New mid tower case

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Endiment

Baron O'Beefdip
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
3,596
I'm looking to replace my relatively crappy Apevia X-Telstar. It's a mighty pretty case, but the build quality is mediocre, it has awful cooling (my 4870 is running up to like 80 celsius under high load) and the toolless installation breaks. In short, I need a new case that's good.

Mid tower is ideal, since I'm using a stock CPU cooler for my non OC'd Phenom 9950. on the smaller side would be nice if possible. I'd also like a top mounted PSU, I know bottom leads to better cooling but I'm not sure if my cables will reach the drives if I use bottom mounted. My GPU is a 4870, double slot but it should fit easily into any mid tower. Looking to spend between 50 and 100 dollars, that price range is absolute and non-negotiable. I'm indifferent to side window. And please, no more Apevia.
 
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Endiment said:
I'm looking to replace my relatively crappy Apevia X-Telstar. It's a mighty pretty case, but the build quality is mediocre, it has awful cooling (my 4870 is running up to like 80 celsius under high load) and the toolless installation breaks. In short, I need a new case that's good.
Click to expand...

Just curious, who is the vendor for your vid card? Otherwise, a Thermaltake M9 is probably more than sufficient and you can get it for $50 - just add fans if necessary. Coolermaster 690 is better and costs more. You could also search for a deal on an Antec 900.
 
Vendor is diamond. Already looked at the M9, considered it highly. Looks great on the inside.

50 to 100 dollars.
 
Yes nice case i'm really thinking of putting my system in that, My case is old, :(
 
bigwilly said:
Just curious, who is the vendor for your vid card? Otherwise, a Thermaltake M9 is probably more than sufficient and you can get it for $50 - just add fans if necessary. Coolermaster 690 is better and costs more. You could also search for a deal on an Antec 900.
Click to expand...

I use a CM 690 and am very happy with it. Also if you have the single slot solution (stock) cooler for the 4870, 80*C is fairly common.
 
Endiment said:
Vendor is diamond. Already looked at the M9, considered it highly. Looks great on the inside.
Click to expand...

I have the Apevia X-Telstar Junior case (similar to yours but smaller-it is pretty) and Powercolor ATI 4870 1GB, but my card idles at 48C, and generally stays below 60C at load-it has a great GPU cooler. Since our cases are similar, I'm willing to bet it's not the case but your GPU cooler. The M9 is a solid case that can fit 7-120mm fans, but that may not help as much as you think. Just don't want you spending time and money on a new case when it doesn't solve your problem. Although at $50, the M9 does make a great case for not much dough.
 
bigwilly said:
I have the Apevia X-Telstar Junior case (similar to yours but smaller-it is pretty) and Powercolor ATI 4870 1GB, but my card idles at 48C, and generally stays below 60C at load-it has a great GPU cooler. Since our cases are similar, I'm willing to bet it's not the case but your GPU cooler. The M9 is a solid case that can fit 7-120mm fans, but that may not help as much as you think. Just don't want you spending time and money on a new case when it doesn't solve your problem. Although at $50, the M9 does make a great case for not much dough.
Click to expand...

forgot to mention mine actually is the X-Telstar Junior, so we do have the same case. personally I had tons of problems with the toolless installation on the case, half of the clips on the expansion slots broke off and the ones that didn't for some reason don't fit over my video card or my sound card, so all my cards are just stuck in their respective PCI or PCIe slots with no clips holding them. they didn't line up with the screw holes either.

also, I was looking at a couple from AeroCool and Lian Li. same price as the M9.
 
I find it hard to go wrong with an Antec 300... bottom mounted case, but I have had no problems with cables reaching... if anything, get the extension for the 4 pin (if AMD uses it) CPU connector at the middle of the board.

