Searching for cases with 120mm cooling

[GNNR |AVault|]

I have a new FX-51 system in with some 74GB raptors and a 9800XT. I am no fan of the case and am considering moving it to a different enclosure. I don't like what it came in because of all the loud 92mm fans and the fact that it sort of resonates badly. So I want to move it over to a tight case, no window, 120mm in and out fans (2) and switch out the FX cooler for something more reasonable (it's stock and pitches loud IMHO).

So far I have found the following cases:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-126-126&catalog=7&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0

http://www.directron.com/yy5601.html

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-122&catalog=7&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0

I am leaning towards the new Ahanix case but wanted to know if there is anything else out there. I don't need a PSU (nor really want a junk one that typically comes in sub $100 cases) and would like to keep the price sub 70 if possible. No windows, nothing flashy, just a case in black or black/silver or grey.

Any suggestions beyond the above?

[Finsta]

I would say the Ahanix or the Antec.

[Jima13]

http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=3606

they've got a good list going....

[StlthMd]

I just built a system with a black version of that Antec. I was quite impressed with it, I can hardly hear it at all. Practically silent. I'd recomend it, although the Sonata is a little nicer, this case is just fine.


Stealth -

[Wanamingo]

I also like the BQE version of the Antec SLK 3700, which I think is worth the $10 difference at New Egg.

[MemoryInAGarden]

The Antec Sonata is another choice for you. It has two 120MM mounts. It's a nice little minitower, but you better have a SATA hard drive because the space between the ribbon connector on the hard drive and the wall of the case is TIGHT.

[Spleeze]

the antec case you have listed is great...

and antec psu's are nice... so you'd have a spare...

[GNNR |AVault|]

Well, the goal is as silent as a system as possible with a SK8N, Two 74GB Raptors, a 9800XT and an FX-51.

I think I am going to go with the Ahanix case... I have accoustipad to install in it and it as a built in temp/fan controller. Next month the VGA Silencer for the 9800XT is out and that goes in, and I will see how the controller deals with the fan... it's actually pretty quiet, just masked over by four 92mm fans in the current case which scream. If the stock 120's prove to noisey, I probably will get some Panaflos or Papbst fans as replacement, and there isn't squat out yet for HSF for the FX-51s.

The link to the forums discussing cases was excellent! That's a book mark (and damned if I am a member of that forum, new, and didn't think to look).

Just got to figure a PSU out... I want something quiet and some of these new 120mm supervented models should do. Not worried about looks (for once) since I won't have windows so I gotta see how the Superflower, Silverstone, and Coolmax ones shake out. The Seasonic ones are loud, had a 300W model and it wasn't quiet in the least.

[Grammar Nazi]

you could buy any case and pad the walls with wads of cash, because obviously there is plenty to go around with that setup. :cool:

[jwill]

Originally posted by MemoryInAGarden
The Antec Sonata is another choice for you. It has two 120MM mounts. ... i was going to suggest the sonata aswell. check out what this guy did to his...
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=10084

sonata @ the egg... (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-127&catalog=7&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0)

[GNNR |AVault|]

It's a nice case, looked at it, but I want it to support a 120 up front and he had to mod in a 92 (and from the pics that's all that is going in there). The plastidip stuff is interesting, going to get a can this weekend for a different PC I am building.

[DaveX]

I personally like the Silverstone SST-TJ04 (http://www.sundialmicro.com/cgi-bin/sundial/ssttj04.html). I love its look, IMHO a cross between a Lian-Li and Cooler Master case. Even better, it supports 120mm fans. It's a little expensive though, coming in at $109. You might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. Perfect for watercooling :)

[jwill]

Originally posted by DaveX
I personally like the Silverstone SST-TJ04 (http://www.sundialmicro.com/cgi-bin/sundial/ssttj04.html). I love its look, IMHO a cross between a Lian-Li and Cooler Master case. Even better, it supports 120mm fans. ... i guess you can only have one or the other, 120mm fan support or a removable mb tray. pity you cant have both in a spiffy case.

[DaveX]

Blah, you can always add one yourself :).

[jwill]

Originally posted by DaveX
Blah, you can always add one yourself :). add one what? im assuming you mean a 120mm fan. in my "case", there isnt enough room because of the size restriction on its removable tray. :(

[GNNR |AVault|]

Definately a nice case... looks like the Coolermaster Praetorian (mostly) outside but with latches. I hope I am getting one in for review honestly (have their little HTPC one right now for review).

I really don't want one that is all that 'complicated' on the inside. That Ahanix case should fit the bill... will be easy to pad up for silence and route the wiring I think. The tool-less drive mounts are definately sweet but in this case I want something screw mounted to cut down on 'rattle' since I will probably buy some thin rubber gasget material and custom make isolation mounts to go between the drives and rail sides. They are blue too, which given the fact that I can't find ANY vinyl die anywhere around here they would stick out. Even though there is no window, I want everything to be black or padded when I pull the side off.

I will probably cut out the rear fan grill and paint the back black as well, for consistency. I am just wondering what my temps will end up like, hehe. 120s in front and back should do a pretty good job and a PSU with a 120 will help. I'll probably drop a 92 on the HSF arrangement as well in replacement of the 70 on there using a fan adapter.

Anyone remember that page / applet that helped you tally your power needs for the installed hardware. I am looking at a 350W PSU with 75% efficiency and a single 120mm fan for cooling (auto/low/high settings) and wondering if I should just bump up to 400W or not. Not running any lights or any real mods here. I used to have a list, but it's out dated and wouldn't cover an FX nor those WD Raptors.

