A new build - needs a case recommendation

[mlody]

I am looking to build a new system - it will be based on Haswell i7.
I would love to use the Fractal Design Node 304, but it only support mITX motherboards and based on my requirements, I will need to step up to at least microATX motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352027&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687


Basically what I am looking for is a case that has clean, professional look (just like node 304) but has room for microATX motherboard and at least 3 2.5" SSD. I do not need much else as I wont be using any optical, nor 3.5 drives. I will also not be using a dedicated video card (HD4600 is good enough for my needs).
Is anyone aware anything that is available and fits my requirements.

Thanks for any information

 

[C2bcool]

Corsair 200r or 300r....Or even the new 330r (quiter version of the 300r). I did my build with the 300r VERY nice case and easy to work with. I added 2 140mm Cougar fans and really love the setup.

Those are a more traditional look than that fractal box one you linked.....not a fan of the cube looking cases.

Also, Silverstone has a lot of really nice cases as well that should fit your needs and that cube look. But, I don't have any personal experience working with them.

 

[Cerb]

Corsair 350D

There's a case for you. 3 2.5" drive mounts, MicroATX, and it's filtered.

Also, Silverstone has a lot of really nice cases as well that should fit your needs and that cube look. But, I don't have any personal experience working with them.

The PS07 and Temjin TJ08, at least, are awesome. Cost would be about the same as the above corsair, once 3.5"->2.5" adapters were added, though, as they don't have included mounts for them, just a lone mount for the typical OS/SRT drive. The Kublai has a 2.5" cage, though.

 

[crazymonkeyzero]

Agree with Cerb. The 350D is probably one of the best micro atx cases now. Another alternative is the Fractal Design Arc Mini. But personally I would prefer the 350d if given the choice between the two.

 

[Praxis1452]

I recently just built a micro-atx system and the thing about most micro-atx cases is that I personally found them barely smaller than any ATX mid tower. They are still massive. The 350D and others especially so. I mean who really uses 5.25" bays anymore? Maybe that's just me but I haven't touched one in close to 5 years. Since you're not using those and you're not going to need any 3.5" bays, get the SG10. It technically fits 2x3.5" and 4x2.5".

 

[Cerb]

SG10? For sale? Hmmmm. It is. Do we a have a winner?

At first I almost wanted to say the SG09, but then:

clean, professional look

The SG09 looks like it got designed as a prop for a bad scifi movie. The SG10 is nothing more than the SG09 with a decent look to it, by what I've seen.

 

[Carson Dyle]

The Fractal Design Define Mini is a good looking, minimalist case.

Although I'm surprised that with your needs - no video card and only three SATA drives - that you can't find a suitable miniITX motherboard. Most microATX cases are going to be much larger than you need, with one or more 5.25" drive bays and space for long video cards.

 

[mlody]

Thank you for all great suggestions. I am leaning towards 350D as it has the looks closely matching my requirements.

As far as going with m-ITX system, I would have preferred that, but I need a motherboard that supports at least 32GB of ram and as far as I can tell, none exist that support more then 16GB of Ram.
This will be my new virtualization workstation - basically, I will be running 10+ lab virtual machines all the time - starting from domain controller, exchange, sccm, sql, while ending with ESXi.
as far as my drive configuration - I am looking into 1x250GB Samsung SSD for boot and apps and 2x500gb-1tb SSDs as storage for vmdk's, some NAS volumes etc. If there is a room for additional drive, I might toss a spinning hdd for backups only - or could use my external hdd's.
This is why I would love to go with mode 304 and from the HDD capacity, the case is perfect, but the current m-ITX motherboards are what limits me.
I might also wait for Shuttle Haswell system as their Ivy Bridge one, even though is based on m-ITX form factor, it actually has 4 dimms and supports 32GB of ram.

 

[mlody]

...a quick update.

Ended up getting Corsair 350D case. I also ordered Corsair CX430M, Asus H87M-E and i7-4770.
I will try the stock cooler for now, if it is really lame like most say, I am going to get the CM Hyper 212+ since I am already familiar with that one.

Thanks all for pointing me in the right direction with the case - i am really digging it.

 

[Evilviking]

...a quick update.

Ended up getting Corsair 350D case. I also ordered Corsair CX430M, Asus H87M-E and i7-4770.
I will try the stock cooler for now, if it is really lame like most say, I am going to get the CM Hyper 212+ since I am already familiar with that one.

Thanks all for pointing me in the right direction with the case - i am really digging it.

Great choice. Love my 350D

 

[mlody]

...a quick update.

Ended up getting Corsair 350D case. I also ordered Corsair CX430M, Asus H87M-E and i7-4770.
I will try the stock cooler for now, if it is really lame like most say, I am going to get the CM Hyper 212+ since I am already familiar with that one.

Thanks all for pointing me in the right direction with the case - i am really digging it.

update- the stock Intel cooling fan is a junk beyond description. Prime 95 brings the CPU temp to 100c in a blink of an eye.

 

[Cerb]

update- the stock Intel cooling fan is a junk beyond description. Prime 95 brings the CPU temp to 100c in a blink of an eye.

Check your pushpins. That should not be happening. It's easy to get what looks like them all pushed all the way in, but one not, leading to not enough pressure on the CPU IHS to force out excess TIM.

 

[mlody]

Before i swapped the stock cooler, i double checked everything and it looks ok, yet still same crappy performance. Since then,i replaced it with Hyper 212 Plus and my temps improved dramatically. Still hotter then my previous i7 sandy and ivy bridge builds using the same CM Hyper 212 plus cooler, so this confirms that the latest intel cpus run much hotter then the previous generations, but since i am getting faster cpu and on board video, i guess i shouldn't be complaining about that.