Best Pc Case for Cooling AND CPU Cooling - HELP

[Billax]

Hi guys.
I really need your help!!

My pc is Running alittle hot atm and i need your help with the best Cooling.

My pc Rig specs are .. Asus striker Extreme .. e6600 chip ( am upgrading to a q6600 ) .. xfx 8800 ultra xt .. 2 gig on dominatoer 8500 ram... 900w targan cpu .. 4 western digtal Raptors .. Baracuda sound card.. 2 dvd writers..

The Case that i am using is a Coolermaster Cavalier 3 .. and its getting hot.. My idle Idle for my cpu is 56 c , thats with the fan that came with the cpu from intel and mobo Temp is running at 49 c IDLE
... and its drops to about 40 if i take side panel off...

1st i need to know which is the best case for me ... there are so many Cases out and its doing my nut in.. I did the mistake of asking people and i got Different opinions.

The choises that i have given are:

AKASA Mirage 62
Coolermaster RC-1000 Cosmos
Antec 182
Coolermaster Stacker 830 Evolution 'nVidia' Special Edition Case OR THE NORMAL 830
Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570

tHESE ARE ALL THE OPTIONS I WAS GIVEN ... i really dont want to make a mistake and buy the wrong one... they need to be able to fit all my hard drives and also my 8800 ultra vga card.. IF THERE ARE ANY I DID NOT MENTION THEN LET ME KNOW ..

I WANT COOLING AND IT TO BE QUIETE ASWELL


2nd - I need a top fan that will fit the Striker Extreme Mobo , taking into account the heat pipes.. .. i was looking at the Zalman range or Thermalright Ultra 120 OR ARE THERE ANY OTEHR GOOD ONES THAT WILL DO ME?

PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME - THANKS ..

[Webby]

CPU coolers, Thermalright Ultima 90 with a 120mm fan (possibly a S-Flex 1600) will keep your processor nice and chilly I'm sure if you check Thermalright's website it will list compatible motherboards if not then email them and ask, they will get right back to you with an answer.

Cases are a very subjective area, first all of those cases are reasonable if I was picking one of those then it would probably be the Antec P182.

If your prepared to pay the £150 for the stacker then you may want to look at the Silverstone TJ-09 on offer from scan this week in the today only section also from Silverstone the TJ-06 (£80) is spacious and has a funky wind tunnel over the CPU and memory although you may need to add a couple of extra fans in the main body of the case. Reviews for both on Hexus here and here.

[LuckyNV]

Coolermaster CM690 is a very good aircooling case for peanuts

[jamiesalter]

Another vote for the CM690 (its what i've got currently), but it is slightly cramped. However with 7 or so fans its great for cooling.

From the list I'd go for CM RC-1000 Cosmos. Haven't had any experience from it personally, but heard great things.

[Billax]

i was also recomended the cm 1000 ... but this keep everything cool .. i dont weant to be in the same position, if you know what i mean

[amjedm]

i was also recomended the cm 1000 ... but this keep everything cool .. i dont weant to be in the same position, if you know what i mean

New version of the CM1000 out soon I think. Plus I think (existing version) it's too expensive.
I don't like the HD system in the Aurora so won't recommend that.
May be difficult to quieten the Stacker - having said that I'm not sure if the new version has all the mesh etc.

I've got a P180 and Akasa Ecilpse and happy with both.

[EtheAv8r]

Antec P182.

Will run cool, and the build will be very neat - few, if any power cables in main MB chamber, fan headers and some front panel cables can run under MB - giving great unimpeded airflow.

[Blitzen]

Not everyones 'cup of tea' i know but the ANTEC 900 is amazingly cool in running.

THe 200mm fan is the key i think.

[peterb]

Unless you particularly want a new case, the fact that the temps drop when you take the side off implies that the air flow in your current case is not good.

You didn't say what the cooling arrangements are, but turning your attention to that, and perhaps adding or changing the existing case fan arrangemnents might improve things without going to to time and expense of rebuilding everything into a new case.

[Billax]

The only thing i can add is a 80mm fan on the side panel.. the CM cavliar is very limited to how many fans that can be installed..

[kalniel]

*nods* the 4 raptors will kill the main intake for that case, stuffing up the rest of the cooling quite a bit.

I'd go with something that has a significant additional cooling capacity other than the traditional 'intake over hdds, output behind CPU' design. Antec 900 would be good, as would one of those ridiculous cases with a 25cm fan in the side.

[Billax]

but will the 8800 ultra xt fit.. This is a problem with some of the case sizes

[kalniel]

If it fitted in the cavalier 3 it should fit in most other cases without a problem.

If you are worried then get the CM stacker 830.

[jamiesalter]

Along with a cm690 which i recommended above, i've also used the akasa mirage. Very very nice case to work with, with alot of space. Cooling is good, but the number of fans it can support is limited (I think the max is 4 (including PSU) if a side panel is installed with one). However this is off the top of my head - i can't remember if you can buy a side panel with a fan slot. Also the looks in my opinion aren't great.

[Blitzen]

but will the 8800 ultra xt fit.. This is a problem with some of the case sizes

The Antec 900 is nice and big inside. You can move the HD's about you see as there are lots of bays.

My 8800GTS fits easily and the Ultrass are only slightly longer IIRC.

Also, because of the 2 x120mm fans at the front, there is constant cool air over the HD's

[Billax]

I just want to thank everyone for you help .. I went to scan and me and Raz ( Tech Support) Decided to choose the Case Akasa Mirage v2 ,,, All the other cases had to many issues..... Also i changed my cpu fan to the new Zalman CNPS9700-NT NVIDIA Tritium Super Aero Flower Cooler... Its superb aswell .. my cpu idle temp has come down from 50-57 to 32 C and my case temp is down to 38 ,, from 48 .... so its mad ea big difference ... I have 8800 ultras and i would have had problems installing in the antec 900 and 182 .... THe Akasa is a superb case and has got loads of room and is VERY VERY .. EASY TO WORK WITH ...

thanks once again all