Case reccomendation, I have a few in hand to chose from on a new build

[Spike]

I'm building a new full size gaming PC and have several case sitting around. I used to go more for the quiet setup, but recently have had louder setups. I'd like to get back to a quieter setup but I want to make sure cooling is adequate.

My new build will involve an i5-4690k with Noctua NH-D14 and a eVGA GTX 970 with the ACX 2.0 cooler, not the quietest I know. The cases I have to chose from are an old Antec P180 (original version), Antec 902 v3, Antec DF-30, and NZXT H2. I'd prefer to use the NZXT due to it's internal setup and potential for being quiet enough, but I don't know if the cooling will be enough. I do plan to overclock the CPU but not to an extreme, a 4.3 or 4.4 would be my goal.

Thoughts on the NZXT? Would it have enough cooling for this seutp?

Case link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146072

Otherwise I'll likely use the DF-30 since thats just sitting around new in a box, but I doubt it will be as quiet.

Thanks!

 

[lehtv]

NZXT H2 is aimed for quiet computing and has the most modern feature set out of the cases you listed, I'd go with that. If you find its cooling could be improved for your OC needs, you can add a top 140mm fan to remove hot exhaust air from the D14 more efficiently.

If you have so many cases sitting around though, why not sell some of them and buy a new Fractal Design Define R5?

 

[Charlie98]

If you have so many cases sitting around though, why not sell some of them and buy a new Fractal Design Define R5?

Or the R4 on closeout for $80!

 

[Spike]

NZXT H2 is aimed for quiet computing and has the most modern feature set out of the cases you listed, I'd go with that. If you find its cooling could be improved for your OC needs, you can add a top 140mm fan to remove hot exhaust air from the D14 more efficiently.

If you have so many cases sitting around though, why not sell some of them and buy a new Fractal Design Define R5?

By sitting around, I mean all but the DF-30 have PC's already inside them and I will be selling many of them off.

I've never heard of the Fractal Designs brand, though based on the cases I have on hand, you can tell it's been a bit since I've shopped for cases. I'll take a look at the R4/R5's and see whats available.

EDIT* What am I missing? The R4 looks like nothing special, just a basic case, similar to my NZXT, with a quiet design and subdued features. My NZXT actually has a few additional features like that hot swap SATA spot on top. Is it just that the R4 functions and cools well? Why the hype?

 

[VeryCharBroiled]

I have the H2.

it has a 3570k clocked to 4.3 (on a corsair H75), an AMD 6870 OCed to 1000 Mhz (with [a HUGE] artic cooling accellero xtreme III, 3x92 mm fans and mx4 paste), gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5 mobo, 16 gigs RAM, SSD and 3 HDs, antec earthwatts 650 . CPU and GPU ran @ 100% for folding @home 24/7 for over a year with no issues, although the house is climate controlled to 71 degrees F year round. CPU ran in the mid 50s/low 60s with the H75 fans at about 70%. GPU was in the 70s with the fans at 100%. the cases 3 speed fan control was on high at that time.

fans I run are the 2 front and one bottom intakes and the 2 120s (push/pull) exhaust that come with the H75. nothing in the top 140 mm spot as the H75 radiator blocks it.

one problem with this case is that if you ever go with AIO water coolers and you mount radiator in the back mount you cant use the 140 mm top fan mount as there are clearance issues.

also, the bottom filter has to be slid out from the back, so its kind of a pain to clean it.. although it doesnt get that bad compared to the front filters.

dunno how a SLI/crossfire setup would fair though with no side fan available on it.

that said it is pretty quiet compared to the antex soho case I replaced with it. still hear some noise from the H75 fans though. gonna look into replacing them at some point.

 

[Topweasel]

By sitting around, I mean all but the DF-30 have PC's already inside them and I will be selling many of them off.

I've never heard of the Fractal Designs brand, though based on the cases I have on hand, you can tell it's been a bit since I've shopped for cases. I'll take a look at the R4/R5's and see whats available.

EDIT* What am I missing? The R4 looks like nothing special, just a basic case, similar to my NZXT, with a quiet design and subdued features. My NZXT actually has a few additional features like that hot swap SATA spot on top. Is it just that the R4 functions and cools well? Why the hype?

NZXT always seems to remind of Coolermaster whom I Like. They make some of the most cost effective or Feature filled cases but they also use to much plastic and sometimes can use delicate parts. Don't know if it applies to the H2.

I had my questions regarding Fractal before I built up a Define R4 XL system for a coworker. Besides being a great sound deadening system (complete with super padded fan slot covers for unused fan slots), its an extremely well built and sturdy computer the is intelligently spaced out inside. So you get very quiet case, that is incredibly sturdy, that is a breeze to work with, and all that while costing $50-$75 less than any case offering any of their features.

If I was building a Tower today I would think about the XL versions but I wouldn't say its hands down my next case. It's just the easiest case to recommend to anyone who doesn't know what to get. It's elegant, will fit all your hardware and then some, it's cheap, I won't break on them, and it's quiet allowing users more latitude on their hardware choice before they complain to you about how loud their system is.

 

[Rezist]

I like NZXT, I'm not a huge fan of the H2 but it's the case I'd go with.

 

[Omar F1]

Or the R4 on closeout for $80!

After moving my components to a Fractal Design Core 3500, I highly recommend their products, excellent build quality, feel, & outside look.

 

[Spike]

Thanks for all the info. I'll likely stick with the NZXT for now but if I run into any issues I'll go for an R4/R5, just to give it a whirl. I still need to figure out what to do with the DF-35 case (found out it was a 35 and not a 30), maybe I'll just sell it.

