Question PC case recommendation for Arctic LF II 420 ?

[eljoantonyn]

Hello from the UK!
I'm starting my PC upgrade in time for the AMD 9xxx CPUs and already got the Arctic LF 420. Now looking for a case to house it. I would like it to have good cooling performance (even for RAMs as I'm gonna OC the RAM). Next is lightness as I could be moving around twice every year for job purposes which means rough handling.
For example, if it's full of glass, I'm not sure it can survive?
Next is, of course, cost!

I love the CTE series from Thermaltake (CTE C600, C700, C750 etc) but they are very heavy (>16Kgs). Any other recommendations which don't skimp on the cooling performance?

BTW, the CPU could be the R9 9850 and the graphics card would be the upcoming 4080 Super.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Phaaze88]

Fractal Design Meshify 2?

After that, you're going to have to take some compromises in regards to weight, has a glass panel(s), and even radiator options(some cases only support a 420mm at the front, which is unpopular for various reasons).

 

[eljoantonyn]

Fractal Design Meshify 2?

After that, you're going to have to take some compromises in regards to weight, has a glass panel(s), and even radiator options(some cases only support a 420mm at the front, which is unpopular for various reasons).

Would the GPU get enough air?
I mean many cases have bottom intakes with the power supply on top or the side of the case.

BTW, my current case is the beQuiet Purebase 500 DX which has a glass side panel which is OK (survived 3 house changes already!). Maybe I need to reconsider glass cases?

 

[Phaaze88]

Would the GPU get enough air?

What do you mean? That shouldn't be a problem in the Meshify 2.

I mean many cases have bottom intakes with the power supply on top or the side of the case.

Many cases with bottom fan options have short feet, which cuts the amount of air that can come through that way, plus the bottom filter needs to be cleaned more frequently than others, or air intake gets reduced further.

BTW, my current case is the beQuiet Purebase 500 DX which has a glass side panel which is OK (survived 3 house changes already!). Maybe I need to reconsider glass cases?

Well, you mentioned 'rough handling' in your initial post, so I opted to not look around for glass cases.

 

[thestryker]

I honestly don't think you're going to do better than the Meshify 2 unless you drop your weight concern.

 

[eljoantonyn]

What do you mean? That shouldn't be a problem in the Meshify 2.



Many cases with bottom fan options have short feet, which cuts the amount of air that can come through that way, plus the bottom filter needs to be cleaned more frequently than others, or air intake gets reduced further.



Well, you mentioned 'rough handling' in your initial post, so I opted to not look around for glass cases.

I agree with you regarding the short feet and dust blocking the bottom filter.

Regarding the less glass part, I move a lot. Sometimes catch flights which means 23kg weight limit per checked bags and rough handling. That's why I said that.

 

[eljoantonyn]

I honestly don't think you're going to do better than the Meshify 2 unless you drop your weight concern.

What about Fractal Torrent?

I checked partspicker and there are a lot of people who put the LF 420 in a Torrent.

 

[thestryker]

What about Fractal Torrent?

I checked partspicker and there are a lot of people who put the LF 420 in a Torrent.

The Torrent is designed around air cooling hence the very good 180mm fans in the front. Installing the LFII 420 in the bottom would be asking for pump troubles so you'd be removing the selling point of the case to install the radiator in the front.

edit: Just a note regarding weight a high end air cooler would weigh about half what the AIO you got does.

 

[ilukey77]

can 100% assure you a 420mm arctic freezer 2 will fit in a thermal take ceres 500 its a tight fit and you need to leave the bottom 2 fan screws off and remove the extra hard drive caddies (really a non issue its still works fine ) ..

I have used the ceres 500 with the 420mm front mounted ( only way ) with a 7600x while i waited for the 7800x3d then changed the case ( ive got issues when it comes to changing cases )

The ceres 500 can be had in white and black a LCD display is optional and the case its self is classed as a mid tower ..

fractal define 7 ( mid tower one) states it can fit a 420mm but the arctic is a bigger rad but it does not hence the return to the store ..

There are not many mid towers that support a LFII 420mm unless you go full tower !!

