Budget pc case with good airflow

Silba

Junior Member
Jan 1, 2014
12
0
0
Hey guys!

I'm looking for a budget pc case that has some good airflow.
My budget is £40 (£45 at a stretch)

I don't care about looks, it just needs good airflow as im planning on overclocking and need to heat to escape!

I've already got some fans but if the case came with 1 or 2 that would be great!


Would this be a good buy?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aerocool-VS...ower/dp/B004OXXQ82/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_4
what about this?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aerocool-Ad...ess/dp/B00DDD4X1S/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_16
 
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ali1988

Member
Jan 3, 2014
29
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0
Bitfenix shinobi cases if you can source them. They have vents at top which help a lot. The above case only appears to have intake at front and back but no top vent.
 

ejjpi

Member
Dec 21, 2013
58
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0
pangoly.com
Antec one (£43 now on amazon uk)

71TiOKMiNUL._SX385_.jpg
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
15,891
1,554
126
I've had my eyes on that one, thanks.

How about this one though?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

thoughts on it?

I've seen several good cases other than the ones I choose. It's been some three or four years now, that I've started using exclusively the CM HAF midtower. They range in price for additional features -- this one seems to be "basic:"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119233

You can do the math for prices other than dollars.

The only drawbacks on this HAF are minor. Plastic front-panel-bezel. All SECC steel. The side-panels seem to arrive in the box with a slight warp, so once you remove them, there's some extra juggling required to get them to fit the way they're supposed to.

This or another midtower HAF comes with two 200mm fans (front and maybe side) -- and others can be purchased separately as options.

I prefer a slightly "pressurized" case. So I block off the top 200/140 mm air vent with black foam art-board -- purchased at an art store like "Michaels" -- cut to size and secured with nylon nuts and screws.

With the improvements of lower-wattage CPUs, better heatpipe coolers, cooler-running motherboards with solid-state components etc. -- I stopped obsessing over ducting and other refinements.

I just have "good airflow" -- period. Minimum number of fans, but I could reduce that further by deleting the two Noctua fans on my NH-D14 and ducting the cooler to the Pana-Flow 120x38mm 0.60A exhaust fan.

I would avoid the HAF models that don't feature a side-panel vent accommodating the 200mm fan.

Also -- for various cases and manufactures -- some side-panel fan-mounts are rather primitive. Primitive, that is, compared to the hinged plastic frame on a CM Stacker mid-tower. This might lead someone to conclude that mounting the fan directly on the side-panel will cause unnecessary vibration. To mitigate this, I simply cut a grommet out of foam art-board for placement between the fan and the side-panel.
 

nwo

Platinum Member
Jun 21, 2005
2,308
0
71
I have the HAF 912. Absolutely love it! Tons of space, love the HDD orientation, room for SSD, good build quality, excellent airflow. What else is there to say?

That TT V3 case looks pretty decent too, seems like it has pretty good airflow judging from the pics. I haven't used a case with bottom air intake (other than the one for PSU, which doesn't count) but I think that 1 bottom air and 1 front panel intake may actually be better than 2 front intakes, especially for multi-gpu configs since it may help bring bottom card temps down a bit assuming you have excellent cable management in place.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
+1 to Source 210 Elite, though it's £40 not £39. Stock config 120mm rear, 140mm top, best for that price really. For another £4 you could add an Arctic F12 fan on the front but it isn't necessary for dispatching heat
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
Dang it, I don't have that fancy euro symbol on my 'murican keyboard. :biggrin:
My bad though, that pesky .95.

I can tell you're 'murican... cos that's not a euro symbol. That's GBP.

This is the euro symbol you're missing on your keyboard: € (although it is present in the Windows keyboard layout for English (US) - International, ALT GR + 5)
 
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Bubbleawsome

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2013
4,834
1,204
146
I can tell you're 'murican... cos that's not a euro symbol. That's GBP.

This is the euro symbol you're missing on your keyboard: € (although it is present in the Windows keyboard layout for English (US) - International, ALT GR + 5)
It is. I always get them confused though. The £ looks like an E to me, so I remember it that way. :$
 

skipsneeky2

Diamond Member
May 21, 2011
5,035
1
71
My Rosewill Line-M case has been good for the $50+tax i paid for it.The Zotac 770 in my sig on a full load refuses to hit 70cel on the stock fan setup and popping a spare 80mm fan i had sitting around on the side of the case dropped temps on both my cpu and gpu a good 3 cel.Hell i was playing BF3 this evening and the damn 770 refused to go over 65cel and my cpu hit a max of 69cel on the reference cooler lol.

Stock fans seem ok, any improvement on them for cfm or noise could easily make it a fun case depending on your preference and its direct front to back airflow sold me.:)
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
15,891
1,554
126
I have the HAF 912. Absolutely love it! Tons of space, love the HDD orientation, room for SSD, good build quality, excellent airflow. What else is there to say?

That TT V3 case looks pretty decent too, seems like it has pretty good airflow judging from the pics. I haven't used a case with bottom air intake (other than the one for PSU, which doesn't count) but I think that 1 bottom air and 1 front panel intake may actually be better than 2 front intakes, especially for multi-gpu configs since it may help bring bottom card temps down a bit assuming you have excellent cable management in place.

