Need help deciding?

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Hi. I am new to this forum, but I have been interested in computers for a few years now, but only really got serious about a few months ago.

I decided to build my own high end gaming PC, as I liked the idea of building something, having everything indivually customized, knowing what I put in to it is top notch and all the money saved when compared to places like Dell and Alienware.

I am very happy with everything that goes inside my PC ie. My Athglon 64 X2 4800+ cpu, my XFX Xtreme edition 7800GTX video cards in SLI, my 2gb dual channel 3500ll Pro Corsair ram and my 74gb 10000rpm WD Raptor hard drive. I was happy with my mother board ( The Asus A8N SLI Premium ), but it has now got damaged, one of the PCIex lanes doesn't work anymore. I am not sure why it has happened, but I think it may be my cases fault as it wasn't able to hold the card very well as it had plastic clips instead of screws.

Since I am getting a new mobo, I am now confused as to which one to get. I can't decide, if I should get the same one again or if I should get the Asus A8N 32 or maybr even the DFI LAn Part Expert , or maybe the Abit Fatality. I know this is a case thread, so I won't expect anyone to advise me on this here, but it would be appreciated if someone does.

The real reason I have posted here and the most important thing right now, is to which case I should get. As the one I have is no good. It is the Nzxt Nemesis. I hate it, It's way too noisy and cramped and it also may have damaged my mobo. I am real serious about the noise. I really need a noisless or close to noisless soloution. I have thought about not using air cooling, but due to money, experience etc. I have to stick to air cooling.

For the life of me I can not decide as to what to do. The reason is I need a case that can not only keep my high end stuff cool ,but do it quietly. I have alreay decided to get the Akasa Amber 120mm series fans and the Akasa Pro Fan controller, so those aspects are sorted. I just need a decent case, big enough to hold my stuff, sturdier enough, quiter enough and able to mount 120mm fans.

I have looked around. I have looked around a lot, and have found there is nothing out there that is able to meet my needs 100%. They all have compromises IMo. The only 100% perfect case I have seen is the CM 830, but that is priced out of my range( I have run out of cash after buying everything else if you are wondering) and is only preorder at the moment. So waht else is there. I have thought about Antec P180, but I am worried it will be too cramped and will need me to buy all kinds of power lead extenders as the PSU is at the bottom.

Lian LI, doesn't seem to fit the bill either as they are so expensive, and the cheaper ones don't seem to offer anything special in my eyes. I was seriuoslly thinking about the Akasa 62 Ecipse, as it has everything I needed, a removable mobo tray, loads of room , option for a side 1200mm vent and fan (bought separtely) and a reasonable cooling solution ( front and rear 120mm). The problem is I have heard that people say on this forum that it has loads of problems. This has put me off, as has the fact the I am worried that there may not be enough fan mounts if I need them, as the front fan looks obstructed with those vertical plastic grill. Please tell me if my fears are correct or not. So the only other case i can think of is either the original stacker or the 810. I don't think I will be able touse the mobo tray function on these as it seems there are too many screws, and this is dissapointing. Also the original stacker has to many 80mm mounts for my likeing,as I pefer 120mm. The 810, has a few more 120mm mounts but I have not seen any reviews on it and have seen it said (in forums) that it isn't better than the original.

I really have gone on a lot, but I did it on purpose so peoplke could see my frustation. I am really confuse, and this may seem strange to some people, but I have actually started to loose sleep over this. I need to make a decision and then stick to it. I mean all the other PC stuff I spent a small fortune on is just going to waste right now ( I am typing on an old PC right now) and so makes it imperative that I rebuild everything and get it right this time. So just to conclude, I really need help in deciding on what PC case to buy, and it need to be really well designed have a cool silent cooling solution (ie lots of 120mm mounts) and allow me to screw in my video cards so that they won't move around and also a removable mobo tray would be a god send for me. Thank you very much for reading all this and hope someone can get me on the right track towards my goal of PC nirvana. :D
 
I don't recall any threads about Akasa Eclipse problems except some people have reported resonant vibrations (front fan especially), but lots of aluminium cases do that.

I have three Eclipses now, but my new pride and joy is a Koolance based on a Lian-Li V1100B and it really is a beautiful case.

