Case Advice for new build

[div0]

Looking to finalise a few details for my next build.

I'm a bit out of touch on the case front, so need a few suggestions.

Doesn't need to be too fancy, will probably have 2 HDD's (one a raptor), but maybe as many as 4 drives.

Would like the case to have good airflow and also be nice and quiet!!

At the moment I'm thinking of:

Conroe 6600 with Scythe Ninja (passive, hopefully)
HIS ICEQ 3 SILENT x1900
1x Raptor 150Gb
1x Seagate 7200.10 320Gb

I may put the Raptor in a Silentmaxx enclosure to reduce the noise from it.

Cases:

Antec Solo Quiet Mini Tower Case - No PSU (CA-058-AN)

Featuring the latest in noise reduction technology, including dual-layer sound deadening panels, and a suspension system that makes hard drive noise a thing of the past. In addition to a variety of Quiet Computing™ features, the Solo’s versatility offers you the flexibility to choose the best power supply to fit your needs. The included 120 mm TriCool™ fan will keep your system running cool while the modern case design makes upgrading and accessing important components a breeze.

- Piano black finishing
- Dual hard drive mounting system
- 8 Drive Bays (or 7 drive bays with Suspension Mount of the HDD)
- External: 4 x 5.25” (one with 5.25” to 3.5” adapter)
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire®, i.Link®)
- Audio in/out
- 1 rear 120 mm TriCool™ fan with 3-speed switch control
- 2 front fan mounts for optional 92 mm fans to cool the HDD


Price: £55.30 (£64.98 Including VAT at 17.5%)

The hard drive mounting sounds quite useful, especially as I plan to reduce the cpu fan and case fan noise as best I can anyway.

Does anyone know how good this case is with a Raptor, or would I be better using a Silentmaxx enclosure in another case?

Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Black Aluminium Midi-Tower Case (No PSU) (CA-054-LL)

The PC-7 Plus case is well ventilated, and includes one 12cm ball bearing fan and one 80mm sleeve bearing fan. The case is easily accessed through large, stainless steel thumbscrews on the doors and motherboard tray. There is also protective plastic edging on all case surfaces allowing you to work inside your case without fear of getting cut.

- Dimension: 210x450x490 mm ( W,H,D)
- Drive bays 4x5.25", 2x3.5", 3x3.5" internal
- Fan: 12 cm ball bearing x 1, 8 cm sleeve fan x 1
- M/B type: ATX & pentium 4 (max size: 12"x9.6")
- PSU Type:ATX
- USB2.0 x 2 IEEE 1394 x 1MIC x 1EAR x 1

Price: £48.95 (£57.52 Including VAT at 17.5%)

I have also considered:

Lian-Li PC-V600 Aluminum Mid Tower - Black (CA-058-LL) - Price: £74.95 (£88.07 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Akasa Eclipse 62 Aluminium Case - No PSU (CA-005-AK) - Price: £69.95 (£82.19 Including VAT at 17.5%)

But I'm not sure if the extra price will offer me anything that I couldn't get from the first 2 options.


Finally, just as I know nothing about it:

Akasa AK-ZEN-01-BK Zen Black Case - No PSU (CA-020-AK) - Price: £27.95 (£32.84 Including VAT at 17.5%)


Any comments, or other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance

 

[Yewen]

The raptor will only be low noise in an enclosure.

You want to consider the Eclipse or PC7+, preferably the Eclipse in this instance.

The zen is very good for the money, although when you put it up against a PC7+ or Eclipse 62 it obviously loses out just due to the cheaper price.

Could you please list what you are putting in the drive bays?

 

[div0]

The raptor will only be low noise in an enclosure.

Ok thanks for that info, its good to know

You want to consider the Eclipse or PC7+, preferably the Eclipse in this instance.

Well originally I had the Eclipse at the top of my list - so its probably just risen there again

The zen is very good for the money, although when you put it up against a PC7+ or Eclipse 62 it obviously loses out just due to the cheaper price.

Sorry maybe I'm misunderstanding, but surely being cheaper is a plus point?! Or do you just mean that because its cheaper the build quality is lower?

Could you please list what you are putting in the drive bays?

I'm not entirely sure what you mean here, but basically I'm thinking:

Raptor (probably in an enclosure now)
Seagate 7200.10
A DVD rw drive of unknown make just now
Maybe a second dvd/cd rw drive
Possibly a fan controller
Possibly 2x SATA 120gb SATA drives that I have in my current build

That would probably be the most I'd have fitted - but its most likely to only be the first 3 in that list.

Many thanks

 

[Yewen]

You got it spot on with the lower quality, however it mainly shows on the appearance of the case, the rest is fine internally on the Zen.

With that load out the Eclipse would be my personal top choice out of the ones listed, you are pushing the PC7 with that much kit in the drive bays, especially if you wish to think towards the future a bit.

Eclipse or the new K60 Lian Li when it comes out, although that is a unknown quanitity at the moment, either of them would be the two I would look at, probably settling on the Eclipse due to the enclosure and fan controller.

Both the PC7+ and the Eclipse have 4 5" bays however, so you are limited to 3 devices + enclosure.

Should be fine, any more and you are looking at a full tower ideally.

 

[div0]

Thanks again,

Can I ask where you feel the Antec Solo and Lian Li v600 (in comparison to the others) are let down?

It'll probably be a month or so until I splash out on this new rig - because I'm waiting for some better Conroe mobo's. So I'll keep an eye out to see what the Lian Li k60 is like, if it'll be around by then?!

 

[Yewen]

No idea when the K60 and G7 will be showing their faces sorry.

To put it simply in comparison to the other cases listed; v600 is very bad at cooling, the Solo is not built as well.

Its a case of great cases on their own, but the competition you have chosen for them, in my eyes at least, is a completely different league of case.

 

[div0]

Ok thanks for that, now I'm just left to decide between:

Akasa Eclipse 62 Aluminium Case - No PSU (CA-005-AK) - Price: £69.95 (£82.19 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Silver Aluminium Midi-Tower Case (No PSU) (CA-038-LL) - Price: £47.95 (£56.34 Including VAT at 17.5%)

and just to throw another possibility into the mix......

Antec P160 Anodized Aluminum Super Midi Tower Case - No PSU (CA-013-AN) - Price: £62.95 (£73.97 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Would I be right in thinking that those cases are all worth considering, and that it will probably just come down to personal preferance/taste?!