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recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:40 pm
by aznboiray
I'm building my first computer during my fall semester and I'm starting from scratch. For most of the parts I've taken heavy consideration from the summer system guide but i don't like the cases.

computer use: I'm a gamer and i love computers like how some people love cars. I have a sweet tooth for fast, stylish, and innovative. =)

Mid tower case: I've done most of my research on cases and I'm particularly grown a liking to the HAF 922 and am a little curious to why it wasn't mentioned in the system guide. Is there something wrong with this case i don't know about? All of the reviews I've seen gave it great marks.
I"m willing to spend up to $150 on a mid tower case maybe more if its worth it.

Haf 922: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product
For everyone who helps me with their suggestions should know I'm really grateful for it. I respect the intellect of most of the people on this forum and admire your knowledge and with a little help hope to gain that knowledge myself.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:04 pm
by unkoil
I recently bought an HAF 922 to replace a Cooler Master Mystique 631.
Overall I'm pretty satisfied with it.

A few observations on my part,
1. Runs my system much cooler than my old case. CPU temps have dropped 5C on idle and about 8C on load (Q6600 G0 stepping, stock settings, thermalright ultima heatsink). Chipset temps have dropped by about 3C. Had a stock fan setup on the old case, with the addition of a 120mm yate loon on the side panel. I transferred that fan to the HAF.
2. Side panel fit is acceptable, but isn't perfect. I need to press the panel against the chassis, near the thumb screws, to properly screw them in. I hadn't seen any complains on the various review sites about side panel fit issues, so it might just be mine. I did have side panel fit issues with my old Cooler Master so it might be an issue with Cooler Master or lightning just happened to strike twice for me.
3. Cable management is great and installation is a breeze. The PSU can be mounted right side up or upside down. If you intend to mount your PSU upside down and feed the 8 pin secondary connector behind the mobo tray, you might want to check the cable length or get an extension cable. I've got an EVGA 680i motherboard and a Seasonic S12II and found that I could not snake the cable behind the mobo tray while attempting to mount the PSU upside down (didn't have an extension cable handy)
4. The top 200 MM fan does not light up. Not sure if that kind of thing is important to you or not. Only the front lights up.
5. There are no dust filters for the top and side panels. The front panel filter is attached to the bezel, requiring both side panels and 6 screws to be removed to get at it. So the instructions say, I have not removed it myself personally.
6. It is a dust magnet, but given the whole high air flow designation, it's to be expected.

hope that helps.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:10 pm
by StuG
There are a few reasons why you will never see any form of HAF recommended on Tech Report I feel. Most people here don't really go for the whole side-mesh-window/led lights, and if they do its on a minimum level. You can pretty easily tell that all HAF's are not focused towards being professional or discrete about their looks...so that would be one reason (its targeted towards a very particular type of crowd). Also, HAF's aren't really quiet (another valued feature of most TR readers) because it has a million places you can stick fans...fans that are typically unneeded for a regular set-up today. The last reason would bring us back to its looks. Not only does it have a side panel and LED's, its pretty butt ugly to begin with. Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I've read more than one post regarding the HAF's less than appealing looks.

None the less, if you want the side-panel, LED's and massive air-flow this case will surely do it for you. Personally $90 is so close to a better crafted less flashy case that I would probably steer away from it...but than again I have a feeling my visual priorities/cooling techniques are different than yours. I will also warn you that HAF's tend to be a little on the heavy side, even this being the mid-tower version.

All this aside, I have worked in them and would say that they are decent cases. Once again, if the things it offers are what you are looking for it is a fine case and would work for anything you need. Just makes sure you don't overdue the fans, you'll turn it into dust city -_-

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:21 pm
by aznboiray
StuG wrote:
There are a few reasons why you will never see any form of HAF recommended on Tech Report I feel. Most people here don't really go for the whole side-mesh-window/led lights, and if they do its on a minimum level. You can pretty easily tell that all HAF's are not focused towards being professional or discrete about their looks...so that would be one reason (its targeted towards a very particular type of crowd). Also, HAF's aren't really quiet (another valued feature of most TR readers) because it has a million places you can stick fans...fans that are typically unneeded for a regular set-up today. The last reason would bring us back to its looks. Not only does it have a side panel and LED's, its pretty butt ugly to begin with. Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I've read more than one post regarding the HAF's less than appealing looks.

None the less, if you want the side-panel, LED's and massive air-flow this case will surely do it for you. Personally $90 is so close to a better crafted less flashy case that I would probably steer away from it...but than again I have a feeling my visual priorities/cooling techniques are different than yours. I will also warn you that HAF's tend to be a little on the heavy side, even this being the mid-tower version.

