Need Help Picking "Clean" Case

[sebastian869]

Every time I built a new system I always had to buy a new case. I'm simply looking for a mid-tower and that’s never the issue. The problem I keep having like the plague is dirt, it seems like I can never find a case that has adequate air cooling but at the same time good filter design. I'm looking for a case that has a more modern design than the past where it was just a box that had to fit the hardware. At this point I'm also looking for a case that is designed from the begging to cool better by letting the air move from front to back in an efficient manner (the direction does not matter and in fact I don’t know what direction is best, the only one that I'm weary of is a "open top" where fans are installed in the top of the case) and lastly I'm looking for a case that has easy to clean filters unlike my current lian li case where you have to disassemble the front fascia to get at the filters.

Thanks,
Sebastian

 

[ahenkel]

I really like my fractal arc midi 2. It does have top fans. However it does have easy to remove and clean filters in the front and top. Its clean and very solid. If you're looking for a more silent version there's the fractal R4 but it has a door on the front and I can't stand doors on the front.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-020-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-031-_-Product

On the cheaper side of things I've use the NZXT H230 before as well and it's been pretty good not as good as my Fractal but for a sub 100.00 case its one of the better ones

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-109-_-Product

 

[ctk1981]

NZXT H440 looks nice and supports plenty of fans and watercooling options out of the box.

http://promotions.newegg.com/nzxt/14-3115/index.html?icid=261108

I have the carbide AIR 540 from corsair. On the big side, errr..cube side. No complaints...currently has a rebate and discount from newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139022

As far as dirt/dust goes...a lot of that has to do with how your case is setup for flow. I used to run mine with "negative" case pressure, IE more fans exhausting that inhaling......that basically sucks dust/dirt into the case. Last two builds I went with "positive" case pressure and there has been a huge reduction in dust inside the cases. The case previously I had not cleaned out in over a year and barely had any dust build up.

Now I'm sure someone will come along and scold me for using the terms negative and positive pressure, due to the fact that case would have to be completely sealed for either of those terms to be true...I'm just using the term as a reference for how the case flow was setup.

 

[chrisjames61]

I really like my fractal arc midi 2. It does have top fans. However it does have easy to remove and clean filters in the front and top. Its clean and very solid. If you're looking for a more silent version there's the fractal R4 but it has a door on the front and I can't stand doors on the front.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-020-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-031-_-Product

On the cheaper side of things I've use the NZXT H230 before as well and it's been pretty good not as good as my Fractal but for a sub 100.00 case its one of the better ones

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-109-_-Product

I have three Arc Midi R2's. Good case.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm willing to live with the dirt and do monthly blow-out cleaning.

I also discover that thermal control of fan speeds may reduce the volume and speed of airflow at idle temperatures, and therefore slow the accumulation of the dust.

We have on average at any given time or year about five computers running in this house. We had a guy from the gas company come out to test our gas lines for safety, and he had an air-testing device. He said he'd visited thousands of homes here, and we had the cleanest air he'd ever seen.

You can do a lot of wonderful s*** with computers!

 

[Charlie98]

I like the Fractal Define Mini... I have 2 in service. They are very clean looking (some would say boring, but I like boring...) are fairly closed, have sound damping, and easy to clean filters.

Dust is a terrible problem in my house... the Define Mini worked so well in my HTPC I rebuilt my desktop in another one. I added a 2nd 120mm fan in the front and run them with the included fan controller... heat isn't an issue, even when I had my old GTX560Ti 448 in it. A few snorts of compressed air every few weeks gets rid of the dust on the filters and I'm good to go.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Fractal Design R4

I bought it for a friend and built. a great rig with it. It has crazy amount of intake filters so no dust build-up. And it has great cable management for perfect airflow.

 

[Charlie98]

Fractal Design R4

That's right... the OP said 'mid-tower,' the Define Mini is mATX, the R4 is ATX.

 

[KaRLiToS]

The Define R4 is a mid tower just like he asked.

I'm simply looking for a mid-tower and that’s never the issue

 

[voodoo7817]

Looks like a lot of Fractal Design fans here. I'm one of them too! I just got a Define R4 and am very happy with it so far. It's often available at Newegg for $80.

I have it set up for positive air pressure (3 intakes all with filters and one back exhaust) with the side and top vents closed to help with quietness and prevent dust collection. I've posted before about how I'm cooling it so you may have seen that already but I'd be happy to post it again.

 

[spat55]

Fractal Design R4

I bought it for a friend and built. a great rig with it. It has crazy amount of intake filters so no dust build-up. And it has great cable management for perfect airflow.

I've got one and it is a brilliant case you can really tell just by the weight alone that it is a quality product.

 

[Ayah]

I went with Phanteks Enthoo Primo + tons of swiffer sheets.

 

[nitromullet]

My Silverstone RV02 was the most internally dust free case I've ever owned. The case is designed to have positive pressure to help force dust out, and there are three easy to clean filters in the bottom. If the look of the RV02 isn't your thing the FT02 has the same internals/features with a more elegant external design.