Question Old School Gamer Style Case Recommendations

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Spec_tech

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Aug 29, 2013
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How's it going everybody. So, i'm old. The cases I like are more from late 2000's to 2015 (i think) era. I currently have an Antec 900 which I have a special bond with, but it has some issues that i need to figure out if it's worth fixing.

So, to start, the Big Boy 200mm fan on it started making a noise that was annoying the hell out of me and I unplugged it from the mobo. There were at least used and spare ones being sold online 3,4,5 years ago, but not anymore I found.
The two front 120mm (I think) fans are moving very slowly i noticed over time, so those need to be replaced. And i'm not sure how easy it will be to get very similar replacements with the same lighting and everything.
I've also had to tear out the front I/O panel due to either spilling liquid on it and having to clean it up or some loose button or component. I can't remember which. And it works fine for now, but i know it can't take much more messing with that panel if something happens to it again.
Last thing is that i'm concerned about the USB 3.0 ports on it, front and back. Because i'm seeing all the new style cases all use basically 3.2, and some do it via USB C which I don't use regularly.

For the decision of purchasing a similar case of the same style (thinking CM Storm Enforcer, CM MasterCase Pro 5, Thermaltake Element S, CM HAF's, Antec 1100, etc), none of them look like they're available for a decent price, if at all. I absolutely hate the new minimalist designs like the Fractal's and the pretty much all glass-paneled cases.

So ultimately, i'm torn between the decision of getting a different one in a hopefully better condition of a similar style or fix up my current one. What's everyone's opinion on this?
 
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Replacement fans are pretty generic, so it shouldn't be a problem. Less of a selection on 200mm fans, but they do exist.

Since this is the style you want, I'd keep rolling with it until it's no longer usable. Because quality cases in that style now are rarer than hen's teeth. Generally speaking, they're out of style because people insist on the glass panels (not that I can complain since I do too), and the ones that usually have that aesthetic are very cheap, plasticky ones.
 
Going with new PC case doesn't cost an arm and a leg. And since you gave plenty of examples of what you like, it's easy to suggest PC cases for you. (Your taste is actually similar to mine.)

For example;
Fractal Design Focus G,

Focus_1-810x810.jpg

specs: https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/focus/focus-g/black/
pcpp black: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZH...s-g-black-atx-mid-tower-case-fd-ca-focus-bk-w
pcpp other color variants: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/YhzZxr,ZKCrxr,Yzbkcf,4vzZxr/

Focus G is good PC case in terms of airflow and also it has 5.25" external bays (which i find very useful and versatile). Focus G is essentially smaller version of my current PC case: Corsair Graphite 760T V2 Black, specs: https://www.corsair.com/eu/en/p/pc-...s-760t-full-tower-windowed-case-cc-9011073-ww

There is also Focus G Mini, if you have micro-ATX MoBo, but i doubt that.

Another option would be;
Phanteks Enthoo Pro

Pro-1.jpg

specs: https://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Pro.html
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/mn3RsY,TXCwrH,BfPKHx/

Enthoo Pro is full-tower ATX PC case and it was actually my 2nd choice when i was looking for a PC case for myself. It costs quite a bit but you'll also get plenty of PC case with it. There are 3 variants of it, the original with acrylic side panel (image above), no window version and modern tempered glass side panel version. So, all bases are covered.

Another option is;
Thermaltake Level 20 RS ARGB,

level20rs_1.jpg

specs: https://www.thermaltake.com/level-20-rs-argb-mid-tower-chassis.html
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bM...0-rs-argb-atx-mid-tower-case-ca-1p8-00m1wn-00

It is a blend of old and new PC case design. It's overall appearance is similar to your Antec 900 and it too offers 2x 200mm fans as front intakes. For modern take, it has TG side panel and unicorn puke fans.

For other options,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/case/#A=0&sort=price&B=2,6&C=0&f=2
I filtered the results a bit, but you can remove filters from left side to expand the results.

Spec_tech said:
the Big Boy 200mm fan on it started making a noise that was annoying the hell out of me and I unplugged it from the mobo. There were at least used and spare ones being sold online 3,4,5 years ago, but not anymore I found.
Click to expand...
Plenty of 200mm fans out there. Take your pick,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/case-fan/#s=200&sort=price&page=1

Spec_tech said:
The two front 120mm (I think) fans are moving very slowly i noticed over time, so those need to be replaced. And i'm not sure how easy it will be to get very similar replacements with the same lighting and everything.
Click to expand...
Same with 120mm fans. Since Antec 900 came with blue LED fans, there are options for that as well,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/case-fan/#s=120&sort=price&l=23

If you remove the "blue LED" filter, you'll get more results regarding fans.
 
Go to newegg and filter on 200mm fans.
Ditto for 120mm fans with blue led's.
fan mounting is mostly standard using rubber fan mounts.

As to the front panel, why not use one of your front bays for an up to date usb panel and whatever.
 
I've searched for some cases that aren't minimalist and somehwat resemble the antec 900 aesthetic. Some are way off target, some not so much. You be the judge.

These are picked SOLELY based on looks. No consideration for price, practicality or manufacturer reputation.

