Looking a gamer case

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:47 am

I am looking a gamer case, with good airflow and relatively quiet. I want to take P182B for my primary computer.

I've looked two that looks good:

APlus CS-Monolize ATX (115â‚¬)
2x 250mm fans side, 80/92/120mm fan places front and back.
(images: http://www.esoph.com/pub/visuel.php?id=43853#)

Fans are located side and fan casing is bulged out, so there shouldn't be compatibility issues with HD2900-series.

Antec Nine Hundred (109â‚¬)
1x 120 mm Exhaust rear, 200mm exhaust top, 2x 120mm intakes.

There is no compatibility issues with this case aswell. My HD 2900 Pro should fit easily as 200mm fan is on top.

What other cases there is with good airflow, that could fit HD 2900 Pro and Hr-01.

My setup:

CPU: AMD X2 5600+
VGA: HD 2900 Pro 512mb GDDR3
Motherboard: Asus M2R32-MVP
PSU: Corsair HX 620
Memory: 2 x 1 Gb Corsair SP2-6400 Special Edition DDR2 800 Mhz
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint P-series 80 GB

tonschk · Post by **tonschk** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:37 pm

I preffer the Coolermaster CM690 , at the moment the CM690 is at the top or the ranking of my list ,this case can accomodate up to SEVEN 120mm fans ( can be also four 140mm plus three 120mm ) plus the 120mm fan of the PowerSupply plus a 120mm fan of the CPU cooler ,a total of NINE 120/140mm fans can be installed inside this case,but have also a "small" 80mm fan to cool the back side of the CPU , without a doubt this will be my next case
I forget to tell , one of the details I like very much about the Coolermaster CM690 is that the fan of the powersupply can take fresh air direct from the outside of the case ,this is an excellent idea because in many many many other cases the powersupply must take the already warm air inside of the case to cool itself (sorry about my english grammatic)

In my opinion if you are looking for a gamer case , is better to avoid cases with full front closed doors like the Antec P180/P182/190 , I think are better for gamers the cases with full front mesh like Antec 900 and Coolermaster CM690 ,this mesh allow plenty of AirFlow

Torajirou · Post by **Torajirou** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:44 am

What is a "gamer case" exactly ?

The question you need to ask yourself is "how much power do I need to dissipate?". Since you're posting on SPCR, I assume your goal is to do that while limiting the amount of noise as much as possible.

Since you're not planning for SLI or overclocking apparently :

1) 620W is an overkill; 520W will do just fine
2) bazillions of fans is an overkill as well. The P182 will do just fine, even with few undervolted, silent fans. The choice of good heatsinks and proper airflow/cable management is crucial.

As you can see in my signature, I also have a power-hungry rig, and I manage to cool all that without any fancy "gamer case" or lots of (noisy) fans.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:55 am

I know 620 is overkill. But 520 has had that buzzing etc whine problems. Not that much reported from hx 620. Also with HX 620 gives me change keep same PSU for years.

HD 2900 Pro takes a lot power 8pin + 6 pin PCI-E's. So HX 620 is safer choice.

HD 2900 Pro is hot card, I mean it is hot. The air it exhausts is hot. not just warm but hot.

Gamer case for me is case that can get rid of massive amount of heat using as low rpm fans as possible.

Torajirou · Post by **Torajirou** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:14 am

thejamppa wrote:Also with HX 620 gives me change keep same PSU for years.

Granted

thejamppa wrote: HD 2900 Pro takes a lot power 8pin + 6 pin PCI-E's. So HX 620 is safer choice.

It's not safer. If you have enough power with 520W, you have enough power. Adding 100 useless watts, is not "safer".

thejamppa wrote: HD 2900 Pro is hot card, I mean it is hot. The air it exhausts is hot. not just warm but hot.

