Top end case advice

abercromb

abercromb

abercromb

Associate
Joined
27 Aug 2009
Posts
67
Hi all

Back before Christmas I built my 1st rig. Using a Silver fortress FT01 with an i5, Corsair H50 and a then new 5870. Now I love the case, the positive airflow is great but the almost impossible to clean top filter is starting the be a real pain.

As I have been almost certainly bitten by the building bug now. I'm making plans for my next set up. Making plans for a new case to start things off.
I am in no rush, so things set to come out soon would be equaly attractive as stuff around now.

My criteria are:
Ease of access (room to build)
Detachable back plate for the mother board.
Positive air flow (or atleast a reason why something else is better)
Ease of cleaning filters
Solid build quality Aluminium if possible (don't want a pile of plastic)
Plenty of space for 2x 5870s!
Overal case size would be close to the Fortress Ft01 now, don't want a tiny case but unsure if I want something to dominate the side of my desk.
Budget between £100-£250, so no real budget limits if its right then its right.

Thanks in advance for any advice, links if possible would be great if thats allowed.
 
Lian Li are known for their build quality. I only have one of their budget cases but it's sill all aluminium.

Maybe the Corsair 800D. That has a detachable motherboard tray and acres of room with good cable management.
 
Fortress ft02 or hafx I'd get speaking as an ft01 owner myself.

Now the hafx is ugly but it does the job and the ft02 is just simply awesome if you ask me all done right fan filters done right.

However I run a 120mm fan up top as an exhaust in mine as seems to be no benefit at all running the 180mm fan as intake.
That way the top fan filter isn't an issue I leave it out.

The fortress ft02 is the best air cooling case out there imo in overall performance and styling, if styling isn't a criteria anymore I'd get the coolermaster HafX.
 
Last edited:
C64 said:
Fortress ft02 or hafx I'd get speaking as an ft01 owner myself.

Now the hafx is ugly but it does the job and the ft02 is just simply awesome if you ask me all done right fan filters done right.

However I run a 120mm fan up top as an exhaust in mine as seems to be no benefit at all running the 180mm fan as intake.
That way the top fan filter isn't an issue I leave it out.

The fortress ft02 is the best air cooling case out there imo in overall performance and styling, if styling isn't a criteria anymore I'd get the coolermaster HafX.
Click to expand...

Is the Fortress FT02 this one with the funny mobo placement? If so I heard that that there were cooling issues with GFX cards containing heatpipes as they don't work as well in the funny placement.
 
Vinni3 @H|H said:
Is the Fortress FT02 this one with the funny mobo placement? If so I heard that that there were cooling issues with GFX cards containing heatpipes as they don't work as well in the funny placement.
Click to expand...

Doubt that somehow where did you hear that ? seen plenty of people more than happy with the ft02 running sli or xfire gpu's.
 
abercromb said:
don't want a tiny case but unsure if I want something to dominate the side of my desk
Click to expand...
Well, it's hard to have space for components and working space in case if it's small.
Lian Li's PC-X serie ("X like eXpensive") cases are only cases which combine small footprint with decent inside space but those have again lots of height because all other parts are stacked above/below motherboard area for retaining space for longer expansion cards.
From this aspect FT02 is rather problematic because it literally needs space of E-ATX full tower but special layout gives gives just fair mid tower class inside space. All while Lian Li PC-A70 gives E-ATX space and more device bays for little smaller footprint.


C64 said:
if styling isn't a criteria anymore I'd get the coolermaster HafX.
Click to expand...
That's lot of plastic.
 
Lian li is good if you plan to build it and lea e it alone.
If you mod it lots then you will find a lian li to be flimsy.

It depends what you think is stylish, read some build logs to get a better idea of what case would suit your requirements.

I had the ft01 and hated that top panel too!
 
+1 for the FT02, best case ive ever owned, cooling is excellent, never has any dust inside it. Rotated mobo config causes no probs at all, good cable routing, everything a man could wish for :). Only thing is dont get it if you want a proper WC loop.

Hawker
 
Silverstone RV02 save £100 over an FT02 and put it to watercooling. Made out of steal and plastic its cheaper than the FTO2 but rock solid.

RVO2WC.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom