Someone please dissaude and/or show me a better alternative

[Goobley]

I was spending a few hours dribbling over various items at scan the other day, when I came across their isotope cases. I fell in love...
However I imagine that the airflow in them isn't good with only 1 80mm fan although I imagine that I would get a AIO water cooler for the cpu and mount the rad externally, I would also have to buy a new µatx mobo... but... but... they look so cool, compared to my current fugly case, which alos has no cable management (pics below)





If you can dissaude me from buying an isotope what case would you guys recomend? It either has to be elegantly understated or still elegant in its over-the-top-ness. And quiet. Quiet is good, because when I don't listen to music fan noises get on my nerves.

Also, I probably still need a new psu because I feel like I'm dicing with death by continuing to use a CX600 that whistles when the computer is off.

Argh, I want an original case but really don't know what to buy, please help me people...

Many Thanks
Chris

[Erasmus]

I also like more understated towers; the big monsters with a thousand colourful LEDs and fifty grills, gubbins and armour-plated drive doors are a little silly. I'm intending to get the corsair 650D at some point in the near future, which also comes in the bigger 750D and 850D forms, but if you want something that looks like the Monolith out of 2001 A Space Odyssey there's always the Lian-Li PC-X2000F, with its acres of brushed aluminum. None of these can really challenge an Isotope's uniqueness, but then not much can. You'll have to Google them though; I do not have a high enough post count to post links yet.

[Goobley]

Don't worry about links, I'm well trained in the art of googling ^^. I have looked in depth at the corsair cases (I completely forgot to mention this earlier ) but the sticking point is that my computer will soon be (now I've managed to sort my wifi) on my left hand side under my desk, therefore rendering all windows useless unless it happens to be a reverse case with the mobo on the other side...

PS anyone who wishes to release some anger is welcome to insult my present case as much as they like ^^

[Pob255]

Depends exactly what you're after, personally I don't like really big cases, esp when people have so little in them.
I really love a nicely packed mid tower.

the Obsidian 650D is actually the same case as the Graphite 600T, just with different panels & bezel to give it the Obsidian look, the 750d and 850d also share a frame.

There's the new 400R that's looking very much like it's worth a look, and for water cooling it's designed to take a 25mm 240rad +25mm fans internally in the top or two 140mm fans for air cooling.
However it's looking a bit expensive.

The coolermaster 690 version2 would also be worth a look.

If you're up for modding then the xigmatek midgard white knight http://www.ebuyer.com/274410-xigmate...-cpc-t55dw-u01 is an ideal budget blank canvas case for modding, it's basically a copy of the original coolermaster 690 with a different bezel.

A lot is going to depend on what you're exactly looking for.

PS any details on that case of yours?

[EvanJackPenn]

There's the new 400R that's looking very much like it's worth a look, and for water cooling it's designed to take a 25mm 240rad +25mm fans internally in the top or two 140mm fans for air cooling.
However it's looking a bit expensive.

The side panels are also meant to be quite unattractive...

[Walker]

I'd say go for the Define mini if you wanted to go for an understated and elegant design. or you could have a look at the range of Lian-Li cases that they have

[Pob255]

The side panels are also meant to be quite unattractive...

I don't see why? I like them, instead of being just a flat sheet of metal they have a simple pressed out section in a trapezoidal shape.
This has many advantages over just a flat panel, having a pressed out shape adds rigidity and reduces flex in a panel, also on the left side by lifting the fan vents away from the frame it means you can fit side panel fans and sill have clearance for a large cpu cooler (something that the vast majority of cases will NOT allow you to do) it's also mirrored on the right panel, minus the vent, which actually creates more room behind the motherboard tray to fit cables back there and not have to struggle to get the panel back on.
(I would of really loved to have seen that on my casecom 6788 because I have to lay the case on it's side so I can push down on the right panel to get it on because of the cables I've run behind the motherboard tray)
To my mind it also makes them more interesting than just a flat sheet of metal.

Case looks are a very personal thing, the Antec Darkfleet series of cases has been selling quite well apparently and to me those are some of the ugliest case designs on the market.

For me FUNCTION is a massive part of design, An ugly design that works is an ugly design, a design that doesn't work is a total failure of design no matter how pretty it is.