It's odd, in my opinion, that people with cheerfully spend hundreds of pounds on a processor that will depreciate 70-90% over 2 years but always draw back from buying a good case that will see them through several upgrades.

The cheaper Lian-Li's one and only virtue is the construction quality. Other than that they are dull as ditchwater and I don't really think they look anything special. The V1100's are only (only!) £140 which is a lot of money, but it is built like a tank, has excellent cooling and the stock fans aren't outrageously loud.

I like (in order of cost) - Lian-Li V1100B, Alasa Eclipse 62, Coolermaster 530/531 and Jeantech Phong. The Phong can be had for about £30 and comes with 2 silent 120mm fans which makes it pretty decent value for a high-street store case.
 
WJA96 I agree with you entirely :)

But dont call the Lian Li's dull, everyone likes there own looks.

The v series is really worth going for, save up some more and get it. They look 10x better in flesh, are built like a Lian Li and then some, great cooling with acres of space.

The Eclipse is slightly more prone to resonate than most cases, but it makes up for that with the cooling.

Let me just add in, looks are a opinion, its your choice buying the case TonyM16, but the Lian Li's, Akasa Eclipse and Silverstone cases are all great. Just pic some you like, dont think with your head, look at one and say, I like it and buy it.

But as a piece of sound advice, if your unsure buy a Akasa Eclipse or a Lian Li pc7 if you like the styling on either. They are the best bang for buck cases you can get, and both can handle whatever you put in them.

*I could not resist, have a look at the sticky at the top, theres a good guide in there ;)*
 
The dull as ditchwater comment was aimed at the low feature count on the cheaper Lian-Li's. Basically you get a beautifully constructed aluminium box with 2 fans in it.

Even Lian-li's own website can't find anything more to say about it than that.

Now, I do appreciate that we're not comparing apples with apples here, but the Arctic Cooling T1 is positively bursting with features.

Likewise, the Eclipse is 'feature rich' and hence, not as dull as the Lian-Li.

Looks are very much a personal opinion and I'm a function over form guy. Yes - the Eclipse is a big black lump, but it's extremely easy to work on - there is nothing you cannot remove by undoing 4 thumbscrews - it's truly spacious inside (although why work inside when you can take everything out so easily) and it runs cool. That's important when computers are running flat out, day in, day out as mine are.

And I know that no-one except me seems to run Intel rigs any more, but the Akasa now has a panel with a CPU port available to keep it Intel spec. compliant.
 
The artic cooling is not built to last though, features, some are really handy I will admit, but Lian Li either have to skimp on quality or features.

If they skimped on quality for features it would be Lian Thermaltake then.
 
Yewen said:
The artic cooling is not built to last though, features, some are really handy I will admit, but Lian Li either have to skimp on quality or features.

If they skimped on quality for features it would be Lian Thermaltake then.

Exactly - if you want Lian-Li build quality for the price of a PC-7 then you get no features. That's a compromise I'm not prepared to make. That's why I've got 3 Eclipses :D

But the V1100 series has the looks of a Power Mac, features, space and Lian-Li build quality. I only have 1 of those because that's all I can afford ;)
 
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice. I think I may just get the Akasa as it has a decent build, which is quite important to me right now as my last case was one of those value gaming cases , which didn't last even two weeks. I know should probaly stay away from those small gaming cases, but I can't help getting drawn to something called a Aerocoolengine 2. It's pretty small, and reminds me in some small ways as my Nemesis, but it has some nice extra features, like a 140cm front fan, a rear 120mm fan and two 120mm fan mounts on the side window. It will probaly be quite quiet if I use my own fans and controller. Although I am a liitle afraid of going for a small gaming case again. I just wish the Akasa would get a revised build, that improves it even further, I would definetly get it then.
 
The Akasa will trounce any gaming case for cooling / noise.

Decent build, its godlike compared to most gaming case, but is not Lian Li ;)

Hope you make the right decision and go for a PC7 or Eclipse, compared to gaming cases like the ones youve had they will seem so well built, quieter and cool probably better.
 
TonyM16 said:
I know should probaly stay away from those small gaming cases, but I can't help getting drawn to something called a Aerocoolengine 2.QUOTE]

I just googled for this and it's not exactly subtle is it?

My wife thinks the picture with the doors open looks like it's flashing!

But if it's what you want, then good luck to you. Let us know how you get on.
 
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