PC-V1000 vs PC7 vs Tai-Chi Liquid Cooled

sprognak · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:02

PC-V1000 vs PC7 (Tai-Chi Liquid Cooled - eliminated)

I've narrowed it down to three cases.

It will be one of these cases.

V1000 - £109 + VAT
PC7 - £48.99 + VAT
V5001SNA - £184.99 + VAT

V1000 - I've seen some higher res photos and while not my first choice of styling, I do very much like the lower PSU higher mainboard layout. If it was standard with the windowed panel it might be a convincer. For air cooling, I can't help feeling this might be a good system with water potential.

PC7 - Looks good enough. Not stupidly overpriced. In fact this price would allow me to get the windowed panel and some "eyecandy" front docks/temperature monitor. Can't really see watercooling working in the long run as it'll only take a single 120mm Rad internally and my 8800GTX - will it fit?

V5001SNA - Has watercooling built in and despite the flames it often gets, reviews say it performs as well as any other pre-built WC setup. Downside? It's frickin massive. Just how massive I don't know, but my wife baulked 4 years ago when my Chieftec Scorpio arrived so my manhood may be safer without this case....

Sorry to ask this yet again, but I really need feedback here.

sprognak · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:26

After a lot of thinking, I'm eliminating the V5001SNA. Something just doesn't feel right and I guess over time I'd rather build up my own watercooled setup...

So PC7 or V1000?

jellybeard999 · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:28

Cant beat the PC7 for the price, V1000 is good, but depends if you can justify the extra.

V1000 is better built, more modern looking (imo) and has a few fancy features (nice side panel system) and comes with the stealth bezels

PC7 is a VERY solid, no frills case, albeit nice looking, in a classic, smart sort of way.

Cant go wrong with either IMO.

May get blasted for saying this, but I have had hands on looks at thermaltake cases from Xaser to the Armour/Tai Chi ... and not much has changed tbh. Still plasticky and gimmicky.

The watercooling in the TT case WONT be vastly better than nice quiet air cooling, not enough to give higher overclocks etc at least.

Messiah Khan · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:33

My vote goes with the v1000. The pc7 is a very good case, but is an entry level 'good quality' case, whereas the v1000 is firmly into the land of great cases. Its a classic case, likely to last many builds and retain its value if looked after well. Ive got a v2000 and I can't fault it on many points at all. At first I wasn't too keen on the styling either, but it grows on you. If you really don't like the styling have you looked at the Lian Li pc-101?

sprognak · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:34

Bear in mind the following:

Cooling will be from a Scythe Ninja Rev.B (this is what has been most highly recommended).
Possibly going to Watercooling 120.2 next year.
GeForce 8800GTX needs to fit.
Corsair 620W Modular is the powering beast.
Gigabyte DS4 motherboard

It needs to:

1. Be well cooled.
2. Be quiet.

Which would you recommend and why?

sprognak · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:35

messiah khan said:
My vote goes with the v1000. The pc7 is a very good case, but is an entry level 'good quality' case, whereas the v1000 is firmly into the land of great cases. Its a classic case, likely to last many builds and retain its value if looked after well. Ive got a v2000 and I can't fault it on many points at all. At first I wasn't too keen on the styling either, but it grows on you. If you really don't like the styling have you looked at the Lian Li pc-101?

101 is out of stock. Has to be bought today. Don't ask why, it's complicated!

Messiah Khan · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:38

sprognak said:
Bear in mind the following:

Cooling will be from a Scythe Ninja Rev.B (this is what has been most highly recommended).
Possibly going to Watercooling 120.2 next year.
GeForce 8800GTX needs to fit.
Corsair 620W Modular is the powering beast.
Gigabyte DS4 motherboard

It needs to:

1. Be well cooled.
2. Be quiet.

Which would you recommend and why?

Still v1000. But bare in mind that you might need to remove one of the harddrive racks to fit the modular PSU

sprognak said:
101 is out of stock. Has to be bought today. Don't ask why, it's complicated!

You can't say that as it leads to one thing.... why?

sprognak · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:51

Well some of the PC I'm ordering has had to be ordered *cough* elsewhere and it arrives tomorrow.

That and it's a business purchase and needs to go in before the month end...

normski · 28 Nov 2006 at 16:29

Have you looked at the V1200 as well, has more depth (same as the V2000 but without the height) thus eradicates any worries about the modular PSU not fiiting without removing a hard drive bay, plus leaves you more room for later if you want to water cool (just get the v2000, you know you want to.)

sprognak · 28 Nov 2006 at 16:45

normski said:
Have you looked at the V1200 as well, has more depth (same as the V2000 but without the height) thus eradicates any worries about the modular PSU not fiiting without removing a hard drive bay, plus leaves you more room for later if you want to water cool (just get the v2000, you know you want to.)

Ordered the V1000 just after lunch. The V1200 isn't stocked by OCUK and I am already going to two suppliers, cba messing around with a third!

The V2000 is just too big.