Good (gaming) cases? Post them here!

[nubki11a]

Hello!

I am building a new PC, and I am now looking into what case to get. I have looked around a lot. But cannot make my mind up. I would really appreciate it if you all could post some (gaming) cases that you read/heard/etc. about. Just post the names and then I will look them up. Also websites with a lot of cases and pictures are helpful!

Requirements:

Sidewindow
Reasonably good airflow

Budget: Up to 100 euros or $130

Thanks in advance!

 

[Puppies04]

My vote would go for the HAF X. I absolutly love mine but it really can't be described as anything other than huge so make sure you can live with the size. I too the red LEDs out of the front 230mm fan and replaced them with some 6mm blue LEDs then filled every other fan mount with blue LED fans and added a few blue LEDs shining inside the case for good measure. Looks amazing but that is my personal opinion (yet to have anyone who has seen it disagree though )

Also I love the extras that you get with the case like the GPU support arm and the internal fan mount for extra GPU cooling. The tooless bays and hotswap HDD bayare a nice addition aswell.

 

[nubki11a]

Thanks for your reply I have looked into the HAF X, and it seems to be a great case. Also it looks really good, though it is 46 euros above my budget

 

[General Kenobi]

Cooler Master Elite 430 Black perhaps? Or Elite 431 Plus (new, in stores in December)...

 

[aigomorla]

fractile.

 

[nubki11a]

I'm sorry aigomorla, what do you mean with fractile? (English is not my native language).

Thanks Gen. Kenobi, but I dont really like the way it looks.

What about the NZXT Tempest Evo: http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/crafted_series/tempest_evo?
Seems to be good, has good reviews and it looks alright.
My only problem is that for the CM Hyper 212 Plus I will be using I would need to remove the case's side-window fan. Will this hurt the temperatures at all? Or should I go with a low-profile CPU cooler?
AFAIK there aren't any low-profile coolers in the 212+'s price range. Or should I go for watercooling? Are there any cheap ($60 max) watercooling solutions that I could use and that are any good?

Thanks a lot!

 

[lehtv]

He means Fractal Design. Pretty nice cases with minimalistic design. On your budget I think the Arc Midi would be perfect, 3x140mm stock cooling (yes the rear fan is 140mm ). However they don't have side windows.

 

[nubki11a]

Ah alright. They indeed have nice cases, but I would really like a window and I can't make one myself.

Any suggestions on a low-profile fan?

The NZXT Tempest Evo's CPU COOLER CLEARANCE 134.5mm (with side fan)
159.5mm (without side fan)

Or should I just take out the sidewindow's fan? The case looks a lot better with the fan in it, aren't there any other CPU coolers in the price range of the Hyper 212 Plus that also perform very well?

 

[NumericalMethods]

What about this other CoolerMaster case, the 690 II Advanced:

http://coolermaster.co.uk/product.php?product_id=6632

There is a version that comes with a window as well. I got a couple of google hits on it. It's within your bugdet aswell.

I am using the original version - also with a window - and it has been superb for cooling the rig in my signature. Looks a bit more understated than the HAF, which suits me.

 

[nubki11a]

Aha, I see that that is the exact same price as the NZXT Tempest Evo, with the sidewindow. I guess I can always take that, will just have to see whether or not it fits in my final budget, as I initially was aiming for a much cheaper case, lol. Then I could also go with the CM Hyper 212+ Anyone know if it worth adding another fan to the 212+ for a push-pull setup?

Also, if I am getting the CM 690 II Advanced, should I add some more fans (if so, which ones?)? As it has only 3 at default, will a fan on the sidewindow help?

Thanks a lot!

 

[lehtv]

Noctua C12P and C14 are pretty high performing top-down coolers, should fit the Tempest. I would however get a cheaper cooler like the 212+, 212 evo or Scythe Mugen 3, along with a case that allows for a tower cooler

 

[nubki11a]

The Noctua coolers are well above my budget. I would like spending more than $50 or 35 euros on a CPU cooler, and that's the ABSOLUTE MAX.

I have looked for some other low-profile coolers, I came up with the CM GeminII S, seems to be good, but probably not as good as the 212+. And I'm probably going with the CM 690 II Adv. as it seems the CM 690>Tempest Evo. How much better is the Hyper 212 EVO than the normal 212 Plus? Worth the extra money?

Thanks!

EDIT: I am really stuck on which case to buy, they both look good and both have great features. Though I have one question about the 690 II Adv.: Will the sidewindow for the NORMAL CM 690 (RA-690-KWN1-GP) fit on the II Advanced? I think it looks better... Just cannot find if it will fit on the new 690 II.

 

[lehtv]

212+ is still better value for money. The EVO is only marginally better in terms of cooling, but it is also a bit quieter (better fan) and the mounting surface is more even.

 

[Corporate Thug]

I'm sorry aigomorla, what do you mean with fractile? (English is not my native language).

Thanks Gen. Kenobi, but I dont really like the way it looks.

