Beyond3D Forum

Bludd · 08-Jul-2008, 11:36

I am looking to buy a new computer case because the one I have has insufficient cooling.

My needs:

maxi/full tower, preferably long/deep and not super-tall
possibility to add fans, or preferably a number of (3 or more) 120mm fans installed as standard
as light as possible, 100% aluminium is cool
no/as few as possible case LEDs, no flashing LEDs
thumb-screws as standard
good cooling for harddrives, side-mounted harddrive bay is cool and I would like that

Any suggestions are welcomed.

Price is no barrier, unless it is super-expensive ($1000 or something)

The case I want to replace is a ThermalTake Eureka. It just doesn't have good enough cooling for high-end enthusiast parts.

Zengar · 08-Jul-2008, 11:42

I would recommend this one (http://www.aerocool.us/p-case/extrem...emengine3t.htm). It is not very "high-end" and not aluminum, but the cooling is just awesome. And it is nearly silent and cheap too.

Bludd · 08-Jul-2008, 11:51

Unfortunately, it is only a midi tower. The cooling solution looks awesome, though.

ShaidarHaran · 08-Jul-2008, 13:21

If your local Best Buy still has this case I'd suggest you get one. I have one. Modded with 3x 120mm blowholes in the top + fans + mesh grills.

Bludd · 08-Jul-2008, 13:48

Seems like Norwegian Best Buy doesn't carry that item.

stevem · 08-Jul-2008, 14:00

The CM690 is a versatile & inexpensive case. I picked up two for some new gear & a couple of the Elite 334 to repackage older hardware. Noise is low with 120mm fans @ 7V. The OE Lian-Li looks a good product at a nice price, & I'm a fan of Aerocool I-Curve. Depends on your taste/preference to spend on the case, though.

Bludd · 08-Jul-2008, 14:23

The CM690 looks to have good cooling. That Elite case looks to be a little on the small side.

I wish I could get a full tower with a 250mm fan like that Aerocool Zangar recommended.

Mize · 08-Jul-2008, 18:16

Where's that case digi recommended a few weeks back? Didn't it have a huge side intake?

Mize · 08-Jul-2008, 18:21

Here it is...
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Produc...C=1277&ID=1408

it even comes in aluminum:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133055

AlphaWolf · 08-Jul-2008, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mize

Here it is...
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Produc...C=1277&ID=1408

it even comes in aluminum:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133055

Thats a lot of money for a shiny box, but you could leave a lower bay open and park your smart car in it.

Mize · 08-Jul-2008, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaWolf

Thats a lot of money for a shiny box, but you could leave a lower bay open and park your smart car in it.

Hey, he said "price is no barrier" right?

Geo · 08-Jul-2008, 22:32

I know Tim and Rys are big fans of the Akasa Eclipse-62. Plenty of room for even multiple 10.5" mega-monster viddy cards.

I have a Gigabyte 3DAurora that I generally like, but a 10.5" card really pushes it exactly to its limit.

suryad · 08-Jul-2008, 22:40

Have you checked out the Coolermaster Cosmos S? Thermaltake as posted also makes great cases.

digitalwanderer · 08-Jul-2008, 22:59

No, I have this one. The mid-tower version for $129.

Love it to pieces, an exceptionally nice case with fantastic airflow and it's quiet.

Mize · 08-Jul-2008, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalwanderer

No, I have this one. The mid-tower version for $129.

Love it to pieces, an exceptionally nice case with fantastic airflow and it's quiet.

I upgraded your recommendation since he asked for a full tower. Just forgot the asterisk.

digitalwanderer · 08-Jul-2008, 23:34

Ah, my bad. That's why I didn't mention it in the first place.

Bludd · 09-Jul-2008, 08:16

That Akasa Eclipse is no-go. It is too similar to the one I already have.

That Armor+ looks to have awesome cooling, though and is internally very close to the case I have now which is a ThermalTake too. As of now it is on the top of my list, even though it is slightly too bling-bling for me: I like non-descript cases.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Keep them coming.

CarstenB · 09-Jul-2008, 08:31

If you want a big one and price is not too much of an issue there is the Antec P190.

http://www.antec.com/ec/productDetails.php?ProdID=09190

Bludd · 09-Jul-2008, 09:10

That one looks awesome, but I don't need/want those PSUs. Is there a version without PSUs? Does it have to have two power leads if I do get the PSU version?