No links, sorry, you'll have to google them but i will include an approximate price where possible.


~$150 Phanteks Enthoo PRO
~$129 Corsair Obsidian Series 450D
~$60 Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-01
beQuiet! Dark Base 901 PRO or Shadow Base 800D
Thermaltake Chaser series (MK-I if you can find one ~$200)
Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO
~$120 Gigabyte C301

Maybe also see these, but they look more modern:
~$200 Asus TUF Gaming GT501 White Edition
~$350 Lian Li Odyssey X Big Tower
~$200 Antec Performance 1 FT
~$350 Asus ROG Strix Helios GX601


I second the Phanteks recommendation. Corsair Obsidian and maybe Chaser also seem decent.
 
@DSzymborski The 200mm fan is what had me worried. Sounds like generic 200mm's will need to be tweaked or grinded to replace the Antec's Big Boy, but doesn't sound like the huge deal. But yeah, i guess i was just excited at the prospect of getting a different but similar case not realizing how out of style and rare they are.

@Aeacus The Focus G definitely looks like the best one to me. I’ll have to give that one a try if my 900 ever becomes unrepairable.
For the fans, I was more worried that no other 200mm would work as a replacement, because the Big Boy is very specifically shaped like an oval. But it sounds like it’s easy enough to grind a generic one into shape

@dwd999 I’ll put that on the list to check and see. Thank you.

@Eximo The Sharkoon would definitely look good with some non-RGB fans. NX100 looks fixed to a yellow color, so not very appealing to me at least. And if there’s a Phanteks Enthoo that's similar with at least two USB 3.0 ports in the front, i'd be sold on that as an option too.

@COLGeek Thanks for the post. Been a while since I’ve seen a guide for that.
 
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Spec_tech said:
@Eximo The Sharkoon would definitely look good with some non-RGB fans. NX100 looks fixed to a yellow color, so not very appealing to me at least. And if there’s a Phanteks Enthoo that's similar with at least two USB 3.0 ports in the front, i'd be sold on that as an option too.
Click to expand...
If you can get past the wood panel, the Fractal North mesh is a normal case otherwise. It has 2 USB 3.0 on the panel plus a USB C. Also jacks and power button and power LED.
Do i understand correctly that you do not want 3.2 on the front?
Also, on a personal note, i am annoyed that Fractal changed the Core model from ~2012. It wasn't too minimalistic or monolithic.

The Thermaltake Chaser MK-I is actualy from the same era as the 900. Even older than the 900. Won't be easy to find one.

You should hunt fans until you find replacements you like. Maybe worth asking on this forum.
 
35below0 said:
If you can get past the wood panel, the Fractal North mesh is a normal case otherwise.
Click to expand...
Choosing a PC case is personal choice and no point to discuss over which PC case OP should go for. All we can do, is present suggestions, where it's up to OP to decide which PC case to go for. Since in the end of the day, it's OP who has to look at that PC case on daily basis and not any of us.
 
Aeacus said:
Choosing a PC case is personal choice and no point to discuss over which PC case OP should go for. All we can do, is present suggestions, where it's up to OP to decide which PC case to go for. Since in the end of the day, it's OP who has to look at that PC case on daily basis and not any of us.
Click to expand...
I meant to say it has no glass panels, and it does have two 3.0 USBs. The front panel is something the OP might not like though.
 
35below0 said:
I meant to say it has no glass panels, and it does have two 3.0 USBs. The front panel is something the OP might not like though.
Click to expand...
OP's taste in PC cases seems to be acrylic side panel and metal mesh front panel with fan LEDs shining through.
As of USB ports, and with 5.25" external bay, one can expand their USB ports as they see fit. Be it USB 2.0, 3.0 or even the new/latest oval type-C port (given that MoBo supports it).

If you think that OP may not like the wooden grille at the front, then why even suggest this strange, minimalistic look of a PC case? 🤔 It having no window doesn't quite cut it, since there are a plethora of PC cases out there that have solid side panel (e.g Be Quiet! has several options, so does NZXT).
 
Spec_tech said:
@DSzymborski The 200mm fan is what had me worried. Sounds like generic 200mm's will need to be tweaked or grinded to replace the Antec's Big Boy, but doesn't sound like the huge deal. But yeah, i guess i was just excited at the prospect of getting a different but similar case not realizing how out of style and rare they are.

@Aeacus The Focus G definitely looks like the best one to me. I’ll have to give that one a try if my 900 ever becomes unrepairable.
For the fans, I was more worried that no other 200mm would work as a replacement, because the Big Boy is very specifically shaped like an oval. But it sounds like it’s easy enough to grind a generic one into shape

@dwd999 I’ll put that on the list to check and see. Thank you.

@Eximo The Sharkoon would definitely look good with some non-RGB fans. NX100 looks fixed to a yellow color, so not very appealing to me at least. And if there’s a Phanteks Enthoo that's similar with at least two USB 3.0 ports in the front, i'd be sold on that as an option too.

@COLGeek Thanks for the post. Been a while since I’ve seen a guide for that.
Click to expand...
I actually had one of those cases back in the day, eventually it housed a home server before being retired.
 
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