Help with £100 case for new system

Girdag

Girdag

Girdag

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Joined
31 Jan 2007
Posts
87
Firstly, hello! First post here for me, and as I'm planning my first attempt at a full build, you'll probably find more and more panicky posts over the next couple of months. So please be patient.

Right, I'm building a new system for Vista/University/Gaming. I'm upgrading from a 3-year old laptop with a busted screen and battery (amazingly, it still runs Oblivion, albeit on minimum settings). Therefore, I've got to get hold of everything.

The case is one of the areas I'm not sure on. I've budgeted around £100 out of a £1500 total for a case, and my requirements are:

Lots of space to work in (full tower, preferably)
Good air cooling (I don't plan to mess with water on my first build)
Nice looks would be a bonus
And it would be nice if it worked with BTX motherboards as well.

At the moment, I'm not sure between some of the higher-end Thermaltake and Coolermaster cases, I'm perhaps edging towards the Thermaltake Armour with the 25cm fan, as it's right on my £100 budget, and seems pretty good. But, looking at this forum, I've noticed that Thermaltake don't seem to be too popular - is there something I'm missing somewhere? Are there better cases for the money? All help appreciated, cheers.

EDIT: Ooh, yes, and are the Thermaltake ToughPower PSUs any good? They seem very good value for modular high-wattage PSUs.
 
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The Toughpower psus are retty good for what I have read, just many people avoid them because Thermaltake are well known for plasticy low quality products (namely their cases)

25cm fans are a complete gimmick, they are utterly pointless.

When I saw your budget the first case that comes into mind is the Akasa Eclipse, it will go slightly over with choosing case fans, but they are important for the right balance between noise and cooling.

You just need to browse the case subforum a bit and you'l see why this case is recomended by so many people.
 
I agree! The eclipse (though not the most beautiful of cases) is the one i would choose! Excellent cooling and acres of space to work in!

Welcome to the forums too!!! :D

gt
 
PinkFloyd said:
The Toughpower psus are retty good for what I have read, just many people avoid them because Thermaltake are well known for plasticy low quality products (namely their cases)
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Excellent, cheers.

PinkFloyd said:
When I saw your budget the first case that comes into mind is the Akasa Eclipse, it will go slightly over with choosing case fans, but they are important for the right balance between noise and cooling.

You just need to browse the case subforum a bit and you'l see why this case is recomended by so many people.
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I'll admit, my additional reaction was 'UG-LEE CASE! GIRDAG NO WANT UG-LEE CASE!', but the rational part of my brain's kicking in. With a window panel put in, it wouldn't look too bad. Of course, now I get to choose case fans, which is yet another choice to mull over when I should be working. This is a good thing. Choosing components is far too much fun.

gt_junkie said:
Welcome to the forums too!!!
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Thank ye kindly.
 
You may prefer the look of the Akasa Mirage, its the same chassis, but a new front, has a door. Personally I don't really like the look of it, but then again I don't hugely love the front of my Eclipse straight on!

Eclipse avec window!
http://www.unrealized-potential.com/computer/ycc61-large0.jpg
:)


As to fans I'm running 5v'ed Akasa Ambers front and back which give enough airflow to stop it getting warm in my case with very little noise.
 
PinkFloyd said:
You may prefer the look of the Akasa Mirage, its the same chassis, but a new front, has a door.
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*Googles*

Ooh, that's nicer. A bit more expensive, but I can shuffle my budget around a little.

EDIT: I'm guessing the side window for the Eclipse would fit the Mirage, right? With fans, this'll probably come to about £120, which isn't too far above budget.

PinkFloyd said:
As to fans I'm running 5v'ed Akasa Ambers front and back which give enough airflow to stop it getting warm in my case with very little noise.
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Cheers, will investigate 'em.
 
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Easy : Akasa Eclipse 62 is the only choice, the Thermaltake Toughpower supplies are top notch, got one in my Eclipse, excellent cable management... ;) :D
 
BFG_9000 said:
Easy : Akasa Eclipse 62 is the only choice, the Thermaltake Toughpower supplies are top notch, got one in my Eclipse, excellent cable management... ;) :D
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Right, that's good to hear. Looks like my choice is made (Mirage, not Eclipse, though).
 
messiah khan said:
Lian Li pc-7 would also make a great first case. Also has a more 'refined' look. *Dons Akasa fanboy flamesuit* :p
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Agree that it looks more refined.

The Eclipse has a no nonsense get the job done look though :)
 
How does the air get to the case if the drives are in the way of the front fan though ive seen posts of people saying they just have 1 hdd in the floppy bay
on their eclipse to improve airflow.
 
Is there any Lian-Li case that can compare to the Eclipse directly in both space and cooling performance?

The finishing touches of the Lian-Li's just look that much more......elegant and refined, perfectionism down to the Al buttons.

The Eclipse is an amazing case, easily the best i have ever owned, but the little niggling touches kinda get to me. Not that i'd change any time soon, just if i have some spare cash, and the will to put my eclipse on the market (must hold value pretty well) then it'd be nice to have something to aim for.

