I'm planning my first build in ages (more than 10 years, so everything is different, might as well be a new build). I want a roomy easy-to-deal with case. Noise is an issue, but so is air flow. (Okay, I'm not sure what I want.) The case is for gaming mostly; I'd like to spend under $200 on the case. Oh, I have cats so getting cat fur in the case is inevitable but I'd like to minimize it. Not ready to water cool, so this will be air cooled. I don't care if there is a case window or not. I'll do some overclocking and run one HD4870, bit nothing extreme.

I will want to fit in an Asus P45 mobo with Xigmtek S123 rifle cooler, so that better fit!

I'm considering these cases, all large mid-towers or full towers. I rank them more or less in this order, from high to low:

1.) Cooler master RC 690
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137
Good price, lots of air flow, noisy--I will probably get a fan controller (not sure which). I like the basic design, even though it seems a little crude.

2.) Antec P182
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129025
Nice looking design, probably quiet, maybe a bit tough for air flow.

3.) Silverstone Kublai KLo3B-W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163102
Big (really a full tower), quirky but interesting design.

4.) Thermaltake Armor+MX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811133062
Robust chassis, removable motherboard tray, but huge weird fan seems nutty.

I welcome any advice.

Don't forget the Antec 1200, or the cooler master stackers/cosmos/830.

Thanks for the thoughts. I looked at each of these, but I sort of arbitrarily pushed myself down to one case per company. Do you particularly recommend any of the Antec 1200, or Cooler Master Cosmos/Stacker 830? (And if so, why?)

I have the Silverstone Kublai KL01B-W which has a more elegant design than the KL03B and which I like. Good airflow and quiet. Note that mine has window but the link does not. $130

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163095

A case I like for future - a huge case with excellent airflow - 2 x 250mm fans - is the Tagan Monolith - regularly $120 now on sale for $90

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811215009

That, is a monolith. No lan parties for you. I wonder how many fans it can accommodate?

I wanted to avoid massive fans; I'd like to stay with standard fan sizes.

I love my P180, which is same as P182... has great airflow/cooling powers.

I have a friend who has the armor and would always brag it up about his awesome full size case... and then I got mine and he stopped talking so much and started talking about changing cases.

Can't say much about the CM or the silverstone, I know silverstone makes a quality product, but I haven't tried it for myself yet. Only CM cases I've had were the Centurion 534, and 5, and a case from like 2004. Not that I didn't like their cases, but after having the P180 I wouldn't switch back.

Hope this helps.

+99999999999999999999999999999999999999 x10 to the power of 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

for the RC-690.

Thanks. I leaning towards the P182 right now, with the CM RC-690 a close second.

Get Antec 1200. You, in US are lucky. You could get it for like $180. I've to paid for it about $280 in Poland... but it's worth it.

One drawback is, that it's old-fashioned when mounting devices are concerned - no fast rails, no thumbscrews, just standard set. But... the build is well finished, no sharp steel to cut your fingers - also, if look of the case is important then you have the mobo tray painted black

And, if you ever decide to go for water cooling, you can either hide the pump/water tank into the bay in case, or just pre-drilled slots to run the hoses through back of case.

I don't regret spending money on that case.

Drawbacks - weight... it's like 14kg.And 2nd is that it does not look super-cool, like all those fancy lan party boxes. But, I prefer efficient air flow, and space in case, to any looks

Other important thing is that each of the fans is manually regulated by small knob, so you don't need any device to set the speeds.

What else? Cable managment - with the holes in mobo tray, you can put your cables the way they should be, so airflow is not stopped by loose cables

Thanks for the suggestion. I have four cats, and I'm worried about cat hair getting into the case. This WILL happen, but with the Antec 1200 the cat hair will fly into through the mesh covering the large fan. This is one reason I'm leary of cases with large non-standard fans--it will be harder to work out a good fan filter that doesn't restrict airflow with this sort of fan.

easy solution, shave the pussies..

wow well if the coolermaster stacker is in your budget then i would get thatin a heart beat, that a beautiful case. bigger the better i say

can i suggest one you missed which is always good for your price range ,

the akasa's are always regard as good , not sure where to get it in US but heres the new one on one of my fav uk sites.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] 0-%20Black