Case advice for me

[Gerfey]

Ok, I'm planning my new comp, and I'd like a hand picking out a case. This is what I'm looking for:

-removable motherboard tray (not really necessary, just a preference)
-place for a 120mm fan in front (if not a designated spot, at least room), as well as a filter in front (if not included, at least room)
-place for 2x80mm fan on the back panel
-not ugly chassis (colour doesn't matter, can be changed)

and most important: CHEAP (ie. less than $100 CDN)

Overall, just looking something that isn't going to break the bank, have decent air flow, and doesn't look terrible.

If anyone has any good ideas and happens to know where you can get it in Canada, then could you please tell me that too. I really don't want to order from the US (too expensive).

Hope you guys can help!

 

[Giblet Plus!]

Compucase LX-6A19

http://www.coolcases.com/cases/d8000_s-m_p1.html

No mobo tray. . .

Or it's antec cousin, the SLK3700AMB, which comes with a nice 350W PSU.

The grey looks a little wierd in the pic, but it's really shiny in person.

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

I have the Antec SLK3700AMB - best case I ever owned, and you can grab one from www.ncix.com - they have the best service in Canada and they also do price matching

Full link to the case: http://www.ncix.com/productdetail.php?sku=9498

It's a bit over your budget, but if you find it cheaper in Canada they will price match it. It is, however, worth the extra cash.

The case has room for one 120mm fan in front, directly in front of a 5 bay hard drive rack, and one 120mm exhaust. No MB tray, but the case is so sweet I just don't care

Edit: Some more links to others that have this case in Canada:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/cases.html
http://www.anitec.ca/default.asp?FundID=1&cat=18
http://www.razorcomputers.net/database3.asp
http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/?cid=167

ShopRBC seems to have it cheapest - $104 Cdn. I bought mine from NCIX for $127.

 

[Gerfey]

Thanks! Do you know of anywhere in canada that sells the SLK3700AMB or whatever its other brand names may be (like the compucase variety), without a power supply? because I was planning on getting a sparkle 350 or 400.

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Don't know about the others I mentioned, but try giving NCIX an email - those people are so nice they may be willing to deduct the PSU for you. Pairing this case with a Sparkle is a great idea - it comes with an SL350 which is ok, but not spectacular. I gave mine away to my folks because I'd already spent $100 on a good 420w CWT unit two months earlier.

 

[Gerfey]

Just got an email back from ncix, they said I can get it without p/s for a whopping 15$ cheaper . I guess I'll keep looking for a different brand with the same chassis...

Although it is only 103$ in that case... hmm...

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Perhaps ShopRBC would give you the same discount... may be worth asking them too

FWIW I couldn't find the Compucase version in Canada

 

[Gerfey]

I emailed everyone else in canada who sells them, no one else will take the power supply away. Looked at ordering the one from www.directron.com in the US, and shipping was twice as much as the case, and the whole thing was more expensive than the 3700AMB (even before converting the american to canadian). Maybe I should just get the antec sonata, and use the power supply that comes with it.

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Sonata looks like a good case too - doesn't have a 120mm intake fan, but a little modding would take care of that. The PSU in it is much better than the one that came with mine and would probably work fine for you.

One thing I forgot to mention - about a week ago NCIX was selling a Sparkle PSU... I don't see it on the website anymore but they'd probably swap one in if they have any left.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Gerfey]

What about the Elite ACF-2029 and friends from www.memoryexpress.com/FrameCases.php ? It's got an optional 120mm intake in front, so in know that at least there's room.
These Elite guys just rebadge all sorts of cases, and I've seen a review somewhere before on a very similar case, so has anyone seen these elsewhere and know what they're called?

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Nice looking case... is sort of similar in layout to the Antec 3700 except 2 80mm exhaust fans instead of 1 120mm.

Went to http://www.elitecases.com to look at the innards - should work for you

 

[Hookem]

The Antec Sonata has one rear 120m/m fan with the "option" for adding another 120m/m fan in the front...Really nice case http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_details_enclosure.php?ProdID=15138 Replaced the 120m/m Antec fan that comes with the case with 2 of these Pansonic Pan-flo's http://www.directron.com/120l1a.html

 

[Mr.Guvernment]

check out toms hardware recent review on cases. personally i saw none i liked..

http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20030428/index.html

 

[Cutter]

If you want a full tower black case with motherboard tray got to www.casedepot.com. Or just click the link I have provided, this is the case I am ordering, and i think it comes with or without PSU, with it is 88.00

hope this helps https://www.casedepot.com/index-s.html

 

[Gerfey]

Only problem is, thats american dollars, which, after shipping, taxes, etc, would cost me close to $200 canadian. Thanks for trying though