Idealy:
good Cooling
WC upgradeable
Spacious, but not massively bigger than the eclipse (maybe a little taller i could handle)
Quiet (pref with PSU at the bottom, its my major sound source)
Door not needed
Tower heatsink being used, so dont need any ducts that wont help that.
 
Girdag said:
Firstly, hello! First post here for me, and as I'm planning my first attempt at a full build, you'll probably find more and more panicky posts over the next couple of months. So please be patient.
Click to expand...

How about the original Coolermaster Stacker? That can be converted to BTX. Loads of room.
 
simonnance said:
Is there any Lian-Li case that can compare to the Eclipse directly in both space and cooling performance?

The finishing touches of the Lian-Li's just look that much more......elegant and refined, perfectionism down to the Al buttons.

The Eclipse is an amazing case, easily the best i have ever owned, but the little niggling touches kinda get to me. Not that i'd change any time soon, just if i have some spare cash, and the will to put my eclipse on the market (must hold value pretty well) then it'd be nice to have something to aim for.

Idealy:
good Cooling
WC upgradeable
Spacious, but not massively bigger than the eclipse (maybe a little taller i could handle)
Quiet (pref with PSU at the bottom, its my major sound source)
Door not needed
Tower heatsink being used, so dont need any ducts that wont help that.
Click to expand...

Yes, the PC7+ is a superb case and got mine a couple weeks ago. Supperb looking case and very durable. bucket loads of space and the fans that come with it shift loads of air. I love this case..worth every penny!
 
Crossy said:
Yes, the PC7+ is a superb case and got mine a couple weeks ago. Supperb looking case and very durable. bucket loads of space and the fans that come with it shift loads of air. I love this case..worth every penny!
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Plastic button though, you have to buy an after market bulgin to get the aluminium that he mentioned.

Just have to remember this is the entry level Lian although it gives you a superb taste of the high end, cracking case all round.

Eclipse is a better case, but if you look at the case and appreciate the little touches you can't go wrong with a PC7+II, although the Eclipse bar the plastic front is right up there with the best Lian Li can offer.

Lacks that special something that makes me love my Lian Li cases, the Eclipse I think of as more 100% functional and getting any job done easily with no hassle. Lian Li get any job done with a bit of tinkering, but 95% function, 5% over the top build quality. :D
 
the V1000 Plus looks to be an amazing case, though i'd prob have to take out the rear HDD racks if i wanted my PSU to fit in (Etasis ET850, basicaly an unbranded Silverstone Zeus 850W) as it measures 150(W)x86(H)x180(D)mm, but thats not a massive biggie as i will prob only have one HDD in the racks anyway.

Fans are a bit loud, but that can be dealt with, more of a worry is the abilty to fit the 8800GTX, or the prospective R600 sized cards, as its not as long as the Eclipse, likewise im not sure how easy it will be to work in without a removeable motherboard tray.

It's not much of a trade up price wise, my Eclipse is only a few months old so i can prob get good value for it, maybe throwing in a few case fans to sweeten the deal (Got a pair of Ambers, and some Scythe 800RPMs).

Something to ponder at least.... it's not as if i dont have a great case, just be nice not to keep looking at it and thinking i could have done better, when alls said and done looks DO matter to me, and the v1000 seems to have a load of perks and great finishing touches.

EDIT- Or Lian Li PC-A10B? Not much more, but looks a lot more spacious, with no PSU compatibility probs. I like the idea of having 2x120mm right next to my Ultra-120 as well......
 
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simonnance said:
EDIT- Or Lian Li PC-A10B? Not much more, but looks a lot more spacious, with no PSU compatibility probs. I like the idea of having 2x120mm right next to my Ultra-120 as well......
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I love you. This IS the case I've been looking for.

And, tbh, once I added fans (£15), a fan controller (£25), a window (£12) and a few lights (£10) to the Eclipse/Mirage, it was that kinda price already, and I still wouldn't be happy with the look.

This, though...this doesn't NEED a window. Looks-wise, it's almost perfection. It comes with an in-built fan controller, and has fans already. So that's about £70 worth of stuff that I won't need to bother with. I'm sold.

EDIT: Though I just discovered the Gigabyte Aurora 3D, which is running the A10 a good fight.

RE-EDIT: After reading some more reviews, it's a bit dodgy as to whether the Aurora can fit a 8800, so it's out again.
 
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It is tempting...... though a considerable price jump from the Eclipse (and requiring me to sell mine!).

I would get better airflow to my PSU too, as it has a 80mm next to the cables, rather than a 120mm/140mm on the side. PSU noise is one of my biggest probs, and im getting a little resonation with the top panel. The other prob is the drive bays have non-existant vibration decoupling, which with a raptor is an arse and a half. I'm getting a enclosure for it, with a Scythe Kama-Bay to cool it (and increase airflow), but i cant do that for every hdd i may want to get!

Dont get me wrong, the Eclipse is an amazing case, and i can see why people love it. But it isnt realy for me given my components and needs.
 
I've just completed a rebuild today with a new Eclipse and it was an absolute pleasure to work with. Layout very well thought out.

:)
m
 
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