Which Case? PC-K62/3 CM HAF 922 CM 690 II

Hi looking to upgrade from my Soprano to something that has better cooling and has better cable managment, it must also be easy to build from, ie plenty of room. I am hoping some of you guys can give me advice on the sound levels and quality ps? The 4 i've narrowed down to are all under £100 mid towers. The first is the Lian-Li or rather the Lancool's PC-K62 or hopefully the newer k63 which i understand has the USB3 sockets and only just come out in the UK. Second and third is by cooler master. The HAF 922 and the 690 II Advanced. My 1st choice is the Lancool as they are made with aluminuim. Many thanks

Edit:Lian Li PC-7FNWB looks nice too?

Wide enough to fit the cpu? :?

Sorry i meant is it deep enough to fit a Xigmatek cpu cooler.

lancools are made with steel, that was the idea of the lancool brand, lian li quality but at a lower price point due to steel.

xigmatek HDT-S1283? Most cases will take that, my uATX P180 mini fits it.

p180 mini is about the size of most mid towers though (very nice case btw :) ). Why not just get a antec 300, not had one myself but it is quite a good looking case has decent ventilation ... is suppose to be fairly quiet and has some cable management features.

If quiestness is your main goal you can do that with any case. Have a look at SPCR. I made my crappy CM elite 341 case very quiet by swapping some fans out and using a fan controller and some cheap sound proofing material. But if you want all of that done for you out of the box look at the fractal design cases, they have really good cable management plus thick sound dampening material already in them and they aren't bad looking cases either plus under £100. If quietness and cable management are you goals and you want that out of the box for under 100 pounds that definately looks like your case.

Fractal design R3 £83.99 (updated version with improved ventilation, noise absorption and cable management) This week only

Thanks guys.
Are any of the CM's Alu?
Noise is not so much of a problem, its more quality and looks really...Oh and ease of fitting mobo and components.
p180 and 300. How much ps?

I've just gone for a HAF912 plus. I had similar criteria - cable routing, motherboard cut out. Space for large graphics cards, SSD mounting brackets. Could let you know what it's like when I do the build in a week or so.

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Originally Posted by kalniel

I've just gone for a HAF912 plus. I had similar criteria - cable routing, motherboard cut out. Space for large graphics cards, SSD mounting brackets. Could let you know what it's like when I do the build in a week or so.

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That will be great thanks.

Also the Lian Li PC-7FNWB looks like a nice one too?

Antec 300 is ~£40 and the P180 mini is ~£70 but it's uATX

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Originally Posted by nibbler

Antec 300 is ~£40 and the P180 mini is ~£70 but it's uATX

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No thanks jus looked at the pics and dont really like them.

I own a coolermaster HAF922 and really like it. Plenty of room for anything you would need to fit in it and there is a cut out at the back so fitting a backlate for a cooler is a doddle. Very open design so cooling is very good.

The Lian Li PC-7FNWB is a really nice case. The only cheapish coolermaster mid towers that are aliminium are the centurion cases i think, have a look on their website.

Another aliminium case in your price range is the panzerbox, also comes with the option for watercooling out of the box, although cable management isn't best on that case. Boils down to what you want most:

Brushed alminium/build quality/ quietness/ looks/ dont' care about watercooling / expensive? -> lian li

Don't care about looks/ don't care about noise / don't care about looks / happy with steel/ very good airflow/ decent watercooling support/ value/ sturdiness -> HAF series

want good cable management/ build quality / silence / not great ventilation out of the box / good looks?/ value for money for what you get -> fractal design r3.

water cooling support/ amazing ventilation / aliminium (not brushed though)/ noisey/ ok build quality/ ok value for money --> panzerbox (basically a good looking haf almost with better watercooling support).

This is based on the reviews I have read. TBH personally I would get the lian/ fractal design/ or panzerbox. But lots of people love the HAF series ... i just think they are so ugly lol.

Wow thanks that sums it up in a nutshell!:clapping:

IMHO the panzerbox is noisy, poorly designed, ugly and poorly performing :)
I would get the fractal design r3 (although if you didn't like the look of the antec P180 then you won't like that) or the CM 690II but that's just me.

I think the R3 looks to be better quality than the p180! But still damn well undecided?

Does the Lian Li PC-7FNWB have a top fan ps and whats the difference between the others the PC-7FN?

