Need a new case less than 55cm in height, any suggestions ?

jaap74 · 27-May-06, 01:24 PM

Title says it all :

Need a new case less than 55cm (21.6 inches) in height, any suggestions ?
Gonna build a new PC once Conroe is out and my current desk will only take a case with height up to 55cm.

Any idea's ? Quietness is a key factor.

Cheers

The Dragon Reborn · 27-May-06, 02:06 PM

That's easy.... any desktop, mini tower or "shuttle" like case should fit!

A few keywords on "quietness"....

- use a BIG heatsink with heatpipes & a slow turning large fan (92mm or 120mm),
choose a fan built fore silence... like a Pabst, Silenx, etc... those have quality bearings & fan
blades designed to move lot's of air while minimizing noise...

- always fit your fans "decoupled"...

- shell out more cash for a fast graphics card with an ingenious passive solution....
Asus & A-Open have great cards with original passive cooling solutions....

- if you don't have the cash for that... buy a Zalman VF900 for your card... (or a similar performing
solution)...

- don't choose a mainboard with active chipset cooling.... if you can't avoid it, buy a 3rd party
passive cooler...

- buy a silent Seagate or Samsung HDD... if you want something faster.... be prepared to buy
a hdd cooler/silencer like an Icy Box...

- only use fans designed for silence..... yup they cost more but they are worth it, imho....
preferrably, buy fans that still "turn" under 5v...

- buy a passive/semi passive PSU or buy one known for it's silent operation...

- buy somekind fan controller.... "automated" or "manual"..... If your fans spin slower, they really do make less noise!

- AMD Cool & Quiet boards & processors, ROCK!!!!

- Consider Watercooling... (if you dare..)

TDR

Sleepy_Sentry · 27-May-06, 06:38 PM

Here are two nice Thermaltake cases. Each comes in black or silver.
http://xoxide.com/thermaltake-armor-jr-vc3000bws.html
http://xoxide.com/thermaltake-aguila-case-silver.html

jaziel · 27-May-06, 07:50 PM

i check several online shops like newegg, zipzoomfly, partspc.com, tigerdirect I'm sure pc apex has lots of great links to stores but mostly do lots of looking before breaking out the cash mines an aspire broadway with a clear side and plenty of bays with front time and temp display for hdd cpu and gpu beware of psu's that come with the case i ended up buying a different psu because i thought it had a 500w psu included
it was realy a 500w peak power 350w continous power

i went with a 500w ultra x-connect modular psu and i love it "so shiny " chrome green i didnt even know chrome came in green

THRASHER2 · 27-May-06, 09:13 PM

AeroCool Spiral Galaxies Case - Black/Silver

Regular price: $79.99
Sale price: $69.99

jaap74 · 28-May-06, 05:42 AM

Been doing a lot of investigation and I'm leaning towards the Antec P180 :

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article254-page1.html

Just wondering if there will be any issues with cable length's from the PSU to the various components, as the PSU is at the bottom ? PSU I intend to get is the Enermax Modular, 620 or 500 Watt.

The Dragon Reborn · 28-May-06, 10:25 AM

Are you sure Jaap74? For that money you can buy a great Thermaltake case...like a Tsunami or
an Armor Jr.... one of the smaller Lian Li's could also be an option...

And remember... your case will be as silent as the sum of the noise of all the equipment you put into it....

TDR

jaap74 · 29-May-06, 04:46 AM

I like the look of the Tsunami.....whats the deal with the side intake fan not having a filter though ?

EDIT : Just saw some more pics and it's out of the running due to the placement of the USB ports under that flap on the top of the case. I wouldn't be able to access them given the way my desk is......

Just had a thought, I currently have a fan controller in one of my drive bays and I want to have one for the next build. Will a case with a door on the front stop me from having one ?

The Dragon Reborn · 29-May-06, 11:31 AM

Not if there is enough "clearance" between the 'knobs & the door.... if not you might want to fit new knobs/
and or "shorten" the shafts of the pot-meters (if applicable..)... Anyway... this is one of the reasons I do not
like doors... you've actually got to open them....

