Best Case for 2600K New Build

[flong]

OK guys and gals, I'm taking the plunge and building my first computer - whew can you see the nervous sweat pouring off of my forehead . I've done a bunch of reading of case reviews and I still cannot find a "consensus" case that everyone agrees is the best for the money. Please offer all of those reading this thread the wisdom of your computer wiz experience.

Specs:

Mobo: Asus P8P67 deluxe
PSU: Corsair 850 HX
Video Card: ATI 6950 or GTX 570
HD: Samsung f3 1TB
SSD (waiting for Sandforce 3 to come out)

I'm not a big gamer and so one video card is sufficient. USB 3.0 integrated into the case is mandatory. The case being quiet is important. I just want to air cool everything - water cooling seems complicated to me right now. I don't care if the case is big or medium size. Price range $50 - $200. Case doesn't have to look spectacular - just work well and be high quality. It would be nice if it has quality components without sharp edges and is easy to work on.

I still don't understand the advantage of having hot swappable drives - I know what it is, I just don't understand how and why you guys use them. Maybe to replace a bad HD while a second one runs the computer????

OK, now that you know what I am looking for, hit me with your best shot.

Thanks in advance to you pros who will lend me the wisdom of your experience

 

[abully]

Hey beanoslim... i agree with ares about the cooling in corsairs... the corsairs put me off with their fan positioning as well as their fan sizes... it comes with just 3... the psu also cannot act an an extra exhaust... a side fan may have been helped... just think for a sec... every other case (i guess 4 out of 5) will have a side fan or at least a provision for one... the only major exception is fortress and raven which have a radical design which works... so is it to say that corsair is right and every other manufacturer is wrong??? i dont think so... corsair might have created a well built quality case but their cooling capability will definitely let them down...

 

[beanoslim]

Side fans do a good job of cooling gpu's but can also disrupt airflow in a case.

With the design of the 700D and 800D the air flows upwards, a side fan may not assist this flow.

These cases have won so many awards and editors choices etc and bar the 1 review that you showed me that had an issue with cooling it has only recieved praise. Yes the cooling isn't up there with the FT02 but then again what is apart from the R02, its hardly a fair comparison. The stock fans are adaquate but for high end systems an upgrade and additional fans is definately a considoration but it won't be the 1st case that benifits from a fan upgrade.

I don't think its about right and wrong, yes its different, yes it doesn't perform as well as the RV02 and FT02 but that doesn't mean its wrong and it doesn't mean its useless or a failure, so I'm with the countless reviews of praise I have read about these cases and I look forward to finding out for myself if I ever get one.

Just a few reviews and awards, there are so many to pick, you saying they are all wrong??

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1294/1/
http://www.guru3d.com/article/corsair-obsidian-800d-review-test/10
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1036/5/
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/22851-corsair-obsidian-800d-full-tower-case-video-review.html

 

[ares1214]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/09/23/corsair-graphite-600t-review/2

Cooling Review...practically the bottom of the list. It won those reviews for being such a good design. Its no good IMO because of this cooling.

 

[beanoslim]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/09/23/corsair-graphite-600t-review/2

Cooling Review...practically the bottom of the list. It won those reviews for being such a good design. Its no good IMO because of this cooling.

Mate your not even talking about the same cases I am.

I am talking about the Corsair Obsidian range!!

 

[belltollsforthee]

I think that the CM 942 HAF (the upgrade of the HAF 932) may be the best choice for the following reasons:

1. It is widely acknowledged to be either the best or in the top three for air cooling and I do not want to mess with water cooling on my first build. In general water and electronics is not a good idea for an inexperience builder and I do plan to overclock my 2600
2. It is available for less than $200.00 right now and comes with USB 3.0 in the front panel ($180 at Newegg with $20.00 rebate)
3. It is widely acknowledged as one of the better quality cases. It is not supposed to have sharp edges and poor quality components
4. It is widely acknowledged as one of the best cases to build in and with the exception of mobo access for the cpu cooler (the slot to access aftermarket coolers is too small) well thought out and organized. Most reviewers praise it's toolless
construction
5. Both 3.5" and 5.25" kits are available to install a card reader and the Asus Deluxe USB 3.0 panel if necessary.

