Large case suggestions?

[-Sylvan]

Okay, so I am building this new gaming rig.

It is going to consist of:
MSI Z68A-GD55 motherboard
Intel i52500k cpu
Noctua D14 cooler
Corsair CML8GX3M2A1600C9 8GB (2x4GB) Vengeance DDR3 (Low profile because of the size of the cooler)
Corsair TX-750 V2 Power Supply
& 2 of these ASUS Radeon HD6950 DirectCU II 1GB crossfire

I need suggestions on PC cases, I was going to go for the Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Case because of it's size, but it's pretty expensive.

Are there any other cases that will comfortably house my system for a cheaper price?

Thanks.

 

[AdrianPerry]

Well your only using a standard size ATX motherboard, not one of the huge E-ATX ones, so almost any mid-Tower ATX case will house your build. Just make sure inside the case there's enough room to fit the 6950 (most "gaming" cases make a point of displaying they can fit extra long video cards inside, but its always good to check first before buying).

HAF 912/Cooler Master Cases are always fairly popular.

 

[boiler1990]

The 6950, while long, isn't excessively long; I think the only extra long video cards are the 5970s, and other custom ones like the GTX4602Win (which I don't think anybody has bought).

The Antec 1200 unfortunately doesn't have as many features for the price as other full towers. What are you looking for pricewise?

 

[Outlander_04]

where will you be buying from ?

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Check out In Win's dragon rider, you'll definately fit the Asus beasts in there, might need the measurements for the cooler and I'll measure the side clearance for you, post back tomorrow for you cause I'm at work tonight
Moto

 

[g-unit1111]

You honestly cant go wrong with the Corsair Graphite 600T - I keep recommending this one because it's so damn good. It'll handle any fan, any cooling solution, any size graphics card, any motherboard (except maybe the EVGA Classified SR-2), anything you can throw at it. Drives are painless to install, and take seconds. It's wide enough to support the largest fans and heat sinks (yes, the D14 will fit), and you don't have to remove the motherboard to install new ones, and cables can be rerouted really easily.

 

[rwayne]

You may want to consider a HAF 922 case. It is classified as a midsize case and is priced accordingly however it has a full size interior.

Here is my HAF 922. Inside is an 11" inch ASUS HD 6870 Direct CU video card. (Yes, 11" whole inches. ASUS's website verifies this: http://usa.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6870_DC2DI2S1GD5/#specifications ) I have the power cables wrapped around the edge of it which probably adds an additional half an inch. As you can see there is plenty of vacancy between the end of the card and the hard drive cage.

However if price is no object I would say go with the Cooler Master ATCS 840 or the HAF-X. They are truly massive cases. The HAF-X is probably a little better in that it has arms built in to secure extra long video cards. However either one would do fine as would the HAF 922.

ATCS 840:
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=18&product_id=2870

HAF-X:
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=18&product_id=2988


I imagine the NZXT Phantom would be a good choice too for a more reasonable price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067

 

[g-unit1111]

If we're going Cooler Master, may I suggest the Cosmos S?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3716305&CatId=1856

 

[Outlander_04]

You honestly cant go wrong with the Corsair Graphite 600T - I keep recommending this one because it's so damn good. It'll handle any fan, any cooling solution, any size graphics card, any motherboard (except maybe the EVGA Classified SR-2), anything you can throw at it. Drives are painless to install, and take seconds. It's wide enough to support the largest fans and heat sinks (yes, the D14 will fit), and you don't have to remove the motherboard to install new ones, and cables can be rerouted really easily.

Its WAY expensive , and didnt even cool as well as its newer smaller 400 series budget little brother according to anandtech

 

[g-unit1111]

Its WAY expensive , and didnt even cool as well as its newer smaller 400 series budget little brother according to anandtech

Really? That's interesting. Can I get a link to the article?

 

[rwayne]

If we're going Cooler Master, may I suggest the Cosmos S?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3716305&CatId=1856

The Cosmo S is a great case however if you are interested in that type of a case you may want to hold off. September's Maximum PC Magazine Show Cases the new Cosmos II in their 2011 Dream Machine Cover Story. It is estimated Cooler Master will make an announcement about this case in October. (The link is provided below but the majority of the information is on page two.)

