Best Case for 2600K New Build

flong

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2010
1,106
0
19,310
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
 

mrhoshos96

Distinguished
Jan 16, 2010
779
0
19,160
You don't need an 850w psu for a single card setup but it would cover you if you decided to get another.

A good 600-650w would be plenty for a single card setup.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088

HAF-X - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=haf-x

RV02 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=rv02
 

abully

Distinguished
Sep 7, 2010
573
1
19,065
i thought about the silverstone's but they dont have usb3.0... so taking your required specs the best i can come across is the following

Full Tower choices in order
1. CM Haf X
2. Antec DF85
3. Lian Li PC-A77F
New case - Rosewill THOR (no idea on its quality and build but has almost all options you are looking for)

Mid Tower choices in order
1. Lian-Li PC-8FU
2. Thermaltake V9 BlacX Edition
3. Corsair 600T
CM Haf 912 advanced (if you can get one since its for asian market only)

As beanoslim said no need for 850 for your current spec... around 500-600W good quality psu should be sufficient... and you could always go for 2 X 460 GTX... not much price difference (less than $100) when compared to a standalone 470 and better performance than a standalone 480...

Edit - i just noticed you said one gpu is enough so scratch the last part...
 
Geez....same question being asked alot of late. I copied this from a post I made in another thread.

I have built boxes using the 1200, 932, HAF-X and DF-85 .... the HAF-X replaces the 932; the DF-85 replaces the 1200.

I like all the new features added to the HAF-X .... I don't like some of the features that stayed.

The DF-85 greatly improves on the 1200 however . The time to take out / replace air filters for example on the DF-85 takes seconds compared to minutes on the 1200 (HAF doesn't have air filters). The hot swap 2.5" bay on top of the DF-85 just rocks for taking data from one PC to another. And the DF retains all the nice fan speed controls of the 1200. Finally I prefer the sturdinees of the DF as compared to the "loosey goosey" tool less features of the HAF series. Finally, the DF still fits CPX form factor PSU's making for a quieter computing experience.

1st choice - Antec DF-85 w/ CP-850 is $270
2nd choice - HAF-X w/ XFX Black 850 is $310 (Corsair HX850 is another choice but it's $40 more
 

belltollsforthee

Distinguished
Jul 22, 2010
181
0
18,690


I second that! both great PSUs and cases
 

flong

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2010
1,106
0
19,310
Thanks guys, some really good suggestion here - I am studying them. I got the Corsair power supply for $125.00 on sale and so that is why I went with the 850 HX (plus it is rated highly). Concerning the comments that a lot of people asking about the best case - reading the reviews for cases is a can of worms. It is difficult without actually buying and trying a case to gauge the quality, the cooling performance, the ease use, reliability and the form factor. Several comments in this thread are from people who have already purchased and used several of the best cases available and people who read this thread can benefit from that first-hand experience of experienced builders. Comparing card reviews or PSU reviews or CPU reviews is much easier than reviewing cases. That is why the question keeps popping up. The experts on this forum bring real-world insight to less experienced computer users.

I have another question, does the case I select have to be compatible (from the manufacturer) with the Intel 2600K Asus Mobo? I am sorry if this is a dumb question but many of the case reviews say "ATX 58 compatible." Can almost any case be used with the new 2600K motherboards?
 

belltollsforthee

Distinguished
Jul 22, 2010
181
0
18,690
as long as your motherboard is an ATX motherboard then look for a case that is specified for a ATX size motherboard. Most are, and if Micro ATX or mATX then make sure that your case can fit micro ATX, even more cases support these boards.

should be easy and if you dont know how to find it by looking at the cases' specs or manufacture website then just ask here and most anyone would be willing to help.

I have heard that HX line had been switched to a different manufacture from seasonic to cwt (i think) leading to poorer quality PSUs. A dirty trick to save money. I would have gone with the XFX 850 made by seasonic or an original model of the HX from seasonic but the cwt PSU should get the job done.
 
All the cases here will take an ATX board.

Thing is when you are looking at quality cases like HAF-X/Antec 900/Corsair etc they are all quality units.

Don't forget you have to look at this thing every day so pick the one you like the look of best.

I doubt you'll be dissapointed with any of the features and spec they supply.

I think you'll be fine with the HX850 http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=153
 

flong

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2010
1,106
0
19,310
Thank you very much for explaining so succinctly the difference in atx boards. Though I have an engineering degree it is not in computers and frankly, self-educating yourself on how to build a computer is not a cake walk even with the internet. You cleverly explained in one paragraph what takes Wickipedia 8 pages to say.

I am thinking seriously about the black Corsair 600T (the white is too flashy for me). It seems to be a very high quality, well built, has USB 3.0 and has a lot of the best features. The only downside is that it wasn't the best at cooling - that may be because additional fans are needed.
 

flong

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2010
1,106
0
19,310
Hey Guys - the Corsair 600T is on sale at Newegg for $145 after rebate and free shipping. The Antec 900 is on sale for $80 after a $20 rebate with $6.00 for shipping. My question is can I install the USB 3.0 bar that comes with the unit in a 5.25 inch bay in the Antec 900? It would seem that is what the 3.0 bar is designed for.

The Antec is rated very high and it is cheap at $86
 
I think the extra fans make the 600T pretty cool, I'm with you on the white version.

I thought the usb3 box was fitted to the 3.5" floppy bay, maybe not?

Either way it fits in any 5.25 or 3.5 inch case bay.

The 900 is cheaper because th 902 has been realeased, the 900 is still a good case, especially at that price.

Personally I'd take the 600T out of the 2 but then it is is nearly twice the price, I'm waiting for the 650D.
 

belltollsforthee

Distinguished
Jul 22, 2010
181
0
18,690



What i suggest is the HAF 932 BLACK edition. If your not into side windows then maybe HAF 922/912. I personally dont like the style of the HAF series some days and other i do, but their airflow is unquestionable.

Now, one that gets great airflow but seems like it wouldn't is the NZXT Phantom. crazy i know but i seen test where its only beaten out by the DF-85 for airflow and that is by less then one degree.

Hey! theres another one to look at DF-85 or that series.

Personally i like the looks of Lancool's offerings best

but here are some links *no particular order* :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087&cm_re=df-85-_-11-129-087-_-Product df-85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119230&cm_re=haf_932_black-_-11-119-230-_-Product haf 932 black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146068&cm_re=nzxt_phantom-_-11-146-068-_-Product NZXT phantom (comes also in white and red)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112239&Tpk=lancool%20pc-k62 Lancool PC-K62

thats what you want to be looking at unless you can afford the HAF-X or Lian Li PC-P50 or LIAN LI PC-A77F; but thats what i like.
 

flong

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2010
1,106
0
19,310
The HAF 932 is an amazing case and had the best cooling of any cases in the Overclocker's review I read. However it does not have USB 3.0 in the front ports and it only has one 3.5" bay. I need two, one for the Asus deluxe USB 3.0 panel and one for a card reader. Still, it is a great case. It has over 1700 reviews on Newegg which tells you it is a popular choice.