techPowerUp! Forums

Go Back   techPowerUp! Forums > Hardware > General Hardware

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old Feb 11, 2012, 07:30 PM   #1
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Which midtower case should I buy?

I have a Casecom 6788 atm, and I'm looking for a case with the following:

Dust filters
Good cable management
Good STOCK cooling (I have two 120mm fans spare I can add)
Good build quality, so I can keep it for years to come
Fan control switch

I'm thinking of buying the Corsair 500R or the CM 690-II
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 11, 2012, 07:48 PM   #2
TheLaughingMan
3500 Posts
 
TheLaughingMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Douglasville, GA USA
Posts: 3,701 (2.51/day)
Thanks: 1,365
Thanked 1,264 Times in 930 Posts
Send a message via MSN to TheLaughingMan Send a message via Yahoo to TheLaughingMan Send a message via Skype™ to TheLaughingMan

System Specs

The 500R is my vote if those are you two choices.
__________________
My Heat

TheLaughingMan is online now  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 11, 2012, 09:54 PM   #3
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Those are the best cases that come to mind, but they're also two of the most expensive. I was wondering if any other cases fit the criteria at a lower price point

like the HAF 912 or something
looking at reviews on TPU now
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 11, 2012, 10:28 PM   #4
DoomDoomDoom
75 Posts
 
DoomDoomDoom's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockford, IL
Posts: 173 (0.16/day)
Thanks: 18
Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts

System Specs

Expensive? The CM 690 II is 70 bucks on Newegg, which helps you exactly none since you're on the other side of the pond. I have this case and I love it, I just wish the front panel had USB 3.0 support, but that is being addressed in a new version of it.

The Corsair 400R is another alternative if you want the 500R. Most of the same features and great cooling.
DoomDoomDoom is offline  
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to DoomDoomDoom For This Useful Post:
Old Feb 11, 2012, 10:53 PM   #5
Norton
WCG Team Assistant
 
Norton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Northeast, USA
Posts: 5,160 (9.95/day)
Thanks: 5,401
Thanked 10,111 Times in 3,183 Posts

System Specs

The NZXT Phantom 410 has good cable management and built in fan controller

It has some filters but check a review to see how many/where

E-Buyer listing:

NZXT Phantom 410 Black Case | Ebuyer.com
__________________
Why sit on the Bench when you can get in the game and Crunch!!!- World Community Grid (FTW)
CPU crunchers- FX-8350(4.4)/FX-8150(4.0)/FX-6200(4.0)/ PII 1045T/PII 1045T/i7-920/Xeon (6c/12t)....(44 cores/54 threads)
GPU crunchers- no WCG GPU work available
Folding@Home- 2x GTX 580's

WCG-TPU Team thread- crunch for our Team/see what we do...
Norton is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU More than 25k PPD
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Norton For This Useful Post:
Old Feb 11, 2012, 11:14 PM   #6
Raw
200 Posts
 
Raw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: The CONSTITUTIONAL United States Of America
Posts: 323 (0.41/day)
Thanks: 154
Thanked 71 Times in 51 Posts

System Specs

Corsair 500R !!! Nice looking.
Raw is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 12, 2012, 01:16 AM   #7
Sound_Card
25 Posts
 
Sound_Card's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 63 (0.03/day)
Thanks: 9
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts

System Specs

My vote is the Fractal Arc Midi.
http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=57

$99, light, clean lian li'ish look, great cable wiring, removable HD bay, every fan slot is 140mm compatible, fan controller for 3 fans, filters for every fan slot except the side panel(just buy one for 3 bucks really).
__________________
Retired ATi Beta Tester
(•_•)
( •_•) > ⌐■-■
(⌐■_■)
Sound_Card is offline  
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Sound_Card For This Useful Post:
Old Feb 12, 2012, 01:53 AM   #8
rangerone766
500 Posts
 
rangerone766's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: cincinnati, ohio
Posts: 958 (0.46/day)
Thanks: 140
Thanked 105 Times in 88 Posts

System Specs

i just picked up a zalman z9. havent built it yet, but the price was right and has 90% of the features your after.

should be a decent $55 dollar case.
__________________

i want to thank Palit_Guy for hooking me up

http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=59811
rangerone766 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 12, 2012, 02:24 AM   #9
specks
200 Posts
 
specks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 422 (0.52/day)
Thanks: 424
Thanked 87 Times in 59 Posts

System Specs

I would go with the 500R. It has LOTS of available fan mount though not all have dust filters. That extra airflow is good especially when you are running a stock cooler. Cable management and build quality are also really good. It also has a built in fan controller switch for the included fans.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/C.../Carbide_500R/

You can also get the 400R for only $99.

