Looking for a case to start a new pc build. Will be a AMD dual core with a couple of graphics cards in sli. Im more after the sleek / professional looking case, not so much alien / predator / droid cases. Don't mind a bit of bling, just nothing over the top.

I'm coming from a Shuttle SN45G so i've done the whole SFF but am keen to go back to midi.

So far about the only thing is the minimalist Antec P180. Wouldn't mind it in black but still looks pretty sleek in white.

http://www.xyzcomputing.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=521

Any other recommendations?

Just got a p180 the other day. Not much for bling like you said, but really functional and no noise whatsoever. I was trying to tossup between the 160 and the 180 after looking at heaps of them but windows etc dont do much for me anymore.

If you did get the 180, just be aware you will need pretty long power cables etc as the case is huge but you dont get a whole lot of room to play around with, as you are locked into using the room the way the case was designed (which isnt a bad thing as such).

You could also look at http://www.tcmagazine.info/articles.php?action=show&id=195&perpage=1&pagenum=1

The coolermaster stacker too, heard good things about it.

i got a thermaltake soprano just over a 2 months ago and it rocks me, except for the front door, never been a fan of the front doors but meh

antec sonata 2, reasonably roomie once you strip out all that chassis cooling duct s*** and is good looking (simple) and quiet. Only downside is there are only 4 places to mount hdds. http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15139

P180's are nice too if you have the extra dollars.

last edited by reso at 18:02:43 14/Feb/06

I have dual core (4800+) and SLI and a bunch of other stuff all nicely packed into a Lian Li Pc-60. Still a damn fine case.

Id go the P160, the P180's are Apple G5 clones imho. :)

I don't like the P180. It has a flimsy door and I hate cases that have doors covering everything that you need access to.

The Thermaltake Armor is a very nice case and it's not too pretty but more on the side of slick and deadly! Solid as a rock also but bloody heavy.

I was pretty darn impressed working with the Gigabyte Aurora case. Aluminium construction = lightness ftw, great cooling, very roomy, looks nice IMO however might be a bit too bling for you.

System inside it was some crazy assed dual 7800gtx SLI + the best of everything else money can buy and it all fit in there nicely and was virtually silent with a zalman cooler in there.

I've got a Thermaltake Shark Full Tower case in Silver. It V nice and you can nab em at Umart.

I have a P180 but I would recommend the P160 instead. Its just simpler.

I've got a P160 and it's great, good looking case and easy to play around with.

minimalist? you should be looking at Lian Li and Coolermaster cases.

Praetorian 732 is great, and under 200 bux:

Coolermaster Praetorian 732

That's a sweet looking case Orbitor has linked to for you dude.^^

just a quick point about the P160's (i believe 180s are the same):

Awesome cases, Ive had a p160 for about a year and its been by far the best case ive ever had (gone through a few aopens, a thermeltake and a entermax), but I have one semi-big problem with them. If you want more then 4 harddrives (5 at most) you have to start getting pretty creative on where you want to put the drives. Now I understand that most people wouldn't need more then 4, but really why the hell are cases still coming out with as many 5 1/4 slots as they do 3 1/2's. You can always just put in converter/caddies in but it kind of wrecks the purpose of getting a screwless/nice to fit case.

Anyway if your never going to have more then 4 hdd's in at once, go the 160/180, superb cases. However if your going for a big 'i collect everything under the sun' get a coolermaster stacker (there is a nice new version coming soon), most expandible case ive ever seen (tho apparently heavy as crap).

I'm looking for a case too, but I want one that will hold more than the normal 4 HDDs.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Coolermaster Stacker if more than SIX HDDs
P180 holds six quite comfortably, with minimal noise and heat. You'd need more of a server case like the CM Stacker or many of the Lian Li's if you're going > 6.

the cmstacker 830's are coming out in aus soon i believe (out overseas already). Look a lot better then the stackers that are out atm, very very damn nice, and i believe the new ones are a little lighter (the current ones are incredibly heavy).