Deciding on a case
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:05 am
I'm thinking of replacing my 5 years old case.
My current system:
cpu: AMD Athlon64 X2 5200+ (Windsor rev. F3) 2x2600MHz@2800MHz L2:2x1Mb 65W skt. AM2
cooler: Scythe Ninja Plus Rev. B w/ Scythe DFS122512L @ 750rpm BIOS control
m/b: MSI K9A2 CF-F Rev. 1.00 BIOS v1.05
mem: Mushkin 2x1Gb DDR2-800 4-5-5-12
gpu: Gainward nVidia 8600GT GoldenSample 256Mb DDR3 625MHz/1800MHz w/ Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev. 2
snd: Creative Labs AudigyLS
hdd1: Seagate 250Gb 16Mb SATA2
hdd2: Samsung 320Gb 16Mb SATA2
dvd: LG GSA-H10A@H10N
psu: Corsair VX450W
case: noname dec. 2002 ( size HxWxD: 43cm x 19cm x 46cm )
fans 1 front in + 1 back out: Nexus Real Silent Case Fan DF1209SL-3 @ 7V ( mounted on 80mm holes
)
![Image](http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/4314/dsc02208cd6.th.jpg)
My options:
Thermaltake Wing RS100 price: USD $37
pros:
-as big as my current case
-the front/back could accomodate either 80/92/120m fans
-the hdds can be cooled by the front fan
-the front bezel has ventilation holes on the side
-cheapest option
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-unknown back fan rated 17dBA@1300rpm (at what distance?). but will be replaced with one of my current Nexus 92mm fans anyway
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
Antec NSK4000 price: USD $67
pros:
-Antec cases are loved by SPCR![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
-removable hard drive cage with silicone grommets for mounting
-back 120mm TriCool fan
-cheapest Antec available
cons:
-hard drives are not cooled by the front fan
-front intake is only 80mm
-smaller than my current case but has a width of 20cm, so the Ninja would fit
-the smaller size would get the S1 too close to the hard drives if i moved them lower near the front fan
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
-back only for 120mm fan
Recom Midnight Case price: USD $51
pros:
-way bigger than my current case
-the front/back could accomodate either 80/92/120m fans
-hard drives can be cooled by the front fan
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
Spire SP7090B - BlackFin price: USD $53
pros:
-as big as my current case
-the back could accomodate either 80/92/120m fans
-hard drives could be cooled by the front fan if one would exist ( can't see that in the pictures )
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja or not... i have no idea actually
-the description says: "Designed for a 80mm, a 90mm fan and a 120mm fan", the side panel can hold a 120mm fan, the back looks like it could get any fan 80/92/120... what do they mean ?
Akasa Zen Black price: USD $70
pros:
-bigger than my current case
-the front/back could accomodate 120m fans, included, 2x120mm fans, sleeve bearing, rated 23.1 dB(A)@1200 RPM/47.98 CFM (at what distance?)
-hard drives can be cooled by the front fan
cons:
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
-front/back intake only for 120mm fan
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-priced even above the Antec NSK4400, and almost twice as much as the Thermaltake
these are my options
i'll get a case from either eMag.ro or dc-shop.ro ( has only the Thermaltake )
BTW the currency is USD $1 = 2.31 RON/LEI
ideas?
10x
others:
RAIDMAX Ares (pics on Newegg) price: USD $39
pros:
-as big as my current case
-the front/back could accomodate either 92/120m fans
-hard drives can be cooled by the front fan
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
My current system:
cpu: AMD Athlon64 X2 5200+ (Windsor rev. F3) 2x2600MHz@2800MHz L2:2x1Mb 65W skt. AM2
cooler: Scythe Ninja Plus Rev. B w/ Scythe DFS122512L @ 750rpm BIOS control
m/b: MSI K9A2 CF-F Rev. 1.00 BIOS v1.05
mem: Mushkin 2x1Gb DDR2-800 4-5-5-12
gpu: Gainward nVidia 8600GT GoldenSample 256Mb DDR3 625MHz/1800MHz w/ Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev. 2
snd: Creative Labs AudigyLS
hdd1: Seagate 250Gb 16Mb SATA2
hdd2: Samsung 320Gb 16Mb SATA2
dvd: LG GSA-H10A@H10N
psu: Corsair VX450W
case: noname dec. 2002 ( size HxWxD: 43cm x 19cm x 46cm )
fans 1 front in + 1 back out: Nexus Real Silent Case Fan DF1209SL-3 @ 7V ( mounted on 80mm holes
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
![Image](http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/4314/dsc02208cd6.th.jpg)
My options:
Thermaltake Wing RS100 price: USD $37
pros:
-as big as my current case
-the front/back could accomodate either 80/92/120m fans
-the hdds can be cooled by the front fan
-the front bezel has ventilation holes on the side
-cheapest option
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-unknown back fan rated 17dBA@1300rpm (at what distance?). but will be replaced with one of my current Nexus 92mm fans anyway
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
Antec NSK4000 price: USD $67
pros:
-Antec cases are loved by SPCR
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
-removable hard drive cage with silicone grommets for mounting
-back 120mm TriCool fan
-cheapest Antec available
cons:
-hard drives are not cooled by the front fan
-front intake is only 80mm
-smaller than my current case but has a width of 20cm, so the Ninja would fit
-the smaller size would get the S1 too close to the hard drives if i moved them lower near the front fan
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
-back only for 120mm fan
Recom Midnight Case price: USD $51
pros:
-way bigger than my current case
-the front/back could accomodate either 80/92/120m fans
-hard drives can be cooled by the front fan
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
Spire SP7090B - BlackFin price: USD $53
pros:
-as big as my current case
-the back could accomodate either 80/92/120m fans
-hard drives could be cooled by the front fan if one would exist ( can't see that in the pictures )
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja or not... i have no idea actually
-the description says: "Designed for a 80mm, a 90mm fan and a 120mm fan", the side panel can hold a 120mm fan, the back looks like it could get any fan 80/92/120... what do they mean ?
Akasa Zen Black price: USD $70
pros:
-bigger than my current case
-the front/back could accomodate 120m fans, included, 2x120mm fans, sleeve bearing, rated 23.1 dB(A)@1200 RPM/47.98 CFM (at what distance?)
-hard drives can be cooled by the front fan
cons:
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja
-front/back intake only for 120mm fan
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-priced even above the Antec NSK4400, and almost twice as much as the Thermaltake
these are my options
i'll get a case from either eMag.ro or dc-shop.ro ( has only the Thermaltake )
BTW the currency is USD $1 = 2.31 RON/LEI
ideas?
10x
others:
RAIDMAX Ares (pics on Newegg) price: USD $39
pros:
-as big as my current case
-the front/back could accomodate either 92/120m fans
-hard drives can be cooled by the front fan
cons:
-no idea about build quality
-hard drive mounting system looks like it will transfer alot of vibrations and doesn't look like it could be removed so i can suspend the drives.
-air guide/opening on side panel, but will be blocked since it's useless on my Ninja