case for £100

subbytna

subbytna

subbytna

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Lo peeps, needing some case-techie's to advise on the best case I can get for about £100

Looking to invest in a 5*** series card at some point, possibly xfiring at a later date so need something that has space. Not knowing a huge deal about cases I've had a thread before but have decided against the recommended CM690.

Any suggestions? Or should I be asking other questions? Id need a case that has dust filters (even to buy as an extra)

BTW what's the best way to cool a case with fans? Does a front intake with exhausting out the back and top, sufficient? My case will be sitting close to the floor - up on a small block of wood to get it off the floor but not by much. In terms of dimensions I'm leaving it to you guys to advise.

I'd like something not too over stated as I'm 34 and don't give a **** about showing off to mates so something classic would be ideal/.

Cheers :cool:
 
Out of interest, what are your reasons for not going for the CM-960? I am not asking to try and change your mind, just so we know what you dont want from a case.
 
Antec p183/p193
Fractal design R2
Cooler master Haf 932
Cooler Master storm sniper
Antec 1200
Lancool dragonlord k62

That would be my shortlist some of them could be dust magnets sat on the floor though the antecs and R2 less so.
Not even sure that a side fan would be needed for xfire 5770's I think it might if you get the reference design cooler type ones though as those coolers are loud when fan set higher.I'd stick to egg/batmobile coolers for 5770's

There's an as new antec p193 going in the members market for a decent price too I'd buy that.
Always worth searching the members market always a bargain case to be had and a lot are normally as new or barely used.
 
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@ Smeaney - Customer review stating it had trouble with 5*** series cards. To be fair though he was trying to slot in a 5970 in and I'd be looking at xfire 5770's
 
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good point on the members market....duly noted.

Main point is I'm trying to get a case that is roomy for future proofing for the next 5 years. Plus the other half wants a case that's not too garish and "loud" :rolleyes: if it's going to be in the new living room she wants it plain....i.e. black. Now I'm not overly concerned about a HUGE case but I@d like one that's big enough and fairly plain to look at...or clean cut lines
 
like your recommendation of the Fractcal Design R2....looks good and with teh option of dust covers as standard I think I'm on to something here..
 
My only concern with the r2 is the hdd cage not being removable so if you go xfire not sure about how the cooler air is getting to the gpus.
 
high temps is the main thing, and it's not as quiet as i had expected. apart from that it's ok.
great cable management and looks really nice but it can't touch my old stacker 831 from a cooling point of view.
my cpu had never seen 60c in its life in the stacker and now it can hit 70c in prime :(
 
chipps101 said:
high temps is the main thing, and it's not as quiet as i had expected. apart from that it's ok.
great cable management and looks really nice but it can't touch my old stacker 831 from a cooling point of view.
my cpu had never seen 60c in its life in the stacker and now it can hit 70c in prime :(
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat as OP and the other day I almost pressed the buy button but i'm sort of glad i didn't looking at posts like this :S
 
subbytna said:
@ Smeaney - Customer review stating it had trouble with 5*** series cards. To be fair though he was trying to slot in a 5970 in and I'd be looking at xfire 5770's
Click to expand...

Were you looking at the CM-690 II Advanced Dominator at £80.99, or the CM-690 at £60.99? Because this review below was about the advanced dominator and he says a 5970 fits the original case.

"Reviewed by: Christian D'Amico (Surrey)

The case looks stunning, and works well. The air flow through it is strong and steady.
The only problem I could find is that it wouldn't fit a Radeon HD 5970, whereas the CM690 first edition would. Kind of a step back. Other than that though, awesome case!"
 
ok ok thinking different then about the R2 :(

as long as it's big enough to hold a good sized air cooler and a Xfiresetup then I'll be happy....oh and it has to be fairly "plain looking" to appease the other half :rolleyes:
 
high temps is the really annoying thing about it, i'm going to try upgrading the front fans from the useless fractals that push literally no air to something a bit better and see if that helps but if it doesn't its gotta go.
 
I'm also going to be getting a new MOBO to OC the 9550 chip to about 3.6. Would you say that the temps will be fairly high in the case if I went down the R2 route? The CPU cooler will be sufficient for an ok OC but if there's a lack of air getting in to assist the cooler then that's a possible problem.
 
I have always said that sideways non removable hdd cages blocking front intakes is a problem in a lot of these new popular cases.
I wouldn't get an R2 if I were going xfire I'd get a case with a big bottom front intake or at least 3x120mm front intakes and a case where I can remove half or all of the hdd cages to allow for proper airflow over the twin gpus.

It's a tough choice as a lot of what I would say are the best cases for xfire aren't plain looking and would be a bit of a dust magnet if sat on the floor.
 
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Lancool Dragon-Lord PC-K62 could be a good choice at £85 probably the best balance between cooling qualty and looks you are going to get for £100 or less.Even then you'd have to disable the blue leds and i still have an issue with the hdd cage not being part removable to allow fr better airflow.
 
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