Last edited by specks; Feb 12, 2012 at 02:30 AM.
specks is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 12, 2012, 01:12 PM   #10
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by DoomDoomDoom View Post
Expensive? The CM 690 II is 70 bucks on Newegg, which helps you exactly none since you're on the other side of the pond. I have this case and I love it, I just wish the front panel had USB 3.0 support, but that is being addressed in a new version of it.

The Corsair 400R is another alternative if you want the 500R. Most of the same features and great cooling.
The USB 3 version is £80 on eBuyer
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton View Post
The NZXT Phantom 410 has good cable management and built in fan controller

It has some filters but check a review to see how many/where

E-Buyer listing:

NZXT Phantom 410 Black Case | Ebuyer.com
That one looks pretty good actually. The most I wanna spend if £90
Quote:
Originally Posted by specks View Post
I would go with the 500R. It has LOTS of available fan mount though not all have dust filters. That extra airflow is good especially when you are running a stock cooler. Cable management and build quality are also really good. It also has a built in fan controller switch for the included fans.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/C.../Carbide_500R/

You can also get the 400R for only $99.
My choices right now are Corsair 500R (£5 more than the 400R...)
NZXT Phantom 410, Zalman Z9 and the CM-690

I'll have to look up reviews to compare them, hopefully they're all reviewed by TPU
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 12, 2012, 01:19 PM   #11
xBruce88x
2000 Posts
 
xBruce88x's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Winder, GA, USA
Posts: 2,218 (1.70/day)
Thanks: 652
Thanked 506 Times in 401 Posts

System Specs

i'd try to look at the cases you have in mind at a local shop/store. if they still look like new and function well after being handled by who know how many people, then chances are they're of a decent build quality also it'll give you a chance to get a feel of how big they are, where to route wires, whether your cpu cooler will fit, etc. and get a feel for how certain things on it works like tool-less drive installation things and any little doors and such it may have. I guess i'm kinda lucky as far as that goes, there's a TigerDirect, Fry's, and two MicroCenters not too far from me... and a few local shops... even BestBuy and Radioshack (the last being way to expensive usually)
__________________
xBruce88x is offline  
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to xBruce88x For This Useful Post:
Old Feb 12, 2012, 04:39 PM   #12
Norton
WCG Team Assistant
 
Norton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Northeast, USA
Posts: 5,160 (9.95/day)
Thanks: 5,401
Thanked 10,111 Times in 3,183 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by El_Mayo View Post
The USB 3 version is £80 on eBuyer

That one looks pretty good actually. The most I wanna spend if £90


My choices right now are Corsair 500R (£5 more than the 400R...)
NZXT Phantom 410, Zalman Z9 and the CM-690

I'll have to look up reviews to compare them, hopefully they're all reviewed by TPU
These reviews should help your decision:
* note- all of them rate pretty high (9+ on a ten scale)

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/N...tom_410/6.html

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/C...de_500R/1.html

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...=681&Itemid=61

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...=431&Itemid=61

IMHO the CM 690 and the Zalman look a little out-dated compared to the Corsair and the NZXT. The Corsair 500R or the NZXT 410 would both be good choices.

In the end it all comes down to what you like the best.

Good luck in your search
__________________
Why sit on the Bench when you can get in the game and Crunch!!!- World Community Grid (FTW)
CPU crunchers- FX-8350(4.4)/FX-8150(4.0)/FX-6200(4.0)/ PII 1045T/PII 1045T/i7-920/Xeon (6c/12t)....(44 cores/54 threads)
GPU crunchers- no WCG GPU work available
Folding@Home- 2x GTX 580's

WCG-TPU Team thread- crunch for our Team/see what we do...
Norton is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU More than 25k PPD
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Norton For This Useful Post:
Old Feb 12, 2012, 05:13 PM   #13
DoomDoomDoom
75 Posts
 
DoomDoomDoom's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockford, IL
Posts: 173 (0.16/day)
Thanks: 18
Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts

System Specs

HWC has a review of the 690 II, which is what sold me: http://youtu.be/hGvBjEmXJnI

They also have reviews of the Corsair 400R and the 500R.

Not familiar with the Zalman case but Hardware Secrets has a nice write-up on the Z9 plus.

Anandtach and Hardware Secrets both reviewed the case, and it seems like a solid pick-up. (Edit - NZXT case. D'oh!)

