New i5/7970 build. Use Antec P182 or get a new case?

[balloonshark]

Hi all! I really need some advice. I would like to use my P182 case for my new build and get a new budget case for my old build in my signature. My old build will be getting this card installed soon. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150611.

My new MB should come with "1 x Front USB 3.0 Panel with 2.5" HDD/SSD Rack, 1 x Rear USB 3.0 Bracket". I don't have any USB3.0 external devices at this time but that braket should work fine knowing that the P182 doesn't have front USB3.0 ports.

Will the new SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 7970 even work with my MB or the P182? I think the dimension are 285(L)x135(W)x45(H) mm -or- 11.22" X 5.32" X 1.77".

If I have to get a new case for my new build I will. I'll trust your judgement. Either way I need a new case and it will need to do a decent job cooling either system. If I need one for the old system I would like to keep it under $50. I may spend up to $80 if it is for the new build but I'm looking for really good deals and can be a little patient.

I'm not into pretty lights on my cases but I wouldn't be against if it was a good deal and good case. If I OC the CPU it will be mild because I want to keep this system at least 3 to 5 years. If the case has negative air flow I would really like intake filters.

I also need to know what fans are considered good nowadays. My Antec Tri-Cools have served me well the past 5 years. They were a good balance between noise and airflow. Are they still ok or is there a new favorite fan among builders.

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This is my current build.

i5-4670k with ASRock Z87 Extreme6 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...&SID=u00000687

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 7970 http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001&user=u00000687

DVD/CD burner http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16827136259&user=u00000687

Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&user=u00000687

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 600W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139028

Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820313353

1 or 2 HDD and 1 SSD

 

[lehtv]

My new MB should come with "1 x Front USB 3.0 Panel with 2.5" HDD/SSD Rack, 1 x Rear USB 3.0 Bracket". I don't have any USB3.0 external devices at this time but that braket should work fine knowing that the P182 doesn't have front USB3.0 ports.

You mean the panel should work, not the bracket? The bracket is for the rear of the case, it's just for additional ports if you run out of the motherboard's own rear ports. The front USB3.0 panel is useful if the case supports an external 3.5" device

Will the new SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 7970 even work with my MB

There's a full length PCIe slot so yes

or the P182?

The 7970 vapor-x is 285 mm long. There is no limitation on GPU length if you remove the top hard drive cage of the P182. I'm not 100% sure if it'll fit with the cage in place, but I believe it will, I have a 7950 vapor-x and it fits into my Define R3 fine. Based on pictures, the cases have a fairly similar amount of clearance

 

[balloonshark]

You mean the panel should work, not the bracket? The bracket is for the rear of the case, it's just for additional ports if you run out of the motherboard's own rear ports. The front USB3.0 panel is useful if the case supports an external 3.5" device

Hi lehtv. I believe I have a 3.5" external slot. I have a dead floppy drive sitting in it now.

There's a full length PCIe slot so yes

Great to hear. Thank you!

The 7970 vapor-x is 285 mm long. There is no limitation on GPU length if you remove the top hard drive cage of the P182. I'm not 100% sure if it'll fit with the cage in place, but I believe it will, I have a 7950 vapor-x and it fits into my Define R3 fine. Based on pictures, the cases have a fairly similar amount of clearance

I just checked and I think I would have to remove the middle drive cage. It's very close. I have a fan in front of and behind the cage so I'll miss the cooling. The bottom cage should be enough for my needs though.

 

[Wuzup101]

I'm not sure you'll have to remove the drive cages (you will lose the inner fan though). I just removed a pair of reference 6950's from my p182 and they both fit with the drive cage in place. That being said, the drive cage will be useless for drives (I kept it in because it allowed me to bunch up cables behind it and allowed better airflow to the cards). I just measured my cards, and they are about 280mm in total length from inside of the PCI backplate. That being said, newegg lists them as 11.3" in length (~287mm). I'm not sure where the manufs measure from.

I only swapped cases because I wanted to try an AIO water cooler with a 240mm rad and didn't want to hack apart the p182 to make it fit. I will probably keep the case and maybe use it for a server build if I ever get around to it. It's well made / designed. While it didn't produce the best temperatures out there, I ran an overclocked 2500k and a pair of overclocked/unlocked 6950's in it without an issue.

Edit: Also, the P182 was VERY quiet IMHO

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks for your help Wuzup! I'm also not sure how they measure their cards. It's going to be close though.

