Case reccomendations for Water.

Chris. · 6 Aug 2011 at 16:30

Using a CM690 advanced at the moment, but i want to start a very slow moving project with water coooled components, and was wondering what the best priced case was.

Basically something like the CM690 with all the ease of cable management and parts removal (with some rubber grommets in the mobo slots though, BIG downside on the CM690!), but different as Its boring to make a new one look the same

Thanks.

P3N9U1N · 6 Aug 2011 at 16:33

Corsair 700d or 800d are great for water cooling, ive got a 700d and its fantastic. Great cable management on it too and rubber gromits on all the openings.

KiiYzOo · 6 Aug 2011 at 16:42

normally I'd say the 690 ii, but there are some other cases that are good for watercooling on a budget, but without knowing yours then it's kinda hard

but I'll spec some anyways

joxang · 6 Aug 2011 at 16:45

Cases that can take 360 rad in stock, without any cutting: 700D, 800D, HAF 932, ATCS. There's probably more than that but that's off the top of my head.

Lots of cases can take a double radiator. So it completely depends on (1) how much you're cooling (cpu? gpus? overclock?) and (2) what your budget is.

EDIT: ^Hey Kiiyzoo, yeh 600t is great case for WC but needs lots of cutting...but if you're happy to mod then just pick any random case tbh and cut away

!

Chris. · 6 Aug 2011 at 17:17

P3N9U1N said:
Corsair 700d or 800d are great for water cooling, ive got a 700d and its fantastic. Great cable management on it too and rubber gromits on all the openings.

I like the look of that and the Fractal cases atm. 700 may be a winner already though.

KiiYzOo said:
normally I'd say the 690 ii, but there are some other cases that are good for watercooling on a budget, but without knowing yours then it's kinda hard but I'll spec some anyways
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-159-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-073-SV&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-203-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-010-XG&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-036-CS&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-043-CS&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-022-NX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-012-FD&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-014-FD&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

the rv02 can fit a 560mm rad in the bottom!!
the fd xl can fit a 480mm rad in the bottom, and others, not sure which size though
the haf x and atcs 840 can take a 360mm rad in the bottom, without modding
the phantom, 650d and 600t can fit a 360mm rad in the roof, but sacrificing the top drive bay, the haf x may require this too
also the 600t can fit a quad 2x2 rad in the front with a bit of modding, see joxgang's log
the fd midi can fit a full thickness 240mm rad in the top, and a 280mm rad in the front with some modding iirc

hope this helps

Thanks mate, gives me loads of options

joxang said:
Cases that can take 360 rad in stock, without any cutting: 700D, 800D, HAF 932, ATCS. There's probably more than that but that's off the top of my head.

Lots of cases can take a double radiator. So it completely depends on (1) how much you're cooling (cpu? gpus? overclock?) and (2) what your budget is.

EDIT: ^Hey Kiiyzoo, yeh 600t is great case for WC but needs lots of cutting...but if you're happy to mod then just pick any random case tbh and cut away !

Im probably looking at a similar setup to now, using a lot of parts from the current one tbh.

The only reason im getting a new case, is so i can build the water setup into it and experiment for a while before having to diamantle this one as im using it all the while for work/uni etc.

EDIT: Oh and new Mobo, SSD and SLI, forgot about that. SLI is the driving power behind all of this.

DampCat · 6 Aug 2011 at 17:44

the RV02 and FT02 are great cases with a lot of space in the bottom for a big rad, but they don't have many options for cylinder reservoirs, space for pumps etc. You'd have to remove all thee 180mm fans which is probably fine, but it seems a shame. Theres also not a lot of space between the optical drives and mobo so may restrict bay items.

the Silverstone TJ07, Corsair 650D, 700D, 800D and 600T have some great options and good cable management. You havent mentioned a budget, so hard to make an informed recomendation! If you want something more unusual, try a mountain mods case, or something like the Banchetto 101 (my personal goal!).