What Case to Buy?

[Intraveinous]

My girlfriend moved to London, UK for school yesterday, so I'm in need of a project. I decided I needed a new case and that I would mod/paint it over the next few months while she's gone so I have something to work on. I've been looking around and now I'm trying to decide what kind of Case to get...
Here are the reqirements:
-Full Tower
-Wide enough to mount 80mm fan(s) next to the cardslots on the back
-Good ventilation possibilities built in (I'm not afraid to cut, but why do that if it's cut for you?)
-Enough room above the PSU for a 120mm Fan, if not larger
-Removable Mobo tray would be nice, but not required
-No PSU reqired, I've got my Enermax already
-Sturdy (1mm Steel) with no sharp edges
-Price -- Under $150US if possible, but a little more wouldn't be terrible.


So yeah, I plan on pulling this thing completely apart, painting it, and modding the fu#* out of it. For this reason, original aesthetics aren't as important to me.

Anyone have suggestions? What case are you using? How easy was it to mod? Any cases I really wanna stay away from???

Thanks in advance for help!
John

[VashTheStampede]

I'm using one of the first production Enermax FS-910XPPB cases. The current ones have much better ventilation, but even what I have currently is more than plenty.

http://www.enermax.com.tw/pro-img/server/fs-910xpbbback.jpg

3x80mm fans, 1 along the backplane, 1 right next to the CPU and 1 down in the front of the case. 1x120mm in the upper rear. You can mod it for a little larger, I believe.

Comes with 10 exposed 5 1/4 bays and 1 hidden one, no 3 1/2 bays in this thing. That's about the only drawback.

http://www.enermax.com.tw/pro-img/server/fs-910xpbb.jpg

Nice door, but mine finally fell off after many years of abuse. Comes with a MHz LCD, power LED, sleep LED, and 6 device LEDs.

http://www.enermax.com.tw/products/fs-910xpbb.htm#f

Nice case, like I said, it has lasted me many years, back in the days when PII 233s used to be the hottest thing, this case was my case back then too.

As for mods, it's well over large enough for one HUGE window or a couple smaller ones.

Back then, I bought it white and it was around $120 I think, wholesaler switched the Enermax PSU out for a Leadman 300W, which is still performing well today.

~RT~

[Random Nonsense]

WOW thats a nice looking case! GET THAT ONE! almost makes me wish i hadnt got my YY server cube! i got an old midi-tower here, would let u have it but you want full tower, so it will remain homeless for a while longer!

[Intraveinous]

That one was actually one of my Finalists... Now to find it for a decent price and decent shipping.
hmmm...
John

[lennytiger]

Suntek Vipers are also fairly nice for a full tower but that one there looks nice.

[Intraveinous]

W00t! Found one locally for 140 with an Enermax 350Watt PSU, the cheapest I had found online without a PSU was 80 bucks, but then I would have had to pay 30 dollars shipping. So all in all, I don't think I got a big deal... I already have an Enermax PSU, so does anyone wanna buy this one? I'll throw it up in FS/FT, but it came to mind now, so I posted it...
Next stop, blowholes, window, paint, cold cathodes, etc... :-D
hmmm... maybe I'll just end up water cooling...
John