What PC case would you recommend?

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dunkirkman

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Oct 7, 2017
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Hey everyone, so I'm planning on getting a new case for my PC.
All my specs are listed here:

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/epiphanies/saved/hdyvK8

As shown, I'm currently using the nzxt s340 elite. What would you guys recommend me switching to? I was looking at a fractal meshify C and the new Lian Li PC o-11, but I don't know if my parts can all fit/ be compatible. I know it's alot to ask, but can you guys verify if those cases would work, or perhaps recommend better ones.

NOTE: I'm switching the gtx 1070 out for a rtx 2080. I'm adding another hardrive (crucial mx500 2tb) and replacing my psu for a new psu made by seasonic (750w). Lastly....I do have two kits of 8x2Gb of RAM so 4 slots (totalling 32gb) are being taken. I know you aren't supposed to mix but i got the second kit free and they DO play nicely. Anyway thanks guys!!



 
Solution
Darkbreeze
There are pretty comparable aside from the molex power and software. If you like the Node Pro then it's probably just as good, or better, of an option.

Honestly, I'd wait until after you have it built to make a decision on that so you can see if you will be able to place the strips out of view. I think you will, but the side panel on the S2 is different than mine so it's hard to say. knowing would be better than guessing.
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Definitely choose an ATX case with some kind of mesh front. i highly recommend to avoid any cases with a hard finish for a front panel as they usually have no large holes or any proper way for a lot of airflow to bring in cool air. I recently made the mistake myself to order one with a 'glassy finish' and it has shit airflow.
 
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cosmo c700p or haf x are nice size look and will hold all you can throw at them the master case is very nice as well. yes I am coolermaster fanboy but then I have had them for 10 years and never had trouble and have upgraded many times with no problems
 
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Lian Li cases are grossly overpriced for what you get. If you like that Lian Li case, I'd suggest that you look at this one instead, as only one potential model. That is not to say I don't agree that that is a nice looking case, because it is, and it's well designed as well but it's rather costly for a mid tower case. Might be worth it though. That case is actually not terribly expensive compared to a lot of other Lian Li chassis.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D6GINF4/?tag=pcpapi-20

There are actually several questions that need to be answered first.

One, how important are aesthetics to you, and if that does rate high on your list of considerations for a case, WHAT exactly are your aesthetic criteria? Color preference? Mid tower/full tower? Space constrictions where it will be sitting? Tempered or acrylic side panel? Single or multiple radiator support? I know you are only using a single 240mm cooler for now, but a lot of people jump to a 280 or 320mm cooler once they realize that the 240mm models don't actually offer the kind of performance they expected.

Others simply go back to a big air cooler as there are 80-100 dollar air coolers that can outperform some of the best AIO coolers, so being able to FIT a big air cooler in there later COULD also be a consideration. Fortunately, most cases that support 280mm coolers generally support big air coolers as well.

Do you need optical drive bays, because most cases these days don't have them. There are some that do, but most do not any longer have the 5.25" drive bays anymore. External optical drives are the preferred choice on most modern systems.

Open or mesh front vs closed up restricted intake front panels? I would highly recommend NOT choosing a case with a highly restricted front panel if you are going to put the radiator up front. If you are putting a radiator there you want good open airflow there.

PSU shroud? Some don't care about this, others don't want to be able to see the PSU at all and a lot of cases have PSU shrouds now, but there are still a great many that do not.

Drive cages in the main compartment versus a lot of cases that only have them on the backside of the motherboard tray OR have removeable drive cages on the floor of the case in the even you only use 2.5" drives you can remove the cages for airflow and aesthetic purposes.

Does it need to include some fans or will you be using OTHER fans, that you might be buying or already have?

All these are things you want to consider, and there are probably some other considerations as well but I think that's enough for now.
 
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Aesthetics are important. I'm going for the slick black with a nice glass panel on the side...or even the front if that's the case (no pun intended). References can be the meshify c or my s340 elite by nzxt. I believe Mid tower would be enough as that's what I'm currently using. I'm not doing any custom liquid cooling, except for my Aio cpu cooler.

As far as fans go, I'm currently using two stock fans. One located at the top, then the back. Then my Aio dual fan at the front of the case...which does have airflow, but only a couple of cm before blocked by a removable panel so that I can get to the dust filter. Also, dust filters would be ideal. A PSU shroud isn't a big deal for me whether it comes with one or not. If it's all about preference...then doesn't matter..if it does have a benefit, I'll go with shroud.

Dark, if you have a good case for me, and also recommendations on fans I should buy alongside it, I'd really appreciate it. Again, aesthetics are important and so is airflow. If you find a case that requires me to buy a few fans...I will. But I do want to keep my Aio for now.....the only thing I'd be upgrading really over time, would be CPU, Mobo and probably a new aio with bigger fans. Also, colored RAM. That's in the future and not anytime soon. Biggest thing would be rgb fans if I needed it for a case...if the case doesn't come with stock.

Also, no optical drives...

I do really that case I linked dark. I just don't know if everything would fit....... Price is no issue. Also, if it doesn't come with stock fans..... which rgb ones would be ideal?? Performance wise.

If you still suggest another case, I'd very much like something along the lines of the Lian li. That nice slick look. Not a cube.
 
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Well, that case pretty much IS a cube. Not quite, but almost.

The first case I think you should look at is this one. The Fractal design Define S2. I have the define S, which of course I've modified somewhat and intend to modify even more. It's a terrific case and I'm sure the version 2 is even better with more features, not least of which is the tempered glass side panel while mine has only an acrylic side panel. Makes a difference because the acrylic is a lot more prone to scratches. I really like this case AND it has pretty fair airflow. The front is SOMEWHAT restricted, but I don't think it would be a major factor.