Was there any specific look you were going for?

Last edited by DoomDoomDoom; Feb 13, 2012 at 03:12 AM.
DoomDoomDoom is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 12, 2012, 05:16 PM   #14
Paulieg
The Mad Moderator
 
Paulieg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Wherever I can find the iron.
Posts: 11,448 (5.01/day)
Thanks: 2,519
Thanked 3,054 Times in 2,098 Posts
Send a message via MSN to Paulieg

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sound_Card View Post
My vote is the Fractal Arc Midi.
http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=57

$99, light, clean lian li'ish look, great cable wiring, removable HD bay, every fan slot is 140mm compatible, fan controller for 3 fans, filters for every fan slot except the side panel(just buy one for 3 bucks really).
THIS. I love Fractal Design cases. If I go back to cases, this is the mid tower case I'd choose.
__________________
"I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds."
-Henry Rollins


My heatware
Save lives by joining the TPU WCG team!
Paulieg is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 13, 2012, 02:47 AM   #15
sneekypeet
Unpaid Babysitter
 
sneekypeet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 19,004 (7.32/day)
Thanks: 3,035
Thanked 5,487 Times in 3,950 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sound_Card View Post
My vote is the Fractal Arc Midi.
http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=57

$99, light, clean lian li'ish look, great cable wiring, removable HD bay, every fan slot is 140mm compatible, fan controller for 3 fans, filters for every fan slot except the side panel(just buy one for 3 bucks really).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulieg View Post
THIS. I love Fractal Design cases. If I go back to cases, this is the mid tower case I'd choose.
On this subject, I just looked at the Define R3, and I gotta say it offers what you are looking for, and some! The 500R is very nice; the NZXT Phantom 410 is also nice, but the shape is either hit or miss for everyone with its design. The CM690 is good as well, the real problem is the market in $100-$125 mid-tower cases is overfilled with options. I don't typically give advice on cases, because every case design gives you the issue of perspective. I can tell you everything inside the case is what you want, but if you don't like the aesthetics (looks), I can't ever sell you on that case. That being said, of the original two you picked and asked about, I would say 500R without even blinking at you
__________________
Hers: ASUS Maximus V Gene / i7 3770K / Swiftech H220 / 4X8GB Corsair Dominators / ASUS GTX660 / Corsair AX-760 / Windows 7 64bit / Fractal Design ARC Midi R2

Test: Gigabyte Z68X-UD4-B3 / i7 2600K / A lot Of Coolers / Ripjaws Currently / HIS HD7950 IceQ Turbo / Silverstone SST-ST85F-G / Windows 7 64bit / InWin D-Frame Limited Edition
sneekypeet is online now  
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to sneekypeet For This Useful Post:
Old Feb 13, 2012, 03:00 AM   #16
JrRacinFan
Served 5k and counting ...
 
JrRacinFan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Youngstown, OH
Posts: 16,121 (7.14/day)
Thanks: 4,149
Thanked 4,552 Times in 4,027 Posts
Send a message via AIM to JrRacinFan Send a message via Yahoo to JrRacinFan

System Specs

Peet
What about the Midgard 2?
JrRacinFan is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 13, 2012, 04:34 PM   #17
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton View Post
These reviews should help your decision:
* note- all of them rate pretty high (9+ on a ten scale)

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/N...tom_410/6.html

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/C...de_500R/1.html

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...=681&Itemid=61

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...=431&Itemid=61

IMHO the CM 690 and the Zalman look a little out-dated compared to the Corsair and the NZXT. The Corsair 500R or the NZXT 410 would both be good choices.

In the end it all comes down to what you like the best.

Good luck in your search
I'm looking at 3dgameman videos cos I like the reviews to come from the same source (more reliable )
the Z9 has the best price/quality ratio
But I'm willing to splash out!
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 19, 2012, 05:02 PM   #18
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Okay I narrowed it down to the Zalman Z9 Plus and the Fractal case
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 19, 2012, 05:06 PM   #19
JrRacinFan
Served 5k and counting ...
 