Quality wise the antec Performance 1 series will not be beaten ;)

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Originally Posted by nibbler

Quality wise the antec Performance 1 series will not be beaten ;)

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That actually looks OK (P180B) but its a rather old PC but building wise it looks straight forward. The newer one is too small.

Current breed is the P183 really, but that's pushing up the price.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/Antec...ays-Quiet-Case

too big i'm afraid!

I really want the lian li but it dont seem to have a top fan which is need as case will be in a gap with no side ventilation.

EDIT: pc-8fi has a 140mm fan slot on the top but is £130 quid, the fractal design cases also have top fan slots. If you are really willing to push the boat out what a FT01?

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Originally Posted by wannabgeek

I think the R3 looks to be better quality than the p180! But still damn well undecided?

Does the Lian Li PC-7FNWB have a top fan ps and whats the difference between the others the PC-7FN?

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The pc-7fn doesn't have a window the 7fnw does.

Maybe if you're still really undecided try and think about what you want to put in a new case, will it be a matx or ATX motherboard if you have a matx might you want an ATX mobo in the future? How many 5.25" drives do you need right now, how many will you need in the future, how many HDD do you have now ... how many will you need the in future, how much ventilation/space for cooling do you require, will you need more further down the line.

First and foremost any new case should be able to handle what you already have and anything you know you want in the future.

Then you need to think about the things that matter to you most and put them in order of importance ... i.e. noise, size, ventilation, steel or alminium, has a door, doesn't have a door, watercooling support, what kind of look: industrial (HAF/darkfleet series) or understated (p183/fractal design/lian li).

Obviously also think about your budget, how much are you willing to spend, you said you would spend £100. Now that you should buy you have a good mid tower but it won't buy you one that has every possible feature a.) because it's not enough and b.) because some things are mutually exclusive.

So basically in a nutshell we can help you more if maybe you give us a list of things you want and things you don't won't.

Thanks for that.

PC i am building is around a AMD Phenom II X6 1050t and a ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 mobo. Ventilation is only a problem because pc will be in a gap with no side ventilation, hence reason i want a top fan. Other than this its not used for gaming just for video/photo editing (CS5 suite) No watercooling. Noise is not really a issue but quiet would be nice as would alu but as you said ive only £100 buget! I am leaning towards the PC-7FNB...maybe i can cut a fan into it if need be?
I will have another look at the R3 and make my mind up. Thanks for all your kind help guys.

Just reading about the p183. It apparently has a poor cable managment. But there are some things being said about the R3 (below)
http://www.overclock.net/computer-ca...-review-2.html

Be aware that even a centremetre or two is enough depth for side ventilation to be effective.

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Originally Posted by nibbler

Be aware that even a centremetre or two is enough depth for side ventilation to be effective.

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Thats good to know. Thanks

The P183 isn't an amazing upgrade over the p182 , just a couple of minior tweeks

Going back to you original choises
Lancool k62 - very good air cooling, very quiet (comes fully loaded with fans so no additional fans are needed) fully filtered, fully toolless and good toolless that actually works very well.
Steel and plastic not aluminium.
If you want aluminium then the Armoursuit P50 is the case the K62 is based on (although they used the hard drive drive cage from the PC-7F)
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/LianL...g-Case-W-O-PSU
The K62 is the best steel toolless case on the market hands down, Black out&in blue LED fans, there are a couple of other colour options however they where made in limited numbers so not so easy to find.
If you don't care about the black interia, window and led fans, then the K58 is much cheaper, although it doesn't come with top 140mm fans or the grommited scews to fit them so you need to get thoes seperately, however even with thoes costs it's still a cheaper option. (hard to find now :( )
Bad points, water cooling, using custom grommited fan screws and 2x140mm top fans and a single 140mm fan at the front makes for limited water cooling options (you need to use 140mm or 280mm rads as the top and front use 140mm fans only)

HAF 922 - Steel, HAF styling* (*the styling is a big turn off for some and looks great to others depends on your personal taste.) Alot of air flow with stock fans, lots of space inside (esp in width and behind the motherboard tray, just having hole to run cables doesn't mean there's space to put them in) alternative holes for 120mm fan or rads.
Down sides, HAF styling*, A real dust magnet, unpainted interia (this is a personal thing as it's not going to effect perfromance)

coolermaster 690 II Advanced
It is decent and well priced, flexable options for rads, all black in&out, good cooling, external sata drive docking.
Only semi-filtered (while the front is filtered there's still lots of unfiltered holes), only one ot two side panel fans can be used with a large cpu cooler, and while it can mount lots of fans it only comes with 3 so you need to factor in additional fans into the cost.

