Efficiently cooling, affordable mid tower case?

[courtney01]

What are some options I can choose from for the best quality mid tower ATX cases I can find for less than $70? I don't care how it looks and I don't want any fancy lights or whatnot, all I care about is affordability and efficient cooling.

 

[zchen]

antec 300, usually around $60~, if you live near a microcenter you can get it for $39.99+tax..
antec 900 has been on sale at various spots for $69.99~79.99.

 

[courtney01]

antec 300, usually around $60~, if you live near a microcenter you can get it for $39.99+tax..
antec 900 has been on sale at various spots for $69.99~79.99.

Thanks! That's exactly the type I'm looking for. I welcome other suggestions too from anyone so I can have a few options to pick from. Ideally, I would prefer something slightly smaller, but the price is just right. Cheaper won't hurt either.

Just so I can also make some educated searches, which companies usually have good cases and which brands should I avoid?

 

[jbz7890]

I would suggest looking at the Cooler Master 590 or 690.

 

[courtney01]

Is having the PSU at the bottom bad? I usually place my tower on the floor so I'm worried about airflow. I would have to put some stands underneath to raise it at least an inch- is that insufficient airflow still?

Wow, Cooler Master seems to be a popular and well-rated item on newegg. Is RaidMax a reputable case brand?

 

[Zero82z]

Is having the PSU at the bottom bad? I usually place my tower on the floor so I'm worried about airflow. I would have to put some stands underneath to raise it at least an inch- is that insufficient airflow still?

Bottom-mounted PSUs are fine, even if the case is on the floor. The only time you would need to worry about that is if the case is above a carpet. However, in that case you could just flip the PSU upside-down so that the fan is drawing air from above and not below. That's assuming the PSU has a bottom-mounted fan, of course; if it has a rear-mounted fan, then the orientation doesn't matter.

Wow, Cooler Master seems to be a popular and well-rated item on newegg.

Yep, they make excellent cases for the most part. The Centurion 590 and 690 are some of the highest-quality and best-designed budget cases out there.

Is RaidMax a reputable case brand?

Not really. Most Raidmax cases are cheaply made.

 

[Markistehnamezor]

agreed raidmax are annoying cases. I punched the scorpio a few times because I used to rage a lot while playing games and the door fell off. I punched my 900 once and I regretted it. Stupid steel mesh just hurts too much to hit.

 

[courtney01]

Bottom-mounted PSUs are fine, even if the case is on the floor. The only time you would need to worry about that is if the case is above a carpet. However, in that case you could just flip the PSU upside-down so that the fan is drawing air from above and not below. That's assuming the PSU has a bottom-mounted fan, of course; if it has a rear-mounted fan, then the orientation doesn't matter.

Sorry, I don't know much about these, so can you clarify what a bottom mounted fan and a rear mounted fan are? Would mine be bottom mounted?

So assuming mine is bottom mounted and I can flip it over so that the fan is facing into the case, is pulling in air from inside the case less efficient than pulling in air from the outside?

 

[Markistehnamezor]

In other words the fan is drawing hot air from the case and blowing it out. If you were to make the powersupply fan face down it would draw cool air and push it out of the case. But the problem with the antec 900 is there is no hole at the bottom unless you mod it. Its just the matter of if you want your PSU to be cooled by warm or cool air.

 

[courtney01]

In other words the fan is drawing hot air from the case and blowing it out. If you were to make the powersupply fan face down it would draw cool air and push it out of the case. But the problem with the antec 900 is there is no hole at the bottom unless you mod it. Its just the matter of if you want your PSU to be cooled by warm or cool air.

Won't the PSU not be cooled if it's pulling in warm air?

Which scenario would be better for the cooler master 590: facing the PSU up so it's pulling in warm air, or facing it down and lifting the case a bit from my carpet?

 

[jbz7890]

Won't the PSU not be cooled if it's pulling in warm air?

Which scenario would be better for the cooler master 590: facing the PSU up so it's pulling in warm air, or facing it down and lifting the case a bit from my carpet?

The power supply will cool fine either way. Facing the fan upwards will help with video card cooling though.

The only real advantage of having the fan facing downwards is cable management.

 

[Markistehnamezor]

My PSU in the 900 draws air from the inside of the case, no problems here with temperatures.

 

[jbz7890]

The bottom line is that it is probably not a good idea to have the fan sucking in outside air if the case doesn't have a dust filter over the PSU vent. On cases like the CM 590 or 690, I would definitely have the fan facing up.

 

[courtney01]

The bottom line is that it is probably not a good idea to have the fan sucking in outside air if the case doesn't have a dust filter over the PSU vent. On cases like the CM 590 or 690, I would definitely have the fan facing up.

Is this generally true for any case, or only for cases with the PSU at the bottom?

I narrowed down my choices to the following 8. The first two are the ones recommended by people above. Considering all of these, are the first two still my top 2 choices or is there a better option? (I wrote the price I can find it at in parentheses before each product, including tax and shipping)

($50) 1. Antec Three Hundred: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec 300

($70) 2. COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

($46) 3. COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115

($55) 4. COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

($49) 5. COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

($51) 6. COOLER MASTER Elite RC-331-KKN1-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119188

($64) 7. COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-SKN2-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119104

($58) 8. COOLER MASTER Elite RC-330-KKR1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119118

 

[jbz7890]

Is this generally true for any case, or only for cases with the PSU at the bottom?

