Need advice choosing good PC case

[Argo_]

Hello to all. I need a piece of advice, please.
My system specs are:
i7-3770K, P8Z77-V (1155), PC3-12800 (4x4Gb), GTX 660 Ti (2048 Mb), x2 HDD SATA 250Gb (RAID 0), ATX 700W CoolerMaster, NEC PA241W-BK, 24.1"
I'm about to change my current v/card 660 Ti to --> MSI GTX 970. But my 11-y. o. case ASUS Ascot 6AR is obsolete and can't handle it.
So I'm looking for a good PC case for the next like ~ 10 years.
The problem is that it's quite hot in my room. So good cooling is a priority. But I also have a family and a small child, so low noise is a priority too. And that's a mutual exclusion
So, jokes aside, I'm thinking about Fractal Design midi R2, FD Define R5 and FD Define XL R2. Please help me to make a descision.
The problem is that, according to this diagrams, FD Core 3500 case is (just a little more noisy) better in terms of cooling and is much cheaper:
http://www.hardwareluxx.ru/index.ph...8-fractal-design-define-r5-test-.html?start=5

Sincere regards,

 

[ATMINSIDE]

Have you looked at the Air 540?

 

[Dlaw]

You can get just about any case that'll hold your stuff and support at least 3-5 fans and load every spot for a fan with some low RPM, silent fans. My 750D was pretty quiet when I got it, but now I think I have a fan or two starting to go. It's ok, as I was planning on replacing them anyway next year, and that's exactly what I intend to do.

 

[Argo_]

You can get just about any case that'll hold your stuff and support at least 3-5 fans and load every spot for a fan with some low RPM, silent fans. My 750D was pretty quiet when I got it, but now I think I have a fan or two starting to go. It's ok, as I was planning on replacing them anyway next year, and that's exactly what I intend to do.

Do you mean that no matter what case to buy, if you want a quiet & effective system, you should buy just any descent case and replace it's fans periodically?

 

[ATMINSIDE]

Do you mean that no matter what case to buy, if you want a quiet & effective system, you should buy just any descent case and replace it's fans periodically?

Or buy a good case and very good fans then have your setup good to go for a few years.

 

[Dlaw]

Generally, the fans that come with cases aren't top tier. The ones that do have top tier fans are generally expensive, and may not fit your taste. I feel the best way to have a quiet, cool system that looks the way you want it to is to find a case that looks good to you, and outfit it with good fans.

 

[Blaylock]

Argo have you looked at our list of recommended cases?

Also it looks like you are currently air cooled do you have plans to go liquid cooled in the next 10 years? CPU's have been getting hotter and hotter with each generation and water cooling is trending towards the standard. Just something to consider.

FTR all the cases mentioned in this thread so far are great cases.

 

[Dlaw]

Argo have you looked at our list of recommended cases?

Also it looks like you are currently air cooled do you have plans to go liquid cooled in the next 10 years? CPU's have been getting hotter and hotter with each generation and water cooling is trending towards the standard. Just something to consider.

FTR all the cases mentioned in this thread so far are great cases.

Intel CPUs have been getting cooler, actually, and Skylake is supposed to be even more power efficient and run cooler. I see that as being the trend for the next 10 years, as smaller, more compact PC systems get more popular.

 

[Blaylock]

While I do agree that smaller, more compact will be the going trend I haven't seen the TDP's lowering on the CPU's as of yet. I hope that you're right with the Skylake. TBH I haven't read-up on Skylake much but if the goal is smaller and more compact they will have to address the heat.

As far as current CPU's AMD's FX is up to 220W and Intel's Haswell-E is up to 140W. I'm not including AMD's APU's or anything from Intel below an i7-4790k as I would consider it a downgrade from what the OP has.

Regardless, my suggestion is still to consider the options.

 

[Dlaw]

I don't think water cooling is going to become mainstream any time soon. I talk to people around here about water in a PC, and they ask me if I'm crazy.

I don't count AMD's FX line, as it's the same architecture as has been for like 4 years now, and H-E is meant to be big and powerful, the best of the best if you will. Anyone who has the money to buy a $1000 CPU has the money to cool it properly and run the extra electricity.

The 4790K has a higher TDP because of it's high core clock, and while the TDPs have pretty much plateaued (not really gone up, as far as I've seen), the clock speed and IPCs of Intel CPUs have increased. So, while using the same(ish) amount of power, they are able to do more. There's no real reason for Intel to drop the TDP on desktop CPUs, as air cooling is perfectly adequate, so instead they use the headroom for more power.

As you said though, it's always important to consider the options. And watercooling is an option, even if it is unnecessary. I myself intend to watercool my rig, mostly for silence and to make it look cool.

 

[meionm]

My recommendation would be anything from Phanteks Enthoo series. I have Phanteks Enthoo Luxe with fans controlled by pwm fan hub. At none gaming mode case is very quiet. The noise coming out is pretty good. Luxe is big but offers a lot of things that I am impressed with.

 

[Argo_]

Thank you all, gentlemen, for taking time to answer and share your opinions.
During weekend I indulged myself with temtation and so I bought Fractal Design Define XL R2.
Although I'm still in the process of installing my hardware and arranging all those PSU cables properly (family, you know...), I have a feeling that I will enjoy this case for the rest of my life as it has so much space inside for very efficient as for air- and so for the water-cooling systems installations, and a huge variety of M/B's and v/cards and HDDs...

Sincere regards,

 

[Blaylock]

I think you made a great choice Argo. The silent series fans that come with that case are pretty decent and should last quite a few years.

 

[Audioaficionado]

Fractal Design Define XL R2

Black or Titanium? Window?

 

[Argo_]

Black or Titanium? Window?

Pure black. It has very cool classic look, like a pianoforte


P.S.: My only question is: my Cooler Master UCP 700W has a fixed bunch of connectors cables (attached, not removable), but I only need 1 for HDD, 1 for DVD-RW, 1 for HDDs, 1 for VGA & 2 for M/B. Where should I put the unused cables? Possible options are: under the PSU, around it or behind the m/b. I never had this type of cases so I just don't know.

 

[Blaylock]

I would hide it behind the motherboard, especially if you're going to add a fan to the bottom of the case. If you have no plans for the lower fan then since you don't have the windowed version there'd be nothing wrong with coiling it up on the bottom of the case. Regardless, you just don't want the cables to interfere with airflow. Everything else is aesthetics.

 

[Audioaficionado]

There should be plenty of room behind the motherboard tray to hide the extra wire lengths and unused cables. This is the case I wish I had.