All high-ends GPUs are hot if not properly cooled. My X1900XT dissipates more than 100W, but still, I manage to cool it efficiently with no fan at all. I know that the 2900 is even more power-hungry, so I guess you'd manage to do a good job with an HR-03 and a undervolted 92mm fan on it (and of course a good airflow in your case).

thejamppa wrote: Gamer case for me is case that can get rid of massive amount of heat using as low rpm fans as possible.

I'd just call that a good case

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:41 am

So basicly I am looking case with good air flow. With one big fan that could be achieved I think.

There are some pretty good looking case with 250mm side fan... The CM690 is pretty solid looking but not available in here.

MoJo · Post by **MoJo** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:13 am

I agree with the OP, having that graphics card and a relatively hot CPU means a case with excellent airflow is a good idea.

I am in a similar position at the moment. The APlus case you linked to is actually a rebranded Xclio (see their web site). The Xclio case has been reviewed by a number of sites, with dissapointing results. You would expect massive airflow from those fans but the temperatures achived do not seem to bare that out.

The Nine Hundred, on the other hand, is well proven to have excellent cooling. It could probably be improved further by reversing the top fan to suck air in.

Another case that might be worth a look is the CM Stacker 810. It's expensive and probably has no better airflow than the Nine Hundred, but if you need loads of space for some reason or just like the looks...

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:06 am

Yeah, I saw that Antec Twelve Hundred. I mailed to Antec European division about its scheduled release. 8 Mins after mail I got response:

"Hi,

Twelve hundred should arrive around end of November.
Thank you for your interest in our products

Best Regards,

Jerome FranÃ§ois
European Sales Manager t: + 33 (0)6 82 29 65 61
f: + 33 (0)3 20 77 54 59
www.antec.com "

Great news ^^

3x 120mm intakes, 2x 120mm exhausts + PSU exhaust and 200mm top exhaust ^^

MoJo · Post by **MoJo** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:20 am

Wow, the Twelve Hundred looks nice... Basically a Nine Hundred but bigger.

Not sure what to do now... The extra space would be nice, but I don't really need it... cooling wise, the Nine Hundred should be enough... Depends on the price I suppose.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:50 am

I'll wait Twelve hundred. It has fan filters, easier drive installation and even cable management system similar to P182-series. Those small things make that thing worthy me to wait and not buy Nine Hundred.

MoJo · Post by **MoJo** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:44 pm

Beware the fan filters. They restrict airflow a lot. It's easier just to raise your system a bit off the floor and clean it regularly.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:12 am

fan filters I saw in twelve hundred were similar than used in Sonata series. So they won't restrict that much. My system already is on desk. But still ^^

aimfox · Post by **aimfox** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:45 pm

Get a Zalman case, its the FATAL1TY one.. this case goes for $400 if you can afford it...

This is the true gaming case!

more info: http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/vie ... 9&code=031

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:30 am

yeah its a gamer case... and has terrible air flow. the two 92mm should provide good flow but the HDD rack front pretty much kills the intake. Antec Twelve Hundred has much better air flow ^^

tonschk · Post by **tonschk** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:34 pm

ZALMAN FATALITY 400$ with 92mm intake fans ?........Ridiculous ........I think its obvious a Gamer Case MUST Have 120/140mm intake fans not 92mm

Today , first time I saw the Antec TWELVE HUNDRED , I think this case is the BEST full tower case , well done ANTEC , the only problem is that I dont like cases with open transparent windows

walle · Post by **walle** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:03 pm

IMO there are no such things as a gamerâ€™s chassis but those in the minds of the marketing whores in various companiesâ€¦ no offence to whom it might concern.

...the FATAL1TY one...the true gaming case!

An excellent example, yes

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:06 am

Coolermaster CM 690 looks excellent. Decent price (around 80 to 90â‚¬'s) 3x 120mm fan with the case. Possibility to mount 3x 120mm fan and additional fan places for 4x 120 / 140mm fan and a 80mm fan.

Now that is serious contender. While Antec 900 and 1200 would provide maybe superior airflow. I am still concerned about 200mm antec big boy fan. Since its not standard fan nor I can just order another 200 mm fan if that fails easily... Although I have heard that antec will provide new fan for failed fan, if the three year warranty is still on.