The 300 has room for 4 120mm fans and the nice 140mm on the top... great case and runs very cool... my wife has the 300 and I run the 900.... so I am a pretty big fan... :)
 
Endiment said:
forgot to mention mine actually is the X-Telstar Junior, so we do have the same case. personally I had tons of problems with the toolless installation on the case, half of the clips on the expansion slots broke off and the ones that didn't for some reason don't fit over my video card or my sound card, so all my cards are just stuck in their respective PCI or PCIe slots with no clips holding them. they didn't line up with the screw holes either.

also, I was looking at a couple from AeroCool and Lian Li. same price as the M9.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't fool with that tooless crap, just use the screws as always to hold in place. I also just modded my case for a top-mounted fan. Screw holes always seem to be off a little. Most of the cases in the M9 price range should be more than capable. Look closely at their cooling solutions. I like 120mm fans because of low noise and good airflow (cfm).
 
I-Die-Often said:
I find it hard to go wrong with an Antec 300... bottom mounted case, but I have had no problems with cables reaching... if anything, get the extension for the 4 pin (if AMD uses it) CPU connector at the middle of the board.

The 300 has room for 4 120mm fans and the nice 140mm on the top... great case and runs very cool... my wife has the 300 and I run the 900.... so I am a pretty big fan... :)
Click to expand...

Another solid case choice
 
bigwilly said:
Yeah, I don't fool with that tooless crap, just use the screws as always to hold in place. I also just modded my case for a top-mounted fan. Screw holes always seem to be off a little. Most of the cases in the M9 price range should be more than capable. Look closely at their cooling solutions. I like 120mm fans because of low noise and good airflow (cfm).
Click to expand...

one of the Lian Li that I'm looking at is very appealing because the side fan is mounted in such a way that it directly cools the GPU. it's 25$ more than the M9.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112100
 
metro said:
I use a CM 690 and am very happy with it. Also if you have the single slot solution (stock) cooler for the 4870, 80*C is fairly common.
Click to expand...

Where is this single slot stock cooler 4870 you speak of? :blink:
Unless you meant a 4850. Because the only single slot 4870 (That I know of) is one with a watercooling block or one like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161269
But its still not technically a "single slot" card either because it takes up 2 slots inside.
 
yeah my 4870 has a fairly bulky double slot cooler and that fan spins an awful lot of air, even at lower RPMs. also makes a ton of noise but silent cases like the NZXT Hush and CoolerMaster Sileo haven't gotten the best reviews.
 
Wal-Mart Security said:
Where is this single slot stock cooler 4870 you speak of? :blink:
Unless you meant a 4850. Because the only single slot 4870 (That I know of) is one with a watercooling block or one like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161269
But its still not technically a "single slot" card either because it takes up 2 slots inside.
Click to expand...

Oops, I was thinking of the stock 4850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103060

Sorry for the confusion.
 
lol finally a thread that is not just like, "get an antec 900, get one get one get one".:P

lol

lian li makes extremely good cases, a little expensive though. Thermaltake cases usually run cheaper and are known for great engineering. cooler master is also worth checking into. Other than that im not very familiar with the case manufacturers.

-Blue
 
I'd still say Antec 300, amazing cooling great price.
But if you want to step it up this is the best case for bang for buck, based of the Antec 900 but MUCH cheaper, NZXT Tempest not to mention it looks like a beast.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047

$79.99 after $20 MIR, even fits eATX, 2 x 120mm Blue LED front fans, 1 x 120mm rear fan
1 x 120mm Blue LED side fan, 2 x 140mm Top fans.
 
Endiment said:
the Lian Li PC60 is still at the top of the list, great reviews and the placement of that fan looks mightily advantageous. Thermaltake M9 is still in the running though. any word on the following?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163126 Silverstone PS02
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811167001 Tuniq 3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152 CoolerMaster Centurion 590
Click to expand...

Then Centurion 590 is a great case, plenty of cooling options, opposite side MB cooling, and it looks like the power supply gets air from outside the case. The others I'm meh about.

The M9 also has options for a 120mm fan placed directly over the GPU, as well as one over the CPU. Plus, the rear and dual front fan placements also take 120mm fans, not 80mm. Use fan controllers to reduce noise by turning off fans when not gaming. I paid $50 for mine at Frys brick-and-mortar store for my old comp.
 
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