Quality case

Gwyn · 6 Nov 2011 at 09:32

Hi guys

Im building a new gaming pc for a mate soon and I cant decide on the case. Iv got a Corair 650D and I love the build quality, cable management and clean look, however I dont like the front 200mm fan. If I change the fan to a better one, I will loose some HDD space and my mate runs a lot HDD.

So Im looking for mid case which has the good points of the corsair but with 120mm front fans.

Budget is £150, Any suggestions?

ChrisD. · 6 Nov 2011 at 09:56

Could he stretch to the Fortress 2?

Gwyn · 6 Nov 2011 at 10:26

Wow thats a strange layout. gets great reviews though.
I dont think he will stretch much over £150 and im trying to stay away from cases with odd fan sizes. The 650D was said to be silent, but its not at all. Iv had to change fans and put in a fan controller.
Whats the fortress 1 like?

ChrisD. · 6 Nov 2011 at 10:48

Not sure. Why are you concerned about odd sized fans? The ones in the FT02 do not need changing, they are superb and very quiet. I would say get the Raven but it has limited HDD storage - 3 I think versus 5 + SSD or the FT02.

Gwyn · 6 Nov 2011 at 11:00

The issue I have with add sizes is that your limited if they need changing.
The FT02 iS just a bit to expensive.

ChrisD. · 6 Nov 2011 at 11:15

How many HDDs does he have?

Jay794 · 6 Nov 2011 at 11:17

HAF 922 or HAF X, size dependant

Gwyn · 6 Nov 2011 at 12:09

MilanoChris said:
How many HDDs does he have?

not sure yet. He uses it for work as well.
Roughly 1 SSD and about 4 possibly more HHD

Gwyn · 6 Nov 2011 at 12:11

Jay794 said:
HAF 922 or HAF X, size dependant

I looked at the HAF, just want a cleaner look

ChrisD. · 6 Nov 2011 at 14:05

Lian Li PC-V1020B?

Gwyn · 7 Nov 2011 at 11:57

My mate has already got a Lian-Li and isnt keen on it, he would rather go with somthing different

pgi947 · 7 Nov 2011 at 12:59

500R? Clean build, put what fans you like in it, plenty hdd room and cheaper than a 650d...

On the other hand you could just get a 650d and mod it.

Gwyn · 7 Nov 2011 at 13:29

pgi947 said:
500R? Clean build, put what fans you like in it, plenty hdd room and cheaper than a 650d...

On the other hand you could just get a 650d and mod it.

i have been looking at the 500r, just a shame its got so many vents, like the on the side cover.
Iv got a 650d myself and the fans are very poor. Iv just ordered a cm megaflow and see if thats better. If its good I might go down the route.

Cheers for your reply

Gwyn · 7 Nov 2011 at 13:47

pgi947 said:
500R? Clean build, put what fans you like in it, plenty hdd room and cheaper than a 650d...

On the other hand you could just get a 650d and mod it.

I just noticed that you have the 500r. What fan config do you use and whats the noise level like?

Apem · 7 Nov 2011 at 14:43

Gwyn said:
Wow thats a strange layout. gets great reviews though.
I dont think he will stretch much over £150 and im trying to stay away from cases with odd fan sizes. The 650D was said to be silent, but its not at all. Iv had to change fans and put in a fan controller.
Whats the fortress 1 like?

Fortress 1 is a decent case but has a stupid layout for the top filter you have to remove all your hardware and the fan to get the filter out at the top.

pgi947 · 7 Nov 2011 at 15:15

I have 2 120mm stock intakes, h80 in the back with 2 vipers on intake, 2 120mm xigmatek white crystals up top for exhaust and the stock 200mm on the side intake but that's getting replaced with a megaflow soon. Ill be changing all of the 120mm case fans soon, one of the xigmateks has developed a whine and the front 2 don't play nice with my fc5 (no led?).

The noise levels are fantastic the only fan I can hear is the whine from the xigmatek, airflow is incredible.

I would think a window would be easily fitted, the side mesh just clips in like on the 600T so a cut peice of window would fit in easy enough. I wouldn't be surprised to see corsair release an se edition with a window tbh

Gwyn · 7 Nov 2011 at 15:24

Thanks for your reply. very interesting. how is the 200mm powered? So the stock fans are quiet, thats great news.

spenncerr · 7 Nov 2011 at 16:32

You sure are fussy.

pgi947 · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:33

200mm is powered by a 3pin connector, though its corsairs own strange shape of 3pin, I had to shave a little off the centre nipple on the connector to get them to fit nicely (without bending anything) into my fan controller.

All in all the stock fans are pretty much silent, as I said there is a whine and its coming from one of the fans I have fitted, so at some point soon I'll be swapping out all of the fans just to suit me, the stock fans will make a good backup

Gwyn · 7 Nov 2011 at 19:55

pgi947 said:
200mm is powered by a 3pin connector, though its corsairs own strange shape of 3pin, I had to shave a little off the centre nipple on the connector to get them to fit nicely (without bending anything) into my fan controller.

All in all the stock fans are pretty much silent, as I said there is a whine and its coming from one of the fans I have fitted, so at some point soon I'll be swapping out all of the fans just to suit me, the stock fans will make a good backup

Thanks for your help, very useful info.