[Goobley]

My current case is an Advance redboost. I've never been able to find it outside of France, I was on a tight budget when I built and it only cost 40€ http://www.rueducommerce.fr/Composan...Moyen-tour.htm

Since then I have had to externally remount the 220mm side fan because it got in the way of my Cooler Master TX3. It's now held on with matchsticks and woodscrews ^^. I then found the fans a bit loud so I replace intake and exhaust with gentle typhoon 1850s, hence the fanmates stuck to the front. At the same time as changing the fans I built the pedestal it's on the get it away from some of the dust because I was cleaning the inside fortnightly and it was getting quite irritating.

I might look at getting a mid price something an modding, but am not sure at how cost effective it would be.

The points about the 400r are interesting, I don't know how I feel about the side panels, I'm not wild but as pob says they certainly sound functional.

Basically I'm looking for something that works well, with most probably a simple understated design, both fractal and corsair seem to be manufacturers who cater to this

Hmm decisions, decisions
Thanks for all the suggestions so far

[Goobley]

The fractal midi arc with a bit of modding has caught my eye, in particular for its ability to fit a 240mm rad without any problems.

I'm looking at getting a wc loop on the CPU in that case but have no prior experience of real wc, or the all in one for that matter. How hard/risky is real wc? I'm sure I have a lot of friends jus waiting to say, 'I told you so' if it all goes wrong. I live in the south of France soothe high ambient in the summer really makes air loose some efficiency.

Any advice on first time wc versus an nht d14 would be appreciated
Thanks

[Vimeous]

I've been a Coolermaster fan (no pun intended) for years but I'm currently eyeing-up Silverstone's Fortress FT-03 for its size and subtle styling. If an Isotope is under consideration maybe this would be a better half-way-house?

[Goobley]

The ft03 is an interesting and more practical design than the isotope but both would involve changing mobos, something that I can't justify to my conscience unless it blows up or until am4 / post ivy. Looking at the isotope with my heart rather than my head j would really like it, or the ft03 but instead I think I'll have to find something a little more midranged atx and mod, which is why I'm enquiring about wc...
Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'd like to hear any and all ideas.

[Pob255]

Yes the new Arc is a bit expensive but very nice http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fract...e-case-w-o-psu
Other cheaper options I'd look at

coolermaster 690 version2 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...r-case-w-o-psu lite (aka basic) version lacks the hard drive dock on the top, gpu support bracket and a fan, so no great loss and it's cheaper
Support for 240 rad in the top and a 2nd 240 rad in the bottom with the hard drive cage removed

If you want to stick with air cooling/an all-in-one water cooler then the LanCool PC-K60B is worth a look http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-...g-case-w-o-psu (the K62 is the same case but with led fans and a window, the K58 lacks the top fans and required grommeted screws to fit fans)

The fractal design core 3000 is ok, a bit over priced for what it is and there's not enough room in the top for a rad, just fans. http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fract...e-case-w-o-psu
Same goes for the Fractal Design Define R3, there's not enough space in the top for a radiator
With the ARC they off set the top fans, made the case slightly taller and wider so fitting a rad shouldn't be an issue, personally I think the ARC is their best case to date.

[Goobley]

Just wondered if someone could tell me how much work real watercooling (cpu only), is. I'm particularly interested in the routine maintenance side of things, frequency etc...
Also, I'm often away during the week and come home at weekends, is it to leave it standing?

[EvanJackPenn]

Just wondered if someone could tell me how much work real watercooling (cpu only), is. I'm particularly interested in the routine maintenance side of things, frequency etc...

Self-contained water cooling kits, such as the Corsiar Hydro Series, are quite compact CPU coolers. They don't require much work at all, though (as far as I'm aware). But they're relatively cheap on Scan here.

[Goobley]

But from what I know the AIO really don't match real water cooling do they? or even say a NHT-D14 or CM V10

[Goobley]

I have just been told under no uncertain terms that I shall NOT be watercooling... shame, it's smething I quite wanted to try my hand at but thats how it is.
So I'm going to look at a modded air case. I'll post a new thread in a couple of days, when I have some clearer idea because this thread is becoming a bit confusing
Thanks for all your advice so far