I'm itching to change up my case. I'm currently using the old steel monolith known as the Cooler Master Haf X, but it's really starting to show its age. I have a custom water cooling loop and many cases now are far more liquid-friendly than they used to be. My Haf X has been modded quite a bit to fit two hefty radiators in (which it was really never designed to hold any), but I'm looking for something more user friendly with better cable management, dust filtering (I have cats), storage space, radiator mounting. If possible, lighter would be nice since it's currently pushing about 80+ pounds, but size and dimensions are really not an issue if it will truly meet my needs. The same goes for price. If it's worth it, I'm willing to spend it; though I really don't see myself going above $200.
Does anyone have any recommendations they'd like to share? I have quite a bit of hardware I need to fit. I'll post my system specs below, and a couple photos of my current setup.
4770k @ 4.7Ghz Asus Formula VI MOBO 16GB G-Skill Ripjaws 1600MHz 2 x AMD R9-280X WD Black 2TB WD Green 2TB Samsung 850 EVO 500GB 2 x Samsung 840 EVO 256GB 850w Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid Cooler Master HAF-X NZXT Sentry Mesh 5 1/4 bay fan controller
My custom water cooling loop... XSPC Raystorm CPU block 2 x Alphacool NexXxos GPX blocks XSPC Dual-Bay Reservoir with a D5-Vario pump combo XSPC EX-360 360mm radiator (push/pull 30mm thick) Alphacool UT-60 240mm radiator (pull 60mm thick)
If you want a cube case I would go with either the Air 540 or Air 740 from corsair, depending on what aesthetic you like. if you want a more traditional tower I would go with a phanteks evolve case, or maybe a define S from Fractal design. (the only one that would work with your fan controller are the 540 and Evolve.)
I've been looking quite a bit at the 740, but it's not available yet and I haven't seen the price. I honestly don't really care if my fan controller stays, and I really want to change my reservoir out of the 5 1/4 bay. It's a serious pain in the ass, so a case with 5 1/4 bays are really not necessary for me. Phanteks cases are certainly nice. Just did a build in an Enthoo Luxe, but I don't think the define S or Evolve will have a place for my 60mm thick rad with 2 HDDs and 3 SSDs (though I'm not opposed to velcroing SSDs since that's where they are now). Thanks for your suggestions!
You might be able to get that in a define s, if you try hard.
I am in the 540 now with similar amount of hardware(just minus the 5 1/4 stuff) 2 GPUS same board, a 30 mm 360 rad and a 30mm 240 rad but I am pretty sure the 60mm 240 will fit, and I highly recommend a tube res in the back with the PSU (I will link pictures when I find a link) edit: found it quickly http://imgur.com/a/uCuHy
As far as price goes its supposed to be about 160 GBP so in USD right now that is supposed to be about 200
The hard drive tray underneath can be removed I think, and finding a spot for the SSDs probably isn't too hard, and then it has handles, and you win for portability
The 240 would be the problem, you could totally fit a 360 in the front though, I know 3 120mm fans will fit no problem with some modding in the front where there's normally only 2 fan mount points
I was familiar with the HAF XB but not the Evo version. That's a pretty awesome case, but I'd definitely be concerned with fitting the rads I currently have. That is a really nice case that I'll have to look into more. Really like the handles.
That's a great looking system @SantaClausii was definitely thinking the same thing about the reservoir looking at the 740 earlier today. Just not sure that case is $200 good.
That looks great, but I don't see getting my 60mm thick 240 rad in the front. As much as I love that case, and loved working with it I don't think it's going to fit my rads.
