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Corsair Carbide 330R and wide graphic cards?

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I'm looking the most at this case because it looks good, is silence focused and seems well designed, but I'm wondering if anyone happens to own this case and also has ASUS Strix 9-390X/GTX 980 or MSI Gaming R9-390X/GTX 980 graphic card. These are unusually wide graphic cards and I'd like to be sure they have some space left width wise when installed.

I want to actually see it, preferably with photos. When I was doing measuring it looked like it would fit into my Lian Li case and then I had to redesign half of it... Don't want to do that "mistake" again. Can't use the super wide cases though, space issue.
 
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Also, any idea how much space there is under the front cover? I see I'll have to use a optical bay fan controller and I want to know how big the knobs can be before they get in the way of the front cover door...
 
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Looking at the 330R specs, it shows the maximum GPU length it supports is 450mm so you should be able to go from there to see if any card you are considering will fit.

You may have to contact Corsair to see how much room is behind the front door when closed. But going by my experience with other Corsair cases, they are very good at suppressing fan noise and they come with really quiet fans too. Do you really need the controller? If so, or you just want it, you may end up having to remove the door permanently, or select a case without a door.
 
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I was talking about graphic card width and not length. :p How much space there is beyond the rear expansion slot screw? So I can measure it on my case from there on and see how much space I'd gain.

I just realized the difference between black and titanium 330R. The titanium comes with 3 level fan controller. I guess aluminium front panel doesn't look that bad and I won't need any extra fan controller.

What kind of fans are in the 330R ? They have no labels or info under specs. I highly doubt they are hydro bearing ones. Or are they? Was thinking of getting two 140mm Corsair Quiet models for the front (high pressure or high airflow!?), got plenty of 120mm NB Multiframes for the top and rear...

I also wonder how is air exhausted on the top with the cover on. It looks like there is only one small hole in the front. Or are there others I don't see on photos?
 
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I highly doubt they are hydro bearing ones.
If not hydro, I am sure precision bearing. All I know is with my Corsair 300R, I cannot hear them.

I would not worry about the height (you're calling it width but think desktop, not tower) of the card unless you get a "low profile" or "slim" case.

That top cover does seem a bit odd in terms of cooling. The case is touted as a "quite" case, not cool. Note is clearly says it is "designed for systems that will go into media rooms, bedrooms, dorm rooms, or any place where both silence and performance are essential." So if keeping your components cool is your top priority, this is probably "not" the case for you.
 
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Just a guess, it'll fit.

Asus Strix 390X = 137mm
Gigabyte WF 780 = 129mm

PCI bracket length is 120mm (the exposed silver bracket). As you can see there's plenty of space on the right of the WF 780 card, about ~60mm more.

Besides, modern mid tower case usually could accomodate 14cm HSF (about 160mm total height).
 
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The case is touted as a "quite" case, not cool.
So if keeping your components cool is your top priority, this is probably the case for you.
:confused:
I see I'll have to use a optical bay fan controller
Use quiet fans and don't bother with a fan controller.
Was thinking of getting two 140mm Corsair Quiet models for the front (high pressure or high airflow!?)
Case fans=AF, radiator fans (air or water)=SP
I choose the P100 case over the 330R because it was a lot cheaper and basically that top cover is worthless. With the cover on, the case has a relatively low air flow. With the cover off, most of the sound isolation is gone. I set a scanner on top of my case so I wasn't worried about it. If your goal is to make a very quiet PC, keep the GPU wattage as low as possible, which just about eliminates all of the AMD GPU's.
 
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AF even if it has to push/drag air through the dust filter? I had dust filters on mine, but the airflow through it drops so much it hardly makes any wind inside the case. I'm not even kidding.

Also, I have around 120 EUR worth of high quality fans. I'm not in the mood of changing them. I bought them in higher RPM versions so I have free hands on configuration, but I need the fan controller, wiring to 5V lines or resistors.
 
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(assuming you're using the ANTEC H2O 920) If you move the 120mm from the rear of the case to the front, you really shouldn't need any other fans. And I think those fans are quiet @ 12v.
 
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I am just saying you cannot have "optimal" cooling AND "optimal" quietness at the same time in ANY case. One is always a trade off the other. And with this case, with a front door and a top cover, intake of cool air will be restricted.

And note typical water cooling does nothing for the chipset, RAM, graphics card, drives and regulation components surrounding the CPU socket. They all rely on an adequate supply of cool air "flowing" through the case. That is the problem with using alternative cooling solutions for the CPU, too often cooling for the other critical components is overlooked.

