New Case, Your thoughts

[springs113]

I've been thinking of doing a new build and needed a case. I've narrowed it down to a select few. It will be housing an all AMD build. I'm not sure if I want to go dual loop but it cant hurt too have the space I guess if need be. I plan to have it house at least two 360mm rads. I have spare 420, 360, 240 and 120mm rads just to let you guys know. I would love for the case to have tempered glass but it is not a necessity.

Thoughts and opinions on the following or if you have your own; suggestions are welcomed.

P.S. I was leading towards the Lian Li Pc-011 but info is hard to find. I also love the Elite from Phanteks but wheew that flight case is so unnecessary. I already have a SMA8 so if chosen it would be my second, I also like the SM8 but wanted white which is not offered atm.

 

[Totally]

After owning a few Lian Li cases I've come to realize that they fall short of what you expect or are paying for, that the pc-011/2 do look like nice cases but speaking from my experience with other cases livability with that case brand was poor. I'll give them the doubt that they've improved since but not willing to shell out any more money to find out if they have or not. Phanteks cases are nice but not without their own issues people are reporting that their LED strips are dying on them among other things. Can't say anything about the other cases.

 

[Vayra86]

Voted for the Phanteks because it looks like a good package, good value/$, nice design, not so retardedly over the top and also doesn't want to look like its handcrafted by elves in moonlight (like most Lian Li stuff).

Matter of fact I've been eye-ing that one mself.

@jboydgolfer Indeed, don't overlook the Fractals. Very happy with my Define R4 currently.

I would avoid CM, but that's just me I guess. They tend to cut corners.

 

[jboydgolfer]

fractal design imo. look through their offerings. Phanteks lost my vote after my last Case purchase from them(Enthoo crap more like it).

 

[m0nt3]

I have the Phanteks Enthoo Luxe and it is a great case. Phanteks is good to deal with from my experience. I emailed them copies of my receipt for my Phanteks PH-TC14PE and had AM4 mounting brackets with in a week. The case is great for cable mangement, hides the power supply, and has RGB lighting, if thats your thing. I have the white version.

 

[Tatty_Two]

I have literally in the last week built a rig inside the Phanteks Enthoo Pro M and it is really good, easy build, plenty of options and looks good in Gunmetal plus the bonus is it's much cheaper than the Elite.

http://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/phanteks-enthoo-pro-m-chassis-review/

 

[jboydgolfer]

I have literally in the last week built a rig inside the Phanteks Enthoo Pro M and it is really good, easy build, plenty of options and looks good in Gunmetal plus the bonus is it's much cheaper than the Elite.

http://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/phanteks-enthoo-pro-m-chassis-review/

a tip from a fellow owner, use kid gloves with the front panel usb/3.5mm jacks. unless they fixedthe poor quality components they used in older models, then you've nothing to worry about.

Also fits a 280mm rad on the front bezel it could take another couple inches too

id give it a 7/10

 

[Tatty_Two]

I think it will take a 360 on the top but only if you remove the optical cage. I have had the front panel out a couple of times, it feels pretty solid, that black don't get close to Gunmetal!

 

[jboydgolfer]

im pretty sure it would. but it has that removable Rad mount thingy too remember. that might complicate your plans. just mentioning it is all, it is a bit abnormal @ the top, which is why i didnt go there with my install. im pretty sure it might take a 360 in the front. 360 = 14", and the front panel is 18" iirc.

I have the acrylic window version and the gunmetal wasn't an option with that model when I ordered it a couple years ago , but anyway it's black FTW

 

[Tatty_Two]

You can remove the rad mounting too now although I am using it as I just have a 240 up top and it fits nicely.

 

[springs113]

Thanks to all who have replied so far, I have been doing some googling and youtubing all day and gathered a bit more knowledge on some of the cases mentioned in the poll and others mentioned in the replies.

The CoolerMaster was a toss in to stir the pot at least. I checked out the Define R4 and Enthoo Pro M, I've found them to be too small for what I want to do. I really want to have a case that is large enough to add or remove with ease. I currently have a 900D/750D/CoreX9 in storage and I would only use the 750D if it all boils down to it. It's painted white but its features is just dated in my op.

@Totally - I appreciate and have heard the same concerns given about Lian Li's rep but I think other than Dimitri fr Hardware Canucks(views), the PC-011/-012 are highly rated.

@Vayra86 - What Phanteks case did you select?...I'm going to assume it's the Luxe though. I'm not a huge Lian Li fan but out of all their cases those 2 where the only 2 that I deemed worthy of even being mentioned. The cost is around $220 for the PC-011WX and $399 for the PC-012WX.

@jboydgolfer - Not a fan of Fractals and the one I do like is too small.

@Tatty_One - The Pro M is too small, so is the Evolv. I actually have the Evolv in the house(Wife's PC)...not to mention the heat issue it has. I know it can be modded to work but if it's going to add another $200-$400 to the price, I might as well get a different case. I don't use optical drives anymore at least internally so any case I get if that area is there(I'm removing it).

@m0nt3 - Which version of the luxe do you have? I've read that only the tempered glass model allows for removal of the drive cages to support a 360mm rad in the front.

