Cases with good airflow suggestions

I just tried some watercooling and couldn't be happier. Been meaning too for awhile but being a bit gun shy held me back. Part of the issue for me was buying the proper parts and putting together a proper set up. Did I get the right CPU cooler? Did I get the proper Pump? etc.

But that's the beauty of these cases, they should have everything you need right in the box. Furthremore, all the placement of the parts (Pump, Radiator) are already taken cared of. Leaking is always possible but I haven't had any issue with my Watercooling set up and it's a dirt cheap one.

Here's a couple of reviews of the case I was referring to earlier.
1> http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6747
2> http://techgage.com/article/thermaltake_armor_lcs_ve2000bws/1


Seems to get pretty decent opinions BUT I may have mislead you as to how easy they are to set up. Apparently this one requires you to hook up the hoses yourself, etc. So YMMV.

Other integrated cases that are well received are from Koolance. They're more expensive though.

 

I found the lian-li article I've been looking for reviewing the pcv1000.
Here it is: http://www.dansdata.com/pcv1000.htm
They have a smaller version the v600b and a larger one the v1200.

This is also a great model: LIAN LI PC-61 USB

note:
Every product in the world has a quality leader, and just maybe Lian Li fills that bill in the world of computer cases. Once you buy a lian-li you'll never go back...

 

I'm a big fan of Coolermaster's stuff. Don't look all gawdy, and they usually set you up with 120mm fan ports. Some of their cases have lots of airflow opportunities.

 

I would disagree, older Coolermaster cases were often times my favorite, the ATC series in my heart is still probably the best case line up ever. But cases like the Stacker really have my turned off. Most of the people with taste left Coolermaster for SilverStone.

 

I have ordered a Thermaltake Eureka case. It will arrive tomorrow. Hexus reviewed it and said it was good and I've read other positive reviews of it too. It's a full tower but it's not as high as my current full tower, but it is much longer/deeper.

 

I avoid Thermaltake simply because I've yet to see them come up with a truly original design.

 

My Gigabyte 3D Aurora is awesome for airflow. 3x120MM fans, side panel inflow. But I couldn't reccomend it to anyone who is total top-end graphics card enthusiast at this point. 8800 GTX just barely got in there, and until we see what the future brings I think it'd be a bit of a crapshoot.

On the other hand, if you're midrange or lower kind of gpu guy, then. . . great airflow.

 

That's scary though Geo, because the 3D Aurora is actually a fairly large case. Of course its not extremely deep but I know if I get say an 8800GTX I have to move to a different case simply because it would not fit at all. Of course I've been thinking about a new case lately, but also a new monitor, oh god...

 

It'll take an 8800 GTX. I'm just not sure if it'll take anything even fractionally bigger, and there's no guarantee that's not in the cards in 2007. There are other choices (like Rys', for instance) which will get you both good airflow and full 12" add-in card spec room.

 

Do you mean exterior or interior?

I am old school when it comes to cases; functionality and ease of use is much more important than looks. (I even shun elaborate skinning when it comes to media players.) The interior layouts and solutions all seem good on this case from all the reviews I've read.

 

Exterior, for example their Tsunami case was a slight change of the CoolerMaster Wave. Thermaltake's Rocket watercooler is really a ugly Zalman Resanator.

 

The p900 case is only $80 after instant rebats at Compusa this week

 

The ATC series was the best, I was mad they discontinued them. The Praetorian is based on the same model however, so I went with that and never regret it. My temps are extremely low, I don't think a case can have better airflow than that case.

That and the Wavemaster are the only two left that were designed by the silverstone people before they left Coolermaster to form their own company.