Recommend Me A Case

[JackSpadesSI]

I'm building a system that will include the Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 "Toxic" 1GB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102815

I've never seen that card, but apparently it is quite long. I want to make sure the case can accommodate it without sacrificing HDD bays. I'll be using an ATX (12.0" x 9.6") motherboard.

Speaking of HDD bays, I'll need at LEAST 2 and I'd like 4. 3+ external 5.25" bays are a must.

Front USB and audio ports are a must, as is good ventilation (although I won't be overclocking... much).

Black color is preferable, and I don't mind colored LEDs.

 

[speedfreak]

you could try cooler master's enthusiast cases. they very cool and nasty.

Coolermaster HAF 932 and Coolermaster Storm Sniper

 

[zerocool84]

How long is the card?

 

[Zepper]

Yes, the length is an important bit of info to have and also your budget limit. I see they don't list the card's dimensions on their spec sheet at Sapphire, but one of the customer comments on the first page says it's shorter than some others. IAC, the Rosewill R5600 series of cases have 11" of measured card space and they are better than most other cases at the price anyway. My fave from the series is the R5605.
. The Ultra m998 is a good choice at a higher price (mostly aluminum). But it doesn't look like a real problem with that card.

.bh.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Yes, the length is an important bit of info to have and also your budget limit. I see they don't list the card's dimensions on their spec sheet at Sapphire, but one of the customer comments on the first page says it's shorter than some others. IAC, the Rosewill R5600 series of cases have 11" of measured card space and they are better than most other cases at the price anyway. My fave from the series is the R5605.
. The Ultra m998 is a good choice at a higher price (mostly aluminum). But it doesn't look like a real problem with that card.

.bh.

The HD4870 is 9" or 230mm long: http://forums.vr-zone.com/news...50-4870-23cm-long.html

OP, we need to know your budget as this will dictate what we can recommend (as cases vary greatly in cost).

 

[JackSpadesSI]

I'd like to stay under $100 for the case. The original CoolerMaster case I had been looking at is $54.99 (link below). However, I had been told that that case is too small for the graphics card (is that true?).

CoolerMaster case link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119106

I suppose I could go the slightest bit over $100 if I was recommended the "perfect" case. So I guess I'll say that budget is a concern, but I'd rather have something I'm really happy with.

As for the graphics card (I realize this may be the wrong place to post this question) it looks REALLY bulky. Is it actually any bigger (heavier, wider, longer) than any other 1GB HD 4870? I had previously been looking at the PowerColor one (link below). Is that smaller? I started looking at the Sapphire one because it is overclocked a little bit more.

PowerColor card link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814131120

 

[JackSpadesSI]

I had to edit the post above because the links just wouldn't work (they do now, though).

Ok... these are my two favorite cases. Which one would better fit the Sapphire card, and which one would have better air flow? The CoolerMaster one is the same as from the post above.

Thermaltake V9 (VJ400G1N2Z)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133074

CoolerMaster Centurion 534 (RC-534-KKN2-GP)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119106

 

[legoman666]

Originally posted by: JackSpadesSI
I had to edit the post above because the links just wouldn't work (they do now, though).

Ok... these are my two favorite cases. Which one would better fit the Sapphire card, and which one would have better air flow? The CoolerMaster one is the same as from the post above.

Thermaltake V9 (VJ400G1N2Z)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133074

CoolerMaster Centurion 534 (RC-534-KKN2-GP)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119106

That thermaltake case (gross) is a rip off of this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...129021&Tpk=antec%20900

 

[JackSpadesSI]

Would the CoolerMaster case fit the Sapphire card? That's my favorite case.

 

[Zepper]

You won't be able to use the plastic card holding clips, but you can use screws instead. Other than that, any case that can handle a standard size ATX mobo should be able to take that card.

.bh.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

What plastic card holding clips do you mean, and why couldn't I use them?

 

[RallyMaster]

The case uses screwless clips to mount the video card into place. I believe you can get your card to clip-on but probably not very securely. However, I've used it on both my HD3850 and my HD4850 and they seem to mount fine.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

RallyMaster,

I see you own this case (or at least the Centurion 534 series). How's the airflow? It doesn't have quite as many fans as some of the more elaborate cases. Is there a fan in front of the HDD bays? It looks like there is room for one, but I don't see any grill on the front where it would pull air from.

 

[RallyMaster]

Yes, there is a fan in front of the hard drive bays. You need to remove the hard drive cage (remove four screws, two on the mobo tray and two at the bottom of the case) in order to get the fan to mount. There is a grille that it takes air from in front of the case. Do note that this is not a case for massive airflow but it does keep my E7200 and HD3850 cooled passively with all 120mm fans running at around 1200RPM. This case is very sturdy, and I would highly recommend it (like I've done for the past several years). It serves as my college computer so I move it around every two months or so. This case has held up really well from all the moving around I do.

Speaking of the 534, there are several Gigabyte cases that have the same internal design so you might want to take a look at those as well. However, those are priced higher but get you about the same product (so I'm not sure the different bezel is going to make a difference for you).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&Tpk=gigabyte%20triton That there is one of them.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

For the CoolerMaster, what makes it glow blue in front? The Newegg page doesn't mention a thing about any case lighting!

Also, what size is the front fan area (where the fan isn't provided) - I assume 120mm like the others. Is the front fan the only one that isn't provided with the case? Do you have to use a blue LED fan to make the front glow blue?

 

[Zepper]

Those big plastic housings on some of the vid cards can get in the way of those plastic card clips. Should have said may, as a by eyeballing it looks like this one will interfere, but I'm not sure. Normal screw mount is always an option.

.bh.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

It seems like I'm really missing something here (keep in mind I've never built a PC before - just bought from the store). I thought cards connect to the motherboard via the PCIe 2.0 x16 slot and then screw to the back of the case where the DVI ports stick through the expansion slot.

Are those rear screws what you're talking about (if so, I don't understand how the card's thickness could interfere)? What other screws could there be??

 

[RallyMaster]

There are two LEDs in the front of the case that can be connected to power should you choose to. I left it off because LEDs appear stupid to me. The front takes a 120mm fan.

The cards plug into a PCIe slot on the motherboard but are held into the case by screws or whatever mounting mechanism your case has.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Those big plastic housings on some of the vid cards can get in the way of those plastic card clips. Should have said may, as a by eyeballing it looks like this one will interfere, but I'm not sure. Normal screw mount is always an option.

.bh.

I think Zepper is referring to the plastic clip on the PCI-E slot which clips to the bottom of the card. You also obviously screw the back of the card to the back plate. Since the card is 2 slots wide, it has two screws holding it on to the back plate. I know with my X2, once those two screws were in, the card wasn't going anywhere.

 

[Zepper]

Nope, I'm talking about the clips that hold the card to the slot bracket at the rear. The slot lock has to do with the mobo, not the case.

.bh.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Nope, I'm talking about the clips that hold the card to the slot bracket at the rear. The slot lock has to do with the mobo, not the case.

.bh.

I've had a look at the Centurion 534 series and I now see what you're talking about.

 

[imported_Scoop]

CM690

 

[Omerta]

The haf 932 is great. You can pretty much fit anything in it.

 

[Ausm]

Get my case with a 30 dollar mail in rebate and free shipping on a 50lb case= STEAL!!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133056