 

[jboydgolfer]

You can remove the rad mounting too now although I am using it as I just have a 240 up top and it fits nicely.

If you're referring to the top, then yeah it's removable on mine too. BTW,I meant what I said earlier though ,be very wary with the front panel, both USB and 3.5 mm Jack's are known by phanteks to be crap. With any luck they've switched suppliers of the PCB that they used, on the off chance they didn't, and you have an issue send me a message because I have a spare one or two front panel boards for those cases .it's the entire front panel so power button reset button USB 3.5 mm etc. the mounting hardware, and the cord that plugs into the motherboard for 3.0 USB.I replaced it once on mine already, and then it broke a second time and I'm sick and tired of taking it all apart to replace it so I have a brand-new one kicking around

 

[Norton]

How about something from Anidees like the AI Crystal or AI Crystal Cube?

http://www.anidees.com/ai-crystal/ai-crystal

http://www.anidees.com/ai-crystal/ai-crystal-cube

The cube looks pretty sharp imho. That said, you already have a Corsair 900D so the only way to upgrade from that is Case Labs or Silverstone (like the TJ 11)

 

[m0nt3]

@m0nt3 - Which version of the luxe do you have? I've read that only the tempered glass model allows for removal of the drive cages to support a 360mm rad in the front.

I have the Entho Luxe. It looks lioke the drive cages are removable, but I have not attempted it. There are thumb screws on the corners, however.

 

[springs113]

@Norton i already have an SMA8 from Caselabs, everything else is a downgrade ha ha.
@m0nt3 oh i see. I like that case with only one gripe aside from the possibility of not being able to go dual 360mm rads... the look of the front of the case. Minor but still.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Thanks to all who have replied so far, I have been doing some googling and youtubing all day and gathered a bit more knowledge on some of the cases mentioned in the poll and others mentioned in the replies.

@Tatty_One - The Pro M is too small, so is the Evolv. I actually have the Evolv in the house(Wife's PC)...not to mention the heat issue it has. I know it can be modded to work but if it's going to add another $200-$400 to the price, I might as well get a different case. I don't use optical drives anymore at least internally so any case I get if that area is there(I'm removing it).

I suppose it is small as it's classified as a midi tower but I went from a HAF 932 and still found it roomy to be honest, it was without doubt the easiest build I have ever done because there is just so much free space in which to manouver, the only thing I found frustrating was that it actually comes with a minimal number of HDD racks, but it runs really cool, the airflow with two 140mm on the front is reflected in the fact that my CPU cooler is mid range but I have a 6700k at 4.7gig idling at 26c and 53c at full gaming load.

 

[Ebo]

Lian-Li allways, once you've done that you'll never go back to something less.

 

[springs113]

@Tatty_One it is small and if the Evolv is basically the same then imho it is too small. What I am surprised about is the number of people choosing the Elite given its price tag.

@Ebo I am actually like the PC-011 due to its openness...its like an open floor plan, all the room to work with.

 

[jboydgolfer]

I never could (personally) justify spending anything over $100'ish on a case. I've built pc's with $500/$600/$800 cases, but to me its frivolous. Cooling isnt necessarily any better in expensive cases then it is in a $50 case , atleast not by an amount that I would call justifiable of the cost difference, & certainly not across the board(meaning its not a certainty) . the looks of a sub $100 case can be just as nice as a high dollar case (ofc based on opinion). I tend to be of the opinion that years ago expensive cases had a much more functional role in the market then they do now, where certain options are very common across the board in most cases from $50 to $850, as where 10 years ago those option weren't common on "low end" cases(i.e newest revision of usb, hotswap,filters,removable drive cages etc). I suppose I would have to say if I was asked "why do people buy High end cases?" , Id have to reply, "because of Want, or desire to have that brand name case". Im certainly not faulting anyone for liking high end cases, or buying them, just figured I'd mention my thoughts on the subject of what I would call..."buy it because i want it" syndrome. which i think we (pc enthusiasts) all suffer from, atleast from time to time.

 

[springs113]

I just saw the Cougar Panzer... if I read correctly it can do push/pull with 360 rads.

 

[sneekypeet]

Why not just save a ton of cash and paint the SMA8 you already have? The case is screwed together so no issues getting it into smaller components, and you can have it in white like you want from the get go?

 

[Caring1]

I just saw the Cougar Panzer... if I read correctly it can do push/pull with 360 rads.

Panzer Max can, not sure about the Panzer Dual.

 

[springs113]

Why not just save a ton of cash and paint the SMA8 you already have? The case is screwed together so no issues getting it into smaller components, and you can have it in white like you want from the get go?

This case purchase will be for a new build. I'm looking to run multiple systems mainly one Intel and one Ryzen.

@Caring1 The mid tower for $89 definitely can and it have a TG panel.

 

[Duality92]

I don't understand why would anyone go with the Phanteks Elite, it's a steel case (appart from the outside shroud) with a $200 carrying case (that you're paying for and most likely won't use again). Essentially, you're getting a $400 case with a price premium and a useless case.

 

[Devon68]

How about the thermaltake core x9 snow edition?
http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002661