Help decide on a case dilemma

Fire&Blood

Platinum Member
Jan 13, 2009
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I'm in no hurry building a new rig, trying to get good value but I want to to get 2 IMO future proof components now, case and PSU. I am kinda stuck on the HAF 932. I'm a believer in side panel fans, especially in a case with bottom and top ventilation. I'm a research fanatic but every once in a while I need help finding the best deal despite combing over sites like slickdealsnet.

I found the HAF 932 "old" version refurbished on Cooler Master site for $59.99:
http://www.cmstore-usa.com/haf-932-steel-plastic-and-mesh-bezel-atx-full-tower-chassis-refurbished/
It's OOS now and I can't seem to find a used one or a refurbished one under $100 shipped, awfully close to prices of the new units.

I guess I'm asking if there are better deals I don't know of, if there is a better alternative or if buying a new one is good value at $100+.
 

Fire&Blood

Platinum Member
Jan 13, 2009
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Thanks. I can't find anything wrong with it. I'm looking for a full tower case but this is a viable alternative.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,684
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Thanks. I can't find anything wrong with it. I'm looking for a full tower case but this is a viable alternative.

NZXT makes good cases, and has "crossed my path" as I searched for my own options. But I settled on the HAF midtower over the last year-and-a-half.

It depends on your priorities. My priorities were driven by cooling with minimum noise. I wanted a pressurized case with "high air flow." The HAF choice was based on these priorities along with my experience doing case-mods on old '90s-era ATX full-towers, and the HAFs eliminate for me a lot of "modding."

Often, side-panel fans affixed to the removable side-panel can generate vibration (and noise), but the 200+mm fans of the HAF cases are "low-noise" to begin with. In my case (pun), I block off the top-side fan vent with black foam art-board, and relocate the 200mm fan to the side-panel. You can dampen the vibration by using rubber-grommets on the fan mounts, or inserting a gasket cut from foam art-board.

But like I said -- your preferences, your priorities -- not necessarily mine . . .
 
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Fire&Blood

Platinum Member
Jan 13, 2009
2,333
18
81
NZXT makes good cases, and has "crossed my path" as I searched for my own options. But I settled on the HAF midtower over the last year-and-a-half.

It depends on your priorities. My priorities were driven by cooling with minimum noise. I wanted a pressurized case with "high air flow." The HAF choice was based on these priorities along with my experience doing case-mods on old '90s-era ATX full-towers, and the HAFs eliminate for me a lot of "modding."

Often, side-panel fans affixed to the removable side-panel can generate vibration (and noise), but the 200+mm fans of the HAF cases are "low-noise" to begin with. In my case (pun), I block off the top-side fan vent with black foam art-board, and relocate the 200mm fan to the side-panel. You can dampen the vibration by using rubber-grommets on the fan mounts, or inserting a gasket cut from foam art-board.

But like I said -- your preferences, your priorities -- not necessarily mine . . .

We aren't too far off, I think we weigh factors in a similar fashion. I'm spending a lot of time reading reviews, impressions and user experiences but I have yet to find a case that intrigues me as much as HAF series.

Multi directional GPU cooling did wonders for me, even in the cramped case I have now.

The volume of a full tower case, combined with bottom, front, top and side panel mounted large & high quality fans have me salivating already. Water-cooling still hasn't regained my trust but the next best thing is air cooling with aftermarket parts.

Part of the reason I'm trying to save on one is that I plan to buy all Noctua fans for it. I already figured out how to make a blue print for custom dust covers. Again, kinda stuck on the HAF, trying to figure out of I could/should elevate the case to mount additional fans at the case bottom (externally)

Another (likely foolish idea) was spawned during this case hunt: I have 2 sets of short "tubes", ~145mm in diameter, about 6" long. One pair is copper, the other is thinner and plastic but it'ss sturdy, both should be able to carry the weight of at least ~60 lbs, I don't expected a fully loaded HAF932 to weigh more than 45lbs. If I mount the power supply at the top, I could use the tubes (especially the copper ones) to feed air into the bottom of the case by "dipping" the tubes into the top one of those mini coolers, so the case would stand on top of the mini cooler.

In theory, mounting the fans inside the tubes would draw the air from the mini cooler into the case via bottom vents. Because of a top mounted supply, the large top fan would have to go but one smaller fan should still fit at the top to expel hot air. If I do go this route, it will likely get ugly but I haven't used physical media in a long time and the best spot for the case is out of sight anyway.
 

Fire&Blood

Platinum Member
Jan 13, 2009
2,333
18
81
HAF X (blue) finally arrived! No damage during shipping, I was worried after reading some of the posts.
I have an eternity to prepare and no restraints to mod the case since it's refurbished (90 day warranty) and I won't be buying until next gen CPU and GPU are out.


I set my mind on air cooling. I already bought 3 Noctua fans, 1 Silverstone AP181 and 1 AP121, will get more or even replace them as I see fit. I'm considering getting a small case just to house the PSU externally in it so that I have free flow from the bottom.

Despite dozens of hours of research, reading reviews, impressions and watching videos, most of my questions have been answered but few remain. I simply don't have the time until the weekend so rather than doing trial and error on my own, I thought I should shoot a few questions here and bounce ideas around in advance to save me the trouble:

1. Is the AP181 compatible to be mounted at the top, in place of the missing 200mm? I bought AP121 and AP181, as well as a Noctua 140mm and 80mm fans. Since I won't need Noctua's 120mm to 140mm adapters, I was planning to use them to mount the AP181 in the empty 200mm slot at the top. Feasible?


2. What I planned to do was: Mount ap181 at top to push air out, mount ap121 at the bottom (laying horizontally, right next to the power supply to pull air from underneath the case. Then I would mount the Noctua 140mm in the VGA fan duct and finally, mount the 80mm in the VGA holder. What obstacles am I going to run into with this plan?

3. Anyone use the fan duct and/or the VGA holder? What results do you guys get in terms of GPU cooling with the latest cards, regardless if you installed additional coolers or not?