Case Recommendations
 

I'm looking to build a new computer for myself shortly and was looking for suggestions on a case. I've already got a few cases in mind which fit my bill, but there may be others that I've overlooked.

Requirements:

Maximum of 17.5" (445 mm) Tall (preferably under 16.5" (420 mm) Tall)
No doors
No PSU
Good venthilation for overclocking
Good build quality (I plan to keep this case for future builds)
Black
At least 2 USB ports on the front (preferably 4)
As little plastic as possible
$75-$150

So far, the front-runners are:

LIAN LI PC-G50B
Gigabyte GZ-XA1CA-STB
Silverstone TJ04-B

AFAIC you can't go wrong with Lian-Li, but just to offer options here's one from silverstone....

Silverstone Temjin TJ04-B Black ATX Case 4X5.25 2X3.5 4X3.5INT No PS - DirectCanada

I had to do a bit of digging on the `net, but it tops out @ 446. (oops.... just noticed that it's just over what height you were looking for....).

I have Silverstone TJ04 and it really looks great...for great airflow I recommend you Antec nine hundred. That's what I'm going to buy for my future upgrade, well, 900 or P182 or SilverstoneTj07 if it isn't too expensive..
Good luck :biggrin:

Antec P182 3Fans of 12CM
Antec 900 108$ 2X12CM and one of 20CM Standard
Silverstone TJ04 104$ 2X12CM Fans

The P182 has a door, so that's out. I like the Antec 900, but it's too big to fit where I put my computer.

I'll look into the Silverstone TJ04 ... Looks like a decent case :)

Go with the Lian Li. Quality is second to none.

Well, there's just one thing putting me off the Lian Li PC-G50B and that is the fact that all the connections are on the top of the case ... It's going into a desk where there's 17.5" of height clearance, the Lian Li is 15" Tall, and that leaves a meager 2.5" in which to fit my USB flash drive and bluetooth adapter ... The alternative is to use a USB hub, but I'd prefer USB ports on the front of the case ... If it weren't for that one detail, I'd be sold.

Any comments on the Gigabyte case ? I've used the Aurora for a system I built for a friend and was happy with that (other than the door, but he didn't mind it) and the GZ-XA1CA-STB seems to have one great review after the next.

What do you mean by "door" I can't understand, you refer to the thing that hides the power,reset buttons and so on?

Try taking a look at Gigabyte Aurora
It's a little over your budget but it's nice...

If that's the only thing holding you back you can pick up a 5 1/4" or a 3 1/2" bay insert for your USB. There are a lot of them out there and they don't cost that much.

I also have the Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570, and its very nice. :D

Will be able to fit ANYTHING you put in it, and build quality is very good. Only think i don't like about it is the screw less thing that locks the PCI cards in place. It doesn't seem to hold them too securely... Other then that its really a great case.

Yeah, the thing that covers the optical drives, power button, etc. ... I hate doors ...

The Aurora is too big and has a door, so it's out ...

The Lian Li PC-G50B doesn't have any 3.5" bays, but the 5.25" USB bay is an option. I also need to fit a card reader in there, too. Do you know of any black 5.25" card readers w/ 2+ USB ports ?

I found one by Startech w/ 1 USB port ...