 

[Phaaze88]

Regarding the less glass part, I move a lot. Sometimes catch flights which means 23kg weight limit per checked bags and rough handling. That's why I said that.

Yes, and I figured it'd be safer to look at case models that have metal side panel options, because, even though you posted:
"BTW, my current case is the beQuiet Purebase 500 DX which has a glass side panel which is OK (survived 3 house changes already!).", crap can just happen sometimes, and suddenly, shattered glass on the floor...

What about Fractal Torrent?

I checked partspicker and there are a lot of people who put the LF 420 in a Torrent.

To those folks, I say, "What the heck..."
I considered that case while also looking around in PCpartpicker, as its weight is close to the Meshify 2's, but gave it a pass, because, while it supports radiators, I think that defeats part of the purpose of even getting this case. It's also going to be awkward whether an AIO rad is installed at the front, or bottom.
Bottom: works fine if the case feet are elevated, and with specific AIOs, namely from Alphacool. Theirs is the only ones I know of that put a window in the cpu block so the user can monitor the fluid level, and the impeller is positioned away from the top of the block so it doesn't run dry. They're also refillable. Why no other brand put a window in their models, I've no bloody clue, but it's genius.

Front: The nice 180mm fans are already there, why move them... they'll bring in fresh air, and probably more of it than the AIO - once either unit is personally tuned for comfort.


Already having that huge LF II 420 really screwed with your case options...

 

[eljoantonyn]

Well, I just can't seem to make myself 'like' the cases with the bottom PSU which blocks bottom fan mounting slots. Seems like I have an OCD lol

To be brutally honest, I just hate the currently available PC cases!
I was actually in the middle of designing a PC case when I decided to move to the UK. Wish I had gone ahead with the design as I had the industry contacts (sheet metal cutting and forming) to realise it.

BTW I found some interesting cases and the Deepcool Morpheus was the best at first glance. But the lack of attention to detail is plain to see. Does anyone have any experience with it?

https://www.deepcool.com/products/C...odular-High-Airflow-ATX-Case/2023/17501.shtml

Edit:
Also what about the 'rotated' motherboard cases like the Thermaltake CTE C750?
I heard some stories of people having trouble with the graphics card's vapour chamber not performing well.
What do you guys think?

 

[thestryker]

Well, I just can't seem to make myself 'like' the cases with the bottom PSU which blocks bottom fan mounting slots. Seems like I have an OCD lol

Most of the cases with openings for bottom intake don't actually have enough space for proper airflow in the first place so this does seem like an odd sticking point, but I totally get how sometimes an aesthetic just doesn't work for people.

To be brutally honest, I just hate the currently available PC cases!

In all honesty there are a lot of really good cases out there but you've limited yourself by going with a 420mm radiator and then further limited selection by wanting lighter weight/minimal glass.

I miss a lot of the design that came out of the 90s-early 00s as case manufacturers seemed like they were trying things, but business is business and I get why that isn't financially viable now. A Silverstone rep mentioned that reproducing one of their aluminum cases from ~2011 that cost $250 then would wind up with a cost around $600 today.

Edit:
Also what about the 'rotated' motherboard cases like the Thermaltake CTE C750?
I heard some stories of people having trouble with the graphics card's vapour chamber not performing well.
What do you guys think?

This is absolutely a potential problem, but without someone having tested it there's really no simple way to know whether or not a specific card is going to have it. I don't know of any card manufacturers who provide mounting recommendations.

BTW I found some interesting cases and the Deepcool Morpheus was the best at first glance. But the lack of attention to detail is plain to see. Does anyone have any experience with it?

https://www.deepcool.com/products/C...odular-High-Airflow-ATX-Case/2023/17501.shtml

I haven't seen many reviews of this popping up but the overviews I've seen show the limitations of having so many configurations in one package. Corners will always have to be cut to some degree to hit specific price points.

The Lian-li LANCOOL III is one of the best reasonably priced mid-tower cases that supports a 420mm rad, but has two tempered glass windows. I'm really curious about InWin's ModFree cases, but they don't seem to have individual modules for sale yet so the only choice for a 420mm rad is the deluxe version.

