105 replies to this topic

[El_Capitan]

Ok, I'm going to try to keep this up-to-date, and ordered by the number of recommendations. When making a recommendation, please include:
- Price range (in USD)
- Manufacturer and name of case
- Hyperlink to official website showcasing the case
- Personal opinion (pros and cons) - try to limit it to personal experience

Full Towers
$200 or more
Corsair 800D (2 recommendations - Fixedgeariain, MasterAV)
SILVERSTONE RAVEN RV01-BW (1 recommendation - jk336699)
Thermaltake Level 10 GT (1 recommendation - ComputerEd)


$100 - $200
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 (3 recommendations - jk336699, camaro_dude15, Nyt Ryda)
COOLER MASTER HAF X (3 recommendations - Fixedgeariain, Mr.Niceguy, N.E.A.)
NZXT PHANTOM (2 recommendations - yamilegend, IVIYTH0S)
Antec DF-85 (1 recommendation - MercuryDoun)
Corsair 650D (1 recommendation - grandvitesse)
Thermaltake Chaser Mk I (1 recommendation - ComputerEd)


$50 - $99


$0 - $49


Mid Towers
$200 or more


$100 - $200
Fractal Design Arc Midi (1 recommendation - ComputerEd)


$50 - $99
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 (3 recommendations - jk336699, camaro_dude15, IVIYTH0S)
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62 (3 recommendations - El_Capitan, Alexandre, wevsspot)
Antec 300 (3 recommendations - ComputerEd, IVIYTH0S, gabrieltessin)
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 (3 recommendations - SSGX3noS, ComputerEd, aspevacek)
Cooler Master 690 II Advanced (2 recommendations - Locutus, El_Capitan)
NZXT TEMPEST EVO (1 recommendation - joel.monteiro)
Cooler Master 690 II Basic (1 recommendation - ComputerEd)
Antec Solo (1 recommendation - jammin)
Lian Li Lan Cool K58 (1 recommendation - gabrieltessin)


$0 - $49
Diablotek EVO ATX MID TOWER (1 recommendation - Miltystu2004)
NZXT Gamma (1 recommendation - MercuryDoun)
Cooler Master Elite 430 Black (1 recommendation - Nyt_Ryda)
Xigmatek Asgard II (1 recommendation - iskout )


Micro / Mini Towers
$200 or more


$100 - $200
LIAN LI PC-Q08B (1 recommendation - El_Capitan)


$50 - $99
NZXT Crafted Series Vulcan (1 recommendation - jk336699)


$0 - $49


HTPC / Media Center Cases
$200 or more


$100 - $200


$50 - $99


$0 - $49

[Alexandre]

Great idea mate
Maybe you should say $0-49 and the $50-99 etc instead of repeating the boundary prices in both categories as that might make it confusing for cases that are exactly on that boundary.

Edited by Alexandre, 06 March 2011 - 10:59 PM.

[El_Capitan]

Mid Tower
$70 - $100 at Newegg, depending on promotional offers.

LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62

Pros:
1. Not too big on the outside, but spacious on the inside - it also isn't very heavy, but still built solid.
2. 100% Tool-less design and nothing is really flimsy - it was very well thought out.
3. Comes with Air filters and three 140mm Blue LED fans and one 120mm fan (decently quiet).
4. Decent cable management (also a con).

Nitpicky Cons:
1. Only decent cable management. It could be better. If you add a few more fans and use it for watercooling, it can get pretty crowded. The right side panel could jut out about half an inch more to fit some of the connectors (like the Cooler Master Storm Sniper), and there could be some loops within the metal chassis for zip ties.
2. Could have at least five 3.5" internal drive bays instead of four, I had to put my 2.5" SSD under the four 3.5" internal drive bays.
3. Should come with detachable top grate to easily fit a 120.2 radiator (else you have to mod it by cutting the grates out with a rotary tool).

[jk336699]

Ok, I'm going to try to keep this up-to-date, and ordered by the number of recommendations. When making a recommendation, please include:
- Price range (in USD)
- Manufacturer and name of case
- Hyperlink to official website showcasing the case
- Personal opinion (pros and cons)

Full Towers
$200 or more


$100 - $200


$50 - $99
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62 (1 recommendation)


$0 - $49


Mid Towers
$200 or more


$100 - $200


$50 - $99


$0 - $49


Micro / Mini Towers
$200 or more


$100 - $200


$50 - $99


$0 - $49


HTPC / Media Center Cases
$200 or more


$100 - $200


$50 - $99


$0 - $49

You put wrong the PC-K62 in full-tower!

[El_Capitan]

Great idea mate
Maybe you should say $0-49 and the $50-99 etc instead of repeating the boundary prices in both categories as that might make it confusing for cases that are exactly on that boundary.

Thx, fixed!

You put wrong the PC-K62 in full-tower!

Thx, also fixed.

[camaro_dude15]

any of the cooler master HAF series could probably make the list, and they have a pretty important "pro", High Air Flow!, lol, and there are a few differnt sizes and price range

[El_Capitan]

any of the cooler master HAF series could probably make the list, and they have a pretty important "pro", High Air Flow!, lol, and there are a few differnt sizes and price range

Give me some details!

[jk336699]

COOLER MASTER HAF 932
$120-170 depends on ed.
COOLER MASTER HAF 932
- Personal opinion
pros:
1. Great air flow
2. tool-less design
3. big enough for easy cable mangement
4. Window (personally like windows)
5. coolant fill port on the top

cons:
1. suck in lots of dust
2. heavy and big
3. interior is not painted black (for the normal ed.)

Edited by jk336699, 06 March 2011 - 11:19 PM.

[jk336699]

COOLER MASTER HAF 912
Price at 60 (really competitive)
HAF 912
- Personal opinion
pros:
1. Great air flow
2. tool-less design
3. great price
4. support long card (long enough for 5970)
5. coolant fill port on the top
6. top mount radiator

cons:
1. suck in lots of dust
2. no window?
3. interior is not painted black (for the normal ed.)

[El_Capitan]

COOLER MASTER HAF 932
cons:
1. suck in lots of dust

I'm surprised it doesn't have any filters.

[jk336699]

I'm surprised it doesn't have any filters.

I know...
and it really sucks...lots of dust...

[Alexandre]

I recommend the Lian Li Lancool K62 as well from personal experience.

A pro I would add would be the ability to see your hardware through the side window - the blue LEDs in the fan really light everything up nicely.

Edited by Alexandre, 06 March 2011 - 11:28 PM.