Max Builds a PC Series Part I: The Case

Posted By: Max Zuckerman | Dec 6th, 2007 @ 6:39 AM | 3,915 Views | 29 Comments

Formats:

Here it is 8-ees... or is it 8-ers? Whatever it is, it's time for you guys to get your opinion out there and help me pick the case for our new project PC. Based on everyone's input, it seems that this PC's goal will be an all around system good for gaming, productivity, and media.

So step one: let's pick the case enclosure for this sucka. One of my favorite case companies is Antec so my first option to throw out there is the Antec P182 in Gunmetal or Black (there are also white and silver iterations in the 180 series I believe, but those colors aren't my speed personally).

I have had the Antec Sonata series I and III cases and loved them both due to solid construction, super quietness, and included power supplies. So Antec has my attention so far and this case has had some great reviews.

Another option I will toss out to see if you guys like is the one suggested earlier by Dau_Sama, the Lian Li PC-B25B.

(If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a big fan of black and silent)

I haven't seen this one in person yet but from the pictures on the site it seems very stylish. The blue lit circle in front fits with just about every modern electronic device I have these days, so I'm partial to this design Smiley

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So what other ideas do you all have? Throw them into the comments and try to support your reasoning!

Tags: antec, case, lian li, max builds a pc series

Rating:

Catto

Hey Now Max,

Amor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case looks slick., This year Hanselminutes & Jeff Atwood build one w/ the Antex P182

Catto

aeoth

The P180/2's are good for silence, Antec got the guys from silentpcreview to help design it. That being said, Antec's are fine, but if you're going for an excessively powered/classy computer, you cannot possibly go past a LianLi!

Going for silence though, the P182 is probably what to go for. Checkout SilentPCReview's list of recommended cases if silence is, for you at least, golden.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article75-page4.html

avi

though I dont have much idea about Computer cases... these cases look cool.. the second one is nice Smiley

Max
Spaceman Spiff!

In reply to avi

#Dec 6th, 2007 @ 8:04 PM

Thanks for the link, aeoth. That's a nice list.

Trix

I'd personally go with the P182, it has that extra soundproof insulation, plus it has rubber gromets on back for water cooling...how cool is that ?(http://img.hexus.net/v2/internationalevents/cebit2007/MD/antec182/p182.1.jpg)

I'm also a fan of mounting the power supply in a separate cage, when you get up to those high wattages, there is more waste heat, no matter how efficient that power supply is. Separate chambers = better thermal control.

Even if it didn't have those features...look at that nice sleek clean design.

littleguru
(microsoft student partnering)++

In reply to Trix

#Dec 7th, 2007 @ 12:47 AM

I'm not a huge fan of cases... I think they don't matter very much - although I like it when they make the whole thing silent... A computer should be there, be powerful AND silent. That's what I think is important.