Mid-tower/max quality?

milko · 3 Feb 2015 at 13:50

I might be interested in upgrading my case to something nice. I'd be interested in noise reduction, being able to fit my H80i cooler, and having access to some USB sockets and a headphone port. As far as looks goes I tend towards the minimal/discreet style, not really fussed about windows and lights and alien shapes.

I've been looking at loads of cases that seem to fit the bill, but they all end up being too big! I could really do with keeping height and depth to no more than 500mm, and width about 200mm. Maybe allow a couple of cm more on all those.

The problem I'm finding is all the nice cases I like the idea of (Fractal R5, NZXT 440, a few others but they're the main two) blow this size out of the water. And to get down in the sizes I'm looking for all the reviews start talking about "budget-oriented, compromise" yadda yadda. Can anyone tell me one I'm missing?

It does need to fit a full-size motherboard and a fairly long-ass G1 Gaming GTX980 in there. So not too small, this is a Goldilocks situation! Or do I need a new desk and house as well?

milko · 3 Feb 2015 at 16:24

Haha, that Phanteks is surely lovely but it's really quite big compared to what I need it to fit into. Like "need a new desk and a new plan for the room" big, which ain't gonna fly right now. Did I mention, 1 year old kids' paraphernalia takes up a lot of space?

Looking again at the H440 though it's only 10cm over on height, I wonder if I can do it. Have to get the tape measure out again tonight.

Thanks both.

milko · 3 Feb 2015 at 23:25

Dangit, 510mm height just won't fit in this desk. I guess it's back to the drawing board for me!

milko · 4 Feb 2015 at 12:08

Thanks both. Spacedeck, are you talking about the NZXT S340 or the Corsair 450D? I'm guessing the Corsair from your description.

Anyway - that's a shortlist of 2 now, thanks again.

milko · 4 Feb 2015 at 20:59

Spacedeck said:
I have the Corsair 450D. I made his text in bold to show which case.

Again I can get some pictures up later tonight. Not sure how big the case is though.

I was a bit hard of reading there, sorry! Case measurements going by the spec come into my limits.

What still irritates is that reviews on both talk about them being the cheaper option from whatever giant monolith is next up the range. So for an easy example the NZXT loses some sound proofing and LEDs for the rear panel. I still wanted that stuff, I just wanted it in a slightly smaller enclosure!

milko · 12 Feb 2015 at 11:59

I have been further narrowing this down and as usual when I research something this much, getting worse at making a decision instead of better.

The build that has to fit in it:
http://uk.************.com/b/G8wV3C
The main contenders:
(remember 500mm height restriction!)

Corsair Obsidian 450d. Not really sold on the looks but they're OK. It might also be noisier than I'd like.
NZXT Source 340. I like the looks of this one better. Nice compact size too. Slightly annoyed that it loses sound proofing and LEDs from the too-large H440 but maybe I should get over it. Then I see it's really a lot cheaper than the Corsair and I wonder if I'll also be compromising some quality elsewhere too?

Wildcard! If I find another home for my printer I could fit this in:
Corsair Carbide Air 540. With this being out of the Carbide rather than Obsidian line I think it'll maybe be bit noisy and a bit plastic by comparison. And the added width might mean I end up cracking my knee off it a lot and getting annoyed. But I kinda like it.

Do any of those jump out to any of you? Or do any of my comments make you think I'm mistaken? Got any other ideas? Want to tell me to just STFU and buy something? Fire away!