In search of the perfect case

A

(\/)agungis

Weaksauce
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Mar 18, 2009
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Hey all, I need some "[H]ard" opinions on a good i7 case for a gaming build. here is what I plan on housing in the case followed by what I am looking for aesthetically;

**note none of this equipment has been purchased yet this is simply an outline build based
on my needs/wants, any constructive criticism on any device chosen will be appreciated**

The guts:
CPU: Intel Ci7 (920 unless 965 price drops soon, doubtfull)
Motherboard: cant decide but some type of x58 (want spacious case to and add liquid cooling/fan mods to CPU and GFX card(s) if possible, however am open to idea of generating neg. pressure within case to suck in cool air, although would like air filters as well if I go down that road)
HardDrive: 4 HDD set up with optional 5th depending on case size
Memmory: DDR3 6GB (DOMINATORS ARE BAD ASS corsair is the shit)
PSU: 750W Corsair
Other: tv card sound card, wireless linksys ethernet card etc...

The looks
As far as what I am looking for "visually"
1) I do not care about showing off the inside with pretty lights and what not
2) Tower layout is a must none of this squashed desktop stereo looking crap unless one
​
meets my requirements
3) No preference on color
4) No preference on noise
5) No preference on price (would like to spend less money on case if at all possible)
6) The cooler it stays (titanium aluminum), and the more room I have for air flow/ducting
​
/chaneling the air, the better
7) SPACIOUS, I have no restraints on dimensions of case

Here are a few links to some I have been looking at;
HAF, Zalman

THanks to all who respond and happy [H]ard'n
 
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The 965 is a total waste; so is the 940. Forget about it.

The HAF 932 is a good option. The ATCS 840 is basically the same thing in aluminum if you're willing to pay up and like the look better. They're both some of the best "no mod" cases for airflow and watercooling capability on the market today. Sadly far from perfect, though. Build quality could be better -- people rave about them, but I am personally a little disappointed after going from a Lian Li to this Cooler Master. CM just can't compete.

A Lian Li V2000 series case would be awesome if you're willing to cut a 3x120 hole in the top and install a grille / fans.. after paying ~$280-350. rATX runs too hot with modern high end graphics cards otherwise.

If you're willing to get a little creative once you start looking at watercooling and sacrifice some space the V1000 series would hold everything you need, too.

The PC series cases are also something to consider, and a good bit less expensive. Not as nice though.
 
how much are you willing to spend? I'd recommend a TJ09--good case at a decent price.
 
anywhere around 250 give or take. Like I said, not concerned with costs, more concerned with quality and craftsmanship so long as case fits my needs. TJ09 looks nice though good reviews, thanks. How do you like your zalman?
 
(\/)agungis said:
anywhere around 250 give or take. Like I said, not concerned with costs, more concerned with quality and craftsmanship so long as case fits my needs. TJ09 looks nice though good reviews, thanks. How do you like your zalman?
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My zalman gt1000 costed me $400 and is not worth it. I personally got it because I love the looks and the fact it's made out of 5mm aluminum all over. For what you want, it's not worth it. It's worth it to me because I love the looks, quality, and finish, but really, it will not suit your needs. But I will tell you it's the highest quality aluminum case I've ever seen--more so than the lian li/silverstone cases.

A TJ09 would suit your needs quite nicely. Really, any full tower from lian li or silverstone will be quite nice for you.
 
He keeps saying it won't fit your needs because it is fairly small / cramped inside.

I know the Lian Li V series are pricey, but if craftsmanship and quality are what you're after they're the best you're going to find short of Windy / Soldam cases, which cost $500+ for a small one after getting in contact with a private importer in Japan.
 
IMO, nothing beats Lian Li in build quality/craftsmanship.. :) all the lian li cases i've seen/felt and currently using one is perfect... its really light as well since its made of aluminium...
 
honestly, Lian Li cases are very well made, but they do not match the zalman gt1000 i have in terms of quality, but remember op, I don't recommend it for you.
 
Thanks for all the input. Now I know to stray from coolermaster and stick with Lian Li, I do however like the layout of the Zalman GT1000, but thank you omerta for your input. Looks like TJ09 it is unless the Level10 is gonna be cheap lol. On that note any thoughts or input on thermaltake cases?