I narrowed down my choices to the following 8. The first two are the ones recommended by people above. Considering all of these, are the first two still my top 2 choices or is there a better option? (I wrote the price I can find it at in parentheses before each product, including tax and shipping)

($50) 1. Antec Three Hundred: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec 300

($70) 2. COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

($46) 3. COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115

($55) 4. COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

($49) 5. COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

($51) 6. COOLER MASTER Elite RC-331-KKN1-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119188

($64) 7. COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-SKN2-GP: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119104

($58) 8. COOLER MASTER Elite RC-330-KKR1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119118

Out of those cases, the 590 is far and away the best choice.

About the PSU issue, most cases either have the PSU at the top or bottom. When it is at the top, the fan always faces down, over the motherboard.
When it is at the bottom, you can choose which direction you want it to face. If you don't have a dust filter on the bottom, I suggest that you point the fan upward.

 

[Deleted member 184142]

My vote goes for the CM Centurion 590, I just got mine in and I am pretty happy with it, even though it dropped 10 bucks in price just after I ordered it...Only wish it came painted black on the inside, but I fixed that.

 

[courtney01]

Just in case price becomes an issue for me, if you had to pick the top 3 cases, which ones would they be?

I also noticed on some cases that there's a fan on the top of the case and the PSU is also on the top. Would you point the fan up in this case or still down?

 

[Zero82z]

If you had to pick the top 3 cases, which ones would they be?

Centurion 590>Antec 300>Centurion 534.

I also noticed on some cases that there's a fan on the top of the case and the PSU is also on the top. Would you point the fan up in this case or still down?

The top fans in those cases are not above the PSU, so you should have the PSU fan drawing air from below to avoid stifling it.

 

[Dangman]

Great. I'll make the 590 my top choice. If you had to pick the top 3 cases, which ones would they be?

I also noticed on some cases that there's a fan on the top of the case and the PSU is also on the top. Would you point the fan up in this case or still down?

You would orient the PSU with the fan point down in a case like that.

As for the top 3 cases out of your selection: RC-590, RC-534 and Elite 330.

For the top 3 cases for myself: Coolermaster Stacker (Just about all the versions), Antec P182 and Coolermaster RC-690.

 

[Zero82z]

As for the top 3 cases out of your selection: RC-590, RC-534 and Elite 330.

I would have to disagree with that last pick. From personal experience, the Elite 330 is a pretty low-quality case. The Antec 300 is higher-quality, IMO.

 

[Dangman]

I would have to disagree with that last pick. From personal experience, the Elite 330 is a pretty low-quality case. The Antec 300 is higher-quality, IMO.

From personal experience I have had a much easier time working with the Elite 330 than with the Antec 300. Cable management was easier with the Elite 330. Though I do have to agree on the quality of construction: the Antec 300 is better than the Elite 330.

Either way as long as the OP chooses the RC-590, which we both can agree is the better of the listed cases, it's all good

 

[Zero82z]

Either way as long as the OP chooses the RC-590, which we both can agree is the better of the listed cases, it's all good

Indeed.

 

[Nomad]

I have an Antec nine hundred and an Antec Three Hundred. I liked the space in the Nine-Hundred better- but the Three Hundred is a very solid case. I would not hesitate on either of them.

 

[lt_shiro]

I have Antec 300 its a great case... only issue I see with it is the length of the USB and audio cables from the front I/O. Audio cable is just too short onless you are using a sound card, since most motherboard's connector is near the rear I/O. But the cable management is easy with pre stamp points run parallel to the motheboard and behind the harddrive cage. I would strongly suggest getting a powersupply with cable length of 60 cm or longer for this case.

 

[courtney01]

Just wondering, isn't it somehow dangerous for vents to be on top of the case if I'm putting it on the floor? I'm concerned about when I might accidentally spill something onto it. I know I can put it on my desk, but I hate having it there. My old case didn't have vents at the top, so that was never an issue for me.

I also found this diagram provided by member name "gaspah" (last post in the thread): http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?p=9804987. Is he wrong about a PSU taking in air from the inside and venting it out being bad when it's on the bottom?

 

[Dangman]

Just wondering, isn't it somehow dangerous for vents to be on top of the case if I'm putting it on the floor? I'm concerned about when I might accidentally spill something onto it. I know I can put it on my desk, but I hate having it there. My old case didn't have vents at the top, so that was never an issue for me.

I also found this diagram provided by member name "gaspah" (last post in the thread): http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?p=9804987. Is he wrong about a PSU taking in air from the inside and venting it out being bad when it's on the bottom?

It's only "dangerous" if you're a particular clumsy/dumb person, like to stack stuff on the top of the case, or if there isn't any overhead cover for the case i.e part of or underneath the desk. It's not a major concern IMO.

It may not be optimal but it certainly isn't a bad thing with the PSU taking in air from the inside and venting it out when it's on the bottom.

 

[lt_shiro]

Reason is simple for putting the powersupply at the bottom... Heat from the CPU is not healthy for the powersupply. It puts on due stress on powersupply to keep stable voltages.

 

[Zero82z]

I also found this diagram provided by member name "gaspah" (last post in the thread): http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?p=9804987. Is he wrong about a PSU taking in air from the inside and venting it out being bad when it's on the bottom?

It's actually better to have the PSU at the bottom and taking in air from above than to have it at the top and taking in air from below, since cool air sinks and hot air rises. It would be better to have the PSU take in air from underneath the case if you have sufficient space there, but if not, having it draw air from above is the next best thing.