Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: alskahawk on December 14, 2015, 06:20:32 AM
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Just bought a full tower computer case. Not going to say the name of it. Just a decent case with the requirements I needed. Anyway got to thinking about all the new builders looking to build their first computer. Back when I started playing with computers there were few choices. You just got a case put your best stuff into it and worked around the issues that popped up. Now there's a lot of choices and decisions to mull over. In this forum we like talking motherboards, cpu's, ram and all the fun go fast stuff and we often forget how important a good computer case is.
After three builds with my Antec 900, which is a very nice mid tower case by the way, it was time for a change. By the time you put two hard drives, SLI two video cards, a sound card and a 750 watt PSU it gets crowded. Even with a normal sized cpu cooler it got to be a hassle moving a wire around.. I also wanted a bottom mount psu with vents on the bottom so I could get fresh air into my psu and not draw it from the inside of the case. Moving anything or in just adding something as small as a SSD got to be a major operation moving the wires around. Time for a new home.
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I had an NZXT Lexa S for my first few part swaps, then I bought a Corsair 900D. While it was way too much for the system I bought it for, the reason for buying it was that it would be my last case upgrade (ideally ever) since it has plenty of room (one of the largest super tower cases on the market).
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From my Black Friday Build post (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,376121.0.html) regarding the Corsair 500R ATX Mid Tower Case:
The case is absolutely fantastic. Lots of room, accommodations for eight system fans (two front, two top, one rear, two bottom, one side) all at 120mm except the side fan at 200mm and excellent cable management for a totally clean installation. Front, top, rear and bottom of the case are all mesh with removable filters so, along with the fans this thing really breaths and it's tool-less to boot. The drive bays accommodate both 2.5" amd 3.5" drives without adapters and are removable if you need more room (I can't imagine needing more room). Highly recommended.
I've got two front, one top, one rear and one side fan mounted (along with the CPU fan, PSU fans (bottom and rear set to eco mode) and GPU fans). Front and side are controlled by a three position front panel switch that I have set to the lowest setting while I've got the top and rear fans on smart fan. Earlier today after running for several hours my CPU was running at 29C and system at 31C while fan speeds were less than 1000 RPM across the board. This is the quietest machine I've ever owned.
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I like mid towers but when you start adding things like extra video cards, sound cards they get crowded in a hurry. Loved my Antec 900 but in the end it just got outdated. There are so many more options now than when I started messing with computers in the early '90s. At one point I had maybe 10-12 cases of various sizes laying around. Most got discarded because they were cheap to begin with. In the end a quality case is a good investment.
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I moved my computer into this: http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-blackout-edition
Soon I will be moving it again, as I am building myself a new desk which will incorporate my computer into it, along with my file server.
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CoolerMaster HAF 932
I liked this case so much, I bought a 2nd one when I redid my bench machine.
Its a full tower, all metal, comes with 2 120cm fans, small rear fan, bottom front fan. I redid some things to get the best possible cooling. What I really liked was that there is a cutout right where the cpu is, I added some cardboard ducting to pull air right past the underside of cpu mounting. My rigged is OC'ed pretty high and cpu runs at a comfortable 45C at idle. My new vid card is a foot long, fits with ease.
Its a bit pricey but I will never have to buy another case again.
:salute
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Yes, I like that one too. Looked hard at the Cooler masters, NZXT's. I have come to accept that for someone like me. That is someone who likes to tinker with his machine, a full tower is the way to go. I like the features that they have like the bottom mounted PSU that you can face downward. And the extra room in case to add a water cooling radiator later. :airplane:
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Corsair 750D is where I am at now. Great case and I regret not getting it sooner.
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That Corsair 750d is one of my dream cases. Along with the Cosmos
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I still have my nzt tempest from like 5 or 6 years ago.
semp
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I'm using the original design CM Storm Scout case w/ built-in carry handle on top............
I've noticed that these are practically non-existent these days...........replaced by the Storm Scout II..................
:salute
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I agree Air exchanging / moving capabilities are very important and plenty of interior room are very important when trying to find a good case
I opted for using Thermaltake's Level 10 GT series Full Tower Cases back in 2011, and quit using Antec 900 & 1200 model cases, they are a pita when it comes to removing a HD or installing, and without modification, it is a pain to do a nice wiring job and hide it with the lack of room behind the side panel on the MB side, then adding filters to the 900 with easy access for removal and cleaning ( the Antec1200 comes with Intake filters), but they too are a pita to access just to remove and clean....