All this aside, I have worked in them and would say that they are decent cases. Once again, if the things it offers are what you are looking for it is a fine case and would work for anything you need. Just makes sure you don't overdue the fans, you'll turn it into dust city -_-


Thank you very much this helps a lot. I personally like the design for the HAF 922 but the main reason i was geared towards it is because i thought it does a good job for cooling but from what you said i think I'm gonna back off from it and go with the recommended cases on the system guide.

All i want from a case is to be efficient on keeping my parts cool, and organizable because i don't like having cables everywhere.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:36 pm
by StuG
I'm not sure which case you are referring too as the System Guide I thought mentions a few. Some cases that I have worked with in the past and always liked are listed below incase you care:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811129072
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811129057
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119068
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811129042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119137
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811112099

Those are all around the same price or less than the HAF you were looking at...so I figured these would be down your alley. Also, here is a nice little cooling guide going over how you can setup an effectively cooled environment to your needs:

http://coreignition.net/casecooling.html

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:40 pm
by aznboiray
StuG wrote:
I'm not sure which case you are referring too as the System Guide I thought mentions a few. Some cases that I have worked with in the past and always liked are listed below incase you care:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811129072
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811129057
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119068
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811129042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119137
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811112099

Those are all around the same price or less than the HAF you were looking at...so I figured these would be down your alley. Also, here is a nice little cooling guide going over how you can setup an effectively cooled environment to your needs:

http://coreignition.net/casecooling.html


thanks the cooling guide was especially helpful. as for the cases i'm fine paying a up to 150 for a nice case for gamers but i don't like liquid cooling.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:49 pm
by StuG
Ah, do you have any special interests with the case that it must have? As for me I am a silent case/filters guy...but possibly knowing your priorities would make it easier to point out what you would like.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:59 pm
by scpulp
Personally, whenever asked to recommend a case I err on the side of something silent but a solid performer.

On an extreme budget:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product
I've found the CoolerMaster Elite 360 to be a great bargain for a cheap case. It's quiet, fairly well built, handles cooling alright. Not a whole lot of room for expandability, but for basic uses it's fine.

For an average build:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product
The Antec Sonata Elite (or the Antec Sonata III that comes with a solid EarthWatts 500W PSU) is also very quiet, and actually does handle cooling pretty well given the singular 120mm exhaust fan.

And for my build:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... tec%20p183
I actually have a P182, but the P183 is on par. Whisper quiet, EXCELLENT cooling if configured correctly. My own tower is able to keep my overclocked Q9650 nice and frosty, and the Radeon HD 5870 doesn't overheat as long as I remember to regularly clean out the dust filters. ;)

For what it's worth, Antec's customer service is also 110% awesome. I e-mailed them because I'd lost the spare rails for my P182, and they sent me a bunch of new ones for free. E-mailed them again because I'd scratched the front door and wanted to replace it, they got back to me and were willing to sell me a replacement for like $12. If you want something good, that'll last for a long time, you can't go wrong with a P183.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 4:09 pm
by aznboiray
StuG wrote:
Ah, do you have any special interests with the case that it must have? As for me I am a silent case/filters guy...but possibly knowing your priorities would make it easier to point out what you would like.


I'm new to building computers so i can't say i have a specific type i like but looking at my personality i like having silent and filters too. I'm kinda a neat freak and i hate it when my desktop sounds like an engine.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 4:40 pm
by StuG
Antec's P18x series would be great for you than.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:13 am
by rogthewookiee
By fall semester I assume you mean of college. Is it a fair guest to say you are living in a dorm? If so I highly recommend that you get a quiet case that doesn't have a ton of lights. My first year of college was kind of miserable because both my room mate and I where reminiscent of 747's coming with all their landing lights on!

A bit more expensive, but I learned better and got a Lian Li B25F

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:26 pm
by unkoil
The Antec P183 is going for $89 after a $30 MIR at Frys (if you got one near you).

http://www.frys.com/product/5892383

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:30 pm
by aznboiray
unkoil wrote:
The Antec P183 is going for $89 after a $30 MIR at Frys (if you got one near you).

http://www.frys.com/product/5892383


Thanks for the help but i live in new york.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 1:15 am
by scpulp
You can order it online and have it shipped to you. :)

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:50 am
by dragmor
If I was going for a large case i would get one of these. http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/in-the ... case-mods/

On the serious side, you can't really go wrong with a P180 series case.

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:32 am
by aznboiray
dragmor wrote:
If I was going for a large case i would get one of these. http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/07/in-the ... case-mods/

On the serious side, you can't really go wrong with a P180 series case.


lol nice i'd totally buy that 5 years from now

Re: recommendation for a new computer case

Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 5:12 am
by Fighterpilot
I've been using this case for a few months now...its great and I would recommend it.
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product ... ct_id=2912
You can check this thread for more:
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=72456