0.3
I am considering going to a full tower (from my u2ufo), and would like some suggestions for a case where I can internally mount a pa120.3 (or maybe the new tfc 480, but I doubt I will move to it). I would prefer to mount the radiator/fans at the bottom of the case, I could do a top mount but I don’t want to do a front (as I don’t want to give up that many drive bays). I would prefer a bottom as in the unlikely event of a leak I don’t want the powersupply sitting below the radiator (and I don’t really like the silverstone tj07, as mounting the powersupply next to the radiator seems like a problem waiting to happen. I would like 6 hdd bays and at least 4 optical (though I might be able to get down to 2 if necessary). Right now I am looking at 3 cases that I think would work, (Lian li pca77, pcp80,nzxt khaos, and thermaltake swordm), I like the fact that the sword has a lot of room and is already black inside (I think it looks better then silver for the motherboard try/drive bays) and the fact that it would be easy to throw a 250mm fan on the side (in the space for the 4*120’s) but the fact that it only had 3 3.5 bayes (and that they take up 3 5.25 instead of doing a 4 in 3 is bothersome, also the lack of filters on the fans). I am not too concerned about money (ease of installing what I want trumps cost), but I would like it to be less than $500, including handles and casters and if necessary and extra 4 in 3 module. Also whatever case I use should be easy to move (weight is not an issue but not worrying about parts coming loose or leaks is).
I have a few compliaints with the mountian mods, 1 the fact that all the drive bays require screws (and there are no vibration mounts for the hdd bays) is bothersome on a case this expensive. 2 Some of the screw holes do not align perfectly for the side panels (I can get them on but a few of the screws are tricky). And my biggest issue (and why I have to do something relatively soon), the motherboard tray has warped (where the cards go), so I can’t install a new graphics card (unless I want to bend the bracket on the card) also the top and bottom pci bays have screws through them which make it difficult to install and remove cards. I know I can order a new mb tray from them and that might be a temporary fix but I am not sure I want to do that, and I would have to custom order it as my case is blue.
I have read the last hundred pages or so of the watercooled cases thread but I didn’t see many bottom mounts (it seems that top is more popular).
Any comments on those cases, or any other one that could work without too much modding, or solution to the mountain mods issues would be appreciated.
parts would basically be what is in the sig, though probably a new gpu (gtx 280 or 4870x2 are likely, and most likely will add it to the loop).
I have this also posted on xtremesystems and the general response has been look for a top mount with one of the lian li pc70 cases, a botum with the silverstone tj07, or go with a new mountainmods (or just a new motherboard tray).
I am considering going to a full tower (from my u2ufo), and would like some suggestions for a case where I can internally mount a pa120.3 (or maybe the new tfc 480, but I doubt I will move to it). I would prefer to mount the radiator/fans at the bottom of the case, I could do a top mount but I don’t want to do a front (as I don’t want to give up that many drive bays). I would prefer a bottom as in the unlikely event of a leak I don’t want the powersupply sitting below the radiator (and I don’t really like the silverstone tj07, as mounting the powersupply next to the radiator seems like a problem waiting to happen. I would like 6 hdd bays and at least 4 optical (though I might be able to get down to 2 if necessary). Right now I am looking at 3 cases that I think would work, (Lian li pca77, pcp80,nzxt khaos, and thermaltake swordm), I like the fact that the sword has a lot of room and is already black inside (I think it looks better then silver for the motherboard try/drive bays) and the fact that it would be easy to throw a 250mm fan on the side (in the space for the 4*120’s) but the fact that it only had 3 3.5 bayes (and that they take up 3 5.25 instead of doing a 4 in 3 is bothersome, also the lack of filters on the fans). I am not too concerned about money (ease of installing what I want trumps cost), but I would like it to be less than $500, including handles and casters and if necessary and extra 4 in 3 module. Also whatever case I use should be easy to move (weight is not an issue but not worrying about parts coming loose or leaks is).
I have a few compliaints with the mountian mods, 1 the fact that all the drive bays require screws (and there are no vibration mounts for the hdd bays) is bothersome on a case this expensive. 2 Some of the screw holes do not align perfectly for the side panels (I can get them on but a few of the screws are tricky). And my biggest issue (and why I have to do something relatively soon), the motherboard tray has warped (where the cards go), so I can’t install a new graphics card (unless I want to bend the bracket on the card) also the top and bottom pci bays have screws through them which make it difficult to install and remove cards. I know I can order a new mb tray from them and that might be a temporary fix but I am not sure I want to do that, and I would have to custom order it as my case is blue.
I have read the last hundred pages or so of the watercooled cases thread but I didn’t see many bottom mounts (it seems that top is more popular).
Any comments on those cases, or any other one that could work without too much modding, or solution to the mountain mods issues would be appreciated.
parts would basically be what is in the sig, though probably a new gpu (gtx 280 or 4870x2 are likely, and most likely will add it to the loop).
I have this also posted on xtremesystems and the general response has been look for a top mount with one of the lian li pc70 cases, a botum with the silverstone tj07, or go with a new mountainmods (or just a new motherboard tray).