TDR

Ator · 29-May-06, 03:39 PM

Small? Quiet? This is the best quiet case i've EVER used:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155

The Dragon Reborn · 29-May-06, 04:53 PM

Love the "piano black laquer" on that one... Ator... did you use the original PSU that came with it?

TDR

Ator · 31-May-06, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dragon Reborn


	Love the "piano black laquer" on that one... Ator... did you use the original PSU that came with it? TDR

Yes I did...I had the one that came with the older 380W PSU, and it was rock solid for the 12+ months I used it.

jaap74 · 02-June-06, 02:49 PM

changed my mind again, think this one might be it :

Akasa Eclipse 62

http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_englis...ak_bkcse_01.htm

thoughts ?

The Dragon Reborn · 02-June-06, 04:24 PM

Heck! That's the first time I lay my eyes on this one.....

A few things I really like;
- no "door"
- removable mainboard tray
- filters
- decent, "thick" 'plating....quite solid!
- "clean" look...
- dual 120mm setup..

Looks like a winner to me! I'd buy the "optional" window, though....

TDR

27-May-06, 01:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
jaap74 Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 170	Need a new case less than 55cm in height, any suggestions ? Title says it all : Need a new case less than 55cm (21.6 inches) in height, any suggestions ? Gonna build a new PC once Conroe is out and my current desk will only take a case with height up to 55cm. Any idea's ? Quietness is a key factor. Cheers __________________ E6700 @ 3.4GHz, Asus P5W DH Deluxe, Corsair 2GB XMS2-8500C5, Raptor 74GB, ATI Radeon X1950 XT, 2 x Seagate 320GB 7200.10 (RAID0), Enermax Liberty 620W, Tuniq Tower, Akasa Eclipse 62

27-May-06, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NL Posts: 1,267	That's easy.... any desktop, mini tower or "shuttle" like case should fit! A few keywords on "quietness".... - use a BIG heatsink with heatpipes & a slow turning large fan (92mm or 120mm), choose a fan built fore silence... like a Pabst, Silenx, etc... those have quality bearings & fan blades designed to move lot's of air while minimizing noise... - always fit your fans "decoupled"... - shell out more cash for a fast graphics card with an ingenious passive solution.... Asus & A-Open have great cards with original passive cooling solutions.... - if you don't have the cash for that... buy a Zalman VF900 for your card... (or a similar performing solution)... - don't choose a mainboard with active chipset cooling.... if you can't avoid it, buy a 3rd party passive cooler... - buy a silent Seagate or Samsung HDD... if you want something faster.... be prepared to buy a hdd cooler/silencer like an Icy Box... - only use fans designed for silence..... yup they cost more but they are worth it, imho.... preferrably, buy fans that still "turn" under 5v... - buy a passive/semi passive PSU or buy one known for it's silent operation... - buy somekind fan controller.... "automated" or "manual"..... If your fans spin slower, they really do make less noise! - AMD Cool & Quiet boards & processors, ROCK!!!! - Consider Watercooling... (if you dare..) TDR __________________ Last edited by The Dragon Reborn; 27-May-06 at 02:21 PM.

27-May-06, 06:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sleepy_Sentry Apex Tech Maniac Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 818	Here are two nice Thermaltake cases. Each comes in black or silver. http://xoxide.com/thermaltake-armor-jr-vc3000bws.html http://xoxide.com/thermaltake-aguila-case-silver.html __________________ Unblock Websites Game Server Host The Private Islander

27-May-06, 07:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
jaziel Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 182	beware of stock psu's i check several online shops like newegg, zipzoomfly, partspc.com, tigerdirect I'm sure pc apex has lots of great links to stores but mostly do lots of looking before breaking out the cash mines an aspire broadway with a clear side and plenty of bays with front time and temp display for hdd cpu and gpu beware of psu's that come with the case i ended up buying a different psu because i thought it had a 500w psu included it was realy a 500w peak power 350w continous power i went with a 500w ultra x-connect modular psu and i love it "so shiny " chrome green i didnt even know chrome came in green

