Cases, cases

[ik9000]

Would you be willing to get a tape measure out and give us the actual numbers for the case?

yes no problem - I've got to go in it this week to fit a new HDD and install some washers etc anyway so will happily measure it. If there's anything anyone wants me to check/photograph then let me know and I'll stick it all in a new FYI thread.

right - will do the other thread when i get chance to sort through the photos of the build + todays mods etc. However, having measured it:

all dims internal + approximate:
height 420mm
case front-back 410 (clear opening) approx 430 panel to panel
left case side to mobo tray approx 180mm (so can take a megahalems cooler) * i think the manufacturer says 178mm max.
right case side to mobo tray 25mm (behind tray for cable management)
tray cut-out 145mm wide
room for graphics card 280mm with both HDD racks in place, full 420mm for graphcis card with upper HDD rack removed.

external dims (excluding rubber trim)
460x455(?)x210 approx (it's difficult to measure height as the rubber trim top + bottom doesn't come off, and the chassis steps at front + rear to accomodate the outer panel trims.)

[ik9000]

crap it's 2am. some 5 minute job that turned out to be.

[GheeTsar]

Bit late to this party, but I have a Fractal Design R3 Phage.

Good bits:
- I like the minimalist design and all black interior
- I found it easy to install into and get a good cable management, despite not having a modular PSU
- Space for lots of fans. I bought two extra Akasa Apaches to go with the two that came with the R3 to improve the cooling
- Build quality is pretty solid. Not a Silverstone but much better than my old Coolermaster Centurion (doesn't say much!)
- Very quiet (ymmv depending on fan number/type and speed)
- SSD mounting options
- Loads of hard disk bays
- Easy to clean PSU and front intake fan screens
- My GPU temps have dropped substantially

Bad bits
- Cooling without extra fans is not great
- Not tool-less
- Rubber seals around cable management holes not secured very well
- No PC speaker (I robbed one from my old case)
- No USB3 externally
- Only two 5.25" bays
- Front door only opens one way
- Not a watercooler's case (space for a thin 120.2 rad at top only)


All in all, I've been very pleased. I bought it as my old case couldn't handle the heat dumped by my Powercolor 5870 PCS+ cooler and to quieten it down.

My first choice would have been a Silverstone FT02, but I couldn't justify spending twice the money.

[ik9000]

My first choice would have been a Silverstone FT02, but I couldn't justify spending twice the money.

Ditto. I know that pain....

[Singh400]

Tons of Antec cases on Today Only. Even the 1200 is there. Check it out.

[Phage]

Oh No....
That FT02 is the one isn't it ?
It's heat from the CF 5870's that the issue. I have to have the fans at 50% on the GPU and it makes the 300 sound like a jet. The MoBo has the slots right next to each other.

What puts me off the R3 is that the HDDs block the inflow from the intake fans to the GPU.

[Pob255]

What fans have you currently got in your 300?

[Phage]

Two original tri cools (exhaust) and two noctua NF-P12s (front intake)
http://forums.hexus.net/help-technic...ard-crash.html

[Pob255]

Which version of the tri-cool are they?

are they the older type like this

With fairly square blades with larger gaps between them, or the later version with a more agressive cure to the leading edge and a shallower pitch? (increasing the blade surface and reducing the gaps when looking straight on)

What's the main source of the sound?
You need to go over your all your different fans stopping them to see where the noise is coming from.
http://tv.hexus.net/show/2008/11/Pac...e_s_the_noise/
However I think it sounds like your main problem is probably your graphics cards and the fact that they are right next to each other.

[Phage]

Which version of the tri-cool are they?.

Hmmm. I think the later, but I'll have to check when I get home.

What's the main source of the sound??

Largest is the reference cooler on the top (suffocated) 5870. I have to have it at 50% in gaming. Second is the tri-cools. I can't hear the noctuas on either the CPU or intake at all.

I think it sounds like your main problem is probably your graphics cards and the fact that they are right next to each other.

Aye. Which means reducing the noise would be a new MoBo, which would be expensive and fiddly. In reality I'm thinking a new case to reduce the GPU noise overall, swapping the reference-cooled card to Slot #2 so that I can reduce the fan speed, and.....profit !

If it doesn't work, I will still have a quality case I can use on the next build, and will not have invested in a mobo that will be out of date in a year, or new GPUs which would be out of date in 6 months.

[Kumagoro]

Having a watch of some vids on http://www.3dgameman.com/reviews may help you decide.
Good old Rodney Reynolds goes into quite a lot of detail and has a lot of case reviews. Even
if he hasnt reviewed the one your after he probably has done a simlar one so you can get a
feel of what it maybe like.

[Singh400]

Tons of more cases on Scan Today only, it seems like someone at Scan is watching this thread try to tempt you

[Phage]

Tons of more cases on Scan Today only, it seems like someone at Scan is watching this thread try to tempt you

Those cunning devils...
EDIT there's a 600T and an R3 on that list !
Right - if they put that white FT02 on it I might just weaken. Hint hint.

[Pob255]

Aye. Which means reducing the noise would be a new MoBo, which would be expensive and fiddly. In reality I'm thinking a new case to reduce the GPU noise overall, swapping the reference-cooled card to Slot #2 so that I can reduce the fan speed, and.....profit !

Ummm but that's my point with no gap between them and stock coolers it'll not matter which case they are in, you ether have to have the fans on high to get enough air into them or low and overheating.
The case will make almost no difference here, unless you heavily mod / build something to maximise air flow to the cards, which will involve ducting like you did, but more so.

[Singh400]

right - if they put that white ft02 on it i might just weaken. Hint hint.

...

what would you like to see on offer? Send your wishlist to: themanwhocan@scan.co.uk

[Phage]

Ummm but that's my point with no gap between them and stock coolers it'll not matter which case they are in, you ether have to have the fans on high to get enough air into them or low and overheating.
The case will make almost no difference here, unless you heavily mod / build something to maximise air flow to the cards, which will involve ducting like you did, but more so.

It's true.
got any recommendations for a 1366 MoBo with double spaced slots ?