 

[eljoantonyn]

There is also the Deepcool CH 780 which is a less modular version of that case. But there is a lot of panel gaps and attention to detail issues like poor cabling etc.

I looked at Inwin cases and the Mod Free in particular. It's too costly here in the UK (afaik).

Lan Cool is good and I guess is the cheaper option. Then there is Phanteks (P500a, Enthoo Pro), Be Quiet (800, 802), Antec (P1)....but the problem is the same. The bottom intake 😝

 

[thestryker]

There is also the Deepcool CH 780 which is a less modular version of that case. But there is a lot of panel gaps and attention to detail issues like poor cabling etc.

Yeah I've noticed that with a lot of their cases and I'd like to think it's because they're trying to do new stuff without high cost.

I looked at Inwin cases and the Mod Free in particular. It's too costly here in the UK (afaik).

That's unsurprising as availability is the same problem Silverstone has with their higher end cases.

Lan Cool is good and I guess is the cheaper option. Then there is Phanteks (P500a, Enthoo Pro), Be Quiet (800, 802), Antec (P1)....but the problem is the same. The bottom intake 😝

Well that's why I mentioned the LANCOOL III specifically. It has great bottom intake because the sides at the bottom are mesh, and it's even better if you're not using the drive cages.

 

[eljoantonyn]

Yeah I've noticed that with a lot of their cases and I'd like to think it's because they're trying to do new stuff without high cost.

That's unsurprising as availability is the same problem Silverstone has with their higher end cases.

Well that's why I mentioned the LANCOOL III specifically. It has great bottom intake because the sides at the bottom are mesh, and it's even better if you're not using the drive cages.

Now this is interesting!
I'll dig further reg. Lan Cool 3.

Btw, they have a lot of versions of that case with varying amount of supplied fans, right?
Is it worth it?
Or the Arctic P14 better as a case fan?

 

[thestryker]

Now this is interesting!
I'll dig further reg. Lan Cool 3.

Btw, they have a lot of versions of that case with varying amount of supplied fans, right?
Is it worth it?
Or the Arctic P14 better as a case fan?

I think all of the SKUs come with fans it's just whether or not you want ARGB. Lian-li's fans are pretty good quality.

 

[eljoantonyn]

But I hear folks having trouble with the fans hitting the ram with Lan Cool 3.

Damn 🙄

 

[thestryker]

Yeah it depends on the type of DRAM you get as the clearance is really tight. Low profile heatspreaders or something that angles in at the top should be perfectly fine. Anything tall or with oversized heatspreaders would probably never fit.

 

[eljoantonyn]

Btw, what if I go the opposite way? Like this one?
https://www.gamdias.com/en/component/case/NESO_P1_BW
The clone of a clone 🤣

The price is really good (30% less than the Lan Cool), very tempting!

 

[thestryker]

I wouldn't trust moving that around given the amount of plastic and the glass is two parts so it wouldn't be very good structurally for that type of design. I was going to suggest if you were looking at knockoffs Montech would be the way to go, but I don't think any of their cases support 420s.

 

[eljoantonyn]

Some beQuiet cases do support them though.

 

[eljoantonyn]

So, I got the Lan Cool 3 and the second fan hits the ram 🙄

 

[thestryker]

I'm assuming you used the openings closest to the side panel to give the most clearance. What kind of memory modules did you end up getting?

 

[ilukey77]

So, I got the Lan Cool 3 and the second fan hits the ram 🙄

this is the problem with 420mm rad cases ( or so claimed ) first the arctic freezer ii is a rare beast running a thinker than normal rad so you going to have issues ..

I bought the fractal define 7 mid tower one same issue claimed it would fit a 420mm rad but the 3nd fan fouled with ram luckly i was able to return it and ened up with the thermal take ceres 500 case arctic freezer ii 420 fitted ( was a tight fit but fitted none the less )
the ceres 500 is kinda like that larger side mid tower !!

 

[eljoantonyn]

My existing build has X570 Tomahawk with GSkill Trident Z Royal. The overlap is just 2mm but it's still a problem.

This is a temporary setup until the next gen from either Amd or Intel. I'll get a lower profile ram and there would not be a problem. But for the current build, I need to find a solution!