New case for under 100 pounds

a giant fox · 28 Mar 2011 at 09:07

Hi guys

I'm looking a new case mainly for future proofing really. I currently have a Nexus midi tower case and to be honest is very small. I had to fit a low profile heat sink as anythnig bigger simply wouldn't fit.

I'm looking for something udner 100 pounds. Has great air cooling and is much bigger then my current case. I'm using a MSI GTX 470 card at moment (the ones they had on offer here for like 155

)

I need a case that will support 2 of these cards as I plan to SLI in the future and i'm sticking to air cooling so want something that is designed for this. Size or looks not really an issue but would like it to be very quiet.

My current ideas were:

Coolermaster RC-600 Gladiator Case - Black [RC-600]
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-178-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

Coolermaster HAF 912 Plus Case - Black
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-221-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

Coolermaster Storm Scout Gaming Case - Black
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-175-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

Antec 600 Six Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-129-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

Coolermaster CM-690 II Advanced Dominator Case - Black
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-196-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

Any experince of these cases and and other choices would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks

maj · 28 Mar 2011 at 17:53

Well I have the CM-690II Advanced and have been really impressed with its quietness and the space inside. Don't see there being any issues at all fitting SLI inside one.

ih8modem · 28 Mar 2011 at 22:27

Fractal XL

I recently bought the Fractal XL from OCUK and so far I am impressed. Only using air cooling and temps seem to be ok (new build with i7 2600k not sure what temps should be anyway)

Its quite large, and the panels are heavy with all the noise reduc. Loads of HDD bays.

Cant recommend or not as yet, still new to it, but may be worth a look.

LiamJ · 28 Mar 2011 at 22:31

Lancool PC-K62, or the CM 690-II.

The Lancool is slightly smaller and probably not quite as cool or tidy inside, but has a side window, looks better, IMO, and probably is better quality.

King Damager · 29 Mar 2011 at 00:53

Lancool K62

/thread

Well that's what I went for in the same situation...

Depending on your needs though I'd say there's two things in this bracket...

A Gaming Case - Get the Lancool

A silent Case - Get the Fractal R3/XL (depending on size you want depends which to get)

kd

MouthBoy · 29 Mar 2011 at 01:23

My vote goes to the 690 II, its a great case for the price. Although the HAF is great too.

Kanifee · 29 Mar 2011 at 01:29

Lancool, seriously what has happened to cases these days.... better still what has happened to taste!

lancool is by far the most palatable choice, seriously dont understand why its so hard to make an understated, sleek, defined case that is affordable.

a giant fox · 29 Mar 2011 at 07:37

Thanks for all the responses guys

I have been doing a bit of research and i'm just setting more confused really.

I'm starting to like the Xigamatek Utgard

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-006-XG&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1572

Does anyone have experience of this case, I love the looks of it and that it appears to be good for air cooling but have enough space in the top and the front by removing bays to fit radiators if I decide to go water in the future.

Also I have read some reviews regarding cable management for this case, does anyone know if their is enough space behind the MB to route all the cables as thats my style really, like a tidy case.

Thanks

a giant fox · 29 Mar 2011 at 08:58

Also regarding the Fractual design cases

After looking at reviews I do really like these cases, my only concern is that reviews that have had a overclocked cpu set up or Dual GPU have voiced concerns regarding heat.

Has anyone owned these cases and also I know u can swap some of the foam for extra fans but wouldn't defeat the point of the quiet case as surely noise levels would increase if noise dampering foam is removed?

Evil^ · 29 Mar 2011 at 10:54

I own a R3 if you wanting to keep down down down down with the temps youll have to bust out some of the covers for extra fans Im running just 3 atm and i get 40 idle on my Q6600 and my MSI 5850 is at 49 with 20% fan speed.

When I was thinking about getting it there was so many people saying about "If you get it YOU'LL GET HIGHER TEMPS OMG" in all honesty I don't think its anything above the rest tbh.

Then again it is an absolute gorgeus case and I doubt ill be changing it soon

(not like when I got my TT Shark...)

bl4ckdr4g0n · 29 Mar 2011 at 11:38

different from what others are saying here but I quite like the 912+ looks like you would save quite a bit too perhaps with the extra cash you could kit it out with modded/braided cabling?

a giant fox · 29 Mar 2011 at 14:10

I was looking at the 912 plus and really liked the looks and style but my only concern was future proofing really. If people here think the C90 ii and Fractual Design R3 are really amazing then I will get one of those.

I had a change heart really, as I want to stick with air cooling at moment but would like the options of water cooling. Regarding all of the cases mentioned so far, what would really be the best for my needs, I have read loads of reviews but still not sure.

Requirements now:

Strong air cooling with space for dual GPU of any size
Good cable management system with style going behind MB
Has a lot of options for easy installion of rads and water cooling in the future if I decide to go down that route
Budget still no more then 100 pounds but the cheaper the better

Thanks

a giant fox · 30 Mar 2011 at 07:16

SouthEastBlue · 30 Mar 2011 at 08:53

I would definitely get the Coolermaster 690 II, has great cooling, a nice amount of fan mounting points, good cable management, nice looks (especially with the extra windowed sice panel you can buy), and it's definitely going to be solid and well built.

Definitely wouldn't recommend the Gladiator and Storm Scout for SLI/crossfire or watercooled setups as they both use the same chassis and it's sligtly to small for some of the high end cards.

a giant fox · 30 Mar 2011 at 13:02

Thanks guys decides to go with the CM690 ii lite version, mainly since OCUK just reduced it on offer to 58 pounds and the differences between the lite and advance version I don't think I will need, e.g. external hard driver slot, extra fan already installed, VGA holder and I brought a couple of new fans for the top of the case anyway.

Thanks for all your help

MouthBoy · 30 Mar 2011 at 18:51

a giant fox said:
Thanks guys decides to go with the CM690 ii lite version, mainly since OCUK just reduced it on offer to 58 pounds and the differences between the lite and advance version I don't think I will need, e.g. external hard driver slot, extra fan already installed, VGA holder and I brought a couple of new fans for the top of the case anyway.

Thanks for all your help

Nice one!

Make sure you get some pics up of your build when you can.

a giant fox · 31 Mar 2011 at 07:34

Will do, hopefully should arrive today, need to strip out my old case and transfer everything to new case, the fans I brought, i'm honestly not even sure what colours they will be as I brought based on low DBA so should be interesting.