The P182 is a nice case. I'm glad to hear it worked well with your build. That does put to rest some of the concern I had about the heat the 7970 is going to put out in the case. In the past I had toyed with installing a 92mm fan blowing out underneath the graphics card so I may consider that idea again. I'm not sure I would have enough air coming in though but that may be fixable by using the empty 5.25" bays and an air filter.

So I guess I'll use the P182 for the new build. Now I need a budget case for my Q6600 build. I'm probably going to give that rig to my mother and she sits beside her tv while on the computer. I need to balance size with quietness yet keep the Q6600 cool. She also eats at the computer (ugh) so not having a top exhaust may be a good idea.

 

[lehtv]

She also eats at the computer (ugh) so not having a top exhaust may be a good idea.

I also eat at the computer but the tower is below the table so it's not an issue in case of spilling anything

 

[balloonshark]

I also eat at the computer but the tower is below the table so it's not an issue in case of spilling anything

Her computer desk only partially covers the case. It is actually 20 1/4" tall, 11 1/2 wide and only 15 1/2 deep. That means it will overhang front to back.

What do you think about these cases. They all cost $50 after promo codes and rebates but the Antec does have shipping costs.

Antec One

Lian Li PC-7B plus II

Corsair 200R

Corsair 300R

I really like the Antec and Lian-Li. The Antec is my favorite but it will probably be noisier than the Lian-Li. Any other similar cases I should consider?

 

[lehtv]

What other parts are going into the Q6600 build?

Antec One is quite small, can be a pro or a con. I would skip tho

Lian Li is great quality, but the PSU is located on the top which is an older case design. Almost no cable management to speak of.

200R and 300R are both very good, 200R a bit quieter and cheaper built. I don't think it's worth $50 AR though, it's been on sale $30 AR.

Awesome deal on an NZXT Source 210 white $35 ($25 AR) shipped. Normally it's $40+shipping.

 

[saad_ahmed]

dear P182 is a nice case

 

[balloonshark]

What other parts are going into the Q6600 build?

Antec One is quite small, can be a pro or a con. I would skip tho

Lian Li is great quality, but the PSU is located on the top which is an older case design. Almost no cable management to speak of.

200R and 300R are both very good, 200R a bit quieter and cheaper built. I don't think it's worth $50 AR though, it's been on sale $30 AR.

Awesome deal on an NZXT Source 210 white $35 ($25 AR) shipped. Normally it's $40+shipping.

This 8.5" inch 7750 card. http://products.xfxforce.com/en-us/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Radeon™_HD_7750/FX-775A-ZDP4

I also have a 120mm or 92mm Xigmatek heatsinks for use on the old build.

I was also worried about the lack of cable management on the Lian Li. Besides it size, what else don't you like about the Antec One?

Thanks for the heads up on the 200R sales price. I'll skip on it unless it goes on sale. I'll also have a look at the NZXT 210.

 

[lehtv]

I don't like the forward facing HDD cage on Antec One, the relative lack of cable management, no support for any 140mm fans, and I particularly don't like the way it looks either. NZXT Source 210 is better in these aspects apart from the hdd cage, but on Source 210 that isn't as much of an issue because it is bigger. Antec One does have USB 3.0 front ports though

Looks like the NZXT 210 is technically $35, no rebate: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2326191

 

[balloonshark]

After reading your post lehtv and seeing the $70 deal on the Corsair 500R I grabbed it instead. I'll be putting the new components in the 500R. I'm not really fond of the white but half of the case is black and the inside of the case is black. It also has air filters which I like.

Now that I've finally made up my mind on the Corsair 500R will it be adequate as-is for cooling? I don't see myself OCing the 7970. If I overclock the cpu it will mild. I will also be using a Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo. I will have 2 extra 120mm tri-cools from my old rig I can use if need be.

If you suggest adding or using my existing fans where should they be located and in which direction?

Any suggestions on adding a dust filter to the 200mm fan? AFAIK all other fans have filters. How much dust will this case accumulate?

 

[lehtv]

It'll be more than adequate. If it were me I'd probably remove the 200mm to lower the noise a bit, it's not needed for a single GPU setup

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks, I will give that a try.

 

[bradly1101]

Hi lehtv. I believe I have a 3.5" external slot. I have a dead floppy drive sitting in it now.


Great to hear. Thank you!


I just checked and I think I would have to remove the middle drive cage. It's very close. I have a fan in front of and behind the cage so I'll miss the cooling. The bottom cage should be enough for my needs though.

In my original P180 I removed the cage and using velcro put a fan right behind my video cards that pulls air from the front fan. I also reversed the top fan to get positive case pressure. These cases are great except mine's a mess without cable management.