Can you adequately cool with this case? Sure. But note I said with this specific case, which is designed to be used as for an HTPC where total silence is a requirement, if cooling is your top priority, this is not the case for you. And I stand by that statement.

And yes air filters restrict air flow too, especially as they get dirty. I personally don't enjoy breaking down my systems to lug them outside to blast out the dust so I insist my cases have removable washable air filters. Then I just watch my CPU temps with CoreTemp and when my temp starts inching near 60°C for more than a couple seconds, I know it is time to clean my filters.
 
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Mid tower HTPC ? I have a miniATX case currently and I'm keeping it reasonably quiet at reasonable temperatures. It can't be that worse at such size and fan placement. I know covers restrict airflow, but do they really restrict it that much?
 
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:oops: My bad! My mind saw what I wanted to say (over and over again) but my fingers didn't. I have edited my original statement but to re-iterate, "if keeping your components cool is your top priority, this is probably "NOT" the case for you."

Thanks, thebluebumblebee!
 
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:oops: My bad! My mind saw what I wanted to say (over and over again) but my fingers didn't. I have edited my original statement but to re-iterate, "if keeping your components cool is your top priority, this is probably "NOT" the case for you."

Thanks, thebluebumblebee!
Hope you know that I wasn't picking on you. I was pretty sure what you wanted to say, and I wanted to clear it up for the thread.
 
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Hope you know that I wasn't picking on you. I was pretty sure what you wanted to say, and I wanted to clear it up for the thread.
No! I am glad you persisted until I woke up! Thanks!
 
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I prefer very plain looks and the case feet might be a problem for stability (I have the case placed on a rather narow stand so it's not eating dust from the ground and I don't think it would stand well on it because it has the feet rather wide apart).

I can't seem to find any video where I could see if top cover lets any air out or does it entirely block the airflow there. I found one, but it looked like it blocked the airflow entirely.

Ok, I've just decided and have bought the 330R Titanium which comes with a 3 speed fan adjustment and aluminium front panel. The rest is the same as with black model. I've watched few reviews and apart from few critics, it seems reasonably well designed case.

I've also bought 2x Corsair AF140 Quiet models for the front. Will try to maximize air intake with minimum noise. Rear will be replaced with existing NB Multiframe and probably on top as well, depending on how the exhaust work with cover in place. From what I've seen top cover can't be used if you fit 140mm fans there. I'll also report back regarding this top cover. Reviewers of cases are really INCREDIBLY sloppy. Not a single one bothered to tell how if any airflow is there on the top with cover in place. And if you do leave it in place, can sound insulation be removed? No one bothered to tell that. Because cover, even without insulation would still dampen the noise to some extent.

Reviewers should also use a bunch of light strings to visualize airflow and how air filters potentially restrict that. Am I really the first one to suggest that? Watched like 10 case reviews and I still have ZERO clue how much airflow is lost due to HDD cages and air filters which is rather rubbish. But if there were colored strings hanging behind fans, you could easily SEE the airflow effect. Not perfect but would at least be somewhat useful.

Maybe I'll even make my first narrated video review for this one and focus on such (unanswered) specifics...
 
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I prefer very plain looks
Me too. I think cases should sit quietly and discreetly off to the side and not draw attention to themselves so I can pay attention to what's on my monitors. That's why I like Antec cases - most are very conservative in looks, very sturdy and "true" (exactly 90.0° angles). You might want to check out the Eleven Hundred V2 or less expensive Three Hundred Two.
 
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I'm kinda alergic to sidepanel windows and grills. I was looking at Lian Li again, but paying 260 € for a case was a bit much at the moment, although it would be ridiculously light since they are entirely made of aluminium. And the HDD cages were incredibly modular. But still, for roughly 100€, Carbide 330R seems like a decent value. Especially the Titanium version which is cheaper and actually offers more features. The fan speed controller on current Lian Li is priceless and makes setup quick and easy with any kind of fans.
 
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Well, neither of those have side panel windows - that said, side panel windows are nice for doing regular inspections for dust build-up and spinning fans. As for grills, not sure what you mean but generally they suggest air intake vents and IMO vent are better than doors that cover vents.

I have done several builds with Lian Li cases and frankly, I was not that impressed - especially after all the hype about them. The aluminum actually made the cases feel flimsy and felt like the entire case could induce twisting torque on the motherboard when you have to lug the system about - like outside for cleaning. Yes, that aluminum is lighter but once you fill the case up with the motherboard, RAM, PSU, heatsink, drives, etc. they are no longer "ridiculously" light. A good, solid steel case is heavier, but not flimsy. And I think that is important to keep undue stress off the motherboard mounting point as the case stays "true" with no twisting torque issues.