Thermaltake Level 10 GT product page:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001675
Thermaltake Level 10 GT series newegg link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133188
Newegg comparison Link of 4 computer cases listed in this thread:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050001459&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=7%7C11%2D352%2D056%5E11%2D352%2D056%2C11%2D133%2D188%5E11%2D133%2D188%2C11%2D139%2D024%5E11%2D139%2D024%2C11%2D119%2D160%5E11%2D119%2D160%2C9SIA6ZP3KD8478%5E9SIA6ZP3KD8478&percm=11%2D139%2D024%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B9SIA6ZP3KD8478%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24
different strokes for different folks! Find the case that fits your needs, but make sure you have Good Air Exchanging capabilities, and easy to remove Fan Filters are great to have!
TC
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That Corsair 750d is one of my dream cases. Along with the Cosmos
My advice. Wait for Micro Center (or any site) to have it on sale and get it. The cable grommets do not come out and EVERYTHING is laid out perfectly. Only additions to it are the 4 - 140mm Prolimatech Blue fans (87 CFM @ 18.1 dBA) and a Lamptron 36W fan controller. You can barely hear the top fans on at 100%.
Just get what you want and don't settle.
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I purchased this case a while ago, when I built my Sandy Bridge system originally:
http://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=200
Thought it far outshown any other case I've owned or seen anyone else have either. So when I built my Haswell system, I bought another one of the same design (except updated for USB 3.0). Now I have two of these cases, no regrets. I'll be using them for decades most likely.
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811553003
That's what I used in my last build. I got it on sale and didnt spend much at all. Its a mid tower but its almost as big as my old Chieftech full tower. It has cable management that was a first for me and worked out nice. I don't have a lot in there but its pretty roomy. It draws air for the power supply from the outside and is well ventilated with options for many fans. Tool less, pretty sturdy, looks nice. Not bad at all.
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I moved my computer into this: http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-blackout-edition
Soon I will be moving it again, as I am building myself a new desk which will incorporate my computer into it, along with my file server.
At the risk of invoking the skuzz for bumping an old post, I gotta give this one a thumbs up as well damn thing is whisper quiet even at high settings for the case fans. I seriously can't hear it over the hum of the ceiling fan in here. I feel really dumb for not getting one sooner but man, great bang for the buck even though I bought it locally at a brick and mortar. Plenty of extra screws and what not too. I even opted for the model with the side panel because it was the only one in stock at the time still amazingly quiet and the filters are literally the best thing since sliced bread.
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A worthy bump, this thread is worth seeing occasionally.
I purchased this case a while ago, when I built my Sandy Bridge system originally:
http://silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=200
Thought it far outshown any other case I've owned or seen anyone else have either. So when I built my Haswell system, I bought another one of the same design (except updated for USB 3.0). Now I have two of these cases, no regrets. I'll be using them for decades most likely.
I recently built a dual-cpu xeon system for myself, and the motherboard wasn't going to fit into a standard ATX case like above. So I needed to buy a new design instead of the known reliable one. Felt no need to get as spendy on it as that Silverstone, so after some research got this one:
Phanteks Enthoo Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811854003
A few weeks after completing the install, my conclusion is that this is easily one of the most well designed cases I've ever seen. And the $100 price point makes it that much sweeter. I never route cables in my cases, other than to keep them from blatantly blocking airflow. But with this case, its actually harder to not route the cables. My install was super clean and very easy. If 30 years of IT experience with good and bad prosumer computer cases could be distilled into one case design at a reasonable price point, this would be the result. I'm super impressed. At $100 it at least equals my Silverstone cases and does it at ~$140 less.
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I've had good luck with Corsair, I've had 6 different cases from them now. I like the C70 due to the spring loaded rubber handles on the top, makes it easy to move it around if you go to lan events or such things, probably my favorite mid sized.
I too have a 750D and it's elegant and simple - I've had both the "other" 2 full size Corsairs, the 780t and 760t. 780 looks better, but the 760 has a nice hinged door to get at your PC internals.
Someone mentioned the Cosmos 2- our 5960x box is in that..box. We got it on a black friday sale for 220$ CDN, which is a huge steal, and I'll never sell that case. It just isn't all that practical for moving around a lot I find, but once it's in position it sure looks cool.
Fractal makes very elegant and simple (not in function just looks) cases too.
Bequiet is my next "test", I'm going to try out their 800 with my Kaby Lake or Broadwell E, whichever comes out first (grrrr).
I have found over the years that I much prefer full size to mid size - micro size is fun to make cute little project systems, but when you are constantly upgrading and playing around with your internal components, a full size, or at the very least a well designed mid sized makes life much better, just IMO. I also run SLI most of the time, although I've done this in the C70 with ease, and it's a mid size.