It looks so pretty though Level10
 
Thermaltake is shit. Really, truly shit.The Level10 is visually interesting, but it's going to cost $650+ and really isn't all that well laid out when you start looking at it critically.
 
The HAF is pretty nice, I haven't had any problems with mine, and it's quiet, though I only have the front and top fan on. The front grill collects a little dust and I have to wipe between the grills every once in a while, so..
 
Silverstone TJ09
Mountain Mods Ascension (or Extended Ascension) (probably out of your budget)
Murdermod (probably out of your budget) or your own modded Silverstone TJ07
Coolermaster HAF 932
 
dont really have a budget just not looking to waste money and this case (mountainmod) looks very friendly towards future mods additions thank you for the post I will absolutley look into it as a long term case
 
I have loved my TJ10 since we met. Its the TJ09 for us people that want to air cool instead of water cool. You can get it for less than 300 if you look carefully.
 
silverstone tj07. Awsome design and airflow, Great looks. Heaps of space. and great for upgrading to water cooling. Can also hold plenty of hard drives without cramming and 2 psu's. wont need anouther case in a long time! best bang for buck i recon though is cooler master stacker 810
 
Lian-Li...
I have the Lian-Li PC-V2000. I loved it at first, but taking mobos out and such is a PITA because of that divider wall (which cramps work space), and then with 2x120's cut into the top, the space around the mobo is cramped. It looks cool, but w/o the motherboard tray and all those internal walls, its a PITA to work in sometimes. I would imagine drilling blowholes in the top is needed as well. All those little holes are dust collectors BTW, as cool as they look. Most of what I say about this case carries over to the current V's... the V2010 and V2110.

I also have the PC-A77. Its a great case in layout/concept... the 'stacker' style front bays and bottom PSU mount are great, as well as the back HDD cage. I prefer putting my hdd's in silencer/cooler 5.25" bay adapters, and I dont use a floppy, so the 12 5.25" bays are great. I didnt put blowholes on this one, but it really doesnt need it. The window is kinda cheesy, the black version has little silver rivets all around it rather than being a flush exterior. The thing is, this thing cost me as much as the PC-V2000, and the sides are sheet aluminum compared to the 1/8" plate that is used on the 2000. Also, the fan controller it comes with is a useless POS for multiple reasons (no manual fan adjustment, the PWM controller makes the fans 'sputter'), yet the 3.5" bay it comes in isnt a true bay of any sort... and the faceplate has matching holes in it for the LCD and buttons so you couldnt use it for anything else even if you wanted. I can see that Lian-Li no longer makes it... perhaps for good reason. They should have just made it a full 13 bay stacker and left the fan controller out. All those bay covers with the holes and mesh filters collect dust very fast, and are a PITA to clean (since you have to remove every single one). I see many newer cases based on this A77 now... the P80 is even based on this design somewhat. The PC-B70 and B71 (A7110 and A7010, A70, A71 are versions of this case as well) are the offspring of the A77, but not 'stacker style'. If you are into alot of HDD's, they are good. The thing is, unless you need the space for some reason, I wouldnt bother with a full size lian-li tower.

I also have an A05B... it might just be my favorite Lian-Li to date. I would consider adding a blowhole/side port for higher end graphics cards, but it handles my dual 8800 GTS 512's just fine. I added the new meshed PCI slot covers (the new A05N's have this) and a mesh 5.25" cover on the front (as well as a DVD drive cover). The mesh cover allows the case to draw in more air (across the hdd mounted in that bay), and the slotted PCI slot covers allow for even more air intake, since this case seems to be running at a net negative airflow (more fans out than in), its all good. I was wary since I used to have a PC-30 back in the day that really didnt cool well.

I want to try the little cube PC-V351R next (that red color looks cool). IMO, large cases just arent needed, and with my Rampage 2 GENE mATX, a small case sounds good to me. I use an external water cooling setup, so its not like I need room for massive CPU and GPU coolers...lol... just a couple holes in the back to run hoses.

Anyways, the TYR series is interesting. The internals of both are similar, but unless you plan on running 6+ HDD's, I would stick with the 500 rather than the 2000 (otherwise, the whole point of the 2000 over the 500 is that bottom HDD bay like the V series). Still, for the money and everything... I think there is better out there. The sidemount bays (only 2x 5.25 and 1x3.5) are love or hate. Maybe you still want lots of bays, or a baybus fan controller or LCD... well, then this isnt for you.