And the HDD cages were incredibly modular.
Modular? I say more parts to hassle with. And they add weight to the case. Drive bays can be nice, but I think the tool-less rail mounts used in those Antecs and similar cases, like the 330r, are just as easy, if not easier. The rails just fit in the drive screw holes then you simply slide the drives in rail grooves until they click and lock in place. Piece of cake.

You did not say which Lian Li but note the PC-8E weighs 6.5Kg (14.33lb). The larger Antec Eleven Hundred V2 weighs 15.3lbs. I suspect that is due in part to the drive cages. So there really is not any significant difference and you get a sturdier case with the Antec.

Something else to consider is the location of the power and reset button and USB ports. If your case will sit on or near the floor, you will want the power buttons and ports up top. I note that Lian Li case has them in the middle.
 
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I tend to agree with Bill, even though the two comments Bee quoted when put together sound like a contradiction.

There are quiet cases, and there are airflow cases. Even though today's chips are smaller die, they are more powerful, so you still end up with a fair amount of radiated heat in the case, esp with aftermarket air coolers on GPUs. Plus people tend to OC smaller die chips higher, bringing their heat back up.

The venting space is much more restricted on solid panel cases for both intake (front) and exhaust (top), plus it traps radiant heat more. It also sounds from your posts that you are going as much for looks as silence.

Plus I think it's a shame to drop 100 bills on a case like that for high end gaming when you can get their Spec-03 right now for only $44. Plus it's massively wide for GPU, CPU coolers, and cable management, AND has a window to show off your parts.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139038&cm_re=spec-03-_-11-139-038-_-Product

If you asked this one about wide GPUs, it would just roll it's eyes and say, "Seriously dude? Look at me".

 
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I'm looking the most at this case because it looks good, is silence focused and seems well designed, but I'm wondering if anyone happens to own this case and also has ASUS Strix 9-390X/GTX 980 or MSI Gaming R9-390X/GTX 980 graphic card. These are unusually wide graphic cards and I'd like to be sure they have some space left width wise when installed.

I want to actually see it, preferably with photos. When I was doing measuring it looked like it would fit into my Lian Li case and then I had to redesign half of it... Don't want to do that "mistake" again. Can't use the super wide cases though, space issue.
It's 210mm wide and takes up to a 170mm CPU cooler, so an extra wide GPU should easily fit.
As for fan controller knobs in the front drive bay, does it have to sit flush with the knobs protruding?
Recess them a bit or remove some insulating foam from that portion of the front panel.
 
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If I've managed to combine high end components inside a miniATX case with silence in mind, I think I can manage in a mid tower with same philosophy. I just really have to solve the space issue, because PSU being pressed at the graphic card in a custom offset from its original position just doesn't work for me anymore. And frankly, I'm getting old, because I don't have the nerves to totally redesign the case very time I buy something new that is a bit out of usual spec (like the wide graphic card). With this case, I should be fine for few more careless years. I hope.

Would prefer aluminium again, because I did get spoiled by the lightness of current Lian Li and my old Gigabyte Matrix case, but I guess it won't kill me if I save some bucks and lift the steel case for 50cm...
 
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even though the two comments Bee quoted when put together sound like a contradiction.
That might be because I left out a critical word ("not") in my original statement. :(

To reiterate what I said and what Frag said, you cannot have "optimal" cooling AND "optimal" quietness at the same time in ANY case. One is always a trade off the other. And to that, the Corsair 330r would be best when optimal quietness is the goal.

That said, if not overclocking, not overloading the case with lots of HDDs and multiple graphics cards, I am sure the 300r will keep your components adequately cooled, quietly.
Would prefer aluminium again, because I did get spoiled by the lightness
Well, again, research the specs to see if the specific aluminum case really is significantly lighter. You might find, as I noted above, with the Antec Eleven Hundred, it is only by a pound or two and that will pretty much be negated once you fill the case with components.

I note Frag's suggested Corsair only weighs 11.02 lbs and even the 330r weighs just 14.99lbs, a mere 1/2lb more than the all aluminum Lian Li PC-8E.

And to be sure, lightness does NOT suggest quality!
 
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And to be sure, lightness does NOT suggest quality!

Esp considering you have to factor in how much grill (mesh) area there is, and whether there's a window where there would otherwise be steel sheet.
 
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