Okay, sorry for the length message but...
Looking to get this case by the end of the year once big navi/ryzen4000 are out to figure out the best bang for buck.
choice is either get the fractal design era with a 120mm aio on the cpu, and a 120mm aio on the gpu and mod the bottom for two 140mm intake fans, OR this case which seems the better option for price, especially the non TG one. Also far more cooling potential from this.
Really i just need some community knowledge for rad/aio/fan support. I will be limited to asetek rads for the gpu(assuming that's what the new g12 from nzxt will be limited to again, makes sense since their gpus use asetek anyway) Are the rad supports ONLY on the bottom, rear92mm, and side? or can the top actually fit anything? Also if i mount a 240mm rad on the side closest to the front of the case, is the rear 92mm rad space still able to be used, or does the side cover actually block a 35mm thick 92mm rad from being able to be placed there then with the 92mm fan on the outside? that should fit, i just obviously can't tell, but that wouldn't really bother me having a fan on the outside pulling air out.
I know people say AIO is overkill for an itx build but I want to heavily OC either a big navi gpu or if a 3070 is still better then do whatever is best and either a 10600k @ 5ghz (if it's better at gaming than ryzen 4000) but the issue I have is if a 92mm rad would be enough to keep the gpu cool or if the 92mm is enough to keep the cpu cool? Since the era itx case has no visibility inside the case the non TG nr200 appeals to me and i don't care what it looks like inside, i'll just use rgb strips on the underside of the case if i feel it's too bland.
currently got a 240mm cryorig a40+ on a 6600k and never goes above 48'c at 4.5ghz 1.21v, but i will sell the entire rig so i'm going for all new stuff. or i keep the a40+ (it's thick so wonder how much clearance the side panel has up to the pump, however, it also has a 92mm fan on the pump block,but i can remove it, though i like the vrm cooling) but then it depends if a 92mm rad CAN fit in the back and if it's enough for the cpu/gpu. OCUK have the 92mm in abundance with noctua fans, so that won't be an issue to get. It's mostly compatibility for rads/fans and clearance since CM don't really provide full specs of clearance.
OR a final thing I could do(And what I think would be the best) is stick a 240mm rad on the bottom, get two slim 120mm fans and stick them on the outside pulling air out like the 12mm scythes. The only reason CM say vertiacal gpu for a bottom rad is they take into account the fans 25mm size with the rad housed inside, but if that 25mm is reduced to just the rad of say 27-30mm surely it would fit since a g12(nzxt said they will update a new model to fit the rtx 3000 cards)would only be about 2 slots at most which is smaller than 2.5 slot card since it is 32mm thick, then say 8-15mm max for the rest of the card is under 2.5 slots so the rad should fit. Then I can put a 240mm rad on the side with two 120mm fans in pull or push config pushing air out, have a 92mm fan pulling air in/out two top 120mm fans intaking? big navi/3070 with a g12 or new gpu aio mount would make it dual slot, so a 30mm x53 kraken might fit. Otherwise a thermaltake water 3.0 240 has a 27mm rad which may fit if a 30mm x53 won't.
Of course I can figure out the bottom rad support at a later date when I know if a g12, or a new model will fit the newer cards, but having any knowledge beforehand means I can plan for what parts i buy to start with, I can keep the gpu on air until then. And no, i won't do a custom loop as I am too lazy to flush and rewater it every year. This is the easiest way to get nice temps and keep airflow good allowing the best i can get from what i will use. Air cooling has no appeal to me since this cannot fit a dh-15 in anyway and I want a 10600k@5ghz, or a highly clocked 4600/x if that's what they're called.
