• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Looking for a very specific case design

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
I was wondering if there is any case with following characteristics:

- mid tower
- no HDD cages or at lest fully removable (can have 2.5" SSD holders)
- fully optional/removable optical bays
- Fully covered front intake with easy access to dust filter (like on Carbide 330R
- Fully covered top so that 2x140mm fans exhaust to the back through a "tunnel" on top (similar to how front cover works)
- 3x 140mm intake fans
- 1x 120mm
- modular mounts for various radiators on front, top or rear
- the least windows and LED's they have, the better (I sleep in same room and light "noise" is annoying)
- Because I sleep in same room, noise suppression features are of very high priority

I actually like my Corsair Carbide 330R a lot, but it has few flaws that bother me. HDD and optical bay cages are non removable and they restrict air intake a lot unnecessarily (I only have Samsung 850 Pro SSD, so I need minimal space for it). Top fans, if I mount them, I have to remove the noise insulation cover which means I get airflow and noise (and I don't like noise). With the top cover, only exhaust is my PSU and 120mm exhaust fan. Which is quite weak.

MasterCase Maker 5t and Master Case Pro 6 kinda look like what I need with few compromises. Also quite affordable. Don't like the clear side panels and that handle on top on 5t model though. Any other recommendations?
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
17,690 (2.66/day)
System Name AlderLake / Laptop
Processor Intel i7 12700K P-Cores @ 5Ghz / Intel i3 7100U
Motherboard Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master / HP 83A3 (U3E1)
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A 2 fans + Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme + 5 case fans / Fan
Memory 32GB DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 6000MHz CL36 / 8GB DDR4 HyperX CL13
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio / Intel HD620
Storage Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Evo 500GB + 850 Pro 512GB + 860 Evo 1TB x2 / Samsung 256GB M.2 SSD
Display(s) 23.8" Dell S2417DG 165Hz G-Sync 1440p / 14" 1080p IPS Glossy
Case Be quiet! Silent Base 600 - Window / HP Pavilion
Audio Device(s) Panasonic SA-PMX94 / Realtek onboard + B&O speaker system / Harman Kardon Go + Play / Logitech G533
Power Supply Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 750W / Powerbrick
Mouse Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Laser wireless / Logitech M330 wireless
Keyboard RAPOO E9270P Black 5GHz wireless / HP backlit
Software Windows 11 / Windows 10
Benchmark Scores Cinebench R23 (Single Core) 1936 @ stock Cinebench R23 (Multi Core) 23006 @ stock
Joined
Oct 30, 2008
Messages
1,901 (0.34/day)
Processor 5930K
Motherboard MSI X99 SLI
Cooling WATER
Memory 16GB DDR4 2132
Video Card(s) EVGAY 2070 SUPER
Storage SEVERAL SSD"S
Display(s) Catleap/Yamakasi 2560X1440
Case D Frame MINI drilled out
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair TX750
Mouse DEATH ADDER
Keyboard Razer Black Widow Tournament
Software W10HB
Benchmark Scores PhIlLyChEeSeStEaK
So what case is it?
 
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
8,068 (1.40/day)
Location
Hillsboro, OR
System Name Main/DC
Processor i7-3770K/i7-2600K
Motherboard MSI Z77A-GD55/GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Cooling Phanteks PH-TC14CS/H80
Memory Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) LP /4GB Kingston DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Asus GTX 660 Ti/MSI HD7770
Storage Crucial MX100 256GB/120GB Samsung 830 & Seagate 2TB(died)
Display(s) Asus 24' LED/Samsung SyncMaster B1940
Case P100/Antec P280 It's huge!
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply SeaSonic SS-660XP2/Seasonic SS-760XP2
Software Win 7 Home Premiun 64 Bit
Define C is really close.
 

