Spec me a case in light of the following....

sp00d

sp00d

sp00d

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25 Apr 2003
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Hi guys,

I am going to soon buy a 24inch monitor, which means I need a new card (prolly going to be a 4870 1gb), which means I need a new case as my pc is already too hot!

Although i don't mind spending money where a suitable discernable difference is noticeable, cases seem to still be a bit of a mystery to me. For example, I was considering the Akasa Eclipse 62 and Lian-Li PC7. Both are very cheap cases (in monetary value). I would have got the eclipse but it has no top hole for a fan, and the lian-li does not have a removable mainboard try and seems a bit small. I cannot just cut a hole in the eclipse as I have done in the past as I am currently renting a flat"dahn souf" due to work, and have nowhere to put a workbench or drill.

At the other end of the scale I see cases retailing for over £200, and I just cannot for the life of me see why. They might come with all the fan slots filled with their own fans, but generally aftermarket ones are better anyway. Also, some of these higher priced cases come with cushioned mounts to quieten HDDS, but a bit of bluetack does wonders for silencing noisy HDDs anyway! What else do they offer apart from this? The Eclipse 62 is fully dismantable and also large. I don't care how the thing looks, its sat under my desk and I never see it apart from when I put a dvd in or turn it on. I don't go to lanparties, and frankly all those gaudy lights and things in some cases are just not my style.

My setup will be thus:

E4800
Maximus Formula
4gb RAM
Radeon 4870 1gb
1 x 1TB SATA HDD
1x 250gb SATA HDD
1x 150gb IDE HDD
1 x DVD writer

I am not a big overclocker, but feel that the 4870 combined with my 3 HDDs will make the inside of the case too hot for my passively cooled Maximus formula. Therefore I would like something that is well cooled, but most of all quiet. I cannot stand noisy PC's! Finally, I guess I will need some sort of fan controller.

I was looking at the Antec 300 and 1200, but from what I have seen, both are noisy and the 300 even cools better than the 1200! I know I could just replace all the fans with aftermarket ones, but then I may as well buy a case that comes with no fans.

Any opinions/options appreciated.

Thanks guys.
 
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The eclipse is a good case but why not take a look at the Nz\xt Tempest case retailing at about 60-70 quid and has 2 140mm fans at the top, use it for my rig and keeps it lovely and chilly.
 
Taking the top off my eclipse doesn't make a blind bit of difference to cpu or gpu temps i think fans at the top are overrated but i'd like one to let heat away from my power supply though but cases don't have a fan above where the power supply goes they are more in the middle or toward the front.
However I don't think the eclipse is worth more than £70.

If i were getting a case now the following cases would be on my list

antec 1200
akasa omega
next tempest < never saw this case before but actually looks quite good it's like an in between antec 900 1200
antec p182
Lian-Li PC-A70B

Overall at £75.99 delivered I like the p182 am going to sell my eclipse and get one soon as possible in fact.
 
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C64 said:
Taking the top off my eclipse doesn't make a blind bit of difference to cpu or gpu temps i think fans at the top are overrated but i'd like one to let heat away from my power supply though but cases don't have a fan above where the power supply goes they are more in the middle or toward the front
Click to expand...

Surely the fact that heat rises means a top mounted fan is ideal for heat removal?
 
It gets extracted by the rear 120mm before it has a chance to build up but it doesn't all get extracted there is a problem on a hot day for my liking needs a top fan on a hot day.
 
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C64 said:
However I don't think the eclipse is worth more than £70.

If i were getting a case now the following cases would be on my list

antec 1200
akasa omega
next tempest < never saw this case before but actually looks quite good it's like an in between antec 900 1200
antec p182
Lian-Li PC-A70B

Overall at £75.99 delivered I like the p182 am going to sell my eclipse and get one soon as possible in fact.
Click to expand...

Can you tell me why you would pick those particular cases? Isnt an omega just an eclipse with a fancier facia?

What is so good about the P182 over the eclipse?

Cheers.
 
Can you tell me why you would pick those particular cases? Isnt an omega just an eclipse with a fancier facia?
Click to expand...
Omega has a few modifications, mostly at the top.

What is so good about the P182 over the eclipse?
Click to expand...
P182 is quieter than the eclipse which has no sound-deadening abilities at all (infact the thin aluminum makes it harder to silence). The Eclipse is much roomier and easier to build in though, cable management is a non-issue, same goes for running Crossfire/SLI in any combination you want.

I would pick an Eclipse based chassis if I wanted cooling and size but a P182 for silence.
 
Ok thanks for your feedback guys. If anyone wants to chime in before next week, then more feedback appreciated. ELse I think I will go and take a look at a p182 and a tempest.

EDIT: Just noticed OCUK doesnt do an NZXT Tempest. Has this thing been replaced now? If so, which model replaced it and is it any good.

Thanks again!
 
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