Mine I modified the front to a full airflow no restriction intake.

My case (Original Define S, modified):

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/310222-31-hardware-member-system-gallery/page-83#17341806

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/310222-31-hardware-member-system-gallery/page-83#17493855


The Define S II tempered glass edition:


[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7DhO6lyCWE&feature=youtu.be"][/video]



These are all also worth looking at:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/z3kj4D/fractal-design-design-define-r6-usb-c-tg-atx-mid-tower-case-fd-ca-def-r6c-bk-tgl

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/NRvZxr/phanteks-case-phes515etgbk

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075B17N7L/?tag=pcpapi-20

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wLdFf7/corsair-cc-9011098-ww-atx-mid-tower-case-cc-9011098-ww

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/pQMwrH/lian-li-pc-o11air-rgb-atx-full-tower-case-pc-o11air-rgb
(Same as the one you linked, I think, but with full airflow front panel)

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147275&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

I'm sure there are others, but I'm equally sure these cases will be at the top of a lot of lists.
 
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the coolermaster master case offers a mesh case and as for aesthetics its a looker don't discount other brands as I agree that lian li is great case at 1.5x the cost it should be. remember your savings on anything only is able to enhance your build
 
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Whoah...that fractal is beautiful!!! As for fans go with that Dark, it comes with stock right? Any fans I should purchase? If I were to switch, I only have the Aio. Rgb fans would be awesome if I we're to need any.
 
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Or a front intake, either one. Just move the fans it comes with to wherever you're not sticking the radiator.

If you WANT to add fans, because you want them to be RGB or would like fans with better performance or noise characteristics, then I'd probably go with Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap fans, or one of the Thermalright (Not Thermaltake) series. For RGB, which is not an area I particularly worry or care about, I'd probably look at some of the Corsair RGB fans, particularly the Maglev fans. Not cheap, but very good quality.

For pure quality of components, performance and noise levels, it's almost impossible to beat Noctua and Thermalright, but the Maglev fans and a very small handful of others are pretty good too. You can generally get bundles of 3 from Corsair for most of their fans for slightly less than buying them individually.

I don't really know of any RGB fans that are all that exceptional when it comes to CFM, static pressure AND noise levels.
 
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Thank you all for the reply :)

I'm leaning towards this https://m.newegg.ca/products/N82E16811352100

This case is apparently for water cooling but I know my aio will take a good amount of room up so there's no issue there. As madd Matt states I don't need any fans, so there's no point YET to get better performing ones.

Lastly, any links you guys can provide for a led strip? Definitely like to have software to control them.
 
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Yeah, that's a really, really decent case for the price AND if you are so inclined, not that you are, it's well suited for modification. There are even a number of pre-modified parts available for it I believe. I think there are tinted TG side panels and possibly full mesh front panels as well.

MNPC Tech says:

Final Thoughts on the Fractal Design Define S2.

Very few case manufacturers can blend the features that both air coolers and liquid coolers want. The Define S2 combines everything great from it's predecessors, the Define S and Define R6. If you're looking for case to make even the most basic system look good, buy this case now. We predict the Fractal Design Define S2 voted as the best case of 2018.
Click to expand...

https://mnpctech.com/fractal-design-define-s2-tempered-glass-case-review-in-depth.html

And the owner Bill Owen TOTALLY knows what he's talking about when it comes to cases because custom system building and case modifications, VERY high end ones, are what he does for a living.
 
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I have mine in the top and bottom corners, longwise. They are the NZXT Hue+ v2. I believe there is a newer version, v3. Those are an option even though I don't particularly like the CAM software, however, if you have no desire for multiple colors along the strip at the same time, there is another lighting control solution that can be used with the Hue+ LED strips to change the colors but you can't do any of the fancy stuff like rotating or pulsing colors with that. For any solid color though, it works fine, and has none of the privacy or buggy issues that have plagued the CAM software and the controller hardware is included.

It's actually a decent solution, for the hardware and LED strips, and the CAM software DOES work, I just don't like some aspects of it but I'm a lot more particular than most people so what bothers me may not even be a consideration for you.
 
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But do you think I'd have room Dark? Also, I was looking at the lightning node pro by Corsair. Watched a couple of reviews of the hue+ and hue 2 and the software (as mentioned) is really janky. Also, the rgb use a molex where as the node uses SATA. What's your thoughts?
 
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There are pretty comparable aside from the molex power and software. If you like the Node Pro then it's probably just as good, or better, of an option.

Honestly, I'd wait until after you have it built to make a decision on that so you can see if you will be able to place the strips out of view. I think you will, but the side panel on the S2 is different than mine so it's hard to say. knowing would be better than guessing.
 
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Solution
Sounds good. I saw that the hue 2 came with these two rgb panels that fit under the case for an underglow. Absolutely amazing. I probably will go for the nzxt I can always order that with fans for future upgrading.

Huge thanks to every single one of you, and dark, thanks for helping yet again. You have been a huge help to someone who doesn't know alot when it comes to PC's.. This time I'm truly done and will send some pics of everything once finished.
 
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When you are done, you can post them to the Members systems gallery here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/310222-31-hardware-member-system-gallery

If you have some free time, go through that whole thread sometime. There are some AMAZING systems in there. Like this one from Bill Owen over at MNPCTech.

This is a Define S, like mine, which is the version one of the case you are going with.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/310222-31-hardware-member-system-gallery/page-83#17155750

Shows you what can be done with a little inspiration and paint.
 
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I don't have an Nvidia card but on systems I build and configure, yes, I leave them on the default settings and let them play with them as they wish. In many cases I don't even install the Geforce experience software, only the basic drivers, because GFE is garbage anyhow.
 
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