Norton

Moderator - Returning from the Darkness
Staff member
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Messages
14,108 (3.15/day)
Location
Northeast USA
System Name Main PC- Gamer- Main Cruncher/Folder and too many crunching/folding rigs
Processor Ryzen 5900X- Ryzen 5950X- Ryzen 3950X and etc...
Motherboard Asrock X570 Extreme4- MSI X570S Tomahawk MAX WiFi- MSI B450M Bazooka Max and etc...
Cooling Noctua NH-U14S (dual fan)- EK 360 AIO with push/pull fans- Corsair H115i RGB Pro XT and etc...
Memory 2x16GB GSkill FlareX 3200/c14- 4x8GB Corsair Vengeance 3600/c16- 2x16GB Team 3600/c18 and etc..
Video Card(s) MSI Gaming RX 6800- Asus RTX 3070 TUF OC- MSI Ventus GTX 1660Ti and etc...
Storage Main PC (1TB WD SN850- 2TB PNY CS 3040- 2TB Seagate Firecuda) and etc...
Display(s) Main PC (2x24" Dell UltraSharp U2414H)
Case Phanteks P600s- Seasonic Q704- Fractal Meshify C and etc...
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z625 THX 2.1 speakers
Power Supply EVGA 750 G3- SeaSonic DGC 750- EVGA P2 850 and etc...
Mouse G300s
Keyboard Corsair K65
VR HMD N/A
Software Windows 10 Pro or Ubuntu
Benchmark Scores Why sit on the Bench when you can get in the game and Crunch!!!
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
1,589 (0.36/day)
Location
Northamptonshire, UK
System Name Main / HTPC
Processor Ryzen 9 5900X / Ryzen 7 2700
Motherboard Strix B550i / B450i Aorus Pro
Cooling Lian-Li Galahad 360 / Wraith Spire
Memory Corsair LPX 2x16 3600MHz / HyperX Predator 2x8GB 3200MHz
Video Card(s) RTX 3080 FE / ARC A380
Storage WD Black SN770 1TB / Sabrent Rocket 256GB
Display(s) Acer Z301c / 39" Panasonic HDTV
Case Corsair 2000D / Cougar QBX
Audio Device(s) Yamaha RX-V379 / Realtek ALC1220
Power Supply Corsair SF600 / BeQuiet SFX Power 2 450W
Mouse Logitech G900
Keyboard Drop Sense75 with WQ Studio Morandi's
VR HMD Rift S
Software Win 11 Pro 64Bit
Define S and Define C fit the description almost spot on. You can get both without windows.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
Define C and S don't really have top ventilation with covers still on the case. Pure Base 600 seems to be the best contender so far in terms of price and features, but it also doesn't have top exhausting tunnel. :(

I've checked Cooler Master MasterCase Maker 5 more in depth with Youtube videos and it seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. It literally ticks all of my checkboxes. Plus, it has a fan controller with many fan headers which would neatly solve the lack of fan headers on motherboard.

I think I'll just go with this one. Ideal would be if there wasn't any floor splitting PSU apart since I have its fan turned inside and I'd want full intake to maximize intake air pressure/airflow, but this really seems to be the only thing I dislike.
 
Joined
Dec 15, 2011
Messages
1,962 (0.44/day)
Location
Sydney NSW, Australia
System Name Shoebox Sandwich | Razer Blade 14 | Synology DS418 w/ 4X8TB WD Red | iPhone 15 Pro
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
Motherboard ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi | Razer thing
Cooling NZXT Kraken 240 RGB w/ Lian Li P28 + Corsair AF120 Slim | Double fan vapour chamber
Memory G.Skill Flare X5 2x16GB 6000MHz CL32 DDR5 | 16GB 3200MHz DDR4
Video Card(s) Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XTX | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
Storage Seagate FireCuda 520 2TB + Lexar NM790 4TB | 1TB NVMe SSD + 2TB NVMe external SSD
Display(s) Alienware AW3423DW & Sony A90K 42" | 14" QHD IPS 165Hz & Sony X90J 65" 4K TV
Case FormD T1 - v2.1 - Titanium colourway w Aluminium mesh | Razer Blade 14
Audio Device(s) Schiit Hel 2E (Focal Clear & HiFiMAN HE-4XX & DROP PC38X) | Samsung Q950A
Power Supply Corsair SF750 Platinum | Razer 230W brick
Mouse Razer Viper Ultimate Mercury | Roccat Kain 202
Keyboard DIY Geek 64 PCB (Kailh Box Deep Sea - Matcha XDA Keycaps) | Corsair K63
VR HMD Oculus Quest
Software Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home
Benchmark Scores 2022 MINI Countryman SE PHEV Hybrid ALL4 | British Racing Green| Malt Brown Interior| YOURS Trim
Maybe a Phanteks Enthoo Evolv? or Enthoo Luxe or perhaps a Corsair 400Q?

EDIT: oops sorry, I didn't read your newest post. Yeh the MasterCase Maker 5 looks like a good choice.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
8,068 (1.40/day)
Location
Hillsboro, OR
System Name Main/DC
Processor i7-3770K/i7-2600K
Motherboard MSI Z77A-GD55/GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Cooling Phanteks PH-TC14CS/H80
Memory Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) LP /4GB Kingston DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Asus GTX 660 Ti/MSI HD7770
Storage Crucial MX100 256GB/120GB Samsung 830 & Seagate 2TB(died)
Display(s) Asus 24' LED/Samsung SyncMaster B1940
Case P100/Antec P280 It's huge!
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply SeaSonic SS-660XP2/Seasonic SS-760XP2
Software Win 7 Home Premiun 64 Bit
Last edited:
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
Case selection is such garbage it makes me want to build my own case and sell it, but I don't have the manufacturing capacities. Jesus, not a single freaking vendor has a case that is focused on excellent airflow and silence. They always have one or another or just neither.