I have reviewed every recommended case that has been suggested. Thank you for all your suggestions.

I also am still studying lian li cases and I frankly do not understand their model numbers and their availability is spotty even at Newegg. However, they are reputed to be may the best quality cases by many who have owned them. What do you guys think of this case: http://www.amazon.com/Lian-Li-PC-7FNWX-Interior-Window/dp/B003VFS5P8/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1295166522&sr=8-9 it is $179 plus shipping.

Well, if your fine with the HAF X looks then go with it, its pretty hard to beat.

But just in case here is a site for LIAN LI, cuz they are from Taiwan and their cases are hard to get here in north america; got to find resellers.

http://www.silverpcs.com/index.php?cPath=2_38_93&osCsid=b923a5e733c6a19d237355679014b098


these are some of the ones that work for me:
http://www.silverpcs.com/product_info.php?products_id=585&osCsid=b923a5e733c6a19d237355679014b098
http://www.silverpcs.com/product_info.php?products_id=634&osCsid=b923a5e733c6a19d237355679014b098
http://www.silverpcs.com/product_info.php?products_id=651&osCsid=b923a5e733c6a19d237355679014b098
http://www.silverpcs.com/product_info.php?products_id=633&osCsid=b923a5e733c6a19d237355679014b098
which ever one you get its fine, but well, if you dont hate the HAF X then maybe you should just get that.
- i dont like the window, i like the shape but its basically useless since it don't show hardware just drive bays; the ugliest part of the build except the back with all the wires. i also dont like that the power and harddrive activity LEDs are blue and dont match with the rest of the case, common! little things like that would bug me and they show the care that they took in dev of the case.

 

[ares1214]

Mate your not even talking about the same cases I am.

I am talking about the Corsair Obsidian range!!

Obsidian has even worse air cooling!

Moving on to Load testing things didn't get better they got a lot worse, the GPU's again suffering the most with the 922 coming in at 68/70c the Corsair was running at an egg cooking 85c on both the GPU's. The CPU was much the same, the 922 ran at 58c but the Corsair struggling to keep it at 75c. Even the motherboard was running a whole 8c hotter.
This would normally be the point Id move on to the conclusion and say that this case has terrible airflow, but as many of us do like to make changes to upgrade performance. I'm pretty sure that the problem with the temperatures is just airflow, because the fans that are shipped with the case are just too quiet and move next to no air.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cases_cooling/corsair_obsidian_800d/6

 

[beanoslim]

Hmmm I wonder if you even read my previous post.

Try reading some of the other reviews I posted, nothing ever gets 100% praise from every review but when I can produce 5 reputable reviews that don't highlight any cooling problems and all I see is one negative review that clearly used stock fans with hot components then I'm still with the majority. I have read the review you posted and they also said that the problems were with the fans not the design hence my previous post about a possible upgrade.

If you could show me how you can state that the Obsidian has worse cooling than the 600T I would be very interested to read such a damning statement.

Anyways, I'm bored of flogging this horse, if we all agreed about everything it would be a boring old Forum.

 

[ares1214]

Hmmm I wonder if you even read my previous post.

Try reading some of the other reviews I posted, nothing ever gets 100% praise from every review but when I can produce 5 reputable reviews that don't highlight any cooling problems and all I see is one negative review that clearly used stock fans with hot components then I'm still with the majority. I have read the review you posted and they also said that the problems were with the fans not the design hence my previous post about a possible upgrade.

If you could show me how you can state that the Obsidian has worse cooling than the 600T I would be very interested to read such a damning statement.

Anyways, I'm bored of flogging this horse, if we all agreed about everything it would be a boring old Forum.

Neither the Obsidian or Graphite's have good cooling. Thats what i said before. I show the 600T getting beat by just about everything, and the 800D getting beat considerably by the HAF 922, which isnt even as good as the HAF X & others. You are arguing they get good reviews and what not. They are perfectly designed cases, and very appealing, but, as ive been saying, they have very poor cooling.

 

[beanoslim]

So you are indeed saying that Guru, Hardwarecanucks, Bit Tech, Hardware Heaven. Legit Reviews etc etc are all wrong and you are right.

I'm not just saying they look good and are well designed I am saying that these reviews also claim they have very good cooling.