My choise I'd get the red edition Lancool K62 http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cust...roductid=11238 or more probably hunt down the K58 and mod it ;)
However currently the HAF 912 has got my attention but I'm looking at it from a modding view point and a like the slightly smaller size (less heigh not wide)

Another one I'll chuck at you the NZXT Phantom http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/NZXT-...Window-w-o-PSU black or http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/NZXT-...Window-w-o-PSU white
A little over budget but a really nice looking case, big, good to work on and has a nice built in fan controller.

Also for NZXT on the lower end of the cost scale we're looking at the NZXT Tempest EVO, comes with all fans needed, looks are a bit like the HAF in that you'll like it or hate it, a decent all round case.

On aluminium cases you're looking at the Lain-Li PC-7FN or PC-6F The cooling will not be quite as good as the others we've mentioned and they are a bit smaller, while there is space in the top for fans there's no holes to fit fans so modding would be required to improve the cooling.

Thermaltake Element G, this would be a good option to consider if you don't like the HAF styling but still want the very high air flow.

Other wild cards
Zalman GS1000-SE Note not the newer MS as it's not as good.
The original GS1000 is steel frame, with aluminium panels and ABS plastic details, 3 of 6 HDD are hot swapable connectors (the other 3 can be made hotswappable with an additional part)
The GS1000 - SE same with a few minor tweeks, also side panels are steel and no hotswappable mounting included (although it can be added) cheaper

Ok you posted more while I was typeing that and double checking my factoids.

I take it you're looking at onboard graphics, so you'll not have a major amount of heat to deal with (esp if you don't overclock)

If you must have aluminium because . . . it's aluminium! (ok I'll admit anodised brushed aluminium has a look and shean that no painted steel will match, and aluminium cases use thicker gague material, because they cannot get away with thinner as you can with steel and careful folding)
The Lain-Li PC-7FN or PC-6F are probably the choises for you

You could try hunting ebay or simular for the Hiper Osiris

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Be aware that even a centremetre or two is enough depth for side ventilation to be effective.

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Depends where that extra width is, the extra will not make an amazing difference to air cooling with a twoer cpu cooler (unless it's the difference between a 92mm fan cooler (140mm clearence) or a 120mm fan cooler(160mm clearence)) however it does have a big impact on cable management, space behind the motherboard will have a major impact on cable behind the tray and extra overall width has a big effect on hard drive cable management if the drive cage is at 90degrees.

Also extra case width is needed for the really big assed fans to be mounted in the front or top

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Originally Posted by Pob255

Ok you posted more while I was typeing that and double checking my factoids.

I take it you're looking at onboard graphics, so you'll not have a major amount of heat to deal with (esp if you don't overclock)

If you must have aluminium because . . . it's aluminium! (ok I'll admit anodised brushed aluminium has a look and shean that no painted steel will match, and aluminium cases use thicker gague material, because they cannot get away with thinner as you can with steel and careful folding)
The Lain-Li PC-7FN or PC-6F are probably the choises for you

You could try hunting ebay or simular for the Hiper Osiris

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Thanks very much guys ive just purchased the K62...Only thing is its RED. But hey i never would of got it otherwise tonite. Thanks again.

I prefer the red interia, red fans, black exteria to the balck interia, black fans, black exteria or blue interia, blue fans, black exteria ;)

Did you get the windowed or non-windowed version?

I have the CM690 II Advanced and I love it. Admittedly it was my 1st build so I'm not as experienced as most of you guys but this case has great cooling, cable management options and it looks good. Quiet and well built as well.

just my two cents... :)

Also meant to add that this case made my 1st build go much more smoothly than expected. Tons of room and very easy to work with. The black powder coated interior looks great too.

My 2p.

HAF 922 = FUGLY so that would rule it out for me no matter how good it is.
690 II = Seems like an ideal case at a good price. 95% great at 95% of things and its not FUGLY with it either (as many CM's are)
Lian Li PC-7FNWB = Love lian li have a BIG soft spot for 'em but annoyingly none of the midi towers have much cooling/water cooling support, e.g the 690 II demolishes it it terms of fan's / radiators. Would stil buy one tho....just cos there sexy.
Lancool's PC-K62 = Lian li but steel and cheap - still look sexy tho which is frankly the whole point of lian li!! Drawbacks = same as Lian li (cooling).

