"The" greatest case ever....

[ThePredator]

Which one is it? Wherever I go, I get different answers. I currently have a sunbeam transformers for a $2000 system and I am not happy with it. The cheap fans, small case, it just doesn't fit right. I have:

Q6600 - G0
Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
Abit IP-35 Pro
8800 GTX
Ballistix 2 GB
Raptor X 150

So my question is, what is THE case for overclocking. I want lots and lots of fans, I want space, and I want it to look good. Money isn't so important, I can pay up to $250. I found http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119122 and it looks good, but people say the motherboard doesn't get aligned and you can have issues.

So what do you suggest? Are there better cases? Please share your feedback. I am really clueless and there are so many variables like the air duct, or the side vent, which I have no idea how they affect the OCing system (are they better compared to fans?). I am really confused.

Regards,

ThePredator

 

[Pntgrd]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119122[/URL] and it looks good, but people say the motherboard doesn't get aligned and you can have issues.

ThePredator

I had no problems aligning mine. In fact, I hade way more trouble with alignment with an Antec P160. Just be aware that you will not be able to use the top.rear side fan with the Ultra 120. You will lose both top fans if you use a 120x38 fan on the hx. And you will have to modify the fan holder if you use a 120x38 with a 120x25 spacer before the hs. Nothing structural just a blit of dremel work to get the neede clearance. An dyou can save some $$ here, http://www.directron.com/cmstacker830.html, if you decide on this one. I love mine

 

[Section8]

Well there is no clear cut answer to which case is the best as it is always open for interpretation and personal preferences. I love every Lian LI case I have ever owned but I also like to looks and functionality of the new COSMOS case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138. If that doesn't do it for you check out Lian Li http://www.lian-li.com/index.php they have a case type for everyone no matter what application you plan to use it for whether it be phase, water or air cooling.

 

[Zoris]

I just built a computer using the Antec P182, and it has lots of space and good cooling. Its very nice looking on the outside too, simple yet elegant.

 

[ThePredator]

I had no problems aligning mine. In fact, I hade way more trouble with alignment with an Antec P160. Just be aware that you will not be able to use the top.rear side fan with the Ultra 120. You will lose both top fans if you use a 120x38 fan on the hx. And you will have to modify the fan holder if you use a 120x38 with a 120x25 spacer before the hs. Nothing structural just a blit of dremel work to get the neede clearance. An dyou can save some $$ here, http://www.directron.com/cmstacker830.html, if you decide on this one. I love mine

See that's the kind of stuff I hate. Even a $250 case isn't big enough for ultra 120 extreme? That's so annoying. Is there a case you guys know that has a lot of fans but yet I can fit everything in?

 

[TazExtreme3]

I'd say either the CM Stacker 810, CM Cosmos, or the LIAN LI G70
All full tower cases, so you'd have room for future upgrades like watercooling or more HDD's, etc.

 

[billb]

Which one is it?

Have a look here. No one who buys a Lian-Ll is ever unhappy with the purchase.
http://www.lian-li.com/product/product02.php?cl_index=1

 

[ThePredator]

I found this : http://www.guru3d.com/article/cooling/444/

Is it any good? I am very disappointed with the water cooling performance though. It's almost same as my thermalright ultra 120 extreme.

 

[ThePredator]

Have a look here. No one who buys a Lian-Ll is ever unhappy with the purchase.
http://www.lian-li.com/product/product02.php?cl_index=1

See, I am looking at lian cases, but the fans are not looking very good to me. Honestly, if I am going to pay sh!tload of money to a case, it better have amazing cooling. Right now I have:

1 x 120 mm Silverstone 2400 rpm 104 CFM Front Intake
3 x 80 mm 3000 Rpm side and top intake and outtake
1 x 120 mm Delta 1600 rpm 70 cfm exhaust
1 x 120 mm Delta 1600 rpm 70 cfm for CPU

Now, look at lian, it has some 120 mm intake in the front which I am sure will barely make a difference to CPU and GPU (which is what I care), it has some side fan in some weird corner (I have no idea why they put it there lol) and it has 92 mm small exhaust fans. For that kind of money, that case is really not good in my opinion.

The problem is, most of those cases are expensive because of their design and engineering. I am assuming the quality of the metal, the hard disk cages, the PSU rail, etc are making those cases expensive, not the air flow.

 

[ThePredator]

I'd say either the CM Stacker 810, CM Cosmos, or the LIAN LI G70
All full tower cases, so you'd have room for future upgrades like watercooling or more HDD's, etc.

All those cases are good, but like I said, not enough fans . The only reason I want to change the case is the amount of fans I can put on it and the size of the fans. I have no problems with case's design whatsoever.

I really didn't think this would be so hard. There has got to be a case that can take 5-6+ 120mm fans and yet still large enough for a thermalright ultra 120 extreme.

 

[Neuromancer]

Have a look here. No one who buys a Lian-Ll is ever unhappy with the purchase.
http://www.lian-li.com/product/product02.php?cl_index=1

You should caveat that with "tower"

I was very dissapointed in their desktop model (the 800)

 

[satandole666]

I love my Silverstone TJ-07

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163068

I gutted the bottom to make room for a 3x120 rad. I replaced the stock fans without even using them so I can't tell you how quiet or efficient they are. Either way, this case has TONS of room, is built like a rock, and has plenty of fans.

 

[ThePredator]

I love my Silverstone TJ-07

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163068

I gutted the bottom to make room for a 3x120 rad. I replaced the stock fans without even using them so I can't tell you how quiet or efficient they are. Either way, this case has TONS of room, is built like a rock, and has plenty of fans.

I don't understand how bottom fans are helping to my CPU or GPU. I don't care about HDD or PSU temps, they are both under 5 year warranty.

 

[grumperfish]

If I had the money I'd probably have gone with a Lian-Li, but the Thermaltake Armor case I'm using currently has been my favorite so far. My friend had an aluminum P180 and I hated working with it other than the separate compartments for the psu and mobo. This is all subjective opinion of course.

 

[satandole666]

I don't understand how bottom fans are helping to my CPU or GPU. I don't care about HDD or PSU temps, they are both under 5 year warranty.

In a stock config they aren't, except for the fact that the heat generated by the HDDs and PSU is separate from the rest of the setup. You could probably rig up some sort of a duct to funnel the air upward...but like I said I use the bottom for my rad.

 

[ancalime]

I really didn't think this would be so hard. There has got to be a case that can take 5-6+ 120mm fans and yet still large enough for a thermalright ultra 120 extreme.

The COSMOS, which has already been suggested, does fit that description....

 

[Evilsizer]

if you have the money, i say the Lian-Li A10(B).

 

[gangaskan]

if you have the money, i say the Lian-Li A10(B).

or the PC-B25

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/09/05/lian-li_pc-b25/1

 

[Evilsizer]

or the PC-B25

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/09/05/lian-li_pc-b25/1

the only thing going for tha case or mid-tower and the holes already there to use for wc tubing. IMO the A10 is a much better case.

 

[gangaskan]

i like the look of the pc-b25 tho, plain, yet simple enough.