Any recomendations for a mid tower PC case?

[stiltman]

Must be quiet. Other than that, I don't care.
I'll be comparing it to my Dell (clam shell) mid tower case and it's really quiet.

So far I read a lot of reviews on newegg, just the "poor or very poor" to get some ideas. However, that could take months to go through them all.

[Soopafresh]

I like Lian Li, plus the motherboard can be easily installed and removed by a tray on those cases. 120mm fans. http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/11-112-099-13.jpg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112099

Make sure you use large diameter fans and your system will be quiet.

[dphirschler]

I really like that case. Then I saw the price. It's a bit on the high side. But it is a nice, non-flashy case.


Darryl

[budz]

If you're looking for a inexpensive mid-tower case the Cooler Master Elite 330 ATX Mid-Tower Case has good airflow with 5 hard drive bays & 4 5.25 bays. I've built 4 computers using Intel core 2 duo processors with that case which is on sale right now at COMPUSA for $24.99 after $5.00 instant savings and $20.00 mail in rebate. Here's the link for it and the sale ends this Saturday.

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=342471&pfp=aug26

Cooler Master has a few newer cases that are being released soon so I assume that's why they have the rebates going on. Here's the reviews on the case at Newegg.com:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115

[Soopafresh]

THIS is pricey

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&N=200088&product_code=52555834

[Seeker47]

Must be quiet. Other than that, I don't care.
I'll be comparing it to my Dell (clam shell) mid tower case and it's really quiet.

So far I read a lot of reviews on newegg, just the "poor or very poor" to get some ideas. However, that could take months to go through them all.

Most people seem content to settle for cheap & flimsy. I have no use for those lightweight, wobbly aluminum jobs that a small pet could knock over, or a vacuum cleaner could easily dent. That is why I prefer something like these:

http://calpc.com/catalog/mid_tower.html

I agree that the design of one like the Lian Li may be more convenient, and these are more expensive, but they sure are sturdy, and they last a long time. I've redone everything inside the same case 3 times over the last 10 years, and will most likely be going for #4 pretty soon.

[stiltman]

Must be quiet. Other than that, I don't care.
I'll be comparing it to my Dell (clam shell) mid tower case and it's really quiet.

So far I read a lot of reviews on newegg, just the "poor or very poor" to get some ideas. However, that could take months to go through them all.

Most people seem content to settle for cheap & flimsy.

This the main reason I will compare the new case to a Dell case. I think Dell's clam shell design was one of the best cases on the market. Very sturdy, very well build. However the news OptiPlex cases kinda feel cheap.

Hopefully, I can find something out that at a reasonably price

THIS is pricey

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&N=200088&product_code=52555834

Yeah, that's WAY too much for a case

[TheFamilyMan]

It's what's in the case that makes it noisy: CPU heatsink fan, chipset fan, GPU fan, PSU fan, and ventilation fans. Use quiet fans/cooling, and any decent case should do. My antec sonata II case was supposedly designed to be quiet, but by the time I got everything sufficiently cooled, it was far from it. Maximum PC mag had an article using this case with an aftermarket sound-proofing kit. One of these kits might be worth looking into, though I have no advice on finding where to look.

Edit: The PSU that came with the sonata II was pure junk. I blew 2 before switching to a totally different brand, luckily without any colateral damage. As for the new sonata III I know nothing.

[redwudz]

For quiet, you can't beat steel cases. But the shipping costs are somewhat higher. I put a computer together a while ago using a Antec SLK1650 steel case. It's described as a mini tower, but there's enough room for 3 HDs and 3 optical drives. It has a 120mm adjustable speed fan and that and the 350W PS are both very quiet. They go for about $60US. That model is being discontinued, so you can find it discounted for even less.

[valvehead]

THIS is pricey

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&N=200088&product_code=52555834

No, THIS is expensive! It's also completely silent. And outdated.

I have a Lian-Li PC-65B myself. It appears that prices have gone up considerably since I bought it four years ago.

[TheFamilyMan]

For what it's worth, sound proofing kits:
http://www.acoustiproducts.com/en/acoustipack_precut.asp

Good ol' google

[stiltman]

What do you think about this one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147044

Is Rosewill a good case manufacturer?

[redwudz]

No experience with Rosewill cases, but I have used other components from them and they seem OK for a economy line. It's probably a plus that it doesn't come with a power supply as many lower priced cases have included PS's that probably cost $2 to build. Not a good idea with expensive CPUs and MBs.

I suspect you will want to replace the case fan and shop for a quiet PS. I find with case fans and PS fans that dba specifications below 16dba are very quiet, if their quoted noise levels are honest. Levels of 30 dba and above approach 'leaf blower' status.

[stiltman]

Yeah, I'm putting in a Antec Smartpower 2.0 500w PSU and I was going to put in a 120mm fluid bearing case fan.

I just need a basic black or silver case. I don't need funky colors, neon lights or windows into the inside. Just a case

[Soopafresh]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811190072

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119075

But I'd still encourage you to get the Lian Li. It'll fit your 120mm fan and the workmanship is impressive.

[Seeker47]

No experience with Rosewill cases, but I have used other components from them and they seem OK for a economy line. It's probably a plus that it doesn't come with a power supply as many lower priced cases have included PS's that probably cost $2 to build. Not a good idea with expensive CPUs and MBs.

Since you brought that up . . . I've noticed some threads elsewhere to the effect that there may no longer be any really good, truly reliable PSUs on the market. Some big and familiar brands now getting the big thumbs down from knowledgeable people in the biz, who follow these things professionally or build high-end custom systems. Reports of failures, and the companies indifferent and unresponsive about it. It is said to be part of the dubious QC in a lot of Chinese manufactured goods. I always bought PC Power & Cooling, which had a top reputation, but it seems they have been bought out by a Chinese company. That does not automatically mean anything, but it makes me wonder. As you suggested, the PSU is not a place you want to cut corners to save a few bucks: if it goes, it could take the rest of your PC investment with it.

[TheFamilyMan]

The Antec "smartpower" 2.0 500W PSU that I owned blew after about 6 months. I got a super deal ($20 after rebate) on it at Fry's to replace the Antec "smartpower" 2.0 450W PSU that came with the case which blew in 3 months. I ended up getting one of these, bought it locally. It's virtually silent but pretty pricey:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151027
Good Luck!

[stiltman]

Well I think I found what I was looking for in a full ATX case
2 external 5.25
1 external 3.5
3 internal 3.5
USB/Firewire/audio front (actually on top)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112130

[Soopafresh]

Looks nice. I should be getting two of these via UPS today:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811112025

[redwudz]

The Lian Li desktop case I got for my HTPC did impress me with it's quality and fit, probably the best I have seen. I usually buy more inexpensive cases. But the older HTPC I have is in a Antec steel case. Very heavy. And no matter what I did, I couldn't quiet it down. Just not good thermal design.

About power supplies. I have heard that some major brands have been slipping on quality control. The last Antec PS I got had some fan noise. Since it came with the case, I didn't want to ship the whole thing back. I pulled the cover off and some of the wiring was rubbing against the fan. Easy to fix, but I wondered about their quality control. I got a Thermaltake PS for my HTPC and I have been happy with it for low noise and low exhaust temps.

It's funny, SeaSonic used to be a economy PS line, but now they are highly rated. And I have had a failed power supply destroy the entire computer. The floppy is all that survived. The 12V rail shorted to the 5V rail internally. Lots of sparks and smoke.