Edit: Btw, is the P182 the P190 + 1200 without the PSUs? Looks awfully similar.
Edit2: No, apparently not. The cooling in the P182 doesn't seem to be as good as the P190 + 1200. I wish it wasn't steel and without PSU.

MfA · 09-Jul-2008, 11:04

It's not just the steel, it also has 3 layer panels ... the performance line of Antec are some of the heaviest cases around, weight reduces noise though.

Why do you need such extreme cooling anyway? Do you plan on using GPUs with internal exhaust?

Bludd · 09-Jul-2008, 11:45

I currently need to have a fan blowing directly at my case or else my hdds and CPU overheat. I have no options of mounting hdd coolers in my current case without extensive modding.

I understand that p190 case has sound-proofing and actually the weight isn't really a problem. It is the included PSUs which I am not keen on. I have a Corsair HX620 which IMHO is of higher quality than the Antec NeoPower.

ShaidarHaran · 09-Jul-2008, 14:38

Don't buy a Thermaltake, please. They're so cliched. Heavy mo-fackies too. Have fun lugging one of those to a LAN party

Get a Silverstone Temjin 7/9/10 (take your pick) and never buy another case (until ATX is replaced).

Bludd · 09-Jul-2008, 16:30

I don't go to LAN parties anymore. The silver version of the ThermalTake Armor+ is 100% aluminium.

I will check out that Silverstone Temjin case, though. Thanks for the tip.

Rodéric · 09-Jul-2008, 16:35

Antec P182, but you better don't want to move your computer, that case is heavy !

Tim Murray · 09-Jul-2008, 17:22

Akasa Eclipse 62 is fantastic, but you'll never find it. Great cooling, too; my temps are stupidly good.

08-Jul-2008, 11:36	#1
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	Case recommendations I am looking to buy a new computer case because the one I have has insufficient cooling. My needs: maxi/full tower, preferably long/deep and not super-tall possibility to add fans, or preferably a number of (3 or more) 120mm fans installed as standard as light as possible, 100% aluminium is cool no/as few as possible case LEDs, no flashing LEDs thumb-screws as standard good cooling for harddrives, side-mounted harddrive bay is cool and I would like that Any suggestions are welcomed. Price is no barrier, unless it is super-expensive ($1000 or something) The case I want to replace is a ThermalTake Eureka. It just doesn't have good enough cooling for high-end enthusiast parts. Last edited by Bludd; 08-Jul-2008 at 14:13.

08-Jul-2008, 18:16	#8
Mize That's my stapler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: "Midwest," USA Posts: 3,951	Where's that case digi recommended a few weeks back? Didn't it have a huge side intake? __________________ "Yes windows 3.1 was better than the macOS of the day. All the Windows OS's have been better." - eastmen

08-Jul-2008, 18:21	#9
Mize That's my stapler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: "Midwest," USA Posts: 3,951	Here it is... http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Produc...C=1277&ID=1408 it even comes in aluminum: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133055 __________________ "Yes windows 3.1 was better than the macOS of the day. All the Windows OS's have been better." - eastmen

08-Jul-2008, 22:32	#12
Geo Mostly Harmless Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Uffda-land Posts: 9,156	I know Tim and Rys are big fans of the Akasa Eclipse-62. Plenty of room for even multiple 10.5" mega-monster viddy cards. I have a Gigabyte 3DAurora that I generally like, but a 10.5" card really pushes it exactly to its limit. __________________ "We'll thrash them --absolutely thrash them."--Richard Huddy on Larrabee "Our multi-decade old 3D graphics rendering architecture that's based on a rasterization approach is no longer scalable and suitable for the demands of the future." --Pat Gelsinger, Intel ". . .its taking us longer than we would have liked to get a [Crossfire game] profiling system out there" --Terry Makedon, ATI, July 2006 "Christ, this is Beyond3D; just get rid of any fker talking about patterned chihuahuas! Can the dog write GLSL? No. Then it can fk off." --Da Boss

08-Jul-2008, 22:59	#14
digitalwanderer Dangerously Mirthful Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winfield, IN USA Posts: 15,292	No, I have this one. The mid-tower version for $129. Love it to pieces, an exceptionally nice case with fantastic airflow and it's quiet. __________________ Elite Bastards - Adminish “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” - General James N. Mattis

08-Jul-2008, 11:42	#2
Zengar Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 288	I would recommend this one (http://www.aerocool.us/p-case/extrem...emengine3t.htm). It is not very "high-end" and not aluminum, but the cooling is just awesome. And it is nearly silent and cheap too.

