Help choosing Computer Case gaming pc

[jlrosa021]

Hi guys!

I am going to buy my first desktop computer, and after a lot of research I decided to go with teh following components, and I would like to hear your opinions as to which budget case I should go for from the choices I can get around here, thank you in advance

- Mobo: Asus H97-Plus
- GPU: Asus Strix gtx 970
- CPU: Intel i7 4790
- SSD: Cruxial MX100 128GB
- RAM: Gskill Ripjaws X DDR3 1600mhz 2x4gb
- PSU: XFX Pro 650w Core edition

I am going to be doing zbrush working and maya too for quite long hours, and gaming as well. That's why I am not sure which case would be better suited for me, here are the current selections from low price to high in the shop Im ordering from (unfortunately thats the only place I can buy confidently and with finance plan)

Cooler Master N300 - 38,90€
Nox Coolbay SX black - 39,90€
Cooler Master N400 -49,50€
Cooler Master CM690 II (basic I think) - 61,91€
Zalman Z11 plus - 62,90€
Corsair 200R - 63,90€
Corsair Spec 02 - 64,50€
Corsair 300R - 72,75€

I'd very much rather not go as high as the price for the 300R though =\ but if it is the only one that can assure the best safety for my components then it will be a necessary sacrifice. I am not interested in Overclocking since I dont know how to and I really dont want to risk it lol

Thanks in advance guys

[Bonebreaker777]

What case style you prefer? - Conservative, high-tech or over the top coloured?

Do you plan to change components often? - once or twice a month, once a year or literally once you build it you will not touch the components but clean the case?

What kind of cooling you plan to use? - box, third party air or AiO water?

If your preference would be conservative to slightly aggressive with cooling within the norm (from box cooler to single radiator AiO cooler) and moderate access of components I would choose Nox Coolbay SX or the CM690 II.

[jlrosa021]

Hi thank you for your reply!

To be honest, I don't understand much about computer hardware, so as long as the case can protect my components properly and is good enough for when I decide to upgrade, which wont happen in the next 4 years most likely, is good enough. I don't mind if the case is not that much good looking as long as it can do it's job very well and without concerns, and isnt too hard to clean up once every necessary while

since I won't overclock, do I really need a cpu cooler or can I live with the stock cooler and the case itself or perhaps add fans if needed during summer?

I've heard things about the Nox cases not being good quality for their price as their materials are slightly more fragile, I dont know how much truth there is in this statement though, either way as coolermaster is a very known brand I may just select the cm690 II as you suggested, will all my components fit properly and without problems in this?

Also, will it be hard to clean it?
should it be cleaned every 6 months or 1 year? not that much dust in my room so that should be ok right?

Thanks

[Pob255]

At those prices the Cooler Master CM690 II is probably your best best.
You might want to get a 140mm fan to put in the top, but that can be bought later if needed

An after market cooler (nothing massively expensive) might be worth looking at simply to reduce noise, esp under heavy load.
a Intel Xeon E3-1240 v3 would be worth looking at, it's basically the same i7 cpu but minus the onboard graphics and a bit cheaper

As for cleaning out dust, it depends how bad it gets, you just have to check and see every now and again.
Cleaning filters probably about every month or so.

[jlrosa021]

At those prices the Cooler Master CM690 II is probably your best best.
You might want to get a 140mm fan to put in the top, but that can be bought later if needed

An after market cooler (nothing massively expensive) might be worth looking at simply to reduce noise, esp under heavy load.
a Intel Xeon E3-1240 v3 would be worth looking at, it's basically the same i7 cpu but minus the onboard graphics and a bit cheaper

As for cleaning out dust, it depends how bad it gets, you just have to check and see every now and again.
Cleaning filters probably about every month or so.

Thanks @Pob255
I'll stay with the cm 690 II, I kept reading that n300 would be better since it's good and the money is less but wasn't too sure about it.

The xeon is the same price nearly as the i7 so in this case I'll also stay with i7, but thanks for pointing it out, I didn't know about it before you said it

which 140mm fan would you recomend? are they hard to install?

[Bonebreaker777]

Support the suggestion about the 6900 II, looks like a good case.

Cooling I would say try the BOX cooler first. If the thermal performance or the noise will be an issue, you can always change it afterwards and due to lack of overclocking you will not have to choose overly complicated cooling solutions (can always go for passive CPU cooling, like Zalman FX70 Fanless, Coolermaster TPC 800, Nofan CR-80EH 80W or Nofan CR-95C 95W).

For the 140mm FANs I would choose same or similar FANs like the existing ones in your chosen case, for consistency (pointless to get one premium FAN for excellent performance with near silent operation while the rest of the case humms and resonates). Would say good 140mm FANs are Akasa FANs , Thermalright TY-143 or TY-147, be quiet! FANs or any 140mm FAN which can operate under 900-1000RPM. Not hard to install at all, and if I can recommend, Pins for Anti vibrational fan mounting are excellent, can definitely recommend them.

[jlrosa021]

Thanks for the input

I'll stay with the case as it is, and if necessary I'll add the 140mm fan on top as suggested and eventually a cpu cooler.
Thanks for all the help guys

[pledgerwood]

I think that it is more about what you think. Take the highest end cases, and then which one looks best is the one you should have.