CASE Dilemma ************** ??????????????????

[Billy85]

Hi Guys,

I’m in a bit of a dilemma? I’ve been waiting for the HP Omen Obelisk which has just hit the market, the 8700 with 2080 graphics card. I wanted to buy it but in America it was on sale for $1500, here its £1900. Furthermore I really don’t like the holes on the top of the case, as my room is a dust magnet!! Ideally I would like a case with amazing thermals and quiet as possible and with as few holes as possible!!

So now I’m looking into rather than buying....., building one or getting a pc built. My budget is £2k max, cheaper the better obviously. I don’t want to go water cooled as I personally think it’s too dangerous. Therefore I will be looking at an air cooled system. I am hoping for an Intel based 8700k + 2080 or 2080Ti, Z390 motherboard, 32gb ram. I want a high end performance pc so I don’t have to upgrade for a loooong time. Btw I don’t game!  I love tempered glass and RGB, how much does this affect thermals though?

I have been looking at some cases and have narrowed it down to these: -
1. BeQuiet - DARK BASE 700
2. Enthoo Evolv X Glass
3. Coolermaster MC500mt
4. Lian Li - pc-o11-wgx-rog-edition
5. Fractal design define s2 --- OR --- R6 USB C

Any recommendations – pros and cons on the above cases or other parts I should use?
Is it possible to build what I’m looking for under £2k?

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Billy85]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replys,

TangoEcoAlpha - I did look into other be quiet cases and considered the Dark base 900 but it’s too big for the space I have. Not a fan of the 801 to be honest, don’t like the front panel. Keeping the DB 700 as an option.....

Finners – I want a 4k "future proof" PC. The PC will be mainly used for online streaming, watching vids/movies/general productivity work using Microsoft office, surfing internet etc.

Radox-0 – Thanks for the advice, I have reconsidered my options and I want to choose one of the following, I like the look of the Coolermaster MC500mt, and the Lian Li 011 Dynamic. The third choice would be, Be Quiet’s Silent Base 700. Which case is best for excellent air circulation/thermals and super quiet operation?

Grandmaster Fap! – I agree the more holes the better, but at the same time I hate dust and want to open up my pc to clean as few times as possible. Which case and super quiet high quality fans would you recommend. In particular from these three cases,

1. Coolermaster MC500mt
   
2. Lian Li 011 Dynamic
3. Darkbase 700
4. Any other recommendations????

I’m concerned that the Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic, most say is really for water cooled systems, therefore the fan positions would maybe not be the most effective for an air cooled quiet system? Furthermore would it be best to mount the gpu vertically or horizontally as horizontal mounting would restrict bottom air flow and the vertical mounting position would take up all the pcie slot spaces. so can't fit anything else like a upgrade for a network/sound/tv card etc?

The Darkbase 700, I really don’t like how they have mounted the usb 3.1 with the plastic around it to fit in the case, rather they should have redesigned the housing to accommodate it properly.

Would really appropriate further advise guys, bearing in mind its for: -

1. Air Cooled System
2. 8700k with air cooled cpu cooler
   
3. z390 ATX or EATX motherboard
4. 32GB Ram
5. 2080 gpu or 2080ti?
   
6. Intel Optane main drive
7. SSD or HDD for secondary storage
8. RGB

1. Quite a variation in price between some of those options, might find it all a bit of a struggle to get within budget.
   
   Personally I like the look of the Silent Base 801 over the Dark Base 700. Not a fan of the Coolermaster MC500MT and can't help but think the Lian Li PC-011 is going to use up an awful lot of your budget.
   
   If it were me, I'd go for the Enthoo Evolv or the Fractal Design R6 USB C. If your room is a dust magnet, tempered glass might not be best for you. I've got a Black tempered glass Enthoo Evolv, that I've never used still sealed in the box, that I'm wonder if I did the right thing in buying glass.

   
   

2. You say you don't game but want a high end GPU? What will the Pc be used for? Will help with advissia you

   
   

3. Have you looked at the Lian Li dynamic: if your on a budget, it’s nearly a 1/3 of the price while looking largely similar and dynamic is a very good case https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lian-li-pc-o11-dynamic-midi-tower-black-window-ca-76s-ll.html there are some minor differences aside from aesthetics, it not something that is likely to matter. Similarly while dynamic shines with custom loops, it also does well with air cooled systems.
   
   Being honest all those cases are solid options for a typical cpu and single gpu build with either AIO or air.

   
   

4. Holes dont matter in cases if you have positive pressure, to be honest you want good airflow in a case and holes make good airflow Go for a decent quality case that you like the look of and get some good quiet fans for it, with more fans as intake than outtake you will create positive pressure that will force air out of the case and stop dust from creeping in.

 

[Billy85]

I am currently building in the Dark Base 700 RGB. If you are all about airflow and are not willing to modify, this case is not for you

Let me know if you want to see pics

What kind o modifications have you made? Pictures and specs would be great, Thanks.