There are several midsize Lian's that are good layouts inside...
B25 (blue ring), B10 (minimalist looking, smart internals) , A17 (smaller version of the A77 that I think is better anyways, includes a top 120mm blowhole), and P50 (the Armorsuit w/o the stupid looking door and a rather smart inside, pretty much an A17, but with dual 140mm blowholes built in). These are all your typical midtower layouts inside, smart, decent price, etc.

The A20 is something new it looks like... part V-series on the inside (those internal divider walls like in the V or TYR are what I hate), but more... have to see for yourself. It might be something you just have to check out on your own.

So overall, you might want to check out the P50 from the Lian camp... or one of the other mid towers depending on how minimalist you want it to look. http://www.lian-li.com.tw/v2/en/pro..._index=321&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62

The Silverstone RV-01 looks great, but its beauty is skin deep. There are several working issues with this beast of a case the undermine its price. For that $$$, it should function perfectly IMO. http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2009/01/27/silverstone-raven-rv01-preview/4

I dont think much of the Silverstone line... nothing bad, but nothing remarkable either.

The Cooler Master Cosmos is to many the ultimate. I dont know why. IMO, its just like any other heavy mid-tower out there, just that it has those cool looking rails to sit on and be carried with. Yeah... whoopie... thats not worth $250 in my book.

The Antec 900v2 and 1200 are both killer for the price. The 1200 also allows you to use the 'bang for the buck' CP series PSU from Antec... which scored up there with the Signature 850 (but at much less $$$). If lots of mesh, blue LED's, and blowholes arent your thing, they have some others that are cool. They arent Lian-Li's or Silverstones... thats for sure, but for the $$$ they are hard to beat.

If you like Acrylic, check out the Bob Slay acrylic cube from mountain mods.

Heck, if you are into cubes, the mountain mods might be worth looking into, or try to find one of the late Lian Li PC-343's... I would consider it the 'ULTIMATE' case:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=204&products_id=20821
 
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No such thing as perfect case... or if anyone knows case which shrinks (with components) to nice pocket size for transporting just tell me. :D

(\/)agungis said:
HardDrive: 2 HDD set up with optional 3rd depending on case size
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Well, you're not expecting much...
Most Lian Li full towers take up to ten HDDs.
7) SPACIOUS
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Then forget anything which can't take E-ATX motherboard, like Silverstone tiny-Fortress. (anyone saying such spacious must have five years old sized hands)
Extra depth required by E-ATX mobo guarantees good space for graphics cards without need to start cutting/removing anything:
A71-kesken_s.jpg

Lian Li A70/71 is also their cheapest full tower and especially A71 is good base for silencing because of direct noise escape path only in back and good old soft HDD mounting instead of fashionable plastic trays. Compared to dual chamber designs of V-serie lack of dividers makes cabling HDDs easier and you can actually use 5.25" bays without decreasing airflow unlike in V2x10. (whose motherboard chamber relies to them as intake)
Also there's accessory PCI cooling kit which doesn't break front in-back out airflow and you could easily attach normal fan to graphics card support pillar for blowing toward memory/CPU area similarly to one in V2010.
(making very good control of airflow for air cooling but if needed there's space for triple radiator in top if you don't need all 5.25" bays)
 
3437664189_a9aedef9b3_o.jpg

Go look up this case, so far I'm very happy with the overall built and quality with some minor reservations.
 
Nonpareil said:
3437664189_a9aedef9b3_o.jpg

Go look up this case, so far I'm very happy with the overall built and quality with some minor reservations.
Click to expand...

I've been looking at this too, what are the minor reservations you have?
 
Firstly, they sent me short of 1 HDD casing. One of the side panel did not sit flush with the case, had to adjust it a little so its flush. I was also hoping the top panel could be removed easily with screws but it was riveted down instead so might need a little more effort to mod it.
But overall I am very happy with the overall built and look of it.
I might do a short write up on this case once I complete my OC of my rig.
 
Nonpareil said:
Firstly, they sent me short of 1 HDD casing...
I was also hoping the top panel could be removed easily with screws but it was riveted down instead so might need a little more effort to mod it.
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Funny thing how advance goes backwards.
In A7010 they replaced working soft HDD mounting of A70 with plastic mounting and now in B70 they also riveted top.
 
