Help with £100 case for new system

[Girdag]

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.

 

[Girdag]

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)

Excellent, cheers.

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'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.

Welcome to the forums too!!!

Thank ye kindly.

 

[Girdag]

You may prefer the look of the Akasa Mirage, its the same chassis, but a new front, has a door.

*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.

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.

Cheers, will investigate 'em.

 

[Girdag]

Easy : Akasa Eclipse 62 is the only choice, the Thermaltake Toughpower supplies are top notch, got one in my Eclipse, excellent cable management...

Right, that's good to hear. Looks like my choice is made (Mirage, not Eclipse, though).

 

[Girdag]

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......

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.