So I'd summarise as follows: If you want cooling/watercooling etc - CM 690 II. If you want sexy time PC-K62. If you want more sexy time and have more money for more sexy time PC-7.

Butuz

The cooling on the Lancool is good, the only real thing lacking in it is radiator support and side panel vent/fan slot so gpu temps can be slightly hotter.
It comes with a full set of fans, which is something most of the cm cases lack, also by keeping the air flow tightly focused (ie without a whole lot of additional vents&holes) the dust filtering is very good.

The CM 690 II is a very good option though and much better now then when it was first released and was about £30 more that it currently is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kalniel

I've just gone for a HAF912 plus. I had similar criteria - cable routing, motherboard cut out. Space for large graphics cards, SSD mounting brackets. Could let you know what it's like when I do the build in a week or so.

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I don't suppose you get some build pics of that up once you've got it ? I'm pretty sure I want one of those to replace my current Antec 300 with.

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Originally Posted by Behemoth

I don't suppose you get some build pics of that up once you've got it ? I'm pretty sure I want one of those to replace my current Antec 300 with.

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Won't be for another week at least, but sure, I'll do a system build log + piccies, no problem.

It was a real struggle to get hold of one, so despite being allocated stock I'm a little nervous it won't actually turn up!

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Originally Posted by kalniel

Won't be for another week at least, but sure, I'll do a system build log + piccies, no problem.

It was a real struggle to get hold of one, so despite being allocated stock I'm a little nervous it won't actually turn up!

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I didn't think they be that hard to get seeing as OcUk have a load of them, but then I assume you won't be getting yours from there.

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Originally Posted by Behemoth

I didn't think they be that hard to get seeing as OcUk have a load of them, but then I assume you won't be getting yours from there.

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No I went for whichever of SCAN or Ebuyer got stock first. Looks like Ebuyer got additional stock in after my order anyway, so should be fine. I think there's a bit of a premium for the case at the moment - it should be around £60 really for the level it's aiming at, but I couldn't find anything else that size that met my requirements.

Wish I had a spare £60 to grab one, from all the pics I've seen it looks ideal, if perhaps looking like a bit of a brute front on.

I was going to say ebuyer have them in stock http://www.ebuyer.com/product/239757 ;)

The £70 price tag is probably correct the basic HAF 912 is on newegg for $60 and atm they are only releasing the more expensive plus version over here :(

See thats the problem if it was bang on £60 I\'d go for it when I had the funds, but when you consider for a fiver more I could grab a Fractal case which is worth the extra money over the CM.

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Originally Posted by Behemoth

I don't suppose you get some build pics of that up once you've got it ? I'm pretty sure I want one of those to replace my current Antec 300 with.

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I will be building mine tommorow or weds, so i can put some HQ pics or video on if you want.

Pics would be ideal thanks :)

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Originally Posted by wannabgeek

I will be building mine tommorow or weds, so i can put some HQ pics or video on if you want.

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Yes please :)

@Behemoth, well the HAF 912 compared to the R3, is smaller in length, although slightly taller and nearly 25mm wider (that might not seem much but most cases don't go over 210mm wide and the 912 is a fully 230mm wide)
The removable drive cage means you could fit a 15" graphics card in there.
Fewer hard drive bays in the 912 (6 vs 8) but 4x 5.25" bays compared to the two of the R3
The 912 has the potential for higher capacity air flow however the R3 has lower acoustics.
The 912 has a more aggressive industrial look, where the R3 is a more simplistic and elegant look
The R3 is also £10 more at £80

Both good cases but filling slightly different rolls with looks to appeal to different people.

Hmm well I think I'll end up going with the as it's a very close match with respect to its cooling capability with my current Antec 300.

The R2/R3 range of cases are more geared to water cooling. Something I never intend to bother with unless I had a few grand to spare.

Actually not so much, the CM 690 II is definately aimed for it, the HAF 912 has the option for a dual 120 rad in the top.
The R2/R3 top fan slots do not have the correct spaceing to fit a dual 120 rad without modding and the drive cages are too close to the front to fit a rad and fans there without modding.
Still it's a good case, esp for a very quiet system and they've taken the basic look of the p180 and made it their own, which is great as antec seems to be moving away from it.

I've always liked the P180 case. I guess thats why I was drawn to the R2/R3 case :)