The fact that I could find like just 2 cases that even understand the concept of silenced top fans via silencing tunnel is just jaw droppingly shocking. MasterCase Maker 5 kinda gets it right even though I'd prefer the top silencing tunnel to be pointing backwards and not to the front and same for front panel silencing tunnel. Why it has intake at the top where top is exhausting so it's just cycling hot air from exhaust straight into intake again. It's retarded.

And Maker 5 would be great if they haven't cocked it up with the false floor. They literally cut bottom front fan airflow in half because half of it just goes nowhere. So, you're effectively left with one and a half intake fan. Meaning if you use rear and top fans for exhaust, you'll never be able to achieve positive pressure. Or just simply enough intake airflow to keep up with exhausts. And it also screws up front mounting options for water cooling.

If Maker 5 didn't have stupid false floor and those HDD cages and floor could be entirely removed, that would be awesome. But with it, they totally cocked up the usability. Intake and exhaust is pretty good, the best design actually, but that floor, ugh, totally scres airflow, cooling mounting, spacing, everything.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
Oh my god, I searched everything and I can't find anything else with similar silenced top design as found on Coolermaster Maker 5 case. I really don't like the false floor which steals half the intake airflow of the bottom front intake fan to cool nothing since I have no HDD's. Otherwise it would be perfect.

EXTRA QUESTION:
Is the Coolermaster Maker 5 case false floor removable? Just seen with Maker 3 Pro that you can remove the false floor. If that's possible on Maker 5 it's perfect then.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
1,162 (0.22/day)
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Case selection is such garbage it makes me want to build my own case and sell it, but I don't have the manufacturing capacities. Jesus, not a single freaking vendor has a case that is focused on excellent airflow and silence. They always have one or another or just neither.

LOL.

Airflow does not promote silence by the way.
 

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
18,914 (2.86/day)
Location
Piteå
System Name Black MC in Tokyo
Processor Ryzen 5 5600
Motherboard Asrock B450M-HDV
Cooling Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2
Memory 2 x 16GB Kingston Fury 3400mhz
Video Card(s) XFX 6950XT Speedster MERC 319
Storage Kingston A400 240GB | WD Black SN750 2TB |WD Blue 1TB x 2 | Toshiba P300 2TB | Seagate Expansion 8TB
Display(s) Samsung U32J590U 4K + BenQ GL2450HT 1080p
Case Fractal Design Define R4
Audio Device(s) Line6 UX1 + some headphones, Nektar SE61 keyboard
Power Supply Corsair RM850x v3
Mouse Logitech G602
Keyboard Cherry MX Board 1.0 TKL Brown
VR HMD Acer Mixed Reality Headset
Software Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores Rimworld 4K ready!
  • Like
Reactions: bug
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
LOL.

Airflow does not promote silence by the way.

Clearly you don't know about silencing of fans. If you have a cover and intake from the sides, you lose tiny bt of airflow, but decrease the noise dramatically. The front cover on my Carbide 330R makes day and night difference. I can feel from the sides how much air sucks into the case, but I can hardly hear anything. Top doesn't have anything like it. It just works.
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
1,162 (0.22/day)
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Clearly you don't know about silencing of fans. If you have a cover and intake from the sides, you lose tiny bt of airflow, but decrease the noise dramatically. The front cover on my Carbide 330R makes day and night difference. I can feel from the sides how much air sucks into the case, but I can hardly hear anything. Top doesn't have anything like it. It just works.
You're right, I have a BeQuiet Dark Base Pro because I like loud computers that remind me of windstorms
 
  • Like
Reactions: bug
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
Well, then you haven't run it without the front panel. It's why I want the same on top. But literally no one apart from Maker 5 and some NZXT has it.
 

sneekypeet

Retired Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
29,407 (4.48/day)
System Name EVA-01
Processor Intel i7 13700K
Motherboard Asus ROG Maximus Z690 HERO EVA Edition
Cooling ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 with Noctua Industrial Fans
Memory PAtriot Viper Elite RGB 96GB @ 6000MHz.
Video Card(s) Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 24GB OC EVA Edition
Storage Addlink S95 M.2 PCIe GEN 4x4 2TB
Display(s) Asus ROG SWIFT OLED PG42UQ
Case Thermaltake Core P3 TG
Audio Device(s) Realtek on board > Sony Receiver > Cerwin Vegas
Power Supply be quiet DARK POWER PRO 12 1500W
Mouse ROG STRIX Impact Electro Punk
Keyboard ROG STRIX Scope TKL Electro Punk
Software Windows 11
Is the Coolermaster Maker 5 case false floor removable?