08-Jul-2008, 11:51	#3
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	Unfortunately, it is only a midi tower. The cooling solution looks awesome, though.

08-Jul-2008, 13:21	#4
ShaidarHaran hardware monkey Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,904	If your local Best Buy still has this case I'd suggest you get one. I have one. Modded with 3x 120mm blowholes in the top + fans + mesh grills.

08-Jul-2008, 13:48	#5
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	Seems like Norwegian Best Buy doesn't carry that item.

08-Jul-2008, 14:00	#6
stevem Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 632	The CM690 is a versatile & inexpensive case. I picked up two for some new gear & a couple of the Elite 334 to repackage older hardware. Noise is low with 120mm fans @ 7V. The OE Lian-Li looks a good product at a nice price, & I'm a fan of Aerocool I-Curve. Depends on your taste/preference to spend on the case, though.

08-Jul-2008, 14:23	#7
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	The CM690 looks to have good cooling. That Elite case looks to be a little on the small side. I wish I could get a full tower with a 250mm fan like that Aerocool Zangar recommended.

08-Jul-2008, 22:40	#13
suryad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,454	Have you checked out the Coolermaster Cosmos S? Thermaltake as posted also makes great cases.

08-Jul-2008, 23:34	#16
digitalwanderer Dangerously Mirthful Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winfield, IN USA Posts: 15,292	Ah, my bad. That's why I didn't mention it in the first place. __________________ Elite Bastards - Adminish “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” - General James N. Mattis

09-Jul-2008, 08:16	#17
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	That Akasa Eclipse is no-go. It is too similar to the one I already have. That Armor+ looks to have awesome cooling, though and is internally very close to the case I have now which is a ThermalTake too. As of now it is on the top of my list, even though it is slightly too bling-bling for me: I like non-descript cases. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Keep them coming.

09-Jul-2008, 08:31	#18
CarstenB Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 17	If you want a big one and price is not too much of an issue there is the Antec P190. http://www.antec.com/ec/productDetails.php?ProdID=09190

09-Jul-2008, 09:10	#19
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	That one looks awesome, but I don't need/want those PSUs. Is there a version without PSUs? Does it have to have two power leads if I do get the PSU version? Edit: Btw, is the P182 the P190 + 1200 without the PSUs? Looks awfully similar. Edit2: No, apparently not. The cooling in the P182 doesn't seem to be as good as the P190 + 1200. I wish it wasn't steel and without PSU. Last edited by Bludd; 09-Jul-2008 at 11:45.

09-Jul-2008, 11:04	#20
MfA Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,221	It's not just the steel, it also has 3 layer panels ... the performance line of Antec are some of the heaviest cases around, weight reduces noise though. Why do you need such extreme cooling anyway? Do you plan on using GPUs with internal exhaust? Last edited by MfA; 09-Jul-2008 at 11:11.

09-Jul-2008, 11:45	#21
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	I currently need to have a fan blowing directly at my case or else my hdds and CPU overheat. I have no options of mounting hdd coolers in my current case without extensive modding. I understand that p190 case has sound-proofing and actually the weight isn't really a problem. It is the included PSUs which I am not keen on. I have a Corsair HX620 which IMHO is of higher quality than the Antec NeoPower.

09-Jul-2008, 14:38	#22
ShaidarHaran hardware monkey Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,904	Don't buy a Thermaltake, please. They're so cliched. Heavy mo-fackies too. Have fun lugging one of those to a LAN party Get a Silverstone Temjin 7/9/10 (take your pick) and never buy another case (until ATX is replaced).

09-Jul-2008, 16:30	#23
Bludd Eric the Half-a-bee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The cat detector van from the Ministry of Housinge Posts: 2,050	I don't go to LAN parties anymore. The silver version of the ThermalTake Armor+ is 100% aluminium. I will check out that Silverstone Temjin case, though. Thanks for the tip.

09-Jul-2008, 16:35	#24
Rodéric a.k.a. Ingenu Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Apsley, U.K. Posts: 2,729	Antec P182, but you better don't want to move your computer, that case is heavy ! __________________ So many things to do, and yet so little time to spend...

09-Jul-2008, 17:22	#25
Tim Murray chaos dunk Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 3,274	Akasa Eclipse 62 is fantastic, but you'll never find it. Great cooling, too; my temps are stupidly good.

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