Budget Case

[bifday2k]

how can you change/control the tri-cool without a fan controller because i read on another thread that the tricools wont change speed automatically

As stated before by wayne the tricools, come with the below

"3-speed switch lets you balance quiet performance with maximum cooling"

so all u do is set them to what u want, silent, normal, performance, and off you go, bare in mind performance setting is loud, but you should'nt ever have to go over normal setting, i used silent 24/7 on mine with no issues.

Now that being said, if u can get the midgard for that price u mentioned, its definitely worth considering, due to the much better cable management, out of the box. The Antec does have cable management, just not as good as the midgards, but it is an older case though, just takes abit more effort and some cable ties is all lol. You will have to spend more for better cooling (fans), but that can be done later, when funds permit.

Either case will be good for your needs, so for ease of installation, out of the box the midgard gets my vote this time, purely for the better cable management, thats all. Cooling wise id still say the antec is better. So it really is a toss up between the 2, both are excellent cases.

 

[thingemajib]

I have my doubts about not reccomending "old hat chassis" (actually, what is the plural of chassis), as i think using the PSU as an extra exhaust is good seeing as psus are easily capable of working under slightly warmer conditions (as the air its sucking in would be warmer due to going through the cpu heatsink). My case for example has three intakes (120mm 92mm and a kama bay), but only one exhaust, not including the PSU. See what im getting at?

I guess you could argue that if the psu was at the bottom there would be fans in the roof and what not, but in the lower end, i would imagine case designers would just stick to a fan at the front and back to cut costs, resulting in hot pockets at the top of the case.

slightly off topic (in fairness my last piece of direct advice seems to be completely ignored ), and slightly gibberish, but just my 2 cents...

 

[setter]

Having tried my psu in both the top and bottom of my current case, (Lian Li A70F), there was no difference in component temps at all, kept it in the bottom as its easier for cable management.

 

[Burty88]

sorry to butt in on this lovely handbag fight, but im going with the antec on this one. My thoughts?

-The zalman is out of stock. nuff said.
-The akasa is both ugly, and reading the specs, very limited in cooling (the picture suggests side mounts for future fans, but this aint mentioned in the spec so there may not be enough clearance)
-The Silverstone and the antec both come with top and rear fans as standard, but the antec has much more space for extras. Now i dont know what kinda system you're plonking in there, but should you ever splash out on some high end kit, just add a couple of extra fans to the list, instead of a whole new high end case. For an extra 4 quid, i'd say that extra peace of mind is worth it. However, i would say the silverstone is the better looker.

Discuss. (30 marks)

Interesting, I have taken on board your opinion, and in no way ignored it. I only hope the OP does the same.

slightly off topic (in fairness my last piece of direct advice seems to be completely ignored ), and slightly gibberish, but just my 2 cents...

*pats on head*

I more agree with your second post than first though. I can only see one benefit of a low mounted PSU (other than cable managment - although it makes the 8 pin a PITA) which is that it pulls heat ejected from newer hotter GPUs. Apart from that it's just sucking nice cool low air from the case rather than the warm dirty CPU air.

 

[Big.Wayne]

i think using the PSU as an extra exhaust is good seeing as psus are easily capable of working under slightly warmer conditions

Nah, using a PSU as the main system "roof" exhaust is a bad idea for the following reasons:

• The hotter a PSU is the louder is needs to run its fans
• The hotter a PSU runs the quicker it will deteriorate (personal observation)

I would go on to say the processor/PWM/Mosfet area of the computer tends to get the hottest and therefore benefits from a couple of "huge" fans pulling air across the motherboard & CPU Heatsink and out the back/roof of the chassis . . Why would anyone want their PSU stuck right above one of the hottest areas in their computer when it could be at the bottom of the chassis and leaving the important task of moving heat away to some . . . fans!

Once you move to a Thermally-Advantaged Chassis you open up the possibility of "passive" cooling your overclocked processors . . this just ain't happening in an Old-Hat Chassis!

I guess you could argue that if the psu was at the bottom there would be fans in the roof and what not, but in the lower end, i would imagine case designers would just stick to a fan at the front and back to cut costs, resulting in hot pockets at the top of the case.

That's why there is a 140mm roof exhaust thingemajib!

 

[Burty88]

Having tried my psu in both the top and bottom of my current case, (Lian Li A70F), there was no difference in component temps at all, kept it in the bottom as its easier for cable management.