27-May-06, 09:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
THRASHER2 PCApex Newscaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach --- CA --- New Pimp Welcome Posts: 3,500 Babe Posts: 3k B-Day Posts: 675 Pimpin' Deal Posts: 6.1K Posts: 11,284	AeroCool Spiral Galaxies Case - Black/Silver Regular price: $79.99 Sale price: $69.99 __________________ T2's F@HOLDING ARMY IS RECRUITING * T2 TEAM STATS * F@HOLDING DOWNLOADS

28-May-06, 05:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
jaap74 Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 170	Been doing a lot of investigation and I'm leaning towards the Antec P180 : http://www.silentpcreview.com/article254-page1.html Just wondering if there will be any issues with cable length's from the PSU to the various components, as the PSU is at the bottom ? PSU I intend to get is the Enermax Modular, 620 or 500 Watt. __________________ E6700 @ 3.4GHz, Asus P5W DH Deluxe, Corsair 2GB XMS2-8500C5, Raptor 74GB, ATI Radeon X1950 XT, 2 x Seagate 320GB 7200.10 (RAID0), Enermax Liberty 620W, Tuniq Tower, Akasa Eclipse 62

28-May-06, 10:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NL Posts: 1,267	Are you sure Jaap74? For that money you can buy a great Thermaltake case...like a Tsunami or an Armor Jr.... one of the smaller Lian Li's could also be an option... And remember... your case will be as silent as the sum of the noise of all the equipment you put into it.... TDR __________________

29-May-06, 04:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
jaap74 Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 170	I like the look of the Tsunami.....whats the deal with the side intake fan not having a filter though ? EDIT : Just saw some more pics and it's out of the running due to the placement of the USB ports under that flap on the top of the case. I wouldn't be able to access them given the way my desk is...... Just had a thought, I currently have a fan controller in one of my drive bays and I want to have one for the next build. Will a case with a door on the front stop me from having one ? __________________ E6700 @ 3.4GHz, Asus P5W DH Deluxe, Corsair 2GB XMS2-8500C5, Raptor 74GB, ATI Radeon X1950 XT, 2 x Seagate 320GB 7200.10 (RAID0), Enermax Liberty 620W, Tuniq Tower, Akasa Eclipse 62 Last edited by jaap74; 29-May-06 at 05:54 AM.

29-May-06, 11:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NL Posts: 1,267	Not if there is enough "clearance" between the 'knobs & the door.... if not you might want to fit new knobs/ and or "shorten" the shafts of the pot-meters (if applicable..)... Anyway... this is one of the reasons I do not like doors... you've actually got to open them.... TDR __________________

29-May-06, 03:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ator At-Whore Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The ends of the earth Posts: 2,057	Small? Quiet? This is the best quiet case i've EVER used: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155 __________________ AMD Opteron 146 CAB2E 0540 FPMW @ 3216Mhz 321.6x10 (max OC benchable, 300x10 daily)\| Radeon X1800XT @ 766/900 (stock cooler, 700/800 daily) \|SuperPI 1M: 26.109\| 3DMark05: 11454 \| 3DMark03: 21355 \| 3DMark01: 40456 \| Join Team Ator's F@H FORCE! Click HERE for info! NOW RECRUITING!

29-May-06, 04:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NL Posts: 1,267	Love the "piano black laquer" on that one... Ator... did you use the original PSU that came with it? TDR __________________

02-June-06, 02:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
jaap74 Apex Advanced Techie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 170	Akasa Eclipse 62 changed my mind again, think this one might be it : Akasa Eclipse 62 http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_englis...ak_bkcse_01.htm thoughts ? __________________ E6700 @ 3.4GHz, Asus P5W DH Deluxe, Corsair 2GB XMS2-8500C5, Raptor 74GB, ATI Radeon X1950 XT, 2 x Seagate 320GB 7200.10 (RAID0), Enermax Liberty 620W, Tuniq Tower, Akasa Eclipse 62

02-June-06, 04:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NL Posts: 1,267	Heck! That's the first time I lay my eyes on this one..... A few things I really like; - no "door" - removable mainboard tray - filters - decent, "thick" 'plating....quite solid! - "clean" look... - dual 120mm setup.. Looks like a winner to me! I'd buy the "optional" window, though.... TDR __________________

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