Choice of case for a 3XS system

[Spider95]

Hi,

I'm trying to decide on which case pick for one of the custom series (the 3XS Performance GTX). The options are:
- Antec Three Hundred Black Mid Tower
- Coolermaster Gladiator 600 Black Mid Tower
- Coolermaster CM-690 V2 Dominator Black Midi Tower
- Lian Li PC-60FNB Black Aluminum Mid Tower
- Antec 902 Nine Hundred Two, Tower
- Antec P183 Advanced Super Mid Tower
- Silverstone Fortress FT01B-W Tower Case Black

I'm looking for a case that's sturdy (but doesn't weigh a tonne), cools well and is reasonably quiet (although I realise that this doesn't just depend on the case). I'm not that bothered about the bells and whistles of the looks (windows or lighting or anything like that), I just want something that does it's job of holding al the bits, built well and has good airflow to cool everything.

Anyone gone for one of these cases and would recommend it? Or, alternatively, did anyone go for one of these cases but wish they'd chosen differently?

Any thoughts/comments would really be appreciated!

[jjgreenwood]

I've got a silverstone ft01-s and its a lovely case, I'd advise you not to save money on the case. My gtx 480 is perfectly cool in this.

[Spider95]

That's interesting to know, as I'd read that the silverstone Fortress FT01 was great at CPU cooling but not so good for the graphics card.

[Zoso]

Another FT01 here and I'm very happy with it, good airflow but quiet thanks to the large fans. Was it the Bit Tech review you were reading with poor GPU cooling? Their test rig has a passively cooled graphics card that can cause slightly odd results, with a card with a rear exhaust (I've got a 5850 in there) I haven't had any problems.

[Spider95]

I think it was the Bit Tech review I read about that yeah. It's a 5850 card I'm thinking of going for so maybe that's not so much of an issue (although scan seem to be out of xfx 5850 cards just now?!).

At the moment it's probably a decision between the FT01 and the Lian Li PC-60. I'm not so keen on the side window version of the FT01 which is what scan seem to be offering with the 3XS Performance GTX custom bundle, plus it's more expensive. The Lian Li seems to be a good case as well, I certainly haven't found any very negative reviews about it anyway!

[Mossy]

Hi Spider95

If you let me know upon ordering I will look at manually changing the case if you prefer.

[Spider95]

If you let me know upon ordering I will look at manually changing the case if you prefer.

Ok thanks, I'll bear that in mind when I'm weighing up my options

The other case related question I had was about fans. There is an option to replace (up to 3) case cooling fans with quieter 120mm asaka ones which sounds good...

However what's confusing me is the The Lian Li F case has space for a 140mm fan at the front plus a rear 120mm (I'm not sure if it get's supplied with these as standard or not) and the FT01 has 2x180mm fans plus one 120mm fan. So if I get the 120mm fan replacements? am I getting less cooling from the smaller fans than I could be getting from the larger 140 or 180 ones? Does this change the performance? This is probably a bit of a noob question for which I apologise!

[Mossy]

Fans Included: 1 x 120mm
1 x 140mm

So you could replace the 120mm fan if required

Regards

[Spider95]

Fans Included: 1 x 120mm 1 x 140mm
So you could replace the 120mm fan if required
Regards

Ok...I assume this is in relation to the Lian Li case...so just to clarify.

If I went for the Lian Li case it would come with 1x140mm (front) and 1x120mm (rear) fan. So in this instance I could only replace the one fan with the quieter 120mm asaka fan. And I take it it's a similar situation with the silverstone case. It comes with 2x180mm fans (front and side?) and 1x120mm fan (rear?).

So either way I'd only be able to (or need to) replace the one fan (i.e. the 120mm rear one) on either of the cases?

Anyone know if you can switch off the blue LED on the standard front fan of the Lian Li case? (yes, daft question but it is a consideration )

[Spider95]

Well, in the end I went for the silverstone fortress. Was able to swap the windowed version for the non-windowed when I placed my final order over the phone. Am REALLY pleased with the case. It's solid, sturdy and looks fantastic. Thanks scan and all those here for advice!