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Question about case

J

Joeg1484

n00b
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
11
Hey all,

Boy, its been a wile since I have built my own computer. I have been using laptops for years and the only thing I don't like about them is you can't (Cheaply) upgrade the components.

Anyway, I have been looking at cases and have found the Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021)

I really like the look of the case and the cooling options looks impressive. However, I have a question about the power supply mount.

Recently, I purchased a Kingwin 850 watt power supply and it has the fan on the bottom of the PS. Now, if I get this case, would there be enough space at the bottom of the case to allow the power supply to suck air into it?

Thanks!
Joe
 
There is a perforated section under the psu, There are better selections for cases but ill leave it to other [H] members to post links and suggestions.
 
mannyman said:
There is a perforated section under the psu, There are better selections for cases but ill leave it to other [H] members to post links and suggestions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply!

I also saw that this power supply can be mounted so that the fan points up into the case, however, not sure if I want that hot air hitting my motherboard...

I'm open to other suggestions for cases, but my budget is a little low as I am also getting a monitor. I can spend about $100 for now and thought this case would be a good "Starter."

Thanks again for the reply!

Joe
 
Joeg1484 said:
Thanks for the reply!

I also saw that this power supply can be mounted so that the fan points up into the case, however, not sure if I want that hot air hitting my motherboard...

I'm open to other suggestions for cases, but my budget is a little low as I am also getting a monitor. I can spend about $100 for now and thought this case would be a good "Starter."

Thanks again for the reply!

Joe
Click to expand...


The fan on your PSU is an intake fan. So it will be pulling air from inside your case not pushing it into your case.


Also look into the Arc Midi or Mini if you're going MATX.
 
EQWoody said:
The fan on your PSU is an intake fan. So it will be pulling air from inside your case not pushing it into your case.


Also look into the Arc Midi or Mini if you're going MATX.
Click to expand...

I took a look at that case and I really like that. Can anyone compare between the Arc Midi and the Antec 900? The Antec 900 looks better and both seem to have great cooling features.

However, I do like the cable management features better on the Arc Midi as well as other internal features it offers.

Thanks!
Joe
 
Well in addition to the significantly better cable management, the Arc Midi is a tad roomier and can fit longer video cards than the Antec 900 without losing a hard drive spot. Yes the Antec 900 does come with one extra fan (3 x 120mm + 1 x 200mm) over the Arc Midi's 3 x 140mm fans but it's easy to add another fan to any case. It's relatively harder to mod cable management features into a case. Then there is the front panel USB 3.0 por that the Arc Midi has.

As such, I don't recommend the Antec 900, 902, or 1200 unless you're some teenager who prefers looks over actual capability. There are better cases out there like the Arc Midi and the following:
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K58 ATX Case
$80 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K58W ATX Case
$80 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case
$100 - Corsair Carbide Series 400R ATX Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-7B Plus II ATX Case
$120 - Lian Li PC-9F ATX Case
$120 - Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White ATX Case
$125 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$130 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$130 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-002OR Black Finish w/Orange Trim Full Tower ATX Case
 
Honestly I dont see the attraction to the 300/600/900/1200 series. I had a 1200 I used as a file server but that's it. They're ugly.... But back on topic. Danny gave you a great list and I couldn't personally think of a better selection of cases for that price range.

Trust me.. Cable Management and ease of build > looks any day.
 
Wow. I cant believe that they are still selling they antec 900. And for $100+? Seriously? I mean, I enjoyed mine for a number of years, but i only paid $60 for it new. In the end I just got sick of it's lackluster features and that was after I dremeled some cable holes into it.
 
What's even more unbelievable is that, it still gets many glowing reviews even to this day.

I'd suggest the Cooler Master 690II / Rosewill Blackhawk or Corsair 500r if you're into that mesh look.
 
Thanks so much, everyone, for the advice and the links!

I like those Lian Li cases too... Very sharp.

Joe
 
OK, one more question...

Say I pick the Corsair Carbide Series 500R case (Really like that one). I have a Gigabyte GA-880GMA-UD2H motherbard (Yeah, I know, but I'm sort of starting out with desktop hardware :-D), will this motherboard fit into that case.

I think my motherboard is a micro atx(?) and that case is just an atx case.

Thanks!
Joe



EDIT: NM, I just had to read the spec and it answered my question:

Motherboard capability: Micro ATX / ATX
 
Out of those 4 cases, I'd drop the CM 690 II as the Corsair and Fractal Design cases have small improvements over that CM case (i.e a little more room, USB 3.0 support, a few extra features, etc.)
 
Yeah, I have removed all but the the Corsair Carbide cases... I really like those :).

Just have to decide on the 400 or 500... Leaning towards the 500 as it has more cooling options as default.

Joe
 
I wish they had these cases a few years ago, great prices for a bunch of great cases.
 
Last edited:
Ok, so I picked up the 500R and a Sunbeam PL-RS-6 Rheosmart 6 Fan Controller.

Almost forgot that I would have needed the fan controller, but I also got 2 120mm fans for the top. That is a total of 6 fans to contol and plug in.

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice... Now if I could just decide on a monitor (Although, I have heard good things about This One!
 
If you're using a MATX mobo I'd have gotten the Arc Mini, or if you could find one... The best MATX ever made... The Antec Mini P180. But it's your money. Corsair makes nice cases.
 
Last edited:
Danny_Bui - Thanks for the great list. I was browsing through that some of those are insights are pure gold....
 
Joeg1484 said:
Hey all,

Boy, its been a wile since I have built my own computer. I have been using laptops for years and the only thing I don't like about them is you can't (Cheaply) upgrade the components.

Anyway, I have been looking at cases and have found the Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021)

I really like the look of the case and the cooling options looks impressive. However, I have a question about the power supply mount.

Recently, I purchased a Kingwin 850 watt power supply and it has the fan on the bottom of the PS. Now, if I get this case, would there be enough space at the bottom of the case to allow the power supply to suck air into it?

Thanks!
Joe
Click to expand...

Based on my experience, you can just flip the PSU with the fan side up.
 
Katabatic[H];1038322723 said:
Danny_Bui - Thanks for the great list. I was browsing through that some of those are insights are pure gold....
Click to expand...

You're welcome!
 
I don't like having the PSU fan side up. I rummage around in my cases too often, many times while it's running, and I'd be worried about dropping a screw or zip-tie in there.

not only that, but you're essentially adding an exhaust fan on the bottom of the case, robbing the rest of the components of cool air coming in from the lower front, but also decreasing the positive pressure within the case, or maybe even causing it to have negative pressure. You would have to add another 120/140mm fan to compensate... Leaving the PSU with the fan down does nothing to the case's air pressure.
 
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