What about the NZXT Tempest Evo: http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/crafted_series/tempest_evo?
Seems to be good, has good reviews and it looks alright.
My only problem is that for the CM Hyper 212 Plus I will be using I would need to remove the case's side-window fan. Will this hurt the temperatures at all? Or should I go with a low-profile CPU cooler?
AFAIK there aren't any low-profile coolers in the 212+'s price range. Or should I go for watercooling? Are there any cheap ($60 max) watercooling solutions that I could use and that are any good?

Thanks a lot!

It's a brand but I'm not sure if they make any cases with windows. The cases they do make are really nice though.

 

[nubki11a]

Yes, I looked into the Fractal Design cases, and yes, they are nice. But I prefer how the Tempest Evo and the 690 II Advanced look.

Anyone know if the sidewindow of the old 690 fits on the new 690 II Advanced?

Also, if I would buy the Tempest Evo, I would have to remove the sidewindow fan. Would this make a big difference in cooling performance? Would this be a major downside?

OT: Anybody know why this RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314 ? They have the same specs, the Ripjaws X has a heatspreader, and is $14 cheaper. How come? Also, what does Intel XMP Certified mean?

 

[General Kenobi]

The latter product seems to have been deactivated.

 

[nubki11a]

Thanks! Fixed the link.

 

[DaveSimmons]

My current first choice is the Antec P280 for good quiet cooling of a single GPU and better cable management than most others. I've seen it as low as $112 US + shipping but it might cost too much in your area.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Antec_P280

(The review also mentions / links to several other cases.)

 

[nubki11a]

It costs 122 euros here, which is 22 euros above my budget

 

[SolMiester]

I just put an i5 2500k together with Hydro H80 & GTX580 windforce in a Raven 03....wow, this case is really quiet...the GPU didnt go above 50c under stress....

 

[Nemesis 1]

If you have the money. It is my opinion that the LIAN LI PC X2000F is the finest case available that is not custom. if you use water cooling you have 31/2" of space that can be used . I wanted to use the aqua 380 but its height is about 1/8" to much so we using the Aqua 360 copper single circuit. I would sugjest using the dual circuit for others . as fitting a 280 on the back is so painful to do a proper nice looking job and expensive. if you use a push pull fan set up You either cann't use the 6970/580 as there to long . But it is possiable if you run screen type Filters . We use good filters so I will use sli and lesser 570 type cards in Sli. Unless the new generation cards are less than 10.5 inches long. My nephew is just using pulling type fan setup so he is good to go. I see no problem as mywife push pull has about a 3 degree delta at 5ghz.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Ah alright. They indeed have nice cases, but I would really like a window and I can't make one myself.

Any suggestions on a low-profile fan?

The NZXT Tempest Evo's CPU COOLER CLEARANCE 134.5mm (with side fan)
159.5mm (without side fan)

Or should I just take out the sidewindow's fan? The case looks a lot better with the fan in it, aren't there any other CPU coolers in the price range of the Hyper 212 Plus that also perform very well?

Oh my your going to really be upset when you see my worklog if you like window cases. It won't be a worklog like others use . I will complete the case first than show each step all in the same post from start to finish not one sponser name will be on case or any parts . I remove that BS. Pride is a funny thing. Mine kills me as I have no desire to give away knowledge or brag about ones abilities. But if you like side windows your in for a treat . problem is you can't buy them . They are for the Nemesis PC X2000F gaming cases and the Nemesis 1 custom gaming cases . I have 20 on hand.

 

[nubki11a]

Thanks Solmiester, but I don't really like the way it looks

If you have the money. It is my opinion that the LIAN LI PC X2000F is the finest case available that is not custom. if you use water cooling you have 31/2" of space that can be used . I wanted to use the aqua 380 but its height is about 1/8" to much so we using the Aqua 360 copper single circuit. I would sugjest using the dual circuit for others . as fitting a 280 on the back is so painful to do a proper nice looking job and expensive. if you use a push pull fan set up You either cann't use the 6970/580 as there to long . But it is possiable if you run screen type Filters . We use good filters so I will use sli and lesser 570 type cards in Sli. Unless the new generation cards are less than 10.5 inches long. My nephew is just using pulling type fan setup so he is good to go. I see no problem as mywife push pull has about a 3 degree delta at 5ghz.

I think €420 is just a little to much, as it is quadruple my budget I could not find the Aqua 360 nor the 380 you were talking about. I think a water cooling solution is above my CPU cooler budget. I think I will stick with the 212+.

I don't think I know what worklog you are talking about nemesis 1. The NZXT Nemesis looks really ugly imo, and its above my budget.

Thanks though!

 

[BoomerD]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2125015

 

[nubki11a]

Thanks, though the HAF X (would buy that if my budget would allow me to) and the HAF 932 are above my budget. So I am now looking at the NZXT Tempest Evo and the CM 690 II Advanced.

Yes, I looked into the Fractal Design cases, and yes, they are nice. But I prefer how the Tempest Evo and the 690 II Advanced look.

Anyone know if the sidewindow of the old 690 fits on the new 690 II Advanced?

Also, if I would buy the Tempest Evo, I would have to remove the sidewindow fan. Would this make a big difference in cooling performance? Would this be a major downside?

OT: Anybody know why this RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314 ? They have the same specs, the Ripjaws X has a heatspreader, and is $14 cheaper. How come? Also, what does Intel XMP Certified mean?