Will my Motherboard fit my Chassis?

[ammhardware]

How can I tell if my motherboard will fit my chassis? I am getting the ASUS P6TD Deluxe motherboard and am looking at a tower chassis.

 

[flyinfinni]

that motherboard is an ATX form factor. You just need to look at cases that will fit an ATX size board. That means, if it is specified as mATX or microATX then it will be to small. You probably want an ATX Mid-tower, which is pretty much the typical size these days. You could get an ATX Full Tower, but those are HUGE. Most mini-towers are only Micro-ATX and won't fit a full ATX board.

 

[ammhardware]

Could you suggest some good chassis suppliers? Thanks.

 

[Thadius856]

A chassis is a "case". Just about any mid-ATX or full-ATX or just plain "ATX" case will fit your board. You'd have to try quite hard to buy a case that didn't fit it, as they occupy probably 90% of the market share sold.

 

[flyinfinni]

Coolermaster, Antec, Corsair, NZXT, Thermaltake, etc. all make some very nice Chassis'. If you are in the US, then take a look at Newegg.com and see what you can find. Should be plenty of options for reasonable prices.

 

[ammhardware]

I have narrowed my selection down to 5 cases. My question is if anyone has experience with these cases because I am looking for a quiet system that still has plenty of cooling power. Also does anyone have experience with a side duct? Does it really help the cooling?

My guess is this one might be louder with the mesh front, allowing more noise out?
Antec Three Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

I like this case, but it would be nice to have a case that would draw air from the front, which I can't tell if this one does.
SILVERSTONE PS02B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163126

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

I like this one too, but it has the mesh front as well.
COOLER MASTER Gladiator 600 RC-600-KKN1-GP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119206

If anyone knows of another good case that meets all the following requirements, I would appreciate hearing about it:
-At least 16x18x7
-Front panel USB and Audio (e-SATA and Firewire would be ideal, but it doesn't need to)
-Front power button and HDD light
-Quiet enough but has adequate cooling
-At least two internal 3.5" drive bays
-At least two external 5.25" drive days
-One (more is okay) external 3.5" drive bays
-If possible, I don't want to spend more than $200

 

[flyinfinni]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 Cant beat the CM RC 690 for $60 after MIR. I love this case. Great airflow, Shouldn't be too loud as long as you don't use all the fan options (mines a little loud, but I've got like 6 120mm fans + crossfire + 120mmCPU fan and PSU.
Edit- the 690 II and the 690 Advanced are also quite nice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216

 

[mushroomking]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133094&Tpk=thermaltake%20v3%20black

I absolutely love this case. It has great airflow, nice cable management and the fans are just in all the right places. Also the panels on both sides come off for motherboard access.

 

[ammhardware]

I'm looking at the COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Deals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=. I had two questions on that. Does it have an HDD light and from the pictures, I can't tell where the USB, Audio, etc. are located. The one I'm looking at after that is the COOLER MASTER CM690 II http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Deals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=. Does that one have an HDD light? Thanks.

 

[mushroomking]

I'm looking at the COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Deals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=. I had two questions on that. Does it have an HDD light and from the pictures, I can't tell where the USB, Audio, etc. are located. The one I'm looking at after that is the COOLER MASTER CM690 II http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Deals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=. Does that one have an HDD light? Thanks.

The usb and headphone jacks are located on the top you can kind of see them in picture 1.

 

[ammhardware]

Thanks, I just noticed that. Know anything about the Disk Light? Also is there a way to not have the bright blue fan on the one case?

 

[ammhardware]

Best answer selected by ammhardware.

 

[flyinfinni]

I'm not totally positive on the disk light- not something I have ever cared about, and I'm not sure why its important. Also- for the blue LED fan, you can swap it out with another fan if you want to, but it really isn't very bright. I have it and I don't notice it unless its really dark, or I'm looking straight at the front of the case.

 

[debianos]

The last thing I'd want to do is complicate your decision, but informed choice is good. This may come too late anyway, but I've been very happy with my Lian-Li case, which is a PC-60 Plus II. Easy access, light aluminum build, attractive classic look. Here are some Lian-Li cases on Newegg.

Heavier steel cases do more to dampen the sound, but overall quietness depends less on the case and more on the fans and their speed control. Assuming you're not going for watercooling, that is.

For a whole lot more on quiet cases, have a look at this article, which has been updated very recently:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Case_Basics_and_Recommendations

 

[ammhardware]

Thanks, I appreciate that information. I'd like to look into that PC-60 Plus II case more, but I didn't see it in the list on Newegg and can't seem to find a lot about it on an internet search. Do you know where could find it?

 

[debianos]

I've had this case for three years, so despite its being advertised on the Lian-Li site as a current product, it's probably not in so many stores. The PC-7B plus II looks to be an extremely similar model. One gripe with the PC-60 Plus II is its 80-mm mounting vent in back; the PC7B looks to have addressed this with a nice 120mm vent.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112099


Whatever you do, take the time to read at least two reviews, just google it.

 

[ammhardware]

Thanks, that does look like a nice case. I'll be checking it out.