Conclusion - New Case Required

[SuicidaL]

evenin guys.


i'm posting this

a) because i'm being a bit lazy tonight

b) see a


right at the moment i have a TT armor j case. was alright to begin with. but now as i've changed things about and added stuff, the temps have started to increase a bit (hence the side is off most the time) and it's pain in the ass to keep clean as it's become a dust magnet and is getting cramped - so a new case is in order.

budget is a toughie - ideally £100 or less, although depending on time of year i may be able to strech it a bit further.

bigger the better, would like a full tower for the space and aero's but budget might not make it. so as much internal space as possible would be good to allow good airflow.

would like psu bottom mounted as this would allow space for a rad in the top - for future cooling.

a cpu backplate cutout would be nice so o didn't have to keep taking the damn thing to bits when i want to change the hsf and holes for cable management - not essential as i could punch these out at work in 5 mins. although holes for w/c would be desirable.

tool less is good for the lazy of us (me included ) although not essential.


i know this may seem like a tall order - but may be able to compromise in areas (like cable cutouts). so welcome the suggestions.

[Sparhawk]

Everything you're describing is a Corsair Obsidian 700D... but it's £180ish

[SuicidaL]

that is more than streching it a bit.

like i said i can compromise a bit, i.e. the cut ous aren't a deffo need as i can do them myself at work with all the punch's we've got, the psu on the other hand would need to be bottom from the start as couldn't be changed.

[Champman99]

Sounds like the Coolermaster 932 HAF might be a decent bet.

It's around £100 depending on retailer preference you may have to pay a bit more.

It's big, has a CPU cutout (if that means what I think it does), bottom mounted PSU. I'm not a fan of it myself, but hopefully it fits the brief. Can fit a triple 120mm rad in the top as well.

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/prod...roduct_id=2810

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...source=froogle

[SuicidaL]

Sounds like the Coolermaster 932 HAF might be a decent bet.

It's around £100 depending on retailer preference you may have to pay a bit more.

It's big, has a CPU cutout, bottom mounted PSU. I'm not a fan of it myself, but hopefully it fits the brief. Can fit a triple 120mm rad in the top as well.

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/prod...roduct_id=2810

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...source=froogle

funnily enough i was just looking at that on scans site - great minds eh! dunno why but i like the look of it. the only thing i'm not over keen on is the 230mm side fan - although that could be gotten rid of.

the HAF X also looks good.

[12GaugeShotty]

If you want a case that is going to allow everything to run cool and also be silent yet have the option for a tremendous amount of air flow if you need it, get the Antec Nine Hundred.

[Englander]

Is the Fractal Define R2 full tower?

http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/pro...de/fd-definer2 Details including size in there <-

[dirky]

Antec P183? OCUK has the V2 with the cpu cutout

[kmac]

The Lian Li PC-7FN meets most of your criteria but is not full tower. Cost circa £80. Aluminium body, bottom PSU mounting and cut out for CPU

http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product...25&ss_index=62

[Cheapy]

The Fractual Define R2 will need some extra fans over what it comes with in order to help keep things cool.

The Lancool K58 or K62 might be worth a look too. £54 to £80
http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&...t=418&mfr=1370

Xigmatek UTGARD looks good and im not sure if the Bit tech review mentioned somthing about it being ready for watercooling. Have to have a look into that. £62
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Xigma...r-Case-w-o-PSU

And one that caught my eye was the Sharkoon Rebel9 Aluminum but doubt it will have the airflow your looking for. £58
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Shark...r-Case-w-o-PSU

Just some ideas.

[Pob255]

The Sharkoon rebel12 is a good one to look at for the size
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Rebel...wless-mounting

The HAF 932 is idea execpt for one thing, Dust, that case is very far from dust proof.

However my main question is "What exactly is your current space issue?"
Graphics cards too long? not enough drive bays? need space for water cooling?

Depending on exactly what space issues you are having, as the HAF 932 and the Sharkoon Rebel12 are the only full tower cases listed so far.
Mainly because people dont use Full towers much any more as the main advantage to them is lots of hard drives & 5.25" bays

[SuicidaL]

The Sharkoon rebel12 is a good one to look at for the size
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Rebel...wless-mounting

The HAF 932 is idea execpt for one thing, Dust, that case is very far from dust proof.

However my main question is "What exactly is your current space issue?"
Graphics cards too long? not enough drive bays? need space for water cooling?

Depending on exactly what space issues you are having, as the HAF 932 and the Sharkoon Rebel12 are the only full tower cases listed so far.
Mainly because people dont use Full towers much any more as the main advantage to them is lots of hard drives & 5.25" bays

to start with the intake fan is obscured by the hdd cage. i know that there is air going in - but over the hdd's and at the expence of good airflow to the rest of the case.

the mobo almost sits behind the psu at the top, and just below is the h50 rad. that means that the vrm's - i/o - and heat pipes are enclosed with very little airflow. hence i want to at least be able to move the psu to the bottom.

so overall i want some more space so everything is not as cramped, can get some good airflow through the case and room for w/c expansion.

as for the 932, the dust issue could overcome by using air-con/hoover filters and cut to size. although i might wait a bit longer and wait for the HAF X which is due in the next few weeks - the only snag may be the price, which have heard may be around £150 although is it has filters & judging by the pics - masses of room. a nice touch i like about it is that cm supply a support bracket for heavier gfx cards, so a heavy stock card or one with a heavy after market cooler can be supported without fear of them falling down - me at the moment have a pci plate bent over to support my 4870. some may not like the look if it but i quite like the industrial look of it.

http://www.coolermaster.co.uk/produc...roduct_id=6637