Choosing a case: ANTEC, Cooler Master, or Thermaltake?

[onebxr]

this thing runs cool, I am getting 24 deg. C in the case according to the monitor on the case. I dont trust the HDD or the CPU probes tho.
-1

[Lead Head]

I've got a P180 over here, nice case, very good looking.

The side panel clips are plastic, both of them on the top half of one of the panels broke on me.

The bezel feels like its made out of cheap plastic, kinda sad considering the rest of the case is super strong steel.

Thats about all I have bad to say about the case, oh and that cable management is hard, but doable.

[Dr. V]

nice sounds good just gotta choose now.

by the way onbxr -- IRON MAIDEN WWOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thrasher::rock::rock:

[Dread]

Appreciate the kinds words on my little write-up.

I hadn't consciously considered while writing it, that what is important to me in a case wouldn’t even be a passing thought for someone else, but nonetheless; a very accurate observation.

Cable management isn’t something I look for when choosing a case. I do however understand that ‘poor’ cable management can have a detrimental effect on the performance of my systems, by not allowing cooling air to circulate over components that generate heat; or can be damaged/impaired by the heat radiated by others.

Some of the things that ‘are’ important to me are (in no particular order).

1. [FONT=Times New
2. Looks – Nobody wants a butt-ugly case
3. Size – I prefer larger computer cases for ease of working in, and amount of peripherals and internals I can mount into them without crowding.
4. Ease – Installing and uninstalling / swapping parts. Is it a tool-less design, and if so, is it still well made. Or if not tool-less, does it use standard mounting hardware / techniques?
5. External connections – Is there any, and are they placed in such a manner that they are convenient for me in the way my computers sit or are placed? And do I need them?
6. Standards – Will it actually house all of the parts I’ve already chosen for it, and does it conform to the standards of those parts?
7. Craftsmanship – Is it well made, and can it take some abuse without having parts break off?
8. Common Sense Test – Is it going to ‘work’ for me, and what I want it to do?
9. Manufacturer – Can I replace parts and get good customer service from the OEM?
10. Modifications – Can I mod the case easily to suit my needs if I need or want to?

How I interpret these considerations are a product of me, and should not be taken as a must by anyone reading them, unless you happen to value the same things, in the same way that I do. I offer my opinion as a subjective one, using only what I have experienced from owning, using or doing some serious hands-on research on them.

All of the before mentioned cases, I imagine would suit a lot of computer users needs or wants, and some with aplomb and finesse. But they won’t suit everyone’s needs. They all fit at least 2, and in some cases 3 or 4 of my considerations. But when I am choosing a case for my individual needs, it must fit the vast majority of them.

For me, the P180 would be a very good choice, given the price point mentioned. If price were not an issue, none of them would be on my list for various reasons most having already been mentioned by others.

Whichever case you finally choose, I trust it will serve you well, and look forward to your review on it after you’ve ‘experienced’ building, and using it for a while. Perhaps we will agree on some points, and disagree on others. Either way, your observations could help all of us understand a little more about it, and could possibly have an impact on our future purchases.

[Dr. V]

well-said, and again, another good write-up :D

what case would you recommend of all in your opinion not considering any of these. lets say under 200 (sure USD)...?

[Dread]

Without a doubt, this is the case if the price is limited to less than $200.00 USD.

Lian-Li PC-101B

This is one of the few cases (even in higher price ranges) that fills all my needs and wants almost without exception. It's not a perfect case, but I have zero complaints.

I also have the Lian-Li PC65 case that I used as a dual-CPU server case for years before converting it to a dedicated folder.

[Capper]

eh, Lian Li cases are nice....but very overpriced (I think Lian Li is actually Chinese for "over-priced").

I'd look closely at what Cooler Master and Thermaltake have out right now. The Armor Extreme is very nice. If you can wait 30 days or so the 2007 cases we covered at CES will be hitting store shelves.

[Dread]

They are a little more than the normal case. I have two of them and love them to death. Both worth every penny I spent on them. If I had one complaint, is that the PC-65 is just a tad too long, but in the same breath I'd say it had plenty of room on the inside.

Once you've built in a Lian-Li case, it makes a lot of the other cases out there pale in comparison.

[Dr. V]

i know Lian-Li always had high quality stuff, but it doesnt make the other ones any less quality does it?

i mean certain cases will KILL the PC-65 in the same price range (referring to Capper's rather funny translation of Lian-Li)

[Dread]

Oh no, don't get me wrong. There are possibly many cases out there that are subjectively better than the Lian-Li's. I just happen to love the two I mentioned. Some are a little less expensive, and others are out of the ballpark.

Those Lian-Li's may not suit your needs, or sense of aesthetics. But they are extremely well made cases, and just happen to have a lot of the features I like in a PC case.