Case recommendations!

xPETEZx

xPETEZx

xPETEZx

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So I am thinking I might benefit from a more air-flow friendly case than my current Fractal Design Define 7 Compact.

I currently have it setup with 4x QL140mm fans (2x front 2x top) and 1x QL120 at the back.

Temps on system in sig are fine, (81 CPU / 71 GPU ~give or take) but the GPU fans tend to spin up to 1500-1600rpm, which gets noisy.

I am thinking a case which has intake fans directly below the GPU would help this.

Ideally Id like to re-use as many of my QL fans as possible. So things like the 4000D or 5000D would be out, as Id need a bunch of 120s to make the front look good.(I know you can fit 2x 140, but it doesn't line up with the cut outs properly..)

However one case that would fit the bill is the Corsair 680x.
I would be able to re-use all 4x of my QL140, going with 2 in the bottom and 2 in the top. (+3 new fans in that come with it in the front...)


Anybody have the 680x and can comment on it? It seems ideally need to remove the front glass on it.
I like a compact case, which I know the 680x isnt. But perhaps my hardware is just too hot for a small case now...

Any other suggestions for a case would be very welcome :)
 
I have a 680x and have replace both front and top glass as temps with them are dire
I got a couple of replacement panels from Coldzero and now is perfect
 
Bug One said:
If you're looking to increase airflow, I'd have thought your number 1 criteria would be a mesh front instead of glass.

How about the Lian Li 215. Looks like it has everything you asked for.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lian...ower-argb-tempered-glass-black-ca-78k-ll.html
Click to expand...

Interesting!

The pictures show 2 fans mounted on the PSU shroud, but the description makes no mention of those as mount options.

With a PSU mounted right below, cant imagine they get much air anyway?
 
Just found the Antec P120, which looks like a nice case. The fact it comes with no fans isn't an issue for me at all, a plus if anything.
But the lack of a front USB-C port seems a glaring omission on a premium product.
 
xPETEZx said:
Interesting!

The pictures show 2 fans mounted on the PSU shroud, but the description makes no mention of those as mount options.

With a PSU mounted right below, cant imagine they get much air anyway?
Click to expand...

Could those two fans be pushing air upwards towards the top exhausts instead?

Top of the PSU shroud seems to be a mesh, but what's the purpose of that mesh? Pushing hot case air onto the top of the PSU? Or to pull air away from the top of the PSU and up to the top case exhausts, but just how much heat will you get from the top of the PSU?

EDIT: it makes reference to them here: Link to manufacturer site

I reckon it's to push air upwards and possibly pull any excess PSU heat outside of the case.
 
Usually the side of the PSU next to the mesh is the sealed top, not the grill (intake) side. Not much heat, and airflow, even if few degrees above ambient is better than no airflow.
Most cases where the bottom allows fans and the fan can "breath", I mean, have good access to air or isn't blocked by restrictive filter or too close to floor, are the best solution to improve GPU temperature.
Liam Li Lancool or similar design just proves it.
 
xPETEZx said:
How does it look with them just removed?
Click to expand...

I personally wouldn't bother trying to modify a poorly designed case to fit your needs, just buy a case that works out of the box.

xPETEZx said:
Just found the Antec P120, which looks like a nice case. The fact it comes with no fans isn't an issue for me at all, a plus if anything.
But the lack of a front USB-C port seems a glaring omission on a premium product.
Click to expand...

Would just look into a 0-11D instead personally.
 
Cooler running said:
I personally wouldn't bother trying to modify a poorly designed case to fit your needs, just buy a case that works out of the box.



Would just look into a 0-11D instead personally.
Click to expand...

I like the O11D, but it wont fit my Dark Rock 4 Pro cooler. (I think the XL might... but thats massive for no good reason for me...)
It also doesnt take 140mm fans as far as I can tell, so id need to sell my 4x QL140s along with the case...

With the noisy / temps on the VRAM of this 3090fe... I am tempted to finally do a custom water loop. If I did that Id love to use an 011D with the side distro plate and 2x360 rads.
Just not sure I can stomach the near £1k+ cost to do all that... :|
 
Many a case with mesh front will help thermal performance although the 140mm setup you're aiming for naturally narrows the field a bit, not that i think that's a bad thing (that's my preference to). Another consideration might be the BeQuiet Silent Base 802, even if the bottom intake isn't as good as the Meshify 2 it could be argued you may not need the additional bottom intake quite as much with a front mesh case anyway (and i think the build quality overall should make it a serious contender).
 
t31os said:
Many a case with mesh front will help thermal performance although the 140mm setup you're aiming for naturally narrows the field a bit, not that i think that's a bad thing (that's my preference to). Another consideration might be the BeQuiet Silent Base 802, even if the bottom intake isn't as good as the Meshify 2 it could be argued you may not need the additional bottom intake quite as much with a front mesh case anyway (and i think the build quality overall should make it a serious contender).
Click to expand...

I kinda dismissed the 802 when I originally was looking for a case. But Perhaps I was too hasty. Looking at it again now... it does not look a bad option.
Im not a fan of large cases, but this would allow the option of going custom loop down the road without having space issues...

I am about to order new thermal pads for my 3090fe, see if thats enough.
 
With the 3090, custom watercooling is the way to go. Air is possible, but the noise to tame the temperature was just too much. Even watercooler, the backplate still dumping so much heat inside the case. Unbelievable hot cards.
 
Cooler running said:
I'm fairly sure it would fit, it's quite a deep case. Have you read the dimensions? That cooler isn't that big.
Click to expand...
I looked on PC part picker completed builds, and filtered by Dark Rock 4 PRo and O11d, and no results.
If I include the XL, then I get some results.

The regular 11D cant fit a 120mm fan on the rear either, as its too narrow. My current case has a 120mm at the rear, and the glass only just closes.
 
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