Picking a new case for future watercooling

[Perturabo]

Hello there, everyone. I've been lurking for a while so I decided to sign up and ask the local experts in Cases & Cooling about cases and cooling. Go figure.

So basically I'm looking for a new full-size case to be the next step in my upgrade process. I recently got a Q9300 (up from an E6300, deal at MicroCenter) and an Nvidia GTX 570 (up from an 8800GT).

After I get a new case, I'll likely be waiting to see how the new Sandy Bridge processors fare, if they're OC friendly, price points, etc. I'll likely get one of the new ones or an i7 if they don't turn out to be worth it. Of course, with the processor, I'll need a new mobo, and will probably get a huge PSU to future-proof my system a bit if I decide to go SLI at some point.

After/before/during all that, I've also been looking into watercooling. Hooray.

But first, the case. I have an Antec 900. I don't think it would be roomy enough for me to jam a water system inside of it. Also, I didn't pay for the 570 (gift!), so I might as well spend the money I was planning on spending, anyhow. 3 have my eye at the moment.

-CoolerMaster HAF X. Generally seems to be liked by everyone, seems to have the best built-in support for a water system, is superhuge.

-Antec 1200. Probably the 'safe bet', and costs a bit less than the other two. Not sure about how it would work with a water system.

-Antec Lanboy Air. I really like the way it looks, the modular design of it, and the spots for a metric crapton of fans. It also seems to be somewhat water system friendly. Some reviews are less than stellar, though. And it's smaller than the other two from what I can tell.


I'd appreciate any advice/comments/suggestions, especially from anyone who has any of those three cases, double especially for anyone who has the Lanboy and loves/hates it.

 

[SmCaudata]

Corsair 700 or 800 look nice and they are big.

 

[DNorth]

Im going water-cooled this year. And im using the 800D, because its massive and sexy

 

[Elvis2]

I hope you guys know what your getting into. I liquid cooled for years back when cpu/gpu heat was a real factor in o/c'g. It was exotic, looked cool thru a window with it's iv light bs, but it's a pita to maintain. if your into it, go for it, but with today's air coolers (good stuff) and lower cpu/gpu voltages (less heat) imo, it's not worth it now.
for example, i had an opty 165 running @ 2.7 on a custom $300.00 w/c rig. the TDX waterblock sprung a small leak after a year and took out the mb. one drop is all it takes. i replaced the board, 86't the w/c rig, bought a $13.00 Arctic cooler and o/c to 2.5 prime stable. of course, no two rigs are the same.
just my $.02.
btw, i have a real nice antec sx 830 case with 6 80mm blue fans (boring beige has the side window w/fan and weighs 40lbs. empty) with a couple DVD drives (one's a samsung combo burner) and i'll throw in a black ice radiator, 120mm thermaltake blue led fan w/ a swiftech rad box and a swifteck 5 1/4" bay resevoir for $30.00 plus shipping. special deal for you hardcore guys .

 

[Zap]

I believe you can get special sized radiators for the big top fan of the Antec 900.

Cooler Master 690II is a good one for liquid cooling because the case was made to support two 2x120 radiators internally without mods.

 

[Perturabo]

Thanks for the input guys!

I've gone with the HAF X, and I love it. The only problem I have right now is that my current power supply cables barely reach everything. I certainly don't have room to rout them behind the motherboard wall.

The SandyBridge reviews dropping suggest that watercooling my system now would be unnecessary and borderline overkill. I'll probably still do it sometime in the future, just as a project. For now I think I'll go with a Megahalems, or a Mugen 2, or somesuch.

But first I need a PSU with longer cables.

 

[zagood]

But first I need a PSU with longer cables.

Extensions. Not the best (or prettiest) way to go about it, but the easiest.

http://www.svc.com/fan-cable-adapter.html