you can't run cables through the back for neater wire management, on the otherhand, it comes with a relatively quiet PSU (note, DON'T plug in the sensor to the motherboard, for some reason this causes the fan to run fast all the time.)

The 3000B doesn't come with a PSU but allows you to run cables through the back. It's fairly cheap, and you can use the savings to buy a Seasonic PSU down the road. I had the 37000AMB before I switched to the P180, it's almost identical to the 3000B. Once I cut out the restrictive grills (fixed in the 3000B), I actually had better temps than in my current P180.

dawgpound6985 · Post by **dawgpound6985** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:42 pm

I'll definitely put the SLK3000B as one of my top choices. Now from what I understand, the Antec SLK3000B doesn't have a side window option? I kinda wanted a case with a window so I could put a blue cathode on the side unless of course its impractical when it comes to silent PC's. Also, after searching through the forums about the case, there seems to be a consensus about getting fan clips for replacing the 120mm fans or use a hacksaw to remove the metal piece? Is this only for the Yate Loon or any 120mm fan. I was thinking of getting some Nexus fans or Yate Loons, which ever is better.

ckolivas · Post by **ckolivas** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:51 pm

The 3000B has vents for cpu and gpu so they may give you the window effect you desire anyway (or not). As a silencing case it is brilliant though with excellent airflow. Removing the already installed fan mounts and fan is a simple exercise with a screwdriver. The discussion of hacksaws is more about completely removing any airflow grills or having custom mounts. The grills themselves aren't restrictive by normal terms so I don't think it's necessary.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:59 pm

Hello,

The Evercase 4252 is a little smaller and a little lighter than the Antec cases. It also has better front air flow, I think.

Does the CPU HSF stick up above the top edge of the motherboard? If so, then if it more than a 1/2", the Evercase won't work for you. If both your hard drives are IDE, then you might want to get the second cage -- though you certainly don't have to. I mount the two HD's with their circuit boards facing each other (which allows more air to pass between them), but this can gat a little tricky with two IDE drives. It is doable, but it means you have to fold in a 180 degree turn between the two connectors.

dawgpound6985 · Post by **dawgpound6985** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:54 pm

Thanks a bunch guys. Well I pulled the trigger on the SLK3000B on Amazon, the last one Amazon had in stock. I hope its as good as everyone says it is and it comes in fine. I'll probably build the thing piece by piece as I'm planning to get a seasonic s12 500W. (At the moment I'm not sure if its more than I really need. I might do SLI in the future but thats a big maybe.) Also, for those that got the case did you guys replace the 120mm fans the case came with?

ckolivas · Post by **ckolivas** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:59 pm

dawgpound6985 wrote:Also, for those that got the case did you guys replace the 120mm fans the case came with?

Yes. Lots of choices there.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 6:14 am

Hello,

The SeaSonic S12-430 will be plenty; even for SLI.

dawgpound6985 · Post by **dawgpound6985** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 2:09 pm

NeilBlanchard wrote:Hello,

The SeaSonic S12-430 will be plenty; even for SLI.

Awesome!

Just what I needed to know. Thanks a lot for everyone's help!

ckolivas · Post by **ckolivas** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:31 pm

Don't forget to come back with photos

dawgpound6985 · Post by **dawgpound6985** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:26 pm

I will when I have everything in. Probably won't happen until a month from now but for sure I'll do it. Can't wait. Lol.