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/dream_machine_2011_how_we_created_best_pc_ever

It looks awesome!

 

[g-unit1111]

The Cosmo S is a great case however if you are interested in that type of a case you may want to hold off. September's Maximum PC Magazine Show Cases the new Cosmos II in their 2011 Dream Machine Cover Story. It is estimated Cooler Master will make an announcement about this case in October. (The link is provided below but the majority of the information is on page two.)

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/dream_machine_2011_how_we_created_best_pc_ever

It looks awesome!

Yeah I saw that article - that case looks amazing. When I get ready to do a new build (probably this time next year) I'm heavily considering it.

 

[rwayne]

Really? That's interesting. Can I get a link to the article?

Here is the AnandTech Article on the Corsair 400R cooling better than the Corsair 650D:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4690/corsair-carbide-400r-succeeding-in-reverse/1

The Thermal Benchmarks you are looking for are on pages 5 & 6

 

[DoomsWord89]

The FT02 and RV02 are probably the best "mass market" air cooling chasis.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128525

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163173

 

[boiler1990]

I love my RV02 - it's got a great design and works well with reference-style GPU coolers (external exhaust). I would've gotten the FT02 if I could have afforded it...

 

[Outlander_04]

Really? That's interesting. Can I get a link to the article?

The comparison is to the 650D and not the 600
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4690/corsair-carbide-400r-succeeding-in-reverse

but there is an older review of the 600T
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4028/corsair-graphite-series-600t-cool-and-quiet/5

and the thermals are worse than the 400

 

[AdrianPerry]

The 600T generally doesn't have any side fans, the only intake it has is the front fan which is why heat builds up. We're literally only talking like up to 5 degree's though, so its no reason NOT to buy it. Reviews have a habit of making things out to sound worse than they actually are. When you actually look at the figures, the differences are minor.

Personally I dislike the backwards-motherboard design of the SilverStone Raven, but again if your very temperature-concious its a good choice.

 

[-Sylvan]

The 6950, while long, isn't excessively long; I think the only extra long video cards are the 5970s, and other custom ones like the GTX4602Win (which I don't think anybody has bought).

The Antec 1200 unfortunately doesn't have as many features for the price as other full towers. What are you looking for pricewise?

Anything that can house my system, preferably cheaper than the Antec 1200

 

[-Sylvan]

You may want to consider a HAF 922 case. It is classified as a midsize case and is priced accordingly however it has a full size interior.

Here is my HAF 922. Inside is an 11" inch ASUS HD 6870 Direct CU video card. (Yes, 11" whole inches. ASUS's website verifies this: http://usa.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6870_DC2DI2S1GD5/#specifications ) I have the power cables wrapped around the edge of it which probably adds an additional half an inch. As you can see there is plenty of vacancy between the end of the card and the hard drive cage.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/Rwayne/DSC02044.jpg

However if price is no object I would say go with the Cooler Master ATCS 840 or the HAF-X. They are truly massive cases. The HAF-X is probably a little better in that it has arms built in to secure extra long video cards. However either one would do fine as would the HAF 922.

ATCS 840:
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=18&product_id=2870

HAF-X:
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=18&product_id=2988


I imagine the NZXT Phantom would be a good choice too for a more reasonable price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067

I am leaning towards the HAF-X, the HD 6950 is apparently 11.7 inches :lol:

You think it will still fit?

Also, how large is the space for the PSU, I don't want it to clash with the D14 cooler.

 

[-Sylvan]

Going with the HAF-X.
Thanks all.

 

[-Sylvan]

Best answer selected by -Sylvan.

 

[rwayne]

I am leaning towards the HAF-X, the HD 6950 is apparently 11.7 inches :lol:

You think it will still fit?

Also, how large is the space for the PSU, I don't want it to clash with the D14 cooler.

I think you will like the HAF-X. I helped a friend who used one for a build back in October 2010. The case is amazingly quiet. Especially with the components we picked.

You may want to check out this video review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWf47-UVXUE

Per the video there is 13.46" inches of clearance between the back of the case and the hard drive cage.