New case - need some advice

andicole0 · 17 Jun 2011 at 17:48

I want to replace my case so I can make it a bit tidier.

Preferably I would like the ability to run cables behind the motherboard, disks inserted from the side and access to eSata and SATA 3 on the outside. It needs to be large enough to hold two GTX 480's. I use one SSD and two Raptors with a couple of optical drives. I would also like to fit a hot swap cage for HDD's.

I've looked at the NZXT Phantom but it has a door over the optical drives and the Corsair Graphite 600T.

Any help would be appreciated.

Andi.

Cleeecooo · 17 Jun 2011 at 17:54

Any idea on budget?

My choices would be;
Antec 1200
Silverstone TJ07
HAF X

andicole0 · 17 Jun 2011 at 20:55

Cleeecooo said:
Any idea on budget?

My choices would be;
Antec 1200
Silverstone TJ07
HAF X

I was anticipating paying over £100.

Andi.

beefybarn · 17 Jun 2011 at 22:34

How about the Corsair 650D, lovely case.

SparkyG · 18 Jun 2011 at 07:09

I've looked at the NZXT Phantom but it has a door over the optical drives

I think cases with front doors look much neater

andicole0 · 18 Jun 2011 at 10:02

beefybarn said:
How about the Corsair 650D, lovely case.

What's the difference between that and the 600?

SparkyG said:
I think cases with front doors look much neater

Yes but I always end up leaving the door open

Andi.

Mollari · 18 Jun 2011 at 12:05

CM Haf X. Plenty of room for cables. Hafx has two hot swap bays and superb cooling (nice for gtx480 if using aircooling). 1 x e-sata and 2 x usb3 connectors at the front. Great case if you like the look of it. .

Cleeecooo · 18 Jun 2011 at 14:16

I'd go for HAF X. Unless you can afford THIS that is

beefybarn · 19 Jun 2011 at 10:01

andicole0 said:
What's the difference between that and the 600?

The 650 has cleaner lines and a external hard drive dock in the compartment on the top.

andicole0 · 19 Jun 2011 at 13:26

Too many to choose from now but the closest to what I was after is the Thermaltake Level 10 GT.

However I like the idea of the sata dock on the 650D but then the Level 10 has five hot swap disk caddies of which I will only use three permanently.

Maybe if OCUK do a 'This week only' on the Level 10

Andi.

beefybarn · 19 Jun 2011 at 20:15

Well ive just used 3 of the Level 10GT cases in builds, 2 for clients and was so impressed one for myself. Its a simply awesome case.

Cleeecooo · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:05

beefybarn said:
Well ive just used 3 of the Level 10GT cases in builds, 2 for clients and was so impressed one for myself. Its a simply awesome case.

are they really that good?

Also, could you check your email please.

beefybarn · 19 Jun 2011 at 22:36

Yes they really are that good, they have been designed with care and everything is so easy. I know the looks are not for everyone but i went from the Lian Li in my sig to the Level 10GT and it is a great improvement.

andicole0 · 20 Jun 2011 at 11:52

I have to say I'm being swayed towards the Level 10 GT. If OCUK just make me an offer I may just get one. Mind you they do show up on some sites at £300 more than OCUK at the moment.

Andi.

lrlcr · 21 Jun 2011 at 12:50

The hafx is a great case. Excellent cable management.

Personally i didn't like the hot swap bays (or have enough sata connectors on my mb) so used my old icybox instead. It also bugs me that there isn't a backboard for the HDD cages so you still have to manually hook them up resulting in both side panels off if you want to swap out drives.

andicole0 · 21 Jun 2011 at 13:48

lrlcr said:
The hafx is a great case. Excellent cable management.

Personally i didn't like the hot swap bays (or have enough sata connectors on my mb) so used my old icybox instead. It also bugs me that there isn't a backboard for the HDD cages so you still have to manually hook them up resulting in both side panels off if you want to swap out drives.

I think you just wire up the 5 hot swap slots when you build the PC then put any disks you want into any removable slot. You can hot swap disks without taking any sides off with the Level 10 GT.

10 Sata ports on my motherboard.

Andi.

lrlcr · 21 Jun 2011 at 16:18

5 bays aren't enough for me... currently on 6 hdd, I should probably get a few more 2gig drives to bring it down to a sensible number.

5Tb is really a lot of storage...

andicole0 · 21 Jun 2011 at 17:30

lrlcr said:
5 bays aren't enough for me... currently on 6 hdd, I should probably get a few more 2gig drives to bring it down to a sensible number.

5Tb is really a lot of storage...

Yea, that'll fix it

Andi.

andicole0 · 22 Jun 2011 at 11:51

Level 10 GT has been ordered (from OCUK of course).

Andi.

andicole0 · 24 Jun 2011 at 17:49

Arrived safely and all installed with no problems, except a small water leak, well quite a big one really I forgot one of the blanking caps

water all over the PSU!! (luckily it was covered).

There is not a huge amount of room behind the motherboard panel for cable routing but it's OK.

Andi.