You know -- the truth of it is . . . judging only from my own midtower HAF and after extensive modding of a higher-than-full-tower, wider-than anything '94 Compaq ProLiant case -- and --AND --after indulging myself with a black aluminum CM Stacker -- after all that, the HAF is a fairly cheap-built case. Thin-gauge SECC steel, no special "pull-out" mobo trays. But the tool-less drive bays and other features are superb. Especially, the 200mm fan ports and fans. I think I got my three HAFs for less than $100 each -- one of those maybe for $70. Or -- I bought two of them on a special "two-for" price.

I got two 2"x1/4"x12" aluminum bars from the local metal store, cut their length to the width of the case, drilled holes in them to fit the holes for the rubber feet -- then drilled and tapped four holes on each end of each bar to fit 2.5" double-caster wheels with the brakes on 'em. That was the only mod I made. I think I paid less than $20 for the caster wheels, web-ordered from some hardware store in Ohio or Indiana called "Lawless Hardware."

I just got weary of fussing over glitz and glam --lights and bling. So -- yeah -- if I need another case, it's an easy choice to make. I almost worry about getting into a rut and a habit with the HAFs -- I might miss out on something "better." But then, I have to ask "how much better is 'better'?" I need cases I can re-use, and we have a lot of computers here. Cannot -- and will not -- pay the price of the top-end stackers, or the Thermaltake Level 10. . . GT-whatever -- for so many machines.

It's all about cooling, a place to hang the computer parts, and avoiding impractical expense with this changing technology. Works for me!
 

Silba

Junior Member
Jan 1, 2014
12
0
0
Thanks everyone, appreciate it.
Interesting to read and informative.

I'm going to Birmingham tomorrow to look for local pc cases, any brands I should look out for?

Also, there has to be room for a hyper 212 evo cpu cooler.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
15,891
1,554
126
Thanks everyone, appreciate it.
Interesting to read and informative.

I'm going to Birmingham tomorrow to look for local pc cases, any brands I should look out for?

Also, there has to be room for a hyper 212 evo cpu cooler.

From either the 212 evo itself or its spec sheet, get the height measurement from base-bottom to top/heatpipe-tips. Take a ruler or measuring tape to Birmingham, and when you look at cases, measure from the motherboard surface to the edge of the case-frame at the side-panel. Add an extra half inch to the spec height for comparison.

Generally, I think the 212 evo should fit just about any midtower or fulltower, though.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
The 212 evo will fit almost any ATX mid tower, including all the ones mentioned in this thread
 

Silba

Junior Member
Jan 1, 2014
12
0
0
From either the 212 evo itself or its spec sheet, get the height measurement from base-bottom to top/heatpipe-tips. Take a ruler or measuring tape to Birmingham, and when you look at cases, measure from the motherboard surface to the edge of the case-frame at the side-panel. Add an extra half inch to the spec height for comparison.

Generally, I think the 212 evo should fit just about any midtower or fulltower, though.

The 212 evo will fit almost any ATX mid tower, including all the ones mentioned in this thread




Thanks guys.

This has really boosted my confidence in buying a case online!

Ill make a cardboard box the size of the 212 and place it in the cases since i dont own a tape measure!
Thanks again guys :)
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
15,891
1,554
126
Thanks guys.

This has really boosted my confidence in buying a case online!

Ill make a cardboard box the size of the 212 and place it in the cases since i dont own a tape measure!
Thanks again guys :)

That's as practical as it gets. Just for reference in the future, you could supplement your search with a scan of the spec sheets at computer-case manufacturer web-sites. That info should be available. If not, the distance from the right-side case-panel to the underside of the mobo tray should be fairly standard. But approximations can vary . ..
 

Bubbleawsome

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2013
4,834
1,204
146
I know the 210s fit the NZXT T40, and that looks like it is the same height as the 212, so that works.
Let me just say, the white 210 with the T40 and a black and white GPU (I use the iceqx2) looks amazing. I'm looking for a white, florescent light to mount in the top. :awe:
 

Silba

Junior Member
Jan 1, 2014
12
0
0
That's as practical as it gets. Just for reference in the future, you could supplement your search with a scan of the spec sheets at computer-case manufacturer web-sites. That info should be available. If not, the distance from the right-side case-panel to the underside of the mobo tray should be fairly standard. But approximations can vary . ..

I know the 210s fit the NZXT T40, and that looks like it is the same height as the 212, so that works.
Let me just say, the white 210 with the T40 and a black and white GPU (I use the iceqx2) looks amazing. I'm looking for a white, florescent light to mount in the top. :awe:

Thanks again guys :)

I went to a local shop today and found the corsair carbide 300r to say the least i was very impressed! My budget no longer stands so low haha :)

My final question is, is the 300r worth it? I've found it for £65 GBP with the clear window to see my sexy new mobo and ram and it comes with an intake and exhaust fan.
 

Bubbleawsome

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2013
4,834
1,204
146
What makes it worth it to you? It's a very nice case, but my 210 was $34 USD and it has a fair amount of room along with the ability to mount 2x120x2 rads, so it serves it's purpose, but it is plastic and doesn't have filters. Is it worth it to me? Yes. To you? I don't know. Overall, you just need a thing to put the parts in. :p
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
15,891
1,554
126
Somewhere -- here or in another thread -- I saw someone "dissing" the HAF 922 for airflow. But I also saw a HAF 922 that didn't have the side-panel fittings for a 200mm fan.