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Discrete case for dual GPU

I

igormp

Joined
May 10, 2023
Messages
922 (1.23/day)
Location
Brazil
System Specs
Processor 5950x
Motherboard B550 ProArt
Cooling Fuma 2
Memory 4x32GB 3200MHz Corsair LPX
Video Card(s) 2x RTX 3090
Display(s) LG 42" C2 4k OLED
Power Supply XPG Core Reactor 850W
Software I use Arch btw
Howdy my fellow techies.

So, I'm in the process of building a new system (9950x + PA120SE + 256GB RAM) and moving my GPUs (2x3090s) over to this new system, while leaving my current system still working in a headless manner and I will figure later a GPU for it later.

I really dislike the idea of those windowed cases or RGB stuff, I prefer my desktop to just be a black box that I can shove under the desk.
My current case was a cheap one (got it for ~$60) that apparently is local to my country, and the only windowless case that I could find back then. It's really nice since its side panel is a full mesh one, which helps the temps of my stacked GPUs after I shoved some fans on the side, as you can see below.

1740168802018.png

However, it's not available for sale anymore, and the only windowless options I could find in my country are the ones from Fractal. Specifically the following models, with converted pricing:
- Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact ($210)
- Fractal Design Torrent ($380)
- Fractal Design North XL Mesh ($380)

As you can see, pricing is awful, but it is what it is.

So, any opinions or alternatives on what would be the best idea for such a setup?
 
Those are 3-slot cards right?? or are they 4-slot??
 
kiddagoat said:
Those are 3-slot cards right?? or are they 4-slot??
Click to expand...

It would be awesome if @igormp should actually read down the maker and model of their RTX 3090's so it will be easier to help. They already filled out System Specs but left it out :confused:
 
kiddagoat said:
Those are 3-slot cards right?? or are they 4-slot??
Click to expand...
Shou Miko said:
It would be awesome if @igormp should actually read down the maker and model of their RTX 3090's so it will be easier to help. They already filled out System Specs but left it out :confused:
Click to expand...
Oops, sorry for leaving that out!
I believe they are 2.75 slots each. Both from gigabyte, one is a Vision and the other is a Gaming OC.
 
Depending on spacing, layout, and your personal preference, I would go with the North XL Mesh. It has a version without the window and RGB if it is available in your country.

It also has that structure across the motherboard expansion slot area for additional fans it looks like so you can get some air to both GPUs.

North XL — Fractal Design
 
kiddagoat said:
Depending on spacing, layout, and your personal preference, I would go with the North XL Mesh. It has a version without the window and RGB if it is available in your country.

It also has that structure across the motherboard expansion slot area for additional fans it looks like so you can get some air to both GPUs.

North XL — Fractal Design
Click to expand...
That's one of my options, and the one I was considering most given that it's the only one with a mesh panel.
It's also the most expensive one, but it should last quite some time.
 
Oh, seems like the regular (non-XL) version of the North is also available, and seems like it has a better build quality then the XL version.
Would any of you know about that?
 
I always prefer having the extra room. But that’s my preference.

How are you able to infer that it has a better quality?? Have you seen them side by side in person?

You have two large GPUs, I’d want them to have as much room to breathe as possible.
 
kiddagoat said:
How are you able to infer that it has a better quality?? Have you seen them side by side in person?
Click to expand...
Saw comments from owners that compared both, seems like the XL is more flimsy and prone to bending.
kiddagoat said:
You have two large GPUs, I’d want them to have as much room to breathe as possible.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure it'd help with GPU temps honestly, but I'm not sure on that either.
 
igormp said:
Ohhh, how did you get to this case? Looking at kabum's offerings under the cases section I could not find it.

I will take a look at it, thanks for pointing it out!
Click to expand...

The site doesen´t have a big "cabinet" filter.
Only filters for small and normal cases.

So i guessed that they must have put big cases put under game "cabinet".
That reduced it from 80 to 40 pages.

As to your question:

patience, good music and coincidentally Absinth
(The mindset of an expat helps as well ;))

Glad i could be of help:clap:
 
Between these I would pick the Torrent. But there's one that caught my interest, the SuperFrame (Terabyte's whitelabel) Hercules. It's SUPER cheap at only 419 BRL or so for the "RGB" edition that is still discreet, the standard one is even less (although its out of stock right now)


Carlyle2020hs said:
The site doesen´t have a big "cabinet" filter.
Only filters for small and normal cases.

So i guessed that they must have put big cases put under game "cabinet".
That reduced it from 80 to 40 pages.

As to your question:

patience, good music and coincidentally Absinth
(The mindset of an expat helps as well ;))

Glad i could be of help:clap:
Click to expand...