[Wanamingo]

Honestly, a 350W should be fine for that set-up. For quiet, a Fortron with a 120mm fan is an excellent choice should you decide on a new PSU.

[GNNR |AVault|]

Is fortran any better than say Silverstone or Coolmax or Zalman here? Don't want to spend more than about 50 to 60 for one honestly, just needs to be quiet and stable and handle the load. I figured 350 to 400, especially since I won't be overclocking. The load will come from gaming primarily, so sound/ethernet/HDs/Optical/ and video will be in play. I figured (based on the below table) with guestimating for the higher end items that I need 430W with EVERYTHING running (120W for CPU, 50W for video, 60W for 2x Raptors, etc) - that's maximum loading on everything though and as I understand it that's only theoretical... plus I probably figured too much consumption for the raptors and the CPU

Item Power Requirement
AGP video card 8 - 64 MB 20 - 30W
AGP video card 64 - 256 MB 30 - 45W
PCI video card 20W
AMD Athlon / Duron 900 MHz-1.1 GHz 50W
AMD Athlon 1.2 GHz - 1.4 GHz 55 - 65W
AMD Athlon/ T-Bird/ XP 1.4 - 2.4 GHz 60 - 85W
Intel Pentium III 800 MHz - 1.26 GHz 30W
Intel Pentium 4 1.4 GHz - 1.7 GHz 65W
Intel Pentium 4 1.8 GHz - 2.8 GHz 75 - 80W
Intel Celeron 700 MHz - 900 MHz 25W
Intel Celeron 1 GHz - 1.1GHz 35W
ATX Motherboard 30 - 40W
128 MB RAM 10W
256 MB RAM 20W
512 MB RAM 35 - 40W
12X or higher IDE CD-RW Drive 25W
32X or higher IDE CD-ROM Drive 20W
10x or higher IDE DVD-ROM Drive 20W
SCSI CD-RW Drive 17W
SCSI CD-ROM Drive 12W
5400 RPM IDE Hard Drive 10W
7200 RPM IDE Hard Drive 13W
7200 RPM SCSI Hard Drive 24W
10000 RPM SCSI Hard Drive 30W
Floppy Drive 5W
Network Card 4W
Modem 5W
Sound Card 5 - 15W
SCSI Controller Card 20W
Firewire / USB Controller Card 10W
USB Port 2 - 10W (dependent on device chain)
Case Fan 1 - 6W
CPU Fan 1 - 3W

[GNNR |AVault|]

Hmmm... interesting PSU w/ 150mm fan.

http://www.cleverpower.com/products.html

[darktiger]

Antec or Chernob

[Jima13]

Originally posted by GNNR |AVault|
Hmmm... interesting PSU w/ 150mm fan.

http://www.cleverpower.com/products.html

$60 seems kinda cheap for a 500w unit......any reviews out? I like that fan idea though.

[Jima13]

Originally posted by GNNR |AVault|
Is fortran any better than say Silverstone or Coolmax or Zalman here?

Fortron and Sparkle [SPI] merged about 10 years ago into the FSP Group...they do OEM for many companies including PCPowercooling......if you see FSP350 ect in the product code then, IMO, you can assume it's quality. :)

[DaveX]

Fortron, Sparkle, and Zalman use many of the same OEM components.

[blip]

I picked up a Fortron a while ago and have been extactically happy with it. I got the model with a 120mm fan on it (forget the model #). Not only is it dead silent but it also maintains very good regulation.

It's one of the few hardware purchases that I've never felt a pang of regret about (the classic: This is good but maybe I should have gotten a...). Far superior to the Enermax I was using before.

[kCPuNk]

I'd go with this antec over the one you listed in your first post:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-140&depa=1
It is pretty much the same cept it has Sonata Style HDD mounting. I like it more than the Sonata because it is bigger (and cheaper~).

[SoRnMaN]

I would go with the Antec's as well. Getting a $60+ power supply, even if it is just for a spare, is pretty nice. Where I work we have several of the Ahanix cases in stock, including the Black Night's. I just have not been too impressed with the build of most of their cases.

Another thing to be aware of, is that some power supplies do not fit properly in some of their models due to their back plate. On some models, power supplies like the Vantec that have an additional power connector, or other features, hit the sides of the mounting bracket and dont quite fit in properly.

Of course, if you are modding the case, you will probably want to clean that part of the case up anways.

Oh, and for those that want a removeable tray in a 120mm case, the new aluminum Antec P160 has a removeable tray. It is kind of different than the usual slide out tray, but it is removeable nontheless. One thing to note is that larger motherboards may not fit in the case properly due to the setup of the tray.

[DaveX]

Antec 3700AMB and 3700BQE come with the Antec 350W SmartPower. That is definitely not a $60+ psu. I have the Antec 3700AMB and the psu puts out a lot of noise. It also gets very hot. The main reason the Antec Sonata is priced higher is because of its TruePower 380W. Its psu is quiet and effective. Also it has nice shiny blue LEDs in the front :)

[GNNR |AVault|]

SilentPC seemed pleased with the PSU and the case in general, though they weren't keen on the HD temps due to restricted flow... since I am running a pair of 74GB raptors in there (raid) I would say that temps are important.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=116&page=1

Looks like a good case though, but I think I will do the Ahanix still and go with a quieter PSU. It will also be easier to use the acoustifoam and plasti-dip spray application to deaden the case down.