After looking for a case for a while, I see that there is still no "perfect case".
Though, there are some candidates:
Lian-Li PC-60 plus -- after a looooong multiday look at Lian-Li, this looked like a nice case. Until I saw this decibel rating chart. I wanted a quiet case, and that meant less fans I guess.
Lian-Li PC-7 plus -- after a looooong multiday look at Lian-Li, this looked like a 2nd nice case. It had the same number of fans but of different sizes though, as Lian-Li'S PC-V1000 in the above decibel rating, so they were probably both about the same rating. I didn't like the 80mm fan though. I probably could put up with it, as perhaps I have to compromise somewhere. What I'd do though is reverse the rear 80mm fan to be an intake fan, and put a filter on it to create a positive inflow of air into the case to prevent dust. Or, to create a neutral flow, I'd put another 80mm fan where the top vent is. Eeeh, more fans again. Maybe then I'd put some insulating foam on the side panels, and maybe add a door with front intake grills. This is starting to sound more like Lian-Li's PC-6070 plus, except that there are no fan grill holes in the front of that model. Maybe I can get that case instead and cut a hole in the front. Doing so will probably increase the noise coming out of the case, but then I can get a quiet Nexus fan and see what happens.. It may still be a bit louder, unless I get all quiet fans for this case, be they 80mm or 120mm. The real problem then is cutting out the hole in the front panel and making it look nice.
Other Lian-Li cases either didn't have a reset button, or were too long, or didn't have a front intake on the front panel for the fan right behind the front panel ! Some cases also had doors to cover the front panel, so I assume there's no real air intake there.
Antec P160 -- That was one of the first cases I looked at actually. It's also one of the quieter cases on the above decibel scale. I like that. I'm not crazy about the front panel though, but I do like the 120mm fans. I'm not yet sure how I'm going to create neutral or positive air inflow. I will probably get both front and rear fans to be intake fans. Put a filter on the rear one and let the Seasonic S12 PSU's fan be the exhaust fan. I wonder if that'll create too much positive air inflow though.
Kingwin KT-424-S -- I thought of going with Lian-Li, until I saw this one. Then, after giving it a closer look, I'd prefer 120mm fans instead of the 3 80mms that it comes with. Also, I don't know its decibel rating, but from some comments it looks like it may be somewhat noisy. Not too much, as some comments also said that it's fairly quiet, but noisy enough to perhaps be higher than P160. But I'm speculating here. Also, some said that it's a perfect case, and some didn't like some things, like having to reroute IEEE wire to hang from the back of the case. Some reviews also said that in general this case is built just as well as Lian-Li but with a lesser price tag.
I didn't like the above cases thoughto the point of going wow, I'm gonna get this one ! On some cases I almost did say that, but then after giving them a second look there were things that I didn't quite like, as I noted above.
Which case would I like ?
One that has the front panel looks of Antec PLUS660AMG, inside looks of either Antec PLUS660AMG or Silverstonetek's TJ02, decibel rating of Antec SONATA or less, sturdiness, airflow and cooling of Lian-Li's cases that have the front panel grills open, and neutral or some positive air flow inside the case. Maybe I ought to make my own case. Or heavily (or in some cases lightly) mod one of the available ones.
Or maybe give up or compromise and get one of these cases. I already ordered one. Then I almost cancelled it, but then decided to stay with the order. I thought that I can probably order another one, if I liked it more and return the first one, but I haven't ordered another one yet. I may not order one either. I don't know, I'll see how things go. I'll may get the case and get used to it.. humm.
Though, there are some candidates:
Lian-Li PC-60 plus -- after a looooong multiday look at Lian-Li, this looked like a nice case. Until I saw this decibel rating chart. I wanted a quiet case, and that meant less fans I guess.
Lian-Li PC-7 plus -- after a looooong multiday look at Lian-Li, this looked like a 2nd nice case. It had the same number of fans but of different sizes though, as Lian-Li'S PC-V1000 in the above decibel rating, so they were probably both about the same rating. I didn't like the 80mm fan though. I probably could put up with it, as perhaps I have to compromise somewhere. What I'd do though is reverse the rear 80mm fan to be an intake fan, and put a filter on it to create a positive inflow of air into the case to prevent dust. Or, to create a neutral flow, I'd put another 80mm fan where the top vent is. Eeeh, more fans again. Maybe then I'd put some insulating foam on the side panels, and maybe add a door with front intake grills. This is starting to sound more like Lian-Li's PC-6070 plus, except that there are no fan grill holes in the front of that model. Maybe I can get that case instead and cut a hole in the front. Doing so will probably increase the noise coming out of the case, but then I can get a quiet Nexus fan and see what happens.. It may still be a bit louder, unless I get all quiet fans for this case, be they 80mm or 120mm. The real problem then is cutting out the hole in the front panel and making it look nice.
Other Lian-Li cases either didn't have a reset button, or were too long, or didn't have a front intake on the front panel for the fan right behind the front panel ! Some cases also had doors to cover the front panel, so I assume there's no real air intake there.
Antec P160 -- That was one of the first cases I looked at actually. It's also one of the quieter cases on the above decibel scale. I like that. I'm not crazy about the front panel though, but I do like the 120mm fans. I'm not yet sure how I'm going to create neutral or positive air inflow. I will probably get both front and rear fans to be intake fans. Put a filter on the rear one and let the Seasonic S12 PSU's fan be the exhaust fan. I wonder if that'll create too much positive air inflow though.
Kingwin KT-424-S -- I thought of going with Lian-Li, until I saw this one. Then, after giving it a closer look, I'd prefer 120mm fans instead of the 3 80mms that it comes with. Also, I don't know its decibel rating, but from some comments it looks like it may be somewhat noisy. Not too much, as some comments also said that it's fairly quiet, but noisy enough to perhaps be higher than P160. But I'm speculating here. Also, some said that it's a perfect case, and some didn't like some things, like having to reroute IEEE wire to hang from the back of the case. Some reviews also said that in general this case is built just as well as Lian-Li but with a lesser price tag.
I didn't like the above cases thoughto the point of going wow, I'm gonna get this one ! On some cases I almost did say that, but then after giving them a second look there were things that I didn't quite like, as I noted above.
Which case would I like ?
One that has the front panel looks of Antec PLUS660AMG, inside looks of either Antec PLUS660AMG or Silverstonetek's TJ02, decibel rating of Antec SONATA or less, sturdiness, airflow and cooling of Lian-Li's cases that have the front panel grills open, and neutral or some positive air flow inside the case. Maybe I ought to make my own case. Or heavily (or in some cases lightly) mod one of the available ones.
Or maybe give up or compromise and get one of these cases. I already ordered one. Then I almost cancelled it, but then decided to stay with the order. I thought that I can probably order another one, if I liked it more and return the first one, but I haven't ordered another one yet. I may not order one either. I don't know, I'll see how things go. I'll may get the case and get used to it.. humm.
<tongue in cheeck> can you say conflicted / wishy washy </tongue in cheek> 
