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Thread: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

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    Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    I was originally considering getting the Antec LanBoy Air Blue Modular Case but decided against doing so after seeing this video and realizing that I don't really need a case as expensive as that one. It's pretty much out of the race now

    My second option was the Antec DF-30 Mid Tower Case due to still being visually appealing and actually being very affordable in my opinion.

    My third option is the Fractal Design Define R3 which apparently has excellent noise cancelling capabilities but not the best airflow. Someone I spoke too was always worried about his CPU and GPU temperatures, despite having added additional fans. Nevertheless, it's still in the race!

    Lastly, I was considering the Corsair Carbide Series 500R. Much like the DF-30, I haven't heard any real complaints about this one.

    Apart from the LanBoy Air, the other cases are all in the same price range and as I am very indecisive and don't quite boast the technical knowledge that I would like to, is there anything that would give one of the cases the edge over the others so I can finally make a choice?

    Thanks in advance!

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    The DF-30 is the same internal frame as the gamer 600, they've removed to top plastic molding and the bigboy fan and replaced it with a 140mm, then fitted a new front bezel.

    The Carbide 500r is nice but rather too much money for what it is (£85) and

    Have a look at the LanCool K60 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...g-case-w-o-psu

    also the Fractal Design Arc http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fract...e-case-w-o-psu

    Something more funky looking, coolermaster storm enforcer http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...usb-30-w-o-psu

    does depend on what you're looking for and your own personal opinion as to what looks good.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    The DF-30 is the same internal frame as the gamer 600, they've removed to top plastic molding and the bigboy fan and replaced it with a 140mm, then fitted a new front bezel.

    The Carbide 500r is nice but rather too much money for what it is (£85) and

    Have a look at the LanCool K60 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...g-case-w-o-psu

    also the Fractal Design Arc http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fract...e-case-w-o-psu

    Something more funky looking, coolermaster storm enforcer http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...usb-30-w-o-psu

    does depend on what you're looking for and your own personal opinion as to what looks good.
    That Antec 600 Six Hundred V2 you mentioned is in my price range as well it seems. Thanks! I suppose I should drop the Corsair Carbide Series 500R as I am seeing too many other good cases that cost 15£ less. These cases are all pretty much alike and it all comes down to what I myself find visually appealing, right? I am asking because it would make this perhaps somewhat easier (or harder) if there aren't technical aspects to worry over as well.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    I'd recommend a Lian-Li K60.

    I got one for my recent AMD build after being out of the pc thing for a few years and it's genuinely a brilliant case for the money.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    Quote Originally Posted by RichieLee View Post
    I'd recommend a Lian-Li K60.

    I got one for my recent AMD build after being out of the pc thing for a few years and it's genuinely a brilliant case for the money.
    Hmmm, I see that it comes with as many fans included as there are fan bays. That's new. The description seems quite amiable as well as it seems that I won't be needing any tools at all if I intend to build a desktop with this case. This is going to sound very silly but can you open it up at the front or something? I don't see how I would be able to access a disk drive otherwise.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    No you remove the covers, the front is just mesh 5.25" bay covers, they are designed to look very seamless so you cannot tell at first glance.

    The K60 is great for it's toolless features and works (the card locks are a big point in this area, I've never seen a toolless clip that works as well as a screw except for this one)

    Bill Owen did a great look at the K60 here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2MdUGxWEcU

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    No you remove the covers, the front is just mesh 5.25" bay covers, they are designed to look very seamless so you cannot tell at first glance.

    The K60 is great for it's toolless features and works (the card locks are a big point in this area, I've never seen a toolless clip that works as well as a screw except for this one)

    Bill Owen did a great look at the K60 here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2MdUGxWEcU
    I watched the video in full and actually enjoyed it. That same guy tore the LanBoy Air apart with criticism so I am impressed that the K60 received such a favourable review. The price point and the fact that I won't be needing any tools is a plus point as well. The only downside is that I do not find the case visually appealing at all but everything else speaks for it. I guess it's between this one, the Six Hundred, and the Storm Enforcer.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    I wasn't sold on the looks at first either but actually it is a great bit of kit! And along with my akasa trio fan controller in one of the 5.25" bays it looks like a nice purposeful bit of kit. Although it's not as sleek as the fractal, I find it a lot less OTT than the look of the antec offeringss.

    Of course if you wanted it to be a bit more 'showy' there's the K62, essentially the same just with blue LED fans, side window enclosure and the interior is painted black too, something like £76 I think though.

    I cant rate this case enough. I thought it was going to be flimsy and cheap but it's solid the tool less features of it are done extremely well and feel secure.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    Quote Originally Posted by RichieLee View Post
    I wasn't sold on the looks at first either but actually it is a great bit of kit! And along with my akasa trio fan controller in one of the 5.25" bays it looks like a nice purposeful bit of kit. Although it's not as sleek as the fractal, I find it a lot less OTT than the look of the antec offeringss.

    Of course if you wanted it to be a bit more 'showy' there's the K62, essentially the same just with blue LED fans, side window enclosure and the interior is painted black too, something like £76 I think though.

    I cant rate this case enough. I thought it was going to be flimsy and cheap but it's solid the tool less features of it are done extremely well and feel secure.
    Sorry, but what does OTT stand for? And the K62 looks great. I did find this picture while doing an image search and was wondering if someone modded the K60 but upon closer inspection of the URL, it appears that it was a K62 all along. If it's the same case but just a tad prettier then I am pretty much sold. Blue's my favourite colour too! Will the lack of USB 3.0 affect me, though?

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    OTT- Over the top I just think the antecs you listed look a bit mental like something out of Aliens or Matrix. The Lian Li's have the black mesh fronts but not quite as in your face as the Antecs.

