New PC case

[Gareth]

I'm in the market for a new PC case (with better cooling) I've currently got a Coolermaster Wavemaster which i think is fairly restrictive in terms of airflow, I was therefore looking at the Antec 900 but I'm a little bit unsure about the build quality. I'm currently looking at this one :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-141-CM

But again I'm unsure, opinions?? other recomendations?

 

[Daz]

The Stackers have always been pretty good (past models anyway)

 

[Gareth]

its got plenty of cooling potential, but its all going to add noise.

 

[Daz]

It'll be very noisy.

Do you mind the noise?

The issue is - noisy == cooler, quiet == hotter.

Just get some really quiet fans.. quiet PSU and you should be OK in a case like the Coolermaster I would have thought?

 

[Gareth]

I don't mind a certain amount of noise, but its better if it can be throttled. Are there any better options? Or is the stacker a good option?

 

[Daz]

My Antec Sonata can be made quiet.. with the sound proofing etc.. but it's always quite toasty inside (although the 15k SCSI drive doesn't help.. that kicks out a lot of heat)

 

[ViolentJ]

I went from a 9 fan super tower down to a 2 fan MATX. Temps are the same and it's a hell of a lot quieter. What I'm trying to say is that more fans doesn't always equal cooler temperatures.

 

[Gareth]

that's what I'm worried about, the Antec 900 seems to be fairly highly rated, I'm worried the one i've posted is more bling than function.

 

[Revels]

I think you should get a case, maybe put it in the corner and every now and again turn it on, look at CS, not everything tho, and then put it back and cover it up!!

 

[Gareth]

don't forget about waxing and claying it, maybe even a bit of PC'ing

 

[Adam]

The build quality of Antect is awesome. Ive had my P182 for a few months now and its a great case.

 

[wozzaa]

I have a Coolermaster stack 830. Every single 120mm fan bay is taken up 4 on the side 1 on the top 1 at the rear and 2 at the front...I can still hear the hard drive spinning up above them it is rather silent surprisingly. It is quiet enough that it can be left on at night when and the computer only sits around 2 feet away from the bed. It just depends what fans you put in it. If you want ultimate cooling performance well it is going to be noisy but you can have a happy medium with very quiet fans. Which is what I went for.

Probably the best case I have ever had.

 

[Gareth]

which fans wozzaa?? Link? How many did the case come with? (i.e how many more do I need to buy?)

cheers

 

[KDF]

I went from a 9 fan super tower down to a 2 fan MATX. Temps are the same and it's a hell of a lot quieter. What I'm trying to say is that more fans doesn't always equal cooler temperatures.

There is a limit on the efficiency of air cooling.

Basically to increase that efficiency you didnt need to add more fans you needed to add more surface area for th heat to radiate. The 9 fans combined with greater surface would have meant cooler temps.

 

[Lee]

The build quality of Antect is awesome. Ive had my P182 for a few months now and its a great case.

We buy P182s at work. Lovely case. Very solid and very quiet due to the sound deadening. A bit of a pig to work on but once it's all in they're really nice.

That shouldn't be that loud Gareth, it's got big slow fans which generate less noise than small fast ones.

 

[Gareth]

well I've ordered it. I'll get my system transferred to it tomorrow then work out what fans etc I'll need and order and fit them next week, then i'll post some pics. I might be selling my Special Edition (V.Rare) Blue Coolermaster Wavemaster as well (it depends whether I decide to keep it for something else)

 

[Gareth]

old one (may be up for sale shortly)

 

[Jim16v]

Whats the point? does your tower really get that hot that it shuts itself down?

ive only ever seen that once when a mate had his in a small cupboard

 

[Gareth]

overclocking, my chip is running too hot at 3.0ghz, i want to up it further.

 

[wozzaa]

which fans wozzaa?? Link? How many did the case come with? (i.e how many more do I need to buy?)

cheers

You will need 5 more fans you get 1 intake which is on your 3 5.25" bay to 4 x 3.5" bay converter. Then you get a rear exhaust fan as well. I added another drive bay converter and purchased another 5 of these.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=579450

The fans seem to be very quite. But if noise is an issue can always add a fan controller.

 

[Gareth]

i think I'm going to go with the coolermaster green ones to go with the case from scan.co.uk cheers.