It's actually referred to as "Gabinete Full Tower" in their listing. Full Tower usually corresponds to "large cases" supporting E-ATX or EEB form factors here in Brazil. Some weird tech lingo. This link should work, if you feel like taking a look at all the options

www.kabum.com.br

Gabinete Full Tower com Ofertas Especiais

Descubra gabinetes full tower com descontos incríveis no KaBuM! Ofertas especiais para montar o setup dos seus sonhos. Confira agora!
www.kabum.com.br www.kabum.com.br

As for me, I am seriously considering one of those SuperFrame cases from Terabyte for the rebuild when my 5090 arrives. Really liked it, and it seems like a proper workstation grade case.
 
Last edited:
Does the full sized Torrent have enough room for 2x GPUs while using fans at the bottom?

My Compact was.. compact.
 
freeagent said:
Does the full sized Torrent have enough room for 2x GPUs while using fans at the bottom?

My Compact was.. compact.
Click to expand...

Yeah, 7 expansion slots. Just enough room for 2 GPUs.

www.fractal-design.com

Torrent

Built to maximize cooling potential straight out of the box, the Torrent comes with a brand-new component layout and two custom-made 180 x 38 mm Dynamic PWM / Prisma RGB fans. The Torrent is a perfect fit for anyone serious about high-end cooling – with or without a custom water loop.
www.fractal-design.com www.fractal-design.com
 
Cases that have 3 dedicated vertical GPU slots in addition to the 7-8 standard expansion slots, could allow riser'ing of one card.
(Could also re-open access to mobo expansion)

1740272650074.png



igormp said:
I really dislike the idea of those windowed cases or RGB stuff, I prefer my desktop to just be a black box that I can shove under the desk.
Click to expand...
Same, but in whitemetal.
I really wanted something like the classic Lian-Li non-windowed full-aluminum tower cases, but *everything* on the market has trended away from that.

Ended up w/ a $130 Geometric Future Dharma(Brushed aluminized steel face and trim, deep tinted glass windows, black painted interior), just because it was the closest thing to a 'discrete whitemetal box' on the market*.
*that wasn't "boutique", and had 3+ veritcal slots and 7+ 'normal' slots.

igormp said:
My current case was a cheap one (got it for ~$60) that apparently is local to my country, and the only windowless case that I could find back then. It's really nice since its side panel is a full mesh one, which helps the temps of my stacked GPUs after I shoved some fans on the side, as you can see below.
Click to expand...
Antec and a few other companies do make 'industrial' and 'servertower / workstation' cases still, but they're 3x-10x+ the cost of most-anything else on the market.
-The 'basic, affordable' case, is now a expansionless, windowed, RGB monstrosity :laugh:
 
Last edited:
Silverstone RM51 if you want to spend a lot of money.
 
Dr. Dro said:
But there's one that caught my interest, the SuperFrame (Terabyte's whitelabel) Hercules. It's SUPER cheap at only 419 BRL or so for the "RGB" edition that is still discreet, the standard one is even less (although its out of stock right now)

https://www.terabyteshop.com.br/pro...vidro-temperado-e-atx-black-sem-fonte-sem-fan
Click to expand...
That's indeed cheap. Downside for me is the glass window, a version without it would be perfect.
But I had not given Terabyte's a proper look since they lack filters, ended up finding this Montech case:

However, seems like this model has awful airflow, which would likely cook my components inside of it haha
freeagent said:
Does the full sized Torrent have enough room for 2x GPUs while using fans at the bottom?
Click to expand...
That's more of a motherboard limitation rather than case, unless the GPU on the bottom slot ends up going past the motherboard's edge (not my case).

LabRat 891 said:
Cases that have 3 dedicated vertical GPU slots in addition to the 7-8 standard expansion slots, could allow riser'ing of one card.
(Could also re-open access to mobo expansion)
Click to expand...
My current case has it, however you can't have both a vertical and a horizontal GPU since the one in the standard way ends up blocking the vertical slots.
LabRat 891 said:
Ended up w/ a $130 Geometric Future Dharma(Brushed aluminized steel face and trim, deep tinted glass windows, black painted interior), just because it was the closest thing to a 'discrete whitemetal box' on the market*.
*that wasn't "boutique", and had 3+ veritcal slots and 7+ 'normal' slots.
Click to expand...
That looks cool, apart from the window (IMO, ofc). The bottom-up cooling is also genius.
LabRat 891 said:
Antec and a few other companies do make 'industrial' and 'servertower / workstation' cases still, but they're 3x-10x+ the cost of most-anything else on the market.
-The 'basic, affordable' case, is now a expansionless, windowed, RGB monstrosity :laugh:
Click to expand...
Sadly none of those are really available here. I die with envy whenever I open up pcpartpicker and see tons of windowless options available in the US that aren't available here :cry:

Vario said:
Silverstone RM51 if you want to spend a lot of money.
Click to expand...
yet another case of not available here (it actually was, but it's out of stock everywhere).
 
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