Leaning towards HAF X - any other options?

Confused Stu

Confused Stu

Confused Stu

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Joined
27 Dec 2009
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Gillingham, Kent
After taking me half an hour last week to simply fit a new HDD to my PC, I have finally admitted to myself that I have outgrown my current Antec 900. While everything fits in there, it's all quite tight and fiddly and cable management is a nightmare. Here's my current setup:

i7 2600k
Asus P8P67 Pro
Zalman CNPS9900 MAX
Hiper 880W Type-M (non-modular)
2 x XFX 5870's (the ones with the power connectors at the back, rather than side)
2 x SSD (128GB C300 + 128GB Kingston V100)
2 x WD 500GB HDD
1 x DVD-RW
1 x BD-ROM

Now I know this isn't a huge amount of hardware and it does all fit in the Antec 900, but it's very cramped around the GPU power connector + HDD area, and the area in front of the PSU is awash with cables. I just think I need something a little bigger and with better cable management. I use the PC almost exclusively for gaming and I love Crossfire setups (I went from 2 x 4870's to a single 5870 to save power and noise - I only lasted a month before adding a second 5870 so it didn't get lonely!).

Because I still like the looks of my 900, I obviously started out looking at the Antec 1200. However, I have recently started looking at the HAF X and, although I'm not as keen on the looks, I am struck by the much better features of the case (quicker drive installs, side mounted HDDs, etc) and the design seems much better thought out than the rather basic 900/1200.

Airflow at a low volume is more important to me than looks, so am I right to be going for the HAF X, or is there another case option I should be looking at? I haven't got a set budget as such, but I don't want to spend £200 if £125 will be nearly as good, and I won't ever be watercooling. Any suggestions or thoughts greatly appreciated. :)
 
I am getting a new case very soon too but it's stupidly hard deciding which to get as i am in exactly the same boat as you and i am choosing now between HAF-X or ATCS840 which is very hard to pick from the two.(think i am going for HAF-X due to the price plus it's slightly more modern and when you add another 2nd 200mm fan on the top it sure does have amazing cooling.)

The NZXT Phantom is good too but the above two are better however if you can manage to get all the matching fans fitted into the Phantom it will be just as good airflow probably.
 
Thanks for the reply Sycho. Anyone else have any suggestions as to other cases I should be looking at? Quite happy to look mid-tower rather than full if anything makes fitting long GPUs and HDDs easier than the 900 does! :)
 
I'd get the HAF x If the looks don't bother you or the Corsair Obsidian 650D if they do.
 
The cooling on the 650D is poor for air, but excellent for watercooling. Please let me know which one you guys go for, I'm looking into getting the HAF X too!

And i'll probably whack the huge Coolermaster V10 CPU cooler in IT!
 
Ive had a HAF X delivered just now the box is huge!,im still waiting for my B3 P67 board though,so wont be building until that arrives.
 
I had my doubts about the Haf x, but once everything was installed the air cooling couldn't be better ok the looks are not great but it will grow on you don't regret the purchase in the slightest :)
 
Ben Harrison said:
The Fractal Design XL might be worth a look, especially if you prefer understated looks for your case
Click to expand...

That's the thing with the XL, It's a great case, well designed but it's a box basically, I'm not sure if the HAF X will grow on me or if i'll want to shoot myself after a few weeks.

kmufc77 said:
Ive had a HAF X delivered just now the box is huge!,im still waiting for my B3 P67 board though,so wont be building until that arrives.
Click to expand...

Snap some piccies when it's done mate! I'd like to see it.
 
Emphacy said:
That's the thing with the XL, It's a great case, well designed but it's a box basically, I'm not sure if the HAF X will grow on me or if i'll want to shoot myself after a few weeks.
Snap some piccies when it's done mate! I'd like to see it.
Click to expand...
Heh, yep, at least you know what you're getting with the "black metal box" styling. I like the HAF X's looks though (once the fan LEDs are turned off anyway...)
 
stulid said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-075-SV&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1092
Click to expand...

This has really interested me, and the more I've been looking into it the more interested I am. There only seems to be one actual user review of the case online and no proper reviews I can see (lots of sites seem to have just pointed out the case's features but not put anything in it or tested it's performance). However, everything I've seen I've definitely liked and I can see myself giving in over the weekend and pre-ordering one.

Thanks for the pointer Stulid, almost certainly wouldn't have looked at one of those without your link.
 
Emphacy said:
The cooling on the 650D is poor for air, but excellent for watercooling. Please let me know which one you guys go for, I'm looking into getting the HAF X too!

And i'll probably whack the huge Coolermaster V10 CPU cooler in IT!
Click to expand...

huh where have you got that from or are you confusing it with the 600t's front fan not being all that good ? or confusing it with the 750 and 850d ?
I have never kept stock fans on any case I have owned they all suck for cfm or develop ticking after a while
The only one that hasn't are the silverstone cases with their fans

The 650d will be fantastic for air cooling with a better fan bunged in the front.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the thoughts, suggestions and points guys. I've just bit the bullet and placed a pre-order on the Silverstone Raven RV03. Just too intrigued by the concept & design to go for another case as it turned out.

I'll let you know how it performs when I've got it and it's up and running. Cheers.
 
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