In all images it appears to be riveted into the bottom of the motherboard tray. I also saw no mention or rendering of it being removed in the manual.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
In the meanwhile I got an idea how to convert my Carbide 330R to achieve what I'm looking for without buying a new case. I'll try raising the cover using transparent aquarium air tubes attached to the cover edge groove. If all goes well it should be just enough to allow air passing underneath the cover to the front and rear, but low enough for it to silence the exhaust air noise.
 
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
8,068 (1.40/day)
Location
Hillsboro, OR
System Name Main/DC
Processor i7-3770K/i7-2600K
Motherboard MSI Z77A-GD55/GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Cooling Phanteks PH-TC14CS/H80
Memory Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) LP /4GB Kingston DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) Asus GTX 660 Ti/MSI HD7770
Storage Crucial MX100 256GB/120GB Samsung 830 & Seagate 2TB(died)
Display(s) Asus 24' LED/Samsung SyncMaster B1940
Case P100/Antec P280 It's huge!
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply SeaSonic SS-660XP2/Seasonic SS-760XP2
Software Win 7 Home Premiun 64 Bit
Have you taken a long hard look at the 600Q? It's listed as a full tower case, but it's only a little bit taller and wider than your 330R, but it is depth is shorter. It's ability to have up to 4 quiet 140 mm intake fans (3 are included) guarantees lots of quiet air flow. I like this review and how they installed everything: https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/corsair-carbide-600c-review/

Everything in your system is quiet, except for that AIO. crazyeyesreaper actually called it loud. Consider replacing that, maybe with an Alphacool Eisbaer 240, a EK-XLC Predator, or just go custom water cooling with something like one of the EKWB kits.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
Do you think my Nepton 120XL is running stock fans? It has a single non-High Speed SilentWings 3 PWM. With fan profile that allows temperatures up to 80°C on the CPU when all 12 threads are at 100%. And even when I was running those stock Silencio fans, I could keep them at ridiculously low RPM and still get excellent thermals.

Btw, the aquarium tubes idea is working. Just sticked segments of the tube with hot glue. Looks a bit ghetto underneath, but from the outside, all you can see is a bit of a gap around the top cover.

spacers1.jpg spacers2.jpg spacers3.jpg

Might refine it one day and I see I could use tubing with slightly larger diameter for larger gap. But I can already feel the air coming through at low RPM. With increased, I'd have to also increase the gap because I can gear the air hitting the cover a bit too much. But works great at low RPM.
 
Last edited:

MjK_it

New Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2017
Messages
2 (0.00/day)
Define C and S don't really have top ventilation with covers still on the case. Pure Base 600 seems to be the best contender so far in terms of price and features, but it also doesn't have top exhausting tunnel. :(

I've checked Cooler Master MasterCase Maker 5 more in depth with Youtube videos and it seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. It literally ticks all of my checkboxes. Plus, it has a fan controller with many fan headers which would neatly solve the lack of fan headers on motherboard.

I think I'll just go with this one. Ideal would be if there wasn't any floor splitting PSU apart since I have its fan turned inside and I'd want full intake to maximize intake air pressure/airflow, but this really seems to be the only thing I dislike.

look about masterbox 5 too, a good choice for few money
 

Tatty_Two

Gone Fishing
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
25,793 (3.88/day)
Location
Worcestershire, UK
Processor Rocket Lake Core i5 11600K @ 5 Ghz with PL tweaks
Motherboard MSI MAG Z490 TOMAHAWK
Cooling Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120SE + 4 Phanteks 140mm case fans
Memory 32GB (4 x 8GB SR) Patriot Viper Steel 4133Mhz DDR4 @ 3600Mhz CL14@1.45v Gear 1
Video Card(s) Asus Dual RTX 4070 OC
Storage WD Blue SN550 1TB M.2 NVME//Crucial MX500 500GB SSD (OS)
Display(s) AOC Q2781PQ 27 inch Ultra Slim 2560 x 1440 IPS
Case Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Windowed - Gunmetal
Audio Device(s) Onboard Realtek ALC1200/SPDIF to Sony AVR @ 5.1
Power Supply Seasonic CORE GM650w Gold Semi modular
Mouse Coolermaster Storm Octane wired
Keyboard Element Gaming Carbon Mk2 Tournament Mech
Software Win 10 Home x64
I found it difficult to find a single cases that met all my preferences, many of them similar to yours, I went with this one in the end, offers some of what you want at least..................................

http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-Pro-M.html
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
When you try doing something ghetto style and you end up doing it professionally anyway...

Top cover raiser Mk.2
IMG_20170906_125834.jpg

Bought some adhesive rubber foam pads, nailed holes in them to allow unscrewing the fans while raising the top cover and at the same time prevent it from sliding to the side since cover has pins in those exact spots so they are secured inside pads. Cover moves a bit side to side since pads have larger holes, but nothing too annoying.
 
Top