JrRacinFan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Youngstown, OH
Posts: 16,121 (7.14/day)
Thanks: 4,149
Thanked 4,552 Times in 4,027 Posts
Send a message via AIM to JrRacinFan Send a message via Yahoo to JrRacinFan

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by El_Mayo View Post
Okay I narrowed it down to the Zalman Z9 Plus and the Fractal case
I am more of a sleek, subtle kind of guy. I vote for the Fractal.
JrRacinFan is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 19, 2012, 05:21 PM   #20
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by JrRacinFan View Post
I am more of a sleek, subtle kind of guy. I vote for the Fractal.
I've developed the same eye in the past year
Last year I would have given an arm and a leg for a HAF 922 :P

But the Zalman case just happens to fit the criteria whilst being at an excellent price. But the Fractal has it all. Methinks it's gonna be that one. Plus I hear it's quiet too. Any idea what cable management is like?
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 19, 2012, 05:31 PM   #21
JrRacinFan
Served 5k and counting ...
 
JrRacinFan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Youngstown, OH
Posts: 16,121 (7.14/day)
Thanks: 4,149
Thanked 4,552 Times in 4,027 Posts
Send a message via AIM to JrRacinFan Send a message via Yahoo to JrRacinFan

System Specs

The interior of the Fractal would be better for cabling.
JrRacinFan is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 19, 2012, 05:33 PM   #22
MxPhenom 216
Knowledgeable Posting Whore
 
MxPhenom 216's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,756 (5.78/day)
Thanks: 1,276
Thanked 1,080 Times in 833 Posts

System Specs

Corsair 500r!
__________________
Motocross is not just a sport, it's a lifestyle.

File Server: Intel Pentium G630, 8GB PNY 1600, AsRock H77M Micro, Corsair CX430M, Vertex 2 90GB (OS), 2x WD Red 2TB in RAID1
“We will never know our full potential, unless we push ourselves to find it. -Travis Rice”
MxPhenom 216 is online now  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 20, 2012, 06:51 AM   #23
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by nvidiaintelftw View Post
Corsair 500r!
It looks like it has rad cable management
I'm so spoilt for choice! Does it come with dust filters, and is the stock cooling good? Also is it a quiet case or..
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Feb 20, 2012, 11:52 AM   #24
BrettRuthnam
25 Posts
 
BrettRuthnam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Centurion, South Africa (O_o)
Posts: 39 (0.05/day)
Thanks: 23
Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts

System Specs

Hello, I got my brother the Z9 Plus.

Here's a few points to note:

1st: Overall the Z9 is a "nice" case with respect to the paint job, fans, cable management slots...bla bla
2nd: The side panel has a mesh and 2 fans can be fitted there, the crap thing is it stuffs up air flow and you can hear noise from the inside of the chassis.
3rd: My brother has an OCZ Vendetta2 cpu cooler, boy oh boy did i have fun installing that. the clearance on the top of the case does not allow you to fit the cooler in a normal vertical position, i had to make it horizontal
4th: I have a CM690, I like it alot (Inspector Clueso's voice)

I vote 500R/CM690-II

PS: If money is not a problem, the Cosmos II is the one to get
also don't worry about fan filters, just get stockings = cut pieces and stretch over the fans
BrettRuthnam is offline  
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to BrettRuthnam For This Useful Post:
Old Feb 20, 2012, 09:25 PM   #25
El_Mayo
2000 Posts
 
El_Mayo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 2,100 (1.40/day)
Thanks: 1,262
Thanked 193 Times in 155 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrettRuthnam View Post
Hello, I got my brother the Z9 Plus.

Here's a few points to note:

1st: Overall the Z9 is a "nice" case with respect to the paint job, fans, cable management slots...bla bla
2nd: The side panel has a mesh and 2 fans can be fitted there, the crap thing is it stuffs up air flow and you can hear noise from the inside of the chassis.
3rd: My brother has an OCZ Vendetta2 cpu cooler, boy oh boy did i have fun installing that. the clearance on the top of the case does not allow you to fit the cooler in a normal vertical position, i had to make it horizontal
4th: I have a CM690, I like it alot (Inspector Clueso's voice)

I vote 500R/CM690-II

PS: If money is not a problem, the Cosmos II is the one to get
also don't worry about fan filters, just get stockings = cut pieces and stretch over the fans
I'm not LOADED but I'll spend up to £90 on a new case
Fractal or Corsair............................... I might literally flip a coin
El_Mayo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Which monitor should I buy? James1o1o General Hardware 6 Jan 5, 2012 09:19 PM
which CPU should i buy? El_Mayo System Builder's Advice 77 Apr 26, 2009 02:56 PM
which one case I should buy? ugabugazr General Hardware 4 Aug 22, 2008 04:42 PM
Which External HDD ESata case should I buy? suraswami General Hardware 1 Jan 7, 2008 01:03 AM
Which should i buy? ghost101 Graphics Cards 8 Nov 17, 2007 02:22 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
no new posts