Too bad no CM 690 is yet available in Finland. Except via Pixmania. Which would force me to take additional 9 â‚¬ fai deal package with case and delivery costs would be 19,90 â‚¬'s. So all together 81 â‚¬ case would cost me 110 â‚¬'s.

Still... Antec 900 is 109 â‚¬'s alone + additional 10 to 20â‚¬ postal feeds... *sighs*

tonschk · Post by **tonschk** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:33 pm

I preffer cases that use 120mm fans because 120mm fans are very easy to get everywhere ,and there are plenty of diffeent makers and models to choose , with Ball/Sleeve/Magnetic/Fluiddinamic Bearing , with fanspeed control or without speed control, with thermo automatic regulator also is possible to get not only the normal 120x120x25mm but also is possible the 120x120x35mm etc etc plenty to choose, but if you are looking for a fan of 200mm there is only one possible model ( very limited )

AntecRep · Post by **AntecRep** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:16 pm

From my understanding end of November for the Twelve Hundred is optimistic.

MoJo · Post by **MoJo** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:37 am

AntecRep, any idea on pricing? Do you think the optional radiator will be available for the Nine Hundred too?

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:31 am

Antec Twelve Hundred looks so awesome though. Even I am not huge fan of side window etc. It will be tough choice between Coolermaster CM 690 and Antec Twelve Hundred

tonschk · Post by **tonschk** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:12 pm

Yes , the front side of the Antec Twelve Hundred looks awesome

AntecRep · Post by **AntecRep** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:34 pm

I've not seen any pricing on the Twelve Hundred.

Not sure about the radiator for the Nine Hundred. Likely it'll be a see what comments we get about it and go from there.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:23 am

I do hope Antec Twelve Hundred ( without radiator ) is around 150 â‚¬'s or below. It has great cooling potential. HD 2900 - series is one hott card. But I think Twelve Hundred could even cool off small sauna heater... It really looks like awesome case with excellent cooling potential. Antec Nine Hundred has beaten CM 690 in temperature measurements so... Twelve Hundred probably crushes CM 690 when it comes to temperatures.

tonschk · Post by **tonschk** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:49 pm

quote from thejamppa ......"( Antec Nine Hundred has beaten CM 690 in temperature measurements so.)".........please can you tell me in which review WebSite you saw this beaten ?

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 3:56 pm

tonschk wrote:quote from thejamppa ......"( Antec Nine Hundred has beaten CM 690 in temperature measurements so.)".........please can you tell me in which review WebSite you saw this beaten ?

Madshrimps:
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getart ... rticID=620

MoJo · Post by **MoJo** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:28 am

The pricing of the Twelve Hundred will be interesting. For under Â£200 you can buy a Kandalf LCS plus GPU block. The Kandalf has a 3x120mm RAD but from what I hear the cooling isn't that brilliant. Enough, but not stellar.

Assuming you could build a CPU/GPU watercooled system based on the Twelve Hundred for Â£200 or less, I think I'd go for it. Of course that would have to include a good pump, probably a res, tubing, and two descent waterblocks. That is of course assuming the rad is up to the task of cooling high end parts.

It will be interesting to see how all the other WC parts will fit the case too. Will they include mount points of specific parts?

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:52 am

according some information there will be two variants of twelve hundred: One with radiator and one without radiator. I hope one without radiator will be around 150 â‚¬'s...

MoJo · Post by **MoJo** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:52 am

I saw Â£96 on some forum for the non-rad version, which would probably make a Â£200 WC system impossible. The Nine Hundred is about Â£65 so Â£95 for basically the same but a bit larger seems a tad high. Then again Antec products seem to be more expensive in the UK - the Nine Hundred can be found for under $100 (Â£50).

Looking a gamer case

Looking a gamer case

Coolermaster CM690

SORRY Aimfox

120mm easy to find