    Yeah, I was on a tight budget with the new build so didn't go for the K62, wish I did though I didn't realise it had the black interior, I just thought it was the window and the LED fans, which I thought was a bit much for the extra £15.

    I wouldn't say the lack of USB 3.0 is a problem. I've got USB3.0 ports on the rear of the motherboard anyway so it's fine, the only things I use the front USB 2.0 ports for are external HDDs and my wacom tablet and they're USB2.0 so it's all good!

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    K62 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...window-w-o-psu
    It's the same as the K60 but black internals, blue led fans and a window.

    There was a special edition red version http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lianl...ed-led-w-o-psu however I don't think they are still manufactured so getting hold of one will not be too easy.

    There is the new K63 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...x-side-window- which is an updated version of the K62
    Fewer 5.25" bays for more hard drive bays, USB3 fornt connectors, however I don't like that plastic bezel as much as the old one.

    There's also the K57 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...ni-itx-w-o-psu
    Which I quite like the bezel for, however it's a budget case, they removed lots of little things to keep the cost down, only one front fan, missing an entire hard drive cage, top fans and the vent/mounting for them have been removed (so you'd need to cut holes in it to mount top fans)

    There's also the cheap option of the K58 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...g-case-w-o-psu which is the same as the k60 but doesn't come with a full set of fans, remember to fit fans in this case you need to get a set of special screws or get creative.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    Just one last opinion, guys. One last one! What do you think?
    Quote Originally Posted by RichieLee View Post
    OTT- Over the top I just think the antecs you listed look a bit mental like something out of Aliens or Matrix. The Lian Li's have the black mesh fronts but not quite as in your face as the Antecs.

    Yeah, I was on a tight budget with the new build so didn't go for the K62, wish I did though I didn't realise it had the black interior, I just thought it was the window and the LED fans, which I thought was a bit much for the extra £15.

    I wouldn't say the lack of USB 3.0 is a problem. I've got USB3.0 ports on the rear of the motherboard anyway so it's fine, the only things I use the front USB 2.0 ports for are external HDDs and my wacom tablet and they're USB2.0 so it's all good!
    I suppose you're right about the Antecs being a bit crazy in terms of looks. I think they are out of the race for good now, though. I assume the K63 has all of the features the K60 has, plus those fancy looks, so I think that will be my case of choice.

    I've noticed that in some videos as well. Why do gamers want the interior to be painted black? I mean, if it doesn't have a window, there's no point, and even if it does, is it that big of a deal? I am pretty new to this stuff so excuse my ignorance!
    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    K62 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...window-w-o-psu
    It's the same as the K60 but black internals, blue led fans and a window.

    There was a special edition red version http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lianl...ed-led-w-o-psu however I don't think they are still manufactured so getting hold of one will not be too easy.

    There is the new K63 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...x-side-window- which is an updated version of the K62
    Fewer 5.25" bays for more hard drive bays, USB3 fornt connectors, however I don't like that plastic bezel as much as the old one.

    There's also the K57 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...ni-itx-w-o-psu
    Which I quite like the bezel for, however it's a budget case, they removed lots of little things to keep the cost down, only one front fan, missing an entire hard drive cage, top fans and the vent/mounting for them have been removed (so you'd need to cut holes in it to mount top fans)

    There's also the cheap option of the K58 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...g-case-w-o-psu which is the same as the k60 but doesn't come with a full set of fans, remember to fit fans in this case you need to get a set of special screws or get creative.
    Dude, stop being helpful. I'll never make a decision otherwise!

    That K63 sure is pretty, though. I want it. The decision has been made. Now please don't tell me there is a K64!

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    As long as you realise the cooling is not so good on the K63

    Just one last opinion, guys. One last one! What do you think?
    Cheap junk dressed up to look like a better case.
    Ok that might be a bit harsh, it's an old internal design that's been made a bit slimmer (185mm wide) so large cpu coolers will get tricky, cabling is not going to be fun.

    If you want a cheap case http://www.ebuyer.com/239238-casecom...an-k5-9388blue best sub £30 case I know of hands down.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    As long as you realise the cooling is not so good on the K63

    Cheap junk dressed up to look like a better case.
    Ok that might be a bit harsh, it's an old internal design that's been made a bit slimmer (185mm wide) so large cpu coolers will get tricky, cabling is not going to be fun.

    If you want a cheap case http://www.ebuyer.com/239238-casecom...an-k5-9388blue best sub £30 case I know of hands down.
    A more expensive case has worse cooling than its cheaper predecessors?

    Nevermind, won't bother with that case then.

    Thanks, I'll keep that one in mind! I have friends who may need it.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    +1 for the Fractal Arc. If you're worried about the temperatures in the Fractal R3, the Arc drops the noise cancelling material and door for better airflow and 3 140mm fans. It's slightly roomier (fat space behind the motherboard tray for cables), costs a few quid less and you can remove a HD bracket. Looks like a winner to me.

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    Re: Just some advice needed to which case to get!

    Define R3.
    I have old R2 with 2x 120mm +1x 140mm PWM in and 1x 120mm PWM out. Top vents open. It has I7 920 OC'ed 3.8GHz w/ Noctua NH-U12P w/ 2x 140mm PWM fans (35 - 53c normal; loadtest @ 68c) and a PowerColor HD4890 GPU OC'ed to 960MHz (45-75c) with 21-23c ambient. Have 6x HDDs. Case runs 0.3 - 3c warmer then ambient depending on how hard HDDs are working but doesn't go up as much for CPU and GPU. I did raise it another 25mm for better airflow in bottom 140mm and 120mm PSU fans.

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