Best airflow case for up to £150-160

Justnotsleeping · 6 Feb 2021 at 09:12

Hi,

Im looking for a new case to replace my Lian Li LanCool 2.

Basically i'm looking for a case with good airflow / thermals that allows me to top mount my Arctic Freezer 240mm.
Currently I dont have the top clearance and have to front mount. i would prefer to top mount and have a case with front intake fans.

I like to have space to work in. RGB is a nice to have but not a deal breaker. Again a quiet case would be preferable but thermals are more important.

Have looked at the:-

Asus TUF Gaming GT501
Phanteks P500
NZXT HS510 Elite
Coolermaster H500

I've looked at so many. i dont seem to be able to decide, so wondered if anyone had recommendations?

Many Thanks

Spankme · 6 Feb 2021 at 10:35

What about just putting the mesh front on the lancool 2 to make it the air version.

The lancool 2 air is one of the best airflow cases out there right now

djkav · 6 Feb 2021 at 13:50

What about the Corsair 5000D Airflow?

Justnotsleeping · 6 Feb 2021 at 15:05

Spankme said:
What about just putting the mesh front on the lancool 2 to make it the air version.

The lancool 2 air is one of the best airflow cases out there right now

Yes I saw you could get the panel, but I really wanted to top mount the AIO which I dint have room. I think they had made a few other improvements for the revised Lancool 2 Mesh too, as well as the front.

Justnotsleeping · 6 Feb 2021 at 15:06

djkav said:
What about the Corsair 5000D Airflow?

Cheers, just had a look at that. They do it in white as well as black, looks a nice case

Mesai · 6 Feb 2021 at 15:10

Justnotsleeping said:
Cheers, just had a look at that. They do it in white as well as black, looks a nice case

A benefit is that you get a fan hub at the back. Fractal Meshify S2 is also a great case.

Drumroll · 7 Feb 2021 at 10:54

Lian Li O11 air. Top 360mm AIO, side front and bottom 3x 120mm fans plus up to 2x 80mm rear fans. Depending on AIO, front may be tight for 3x 120mm. But 2x 140 is possible.
Going 360mm AIO, plus 6x 120mm + 2x140mm, I don't think you can find any better than this.

djkav · 7 Feb 2021 at 15:38

Mesai said:
A benefit is that you get a fan hub at the back. Fractal Meshify S2 is also a great case.

The Fractal Meshify S2 has been replaced with the Meshify 2 (if you can get hold of one). The S2 is still a good case.

thepfy · 13 Feb 2021 at 19:44

Justnotsleeping said:
Yes I saw you could get the panel, but I really wanted to top mount the AIO which I dint have room. I think they had made a few other improvements for the revised Lancool 2 Mesh too, as well as the front.

The left hand side bottom panel is mesh but you get this in the kit along with some new feet.
Hardest part of the conversion is reattaching the hinges for the new panel.

Joxeon · 13 Feb 2021 at 20:20

It should be compatible with a 240mm up top or is this just down to AF being so thick?

Edit
This not the lancool 2?

Justnotsleeping · 14 Feb 2021 at 10:50

Joxeon said:
It should be compatible with a 240mm up top or is this just down to AF being so thick?

Edit
This not the lancool 2?

I was struggling to get mine to clear the memory modules. Maybe I had not tried to mount it forward enough in the case. I'll take a look at this. How are your gpu temps using a vertical mount. I like the idea of it, but had red and seen stuff saying its not advised? You have the bottom fans set to intake yes?

MikeTimbers · 14 Feb 2021 at 10:53

Nothing wrong with vertical mounts so long as you spring for a decent ribbon cable. Any cable much short of £30 is going to be problematic. In addition, there are no cables yet (AFAIK) that can do PCIE gen 4.

I bought a Phanteks one and it's been fine

Justnotsleeping · 14 Feb 2021 at 14:25

Joxeon said:
It should be compatible with a 240mm up top or is this just down to AF being so thick?

Edit
This not the lancool 2?

Ok have managed to fit the AIO in a similar way to yours above, by moving the radiator as far forward as possible. I must have been trying to get too close to back of case, so cheers for that.

Justnotsleeping · 14 Feb 2021 at 14:31

MikeTimbers said:
Nothing wrong with vertical mounts so long as you spring for a decent ribbon cable. Any cable much short of £30 is going to be problematic. In addition, there are no cables yet (AFAIK) that can do PCIE gen 4.

I bought a Phanteks one and it's been fine

Thanks, might try one of those. I don't need a gen 4 PCIE as only got a 2080 so its only a gen 3 card

MikeTimbers · 14 Feb 2021 at 19:29

Justnotsleeping said:
Thanks, might try one of those. I don't need a gen 4 PCIE as only got a 2080 so its only a gen 3 card

Where you need to be careful for example is that Phanteks do a riser cable with 6 ribbons and one with 7 ribbons. The latter is a fair bit more expensive but the former has apparently had many issues with high-speed cards.

jimbobule · 15 Feb 2021 at 08:25

I've built 3PCs recently with Phanteks 400a digital. Nice spec, easy to work on, well within budget. White one looks cool.