Do I need a new case?

[hulkmarine]

I am in the process of building a new system.
My current case is regular/cheap ATX case. The case has places for the front and rear fans. However, no side openings at all.
Do i need to buy a new case? please help!

cpu: Phenom 9850

 

[Corporate Thug]

what case do you have exactly? I don't see why a side vent is a necessity...

 

[hulkmarine]

some generic one. no name branks. hehe.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

BUY A NEW CASE! it'll help the economy!

and you'll like it!

 

[hulkmarine]

yeah, that is true, I would like it for sure.
I just don't want to purchase it if i don't really need it for my build.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

nobody really NEEDS anything...
you can even have the pc parts out on your desk all hooked up and running...

but wouldn't you like a nice Lian Li case?

 

[hulkmarine]

well. Yea. I just want to save money. so i guess i need one or no?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Originally posted by: hulkmarine
well. Yea. I just want to save money. so i guess i need one or no?

How big are the front and rear fans?

 

[hulkmarine]

um. i don't know. i don't have one at the moment. there are places for the fans that's what i meant. I am pretty sure the one on the back is for 120mm

 

[jdkick]

A side vent is not a requirement. Generally, good front-to-back airflow is all that's needed. If the case is new enough to have a 120mm fan in the rear then you're probably good...

 

[MarcVenice]

My case doesn't have a side-vent. Costs more then 100 bucks though. Side-vents are overrated.

 

[zerogear]

Side vents aren't necessary if you have a well ventilated case

And if you really need one? Why not just mod the side of your case and stick a fan on there.

 

[lenjack]

You don't need it.

 

[zagood]

you don't need it. I've actually been looking at options for closing mine.

 

[roid450]

I replaced my side panel, no side vent anymore. I personally thing a side vent fucks up the flow of in-out that most cases have.

 

[faxon]

side vent isnt required for proper cooling. what i WOULD recommend is making sure your case doesnt take anything less than 120mm fans. my CM690 with stock fans + 2 low DB Nexus fans on the top for extra CPU venting has higher airflow by a ton than my thermaltake armor. the armor is so big though that it's hard to get super airflow going through it without adding extra 3 in 3 hard drive cages (come with slots for 120x25 fans). personally i am a fan of big airflow low noise configurations, so if your case doesnt have something like that look into getting a coolermaster 690 or something similar (price/performance). the drive cage layout on the 690 is great, and the case is easy to work inside. the only gripes i have are with how the back panel is shaped in relation to my cable management needs, and no hole for mounting a CPU backplate