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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 19:30:14

Title: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 19:30:14
I'm going to build a second PC and I'm looking for an atx mid-tower case in white. Any recommendations? My current case is the CM MAF case but want something a tad smaller for this build.
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:10:46
Budget?  Styling preferences?

And do you mean HAF?  If so, which one?
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:12:33
lol, yes, I meant HAF. I'm gonna go on the cheap side budget wise since it's a 2nd comp.
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:27:59
lol, yes, I meant HAF. I'm gonna go on the cheap side budget wise since it's a 2nd comp.

if you don't need drive space.. mid tower is perfect..
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:34:07
$50 and less:

Cooler Master N600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119278), NZXT Source 220 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146083),  NZXT Source 210 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050002120&IsNodeId=1&page=4&bop=And&CompareItemList=7%7C11-146-077%5E11-146-077-TS%2C11-146-078%5E11-146-078-TS), Enermax Ostrog (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811124150), Fractal Design Core 3000 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352026),  Rosewill R5 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147161),  Corsair Carbide 300R (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139011), Zalman Z9 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235026), Xigmatek Asgard Pro (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815014)

$75 and less:

NZXT H230 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050002120&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=7%7C11-146-109%5E11-146-109-TS%2C11-146-108%5E11-146-108-TS&percm=11-146-109%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24),  Antec Eleven Hundred (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129178), Corsair Carbide 500R (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009)

$100 and under:

Rosewill Blackhawk (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147107), Antec P280 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129179), Silverstone Kublai KL04 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163190), Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352031), or Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811281002)
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:35:59
holy crap, I've got some clikin' to do, thanks nubby.
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:40:30
also... there's often no difference between a full-tower and a mid-tower... except in name...

so, are you limiting it to a certain height?  because many full and mid are both 20"+
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:40:33
Welcome.  I'm sure there are some other cases that could be added to that list and some might argue that some should be removed from the list, but those are cases that I feel generally perform well and have nice feature sets at their respective price points.
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 22:54:05
Went with the NZXT 210 and added an evga 650 ti boost 2gb.

I have a 680 in my current comp been pretty happy with it so far
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 05 November 2013, 23:08:19
Went with the NZXT 210 and added an evga 650 ti boost 2gb.

I have a 680 in my current comp been pretty happy with it so far

that's a really good choice.. negative pressured though.. so maybe filters..
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 23:20:37
whats negative pressured?
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: Badwrench on Tue, 05 November 2013, 23:32:06
whats negative pressured?

More exhaust fans than intake - causes the case to have negative pressure and pull in dust.  One way to minimize this is to move the rear 120mm fan to the front of the case as an intake, and leave the 140mm on the top as exhaust.  Even better would be to put a pair of 120mm fans in the front and have the 140mm in the roof for a partial positive pressure setup.  It should not get any stagnant spots due to how many other openings are in the case.

Great choice by the way.  Built a couple of customer builds in these.   :thumb:
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 23:44:46
thanks for the info. I think it's that way on my HAF case now that I think about it. I think this NZXT case only comes with one fan so i'll grab a 120mm fan for the top and move the rear fan to the front most likely.
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 05 November 2013, 23:55:06
The Source 210 Elite comes with a 140mm and 120mm fan.  The Source 210 only comes with one.
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: digi on Tue, 05 November 2013, 23:59:34
yea, i just got the source 210. i'm gonna grab a 140mm and another 120mm.
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: Badwrench on Wed, 06 November 2013, 01:17:54
The Source 210 Elite comes with a 140mm and 120mm fan.  The Source 210 only comes with one.

yea, i just got the source 210. i'm gonna grab a 140mm and another 120mm.

Overlooked that.  I guess I built mine with the elite version.  Still a great case. 
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 06 November 2013, 01:29:52
yea, i just got the source 210. i'm gonna grab a 140mm and another 120mm.

don't fill up all the slots for no reason though.. waste of power.. AND LOUD.. AND you get more dust.

You can leave it negative pressured.. just do the pantyhose mod..
Title: Re: opinions on atx mid-tower case?
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 07 November 2013, 10:33:23
Don't get a white case, get a beige case!