The thing is, all of those cases are for people who run a bunch of HDD's. The OP mentioned 2, maybe 3 HDD's, which makes many of these full tower cases a total waste since there will just be a bunch of unused space left. This is why I would not suggest a 7-series or 2000 series Lian-Li in the first place. Those cases are also about 2x the $$$ compared to what was first mentioned, and dont really offer him any tangible benefits (other than space, but in this case, space he will likely not even be able to use).

I should add... check what you need for video card length with the TYR-X500, B25, etc... dont want to run into problems there...
 
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The bottom bay of the V2000s can be cleared out for watercooling equipment, but yes other than that I don't see the space being useful for the OP. If he's not watercooling a V1200 would work just as well. EATX for extra space in the main bay, fewer HDD mounts, same quality. Sadly not much lower price.
 
for my needs, I think the perfect case at the moment is the B70 and equivelant (B71, A7010, A7110). I personally have the A7010 and I got it because it was the best case out there that suited my needs (also because I got it at a super steal price). I intend on having alot of hard drives, and with 10 stock slots, and 3 additional with a Lian Li EX-H33 cage, I can add up to 13 HDDs, which is around what I except to have in the next few months.

Another variant of the cases mentioned above is the PC-A70. It has the exact same layout as the above cases, except the motherboard tray isnt removable, and it doesnt have any SATA back-plates. It is also the cheapest ($200) and the one with the sleekest looking bezel (IMO)

I think the A77 is just legendary, being a stacker style, you are really flexible as to what you might want to do with it.

As someone suggested above, if you are not going HDD galore or intend on doing any internal liquid cooling, I would stay away from Lian Li full towers, they are ridiculously huge and you will have a lot of wasted space.

Full towers/HDD galore aside; I think the perfect case IMO is the Lian Li V1010. Its just perfect... In silver especially, it looks darn sexy. It's so sexy that I want to get one just for the sake of getting it, hahaha.
 
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been busy with work but many thanks for keeping the thread alive it is doing exactly what the title suggests, helping me search for the perfect case, and everyone keeps adding better and better ideas...thanks
 
I've been very happy with the Coolermasters (all aluminum) I've owned. I always look at Lian Li cases but then decide against them. While they are great cases they are generally boring looking to me. Unlike you I want my cases to stand out a little for the LAN parties I attend. Coolermaster has given me style and quality without looking to gaudy.

In your case I assume you just need a nice case for home? Then I recommend an all aluminum mid tower Lian Li, Coolermaster or Silverstone. Just pick the one you like the most.
 
samduhman said:
you just need a nice case for home
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Yes, something easy to work with. Once I build it, I plan to set it to auto start at a time of my choosing and then forget about it and place the whole rig where I cannot see it behind my desk.
 
PC-7B Plus II. $100. Plenty big. Fairly cheap. Good quality, good cooling. If all you're going to do is hide it... don't waste so much time looking for something "perfect".
 
What about the case in my sig?

I LOVE the Raven. It's easily one of the nicest cases I've ever owned. LOTS of room, great air flow (and quiet).

And don't believe the reviews, it's pretty as all hell!!!
 
VolvoR said:
What about the case in my sig?

I LOVE the Raven. It's easily one of the nicest cases I've ever owned. LOTS of room, great air flow (and quiet).

And don't believe the reviews, it's pretty as all hell!!!
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It seems you have not actually READ the reviews, nor encountered some of the case's shortcomings on your own... the downfall of this case has nothing to do with its looks. It can be as pretty as it wants to be, but not being able to fit a longer graphics card in, or fit all of your wires in the top isnt helping. With this case, you seriously need to READ the reviews first.
 
I'm going to throw in my vote for the HAF. I have one and i love it. A triple rad will fit inside the case on top or if you want to mount the psu on top you could put a 120.2 rad in the bottom of the case. Its roomy and good for cable managing. Side panels come off easily, drives go in easily.
 
Another vote for the HAF932.
While a perfect case would be a matter of opinion, for me the HAF is very close to perfect.
Great price, great quality specially considering the price. Performance is awesome. Cable management is amazing and installing things is just too easy. Really the only thing I wish it had is fan filters. Other than that, I cant find anything to complaint about...thats how good it is.
 
Why not get one of those rocketfish cases from bestbuy? It's a rebranded lian-li, so you get the quality without wasting money since you're not going to even see it.
 
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