Case suggestions

[flingz]

I need a case/psu for the system below. I don't necessarily need a case/psu combo, they could be separate parts as well but I only have $100 left in my budget.

AMD 64 3000+
Abit AV8 motherboard
Corsair 2x256 ddr pc3200
80 gb western digital sata hDD
cheap video card
cheap dvd rw
cheap floppy

[cyber_surfer]

I like Antec because I can use the PS instead of junking it and buying another. I have a Sonata with a tru380 (about $99) and a 3700 (about $69)with a 350W PS. They both have 120mm fans which run slower for the same air movement. They have quality fit and finish inside and out.

I use a small strip of Dynamat on each inside surface (except the front) to stop any vibration noise.

Sonata is $99 with free shipping at NewEgg right now.

[saphalline]

I wouldn't necessarily recommend the Sonata case if you want to keep a cool system. Sonata's don't have the best ventilation & fan options. Looking at Newegg recently, I came across the Maxtop Signature Series II case for roughly $46 after shipping. Not the prettiest or most high quality case available, but it's very functional with good construction and has plenty of ventilation options. This case also leaves you a good amount for a quality PSU.

[cyber_surfer]

I have read others have had heat problems with the sonata case. Not being a gamer, I may not have tested it's limits.

I didn't have any problems with temps using my Sonanta but needing something to do I put a blow hole in the top and one in the side. A three inch metal hole saw from Home Depot, two 80mm fans, two grills and a little black paint. Inexpensive mod

How cases look is very important to some people and meaningless to others. Your $100 limit (case and PS) takes away all the top end cases from the list. The normal $25-45 case has screw in HD and DVD/CD drive mounts, verses snap in and out. They are normally not finished as well inside and it is easy to end up bleeding on the components (I actually did placing a motherboard). This is more important if you will be in your machine often in the future. I have 5 desktops and I am always adding, swapping, testing, cleaning.

[nails00]

i too have a Sonata case but i dont have any overheating problems. i got 2x120mm fans inside, one intake fan (sold seperatly) mounted just behind the HDD bays and the outake fan that comes included when u buy the case. to eliminate any "hot spots" i stashed all the wiring just above the floppy drive in the empty drive bay so the intake fan could blow directly across to the outake fan without anything blocking the flow. air goes in, air goes out :D

MB temps are 30*C idle
CPU temps are yet to be determined as i just installed a new Zalman HSF copper/aluminum unit for my P4 prescott and the thermal grease is still settling in.

Sonata's work fine, you just gotta get good air flow circulation in there since the case is a mid-tower it can get crowded.

[jdbaines]

Try Jeantech's Butterfly V2 - full size with 350 watt PSU, but both sides unclip and fold down. Has plenty of space also. Not expensive either, but I don't know US prices - around 40 pounds in UK.
The only problem I found was that the leads from the front panel have different nomenclature from that on the MSI mobo I have!

[kenner]

I like Antec too. I don't have a Sonata but my tower is great for working in and with. I always start a system from the outside in; it has to have good bones. I won't use anything but Enermax and Antec for power supplies as they have never let me down. Right now I have two Antec's on purchase from Directron.

[Speedbird_777]

here is an article on the sonata case with temp. readings on a high end system

sonata test (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/sonata.ars/1)

imagine the guy's house was 26C...pretty hot to begin with

cheers

[classicsoftware]

Saphilline is one of the premier system builders on the forum and I would follow his advice. He gave you a good case that fit's into your budget...

[scylla]

It seem the Antec Sonata is the most popular choice here, and for good reason. After checking around I also chose the Antec. It's really a beautiful case and extremely well built. You only need to worry about heat problems if you overclock and don't have proper component coolers. Otherwise the case fans pull PLENTY of hot air.

[scylla]

Oh yea, cyber surfer, what the heck is dynamat? You said you only use a small amount, so I reckon it's some type of vibration damper as opposed to an acoustic baffle. Is this so?

[Speedbird_777]

I think Dynamat is the stuff they use to isulate cars for noise but not too sure

[cyber_surfer]

http://www.dynamat.com/

They also market it for computer usage.
It is black sticky stuff on one side and a silver covering on the other. You don't want to use it and then decide you want to get rid of it.

I find it eliminates any vibration sound that the machines makes with a small piece on the inside on each side you want to quiet down. If holding your hand on the side, or top, makes the machine quiet down this will do it permanently. All you should hear after that is fan noise.

It says it turns vibration energy into heat energy. That is one reason for not using a large amount. It is not the most attractive product so if you have a window case you have to be selective where you place it.

Worked great for me while others claim no difference (they probably didn't have a vibration problem to solve in the first place).

Used as described the small box would serve 4 or more machines.
I forget exactly what I paid but it was far less than the manufacturers website asked for it at the time.

[NeWbiE :-)]

ive found that computer shows help alot and have awesome prices..i bought i kinda no name case that came with a 450w psu and it was recommended by the advisor that walks the floor said it was a very strong easy to use case with a powerful psu that should last and all this for $45 with 2 extra case fans...seemed like a deal to me