>

Some fair points and some lovely pictures

Nearly all top mounted PSU cases have fans right under the PSU too, so even if the pull of warm air isn't as stong through the PSU any build up of warm air is pulled out from under it. All you're doing with a PSU lower in the case is pulling out cool air from low in the case, thereby sacrificing any thermal advantage you may have gained. This theory is reinforced with Setter's little experiment.

The only way it is more "Thermally Advantaged" is if the PSU is in a seperate thermal compartment, a la 800D. The 800D completely isolates the PSU's cooling whilst pulling in cool air from underneath the case and pushing it through to the motherboard compartment.

I would speculate if you put a PSU inside the 800Ds motherboard compartment, even at the bottom, the results would confirm the above and one would see an increase in temperature.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Nearly all top mounted PSU cases have fans right under the PSU too, so even if the pull of warm air isn't as stong through the PSU any build up of warm air is pulled out from under it

Heat rises Burty88

Are you suggesting the rear exhaust fans "service" the heat extraction as well as a large roof fan?

All you're doing with a PSU lower in the case is pulling out cool air from low in the case, thereby sacrificing any thermal advantage you may have gained

Don't be daft . . . the bottom mounted PSU is fed from cool air flowing in from the lower [front] intakes (or it's own air feed hole underneath the case), this means the PSU runs cool and quiet . . . the upper [front] intakes provide cool air to the middle and upper parts of the chassis and its contents (i.e CPU/PWM/Mosfets) . . . you can in no way create a disadvantage to case airflow by having the PSU mounted at the bottom!

This theory is reinforced with Setter's home experiment

You can speculate on theory as much as you want . . meanwhile I will try to impart many years hands-on experience to those that care to listen . . . it's not about me, its about people choosing the right chassis and cooling to protect their investment . . I can't tell you how many PSU's I went through in the past when I used those Old-Hat chassis on a heaviliy overclocked system . . . it's bad engineering that has thankfully been corrected . . .

If you wish to believe setter over me thats your call, as they say you can lead a horse to water but you can't force it to drink!

The only way it is more "Thermally Advantaged" is if the PSU is in a seperate thermal compartment

Thermally Advantaged is the concept where the PSU is mounted at the lower portion of the chassis + a ton of possible locations to mount fans situated elsewhere . . . the PSU is not needed at the top of a chassis but exhaust fans are, this is a simple concept to grasp if you really think about it! . . . the PSU doesn't need to be in its own "compartment" but rather just in the coolest part of the chassis . . . coming full circle . . . heat rises . . think about it!

 

[Burty88]

I was implying a PSU acts as a large roof fan, and, along with the high mounted rear fan, does as good a job as a roof fan.

You can't argue that heat rises and then dispute that the cooler air isn't exhausted by a PSU at the bottom of the case.

I take it you consider the SilverStone FT-02 to be an "old hat" cahssis then, that can't cool properly, and that everyone that's just spent £150+ buying one is "daft"?

You can take a horse to a bucket but you can't make me drink unless you can produce evidence to prove it's water - I'm obviously going to believe someone claiming to have done an experiment testing the point in question over you... If anyone does otherwise it's simply their bias from the drivel you've filled their head with over the past four pages.

If you can come back with some real data showing a statistically significant difference in temperature between a top and bottom mounted PSU in an unbiased case then I'll gladly adopt your opinion. However, until then I'm happy to agree to disagree, basing my opinion on my understanding of themal movement and on the statements from people who have tested it.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure the OP is buying a 300. At least he understands the lack of cable managment, and has acknowledged other cases around its price point. As long as the consumer has been made aware, then these help me/spec me threads have acheived their aim, whether or not the OP decides to follow the advice given.

 

[wilko49]

Am I the only one finding the derailing of this thread utterly hilarious? I'm sure that the personal attacks are not needed, you are only making yourselves look silly, a mistake I have made in the past... but I digress.

Burty, the problem with a top mounted PSU is that the it is pulling hot air from the the case through it's internals, reducing it's lifespan. If the PSU is bottom mounted, a fan may be mounted on the roof where the PSU would otherwise have been located, thus the airflow remains unchanged (as the PSU is now pulling cold air from outside of the case). Bottom mounted is not always better, however, such as in situations where the intake fan of the PSU is partially obstructed (i.e. cases with short feet on carpeted floors).

 

[Burty88]

The Antec 300 has no feet. It pulls air from inside the case

http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/1190618/img/Computer/015.jpg

Thus, would you agree, in this case (pun fully intended), it is not better.

