Case help

Insanties_birth · 23 Jan 2010 at 13:49

I'm looking for a good case (for size, and cooling mainly, noise would be nice but cooling and size is top priority) and got a few questions which you can either try and help with those or simply recommend a case. Budget would be £90 ish, possibly go over but only if the case presents some real benefit over the best in budget one.

First question, do windowed cases offer better cooling or does the window not effect temps at all?

How small are mid-tower cases (in general) to full tower cases? I'd be looking for a case that can fit any graphics card in as I want it future proof so would mid-tower be the wrong way to go altogether? And what measurements would I be looking at to fit in any (or atleast any but the biggest) card?

So far these are the 5 cases I'm looking at.
Antec 902
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-110-AN
NZXT lexa blackline midi tower
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-006-NX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=35
Thermaltake VL10001W2Z Element G Case
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-002-TR&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1479
Coolermaster stacker 831 silver
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-194-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29
Haf 922 (may upgrade to 932 if plenty more space)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-176-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29

Thanks for any help.

cook001 · 23 Jan 2010 at 14:17

Well i would go for this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-005-LN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1447

The lancool k-62 is great case it's a pity it's out of stock

chipps101 · 23 Jan 2010 at 14:21

i have the stacker 831 and it has plenty of airflow and space but not a lot of cable management holes like newer cases.

Insanties_birth · 23 Jan 2010 at 14:31

cook001 said:
Well i would go for this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-005-LN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1447

The lancool k-62 is great case it's a pity it's out of stock

I'll have to try and find the dimensions of it at some point. Seems smaller overall than some of the others (NXZT case) but I like that it has 4 fans supplied with it.
Good price though too and I hear good things.

Insanties_birth · 23 Jan 2010 at 14:34

chipps101 said:
i have the stacker 831 and it has plenty of airflow and space but not a lot of cable management holes like newer cases.

I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to cases and I'd probably get whatever case I choose pre-built by OCUK but I guess a more modern case would help. I'll probably leave the stacker 831 then as it's probably a bit too big anyway.

Insanties_birth · 23 Jan 2010 at 19:53

Anyone know whether the windows on cases (windowed vs none windowed cases) effect the temperatures at all?
I think I'll end up getting the Haf 922, I like the looks and size of it. Seems to be within the budget, in stock and ideal for me really.
Thanks for the help though guys.