 

[ClockHound]

Have you done the SPCR mod on your H2 to improve the restricted front intake?
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1188-page9.html

 

[Charlie98]

Thanks for all the info. I'll likely stick with the NZXT for now but if I run into any issues I'll go for an R4/R5, just to give it a whirl. I still need to figure out what to do with the DF-35 case (found out it was a 35 and not a 30), maybe I'll just sell it.

I think some were under the impression you had all these cases setting around idle... not full of parts. In that case, definitely stick with the NZXT.

If you are shopping for a new case, and you are not familiar with Fractal, be sure to take a peek at them. Well built and thought out is an understatement. The R4/R5 is the standard, but don't overlook their little brother the Define Mini (mATX) or the Core or Arc series. Fractal has reengineered many of the cases in the Core series, so there is always something new...

 

[VeryCharBroiled]

Have you done the SPCR mod on your H2 to improve the restricted front intake?
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1188-page9.html

interesting. I have no cooling issues though but Ill keep in in mind for the future.

 

[Spike]

Have you done the SPCR mod on your H2 to improve the restricted front intake?
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1188-page9.html

Very interesting, I'll give this a whirl, thanks for the link!

I think some were under the impression you had all these cases setting around idle... not full of parts. In that case, definitely stick with the NZXT.

If you are shopping for a new case, and you are not familiar with Fractal, be sure to take a peek at them. Well built and thought out is an understatement. The R4/R5 is the standard, but don't overlook their little brother the Define Mini (mATX) or the Core or Arc series. Fractal has reengineered many of the cases in the Core series, so there is always something new...

Yeah, the only one I have sitting around new in box is that DF-35, the rest, including the NZXT, are being used. However, the NZXT currently houses my HTPC which I'm moving to a mostly unused shuttle PC I have sitting around so that will free up the case.

Based on what I have heard here and some web reviews, I'm definitely keeping the Fractal cases in mind for when I buy next. They seem to fit what I want these days, sturdy and well designed with minimal flash.

 

[voodoo7817]

Another +1 for the R4. Now available for $70 or less.

http://slickdeals.net/f/7511266-fra...pass-mobile-checkout-free-shipping-newegg-com

 

[BonzaiDuck]

If cooling is important, then you should channel all the case air through the D14 and limit any unnecessary air-leaks in the case leaving only the intake and exhaust fans as ingress and egress for airflow.

The larger the intake fans you can install, the lower the noise with higher airflow into the case using a smaller number of fans.

The smaller the case, the less the value of larger fans and the greater chance to keep maximum inflow at a lower noise level -- with smaller fans.

The greater the ratio of intake fans to exhaust fans with similar rated CFM airflow, the higher the case pressure and the greater the airflow through the cooler. Such a cooler can either be a heatpipe-tower cooler ported to the exhaust, or a radiator ported to the exhaust. This allows for limiting the case exhaust fan through thermal-control to a more comfortable or quiet noise level, while maintaining enough CFM airflow so that the cooler's capacity is limited only to the processor's heat-transfer-rate to the IHS and the cooler.

 

[Spike]

If cooling is important, then you should channel all the case air through the D14 and limit any unnecessary air-leaks in the case leaving only the intake and exhaust fans as ingress and egress for airflow.

The larger the intake fans you can install, the lower the noise with higher airflow into the case using a smaller number of fans.

The smaller the case, the less the value of larger fans and the greater chance to keep maximum inflow at a lower noise level -- with smaller fans.

The greater the ratio of intake fans to exhaust fans with similar rated CFM airflow, the higher the case pressure and the greater the airflow through the cooler. Such a cooler can either be a heatpipe-tower cooler ported to the exhaust, or a radiator ported to the exhaust. This allows for limiting the case exhaust fan through thermal-control to a more comfortable or quiet noise level, while maintaining enough CFM airflow so that the cooler's capacity is limited only to the processor's heat-transfer-rate to the IHS and the cooler.

That is very interesting, many years ago I was reading up on the subject and the conclusion seemed to he that pulling the air through was better than pushing, so more exhaust vs more intake. This would cause more dust as air would potentially be pulled in through holes that were not filtered, but it would also remove any potentials for "vortexs" inside the case where hot air could get trapped.

I've never done any at home studies, but I've followed that advice by always equaling or exceeding my exhaust to intake ratio. Your saying do the exact opposite. It might be time to do some tests at home.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

My concern about the Fractal R4 is that I wonder if there is enough ventilation on the bottom...does it sit up high enough to either mount a bottom fan or put the power supply face down so it draws air in from the bottom of the case.

 

[Charlie98]

My concern about the Fractal R4 is that I wonder if there is enough ventilation on the bottom...does it sit up high enough to either mount a bottom fan or put the power supply face down so it draws air in from the bottom of the case.

On both my Defines and my Arc, the case feet lift it about 3/4" off the bottom.... plenty I believe. All my PSU's are fan down. Now... that is not to say you can set it down in high-pile shag carpet...

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

...Now... that is not to say you can set it down in high-pile shag carpet...

LOL, that would be a NO!!! It will be about 3 feet off the floor on my "work table"

Thank you, I didn't know how tall the feet were

 

[aigomorla]

the one thing that annoyz me about a NXZT is the fact they are made of steel.

HEAVY... if you also watercool, and scratch the paint, it has a potential for rusting.

Other then that, NXZT have nice layouts, easy to build with, and do look good for the price.

 

[voodoo7817]

My concern about the Fractal R4 is that I wonder if there is enough ventilation on the bottom...does it sit up high enough to either mount a bottom fan or put the power supply face down so it draws air in from the bottom of the case.

I had a similar concern and posted about it a while ago. Here's that thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2388108. With the R5 out now, perhaps Fractal Design would be willing to send you some new R4 feet for free too, but who knows.