Need a new case

BahBah

BahBah

BahBah

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Joined
25 Nov 2002
Posts
260
I'm intending to eventually get 2x4870's in crossifre so the case will need to be able to cope with their size.

I'm using a tuniq tower so the case needs to be fairly deep.

The case needs to be quiet, very well air cooled, and well built.

Budget: £140 inc VAT.

I currently have an Akasa Eclipse 62. I know there are a lot of fans of this case on here, but my experience was that it's a poor built flimsy case, with awful front grill/dust mesh that makes the front intake fan worthless. I am concerned about the poor airflow in this case which is one of the reasons for my looking for an upgrade.

If anyone has any recommendations I would appreciate it. I've been looking over the OC stock, and there seem to be far too much to choose from heh.
 
I currently have an Akasa Eclipse 62. I know there are a lot of fans of this case on here, but my experience was that it's a poor built flimsy case, with awful front grill/dust mesh that makes the front intake fan worthless. I am concerned about the poor airflow in this case which is one of the reasons for my looking for an upgrade.
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Oh my gawd, what heretical comments !!!

The airflow in an eclipse is class leading my man. The front intake is certainly not worthless and you won't have problems with 2x4870s. It isn't flimsy but the aluminium is thin and lightweight (it is supposed to be), if you want something that feels more solid I would go for a steel case, though Lian-Li certainly know how to craft the metal.
 
heh I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers, was just my opinion. I felt really disappointed when I bought that case. I used to have a Coolermaster full alumnium case, I don't remember the model, but it was leagues ahead of the Eclipse.

I'll give an example of my cooling concerns of the Eclipse. I replaced all the fans with decent Akasa fans. The front intake fan breaths in like an asmatic mouse. Plus, with the overall case layout if you use a Tuniq Tower it is about 15mm away from the PSU which means the heatsink warms the air that the PSU sucks in from its underside fan.
 
You didn't, I understand. The Eclipse does feel cheap and there are a few design flaws but the chassis is very old now and holds up admirably with the hefty cooling requirements of modern dual-GPU rigs. It only needs minimal airflow to function (though obviously higher CFM fans do get better results) and keep cool, the case temperature is usually very low even with only 2 quiet 120mm fans.

My concern is that you will replace the case but then realise how it performed well (thermally) in an understated way. The Antec 1200 is a crude, brute force way to cool compared to the Eclipse.

You could find a case that feels more solidly built no doubt but the cooling performance won't necessarily be any better.

If the Tuniq thing bothers you then I'd suggest a case where the PSU is at the bottom, the modular design of the P182 is one-thing and you'll love the solid feel but I'm not sure it is up to cooling 4870s in Crossfire.
 
Go for a Nzxt Tempest 2 120mm at front 1 at rear 1 at side and 2 140mm in the top, room for 8 hard drives, psu at the bottom, best case ive ever used, and the best part its only 60 quid.
 
Tetras said:
Oh my gawd, what heretical comments !!!

The airflow in an eclipse is class leading my man. The front intake is certainly not worthless and you won't have problems with 2x4870s. It isn't flimsy but the aluminium is thin and lightweight (it is supposed to be), if you want something that feels more solid I would go for a steel case, though Lian-Li certainly know how to craft the metal.
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I agree with him the front fan is worthless, especially if you put a hdd infront of it. The build quality is great tho (apart from the cack plastic front panel). I actually run mine with the front panel removed so as to get more air to the front fan. :)
 
Buy a bench table like me :)

Picture002-13.jpg
 
Tetsu said:
the lian li a70 are a good buy as well and can be had for around £100
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Agree,

Achres of internal space.

internal.jpg


That's a full ATX mobo with 120.3 coolinworks rad below and a 3870X2 which is the same length as the 8800GTX, 8800 Ultra, 9800GTX and 9800GX2.

Space for 10x hdds, 2x locations for mounting the PSU, 5x 5.25" bays and can accept an E-ATX mobo if needed!

gt
 
Thanks for all the replied guys. I was very tempted by the a70 but was put off a little by the extra money I thought I would need to chuck at it to keep it quiet as I'll only be using air cooling - such as replacing the fans and possibly a fan controller. I think would also prefer something smaller than a full tower.

So I ended up ordering a Lian Li PC-V1010B

I've also ordered a Scythe Kama-Bay System/Hard Drive Cooler that I'll shove in the bottom 3x5.25" bays.

I hope it's good! Aesthetically it's not my favourite but for it's price I think it should be a good case.

Man so much choice, I spent literally ages pouring over all the options. The armoursuit cases appeared to have great performance, but I couldn't see past how fugly that top vent is. I also considered the V1000Z which has the sata port/power built in for hotswap, but was put off by not being able to remove the motherboard tray.

And Clone, that bench looks awesome!
 
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BahBah said:
Thanks for all the replied guys. I was very tempted by the a70 but was put off a little by the extra money I thought I would need to chuck at it to keep it quiet as I'll only be using air cooling. That, and I would have preferred something smaller than a full tower.

So I ended up ordering a Lian Li PC-V1010B

I've also ordered a Scythe Kama-Bay System/Hard Drive Cooler that I'll shove in the bottom 3x5.25" bays.

I hope it's good! Aesthetically it's not my favourite but for it's price I think it should be a good case.

Man so much choice, I spent literally ages pouring over all the options. The armoursuit cases appeared to have great performance, but I couldn't see past how fugly that top vent is. I also considered the V1000Z which has the sata port/power built in for hotswap, but was put off by not being able to remove the motherboard tray.

And Clone, that bench looks awesome!
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The ex-33 would have been a better fit than the kama bay. If it doesnt look great then get one of those as they fit those cases perfectly in looks.
 
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Tetsu said:
Thats awesome GT, I'm talking myself in to getting one at the moment.
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Cheers Tetsu.

Was a lovely case. Just moved to the MM H2g0 in sig as it was a little more compact and fit on my desk better.

Tetsu said:
The ex-33 would have been a better fit that the kama bay. If it doesnt look great then get one of those as they fit though cases perfectly in looks.
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You're right! :)

Used one in my A70 and it looked a lot better as a result. If i did it again though i'd paint the silver fan filter behind a lovely shade of matt black so you couldn't see it.

front.jpg


gt
 
gt_junkie said:
Cheers Tetsu.

Was a lovely case. Just moved to the MM H2g0 in sig as it was a little more compact and fit on my desk better.

You're right! :)

Used one in my A70 and it looked a lot better as a result. If i did it again though i'd paint the silver fan filter behind a lovely shade of matt black so you couldn't see it.
snip

gt
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Thats a good idea, would definatly look a lot better. Lian li also do just the front part without the bay behind. The fan filter is closer to the front and also there's no silver on the black version.
 
gt_junkie said:
Used one in my A70 and it looked a lot better as a result. If i did it again though i'd paint the silver fan filter behind a lovely shade of matt black so you couldn't see it.
gt
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Well I could post a pic of my A70B, but it is exactly the same as yours, because I followed your original thread and built my case using the same case accessories.
Many thanks as I built two and am very pleased.

Painting the fan filter is only neccessary IMHO, if you have the case at eye level and even then it would not bother me. Mine are on the floor so at an angle it is all black anyway.

I'll check out the MM H2g0
 
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