ETA: This thread has derailed, just to make it clear, I'm not stating that top mounted PSUs are better, I am merely stating that the difference it makes in regards to cases of similar dimensions and fan locations (eg. Asgard/300) is statistically insignificant. And therefore the £20 would be better in your pocket than in Antec's, plus you'd have tidy cables as well as 20 quid.

ETFA: Very tired; sleep time now. Kthnxbai.

 

[Big.Wayne]

I must be writing in swahili or something!

The PSU sitting at the bottom of the chassis is cool . . . because it is cool it's fans barely turn at all . . . what little airflow it does need comes from the lower [front] mounted fan in the antec 300 chassis . .

The PSU fitted in an Antec 300 is raises about 3/4" on a rail from the floor of the case . . . the antec 300 case itself does have feet but this is irrelevant as it has no fan-vent built into the floor . . .

so we have a fairly cool running and quiet PSU sitting in the coldest part of the case getting what little airflow it needs from the lower [front] mounted fan . .

Meanwhile at the top of the case where "all" the heat naturally rises there is a huge 140mm perforated hole with a huge 140mm fan gently turning removing the heat . . .

If I have not made my point "abundantly clear by now let me spell it out for you again . . . if you want your PSU to last a very long time fit it into a Thermally Advantaged chassis . . . if you would rather save £10-£15 by buying an Old-Hat chassis and slowly but surely kill your expensive PSU in your overclocked system then be my guest . . . just don't say I didn't try to warn you!

 

[stulid]

like I said, every thread big.whine touches goes completely **** up.

 

[honosuseri]

lol stu. A bit harsh but i did chuckle. I do in some cases agree with waynes opinions but I must say I feel that he thinks he is always 100% right and woe betide anyone who suggests differently (im speaking from personal experience here).

What i find funny is that what you all dont realise is that this jony is only posting and threading to build his tally. He has already put in a post he wants access to the members market (MM) and to do so he needs more posts! So all this banter really doesn't amount to jack!

 

[beefybarn]

Well i have built many many systems with top and bottom mounted psu and have found no advantage to bottom mounted apart from cable management. In fact i have had to deal with more psu failures in bottom mounted cases because people cant be assed to clean the filters underneath, no airflow one overheated psu.

 

[Burty88]

This is stupid now, a good few people have come on here stating from their actual physical experience, it makes little or no difference. Quantifying this with statements such as

Well i have built many many systems with top and bottom mounted psu and have found no advantage to bottom mounted apart from cable management.

Having tried my psu in both the top and bottom of my current case, (Lian Li A70F), there was no difference in component temps at all, kept it in the bottom as its easier for cable management.

This is against the purely hypothetical "Thermally Advantaged" and "Old-Hat" gumpf, that Big.Wayne seems to love spouting in a multitude of font modifiers and colours; as if this adds backing to your argument. I would stop being so vehement in the defence of your position, you argue it as though if you buy one of these chassis, your computer will explode within a week, your wife will leave you for someone with a more Thermally-Advantaged penis, and you'll get cancer.

I'm pretty sure you've just been taken in by some marketing man's idea "ooh so you're saying mountng the PSU at the bottom is better for cable management... well we can say it's better for cooling too"

You still didn't answer my point about the FT-02 and it's old hat design.

 

[Jony27]

What i find funny is that what you all dont realise is that this jony is only posting and threading to build his tally. He has already put in a post he wants access to the members market (MM) and to do so he needs more posts! So all this banter really doesn't amount to jack!

even if i was to get more post i wont be able to use it till november, im just trying to get advise as ive started saving up for a partially upgrade,i want to buy a psu,case and hdd before i get access to MM so that way i can get either used intel or amd setup.
thank you

 

[thingemajib]

if you buy one of these chassis, your computer will explode within a week, your wife will leave you for someone with a more Thermally-Advantaged penis, and you'll get cancer.

oh that made me chuckle.

maybe sticking a PSU at the bottom will extend its X year lifespan by a week or three. Maybe it'll do jack s***. (would like to point out ive had a rig running off one of them generic el-cheapo 250w "connect-it-to-an-LED-and-watch-it-explode" PSUs in the TOP :O of my case for about 9 years and its still going strong, but thats just a personal experience and probably just adding to all the bull in this thread already).

anyways. The case. Frankly, go for whichever one you think is best. I have a hunch that you'll be happy with whichever one you end up with, and we're probably just nitpicking over differences.