You don't agree....fine [:bohleyk:1]

 

[ares1214]

So you are indeed saying that Guru, Hardwarecanucks, Bit Tech, Hardware Heaven. Legit Reviews etc etc are all wrong and you are right.

I'm not just saying they look good and are well designed I am saying that these reviews also claim they have very good cooling.

You don't agree....fine [:bohleyk:1]

Well thats certainly interesting...all 4 of those reviews have no section to even see cooling, nor any mention of testing it themselves...hmmm....

 

[beanoslim]

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1791&pageID=8450

Corsair Obsidian 800D: Conclusion
The corsair Obsidian 800d doesn't have any big weaknesses and offers a lot of detail solutions. A water cooling system and an army of hard drives aren't a problem either. The cooling performance is good and the possibility to put cables out of sight shouldn't make only modders happy. Therefore the Corsair Obsidian 800D receives our Top Product Award.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cases/display/coolermaster-corsair-lianli_9.html

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=19661&page=5

Getting bored. [:beanoslim]

 

[ares1214]

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1791&pageID=8450
http://www.bjorn3d.com/Material/revimages/case/obsidian800d/temp_idle.gif

http://www.bjorn3d.com/Material/revimages/case/obsidian800d/temp_high.gif

Corsair Obsidian 800D: Conclusion
The corsair Obsidian 800d doesn't have any big weaknesses and offers a lot of detail solutions. A water cooling system and an army of hard drives aren't a problem either. The cooling performance is good and the possibility to put cables out of sight shouldn't make only modders happy. Therefore the Corsair Obsidian 800D receives our Top Product Award.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cases/display/coolermaster-corsair-lianli_9.html

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=19661&page=5

Getting bored. [:beanoslim]

I find it funny how my review says the 922 beats the 800D, yours says the 800D is even with or beats the 922, then one review says it beats the FT02, and the other says it loses to it...well that makes sense. Fact stands, its cooling is not AS good as cases $100 cheaper.

 

[belltollsforthee]

You guys are forgetting that hardware and cable management has a huge affect on temps, unless they were using the exact same hardware then i wouldn't pay too much attention to these charts, they are more of a general idea, not exact science.

 

[flong]

One other consideration tilted my decision to buy the CM 942 is that the case is quiet. The Bit-Tech review said it was the quietest air-cooled case that was highly rated. It was quieter than the Silverstone Ft102 and the DF85. At $180.00 with free shipping it offers the best bang for the buck right now. That may change. It is a tried case and the 942 improves on the very successful 932 design. The 942 is quieter than the 932 and that case is praised for its great sound control. I would consider the Silverstone but it is nearly $100.00 more (with shipping) as is the Corsair 800 series.

It appears that if you are looking for the quietest best cooling cases, the CM 932 and 942 are the best choices. Other cases have other strengths and I will consider them in the future.

The lian li cases and the Silverstone and Corsair cases fascinate me and for my next build I will be looking closely at these cases.

I like the look of the CM 942 but I would have preferred the Silverstone or Corsair look over the CM look.

My deep thanks to all of you who contributed to this thread. Your real-world experience helped me sort through the choices to find the best case for my needs. You guys are great . Cases are particularly hard to preview without some hands-on experience.

 

[beanoslim]

I find it funny how my review says the 922 beats the 800D, yours says the 800D is even with or beats the 922, then one review says it beats the FT02, and the other says it loses to it...well that makes sense. Fact stands, its cooling is not AS good as cases $100 cheaper.

Seems that you have looked at one negative review and taken it as gospel, when on the other hand I have read about 8 or so and realised that it isn't a ground breaking ice cooling case but that it is wrong to say the cooling is pants.

The fact stands that if I brought an Antec 300 and filled it up with 100CFM Yate Loons it would perform better than a lot of more expensive cases. It is also true to say the stock fans supplied aren't the greatest but I think it is also fair to say that with a little adjustment the case can become a very capable cooling unit and not as poor as you make out.

@Flong, nice case the 942, personally if I was going CM then I'd have picked the HAF-X for the same money $179 with free shipping at Newegg. Your right about the other cases, they are very expensive and the simple design doesn't appeal to everyone especially some hard core gamers that want the razzle dazzle case look.