Should I upgrade my cases?

[VirtualLarry]

I have two Q9300 @ 3.0 rigs, overclocked. I had some PCI-E video cards that take a single PCI-E 6-pin power connector in them, but they were getting pretty warm. I run distributed computing 24/7 most of the time with these, so they are under 100% load. I recently swapped out the video cards (one HD4850 reference single-slot - 110W, and one 9600GSO 96SP single-slot - 80-90W) to a pair of Zotac passive 630GT 384SP Kepler cards (25W). That helped keep the CPU temps under control, now they barely break 70C, as does the video card.

I guess I prefer cases with both a 120mm intake, and a 120mm exhaust fan. Also best if the PSU is on the bottom, otherwise, the PSU heats up from the hot air rising and settling in the case from the CPU and GPU. A top 120mm fan or mount would be great too.

The computers are in a cubby in a desk, though, which limits the ability of the exhaust fan, but the front (intake) is unobstructed.

It's getting colder outside here, so ambient temps are lower, but the PCs still put out a lot of heat.

The two cases I currently have are a Raidmax Tornado with 120mm intake and exhaust, top-mounted PSU and a Rosewill Redbone with 120mm intake and exhaust, bottom-mounted PSU.

TBH, I don't know if I can get better case cooling, when the computers are in cubbies.

I don't mind the noise of the 120mm intakes, the noise is barely a whisper. Of course, that might have to do with the fan that I recently replaced the fans in the Raidmax with Rosewill FDB blue LED fans. (Previously, it had an 80mm intake stock, which was way too small.)

I still own one of two Rosewill Blackhawk cases, those are an option, but they are a little too deep for the cubbies.

The motherboards only have a single PCI-E x16 slot, so there is no need for SLI/CF, and my need for 3.5" HDDs is light, I have an SSD and one HDD in each of them, and one DVD drive. The motherboards are ATX. I have a PCI-E x1 N150 wifi card in each of them as well.

Don't need front USB3.0, don't need 3.5" external slot (floppy bay). No need for closed-loop water-cooling rads or anything.

Budget is as cheap as possible. Nothing too expensive. Rosewill Blackhawk is probably the most expensive that I would spring for. (Usually $89.99 FS at Newegg, sometimes there is a $20 off promo code or rebate.)

 

[komatta]

Can you not remove them from the cubbies? It seems like that would be the killer here.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Can you not remove them from the cubbies? It seems like that would be the killer here.

Not really, there's no other place to put the PCs. Of course, I could ditch the ATX PCs for mini-ITX, those would fit on top of the desk.

 

[Cerb]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=8926047
Max 3 rebates, but 3 rebates may or may not require 3 separate orders (check fine print).

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...675&CatId=1509
MicroATX, but among the cheapest with an intake filter, though not very fine of one (two).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163223
The above's cheaper, uglier, brother, with slightly finer speaker mesh type front filtering.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=
Core 2300. Bottom-mount PSU.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/bitfenix-case-bfcneo100kkxskrp
Bitfenix Neos. Nothing Earth-shattering, but cheap with drive caddies, and a bottom-mount PSU. Also, like NZXT, Bitfenix tends not to put a ton of unnecessary holes in their cases, so cooling with 1 or 2 fans can remain a simple affair.

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usa...05B-USB3.0&manufacture=Silverstone Technology
PS05B. Another cheap way to get drive caddies, and bottom PSU. But, IMO, this one is a little too cheap for its features (notice, FI, how restricted each fan is). Unless you really like the look, I wouldn't go for it, since cooling seems quite the issue.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=
PS10B. Another odd but solid Silverstone.

But, what would probably do the most good, if there's room, new case or no...
http://www.coolerguys.com/cgfvdt120.html
Add to the exhaust, and fit the end a bit up and away from the cases. Or, do the fugly thing, and fit it to the intake, so each intake can be taking air from somewhere not nearby. Depending on room and case, you could do a reverse of ATX air flow, and have the rear fans be intakes from the ducts.

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=8926047
Max 3 rebates, but 3 rebates may or may not require 3 separate orders (check fine print).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163223
The above's cheaper, uglier, brother, with slightly finer speaker mesh type front filtering.

Those two aren't too bad, thanks.

The others, I really want better cooling than one 120mm intake and exhaust, not quieter, with only one fan in the case.

If that SilverStone PS08B's USB3.0 front ports can connect to a USB2.0 mobo header too, then I'm pretty-much sold, although the exhaust fan on that one is only 80/92-mm, and not 120mm. It does include a 120mm front intake fan behind the mesh grating (which is removable to clean, which is really nice).

I was wondering about some of the Rosewill cases at Newegg, that come with *dual* front 120mm intake fans, surely that would move more air than my current solutions, wouldn't they? Even better if they have a blowhole exhaust too, since the heat seems to kind of collect at the top of the case. If they have a blowhole, then it's not so bad if they have a top-mounted PSU too then, since the blowhole will remove the heat collected at the top, instead of feeding it into the PSU.

Something like this might work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147183
It has 120mm LED intake, 120mm exhaust, bottom-mounted PSU, and a 120mm blowhole, plus two USB2.0 front-panel, and one USB3.0 front-panel. Plus, it's on sale for $34.99 minus a 10% off promo code.

Or this (Rosewill Line Glow ATX):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147170
Dual 120mm LED intakes, plus a 120mm exhaust, plus a 120mm top fan (blowhole), plus bottom-mounted PSU, plus two USB2.0 front-panel AND two USB3.0 front-panel. $49.99 minus 10% off promo code.

 

[Cerb]

The Source 210 has 2 120mm intake mounts, it just doesn't come with them populated. See here. If you mustn't have MicroATX cases, grab these, get the rebates, and add some cheap fans.

Last I used one, the PS08B did not come with the 3.0->2.0 adapter, and NE's pics are not showing it. I'll go out on a limb and say they still aren't including one, like they do in their more expensive cases (the irony being that if I'm buying a nice case, I'm probably buying a new enough and costly enough--like $65--motherboard, to have a USB 3.0 header!).

 

[VirtualLarry]

After looking at the pics in that Source 210 review, I like it a lot more. I couldn't see that it had two 120mm intake mounts, and two 120mm blowhole mounts, from the limited pics on TD. I could definitely fill it with fans, I like that.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Did you ever think of cutting a hole in the rear of the desk and installing an exhaust fan there? I could understand an aversion to it, if it were antique furniture. And then you need attend to powering the fan . . .