Looking for a case

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Tesla_Whizz

Tesla_Whizz

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I want a case that is spacious and allows me to have a water cooling system.
I have been thinking about the Nzxt Phantom series. I don't know whether I need a Full tower or Mid tower.
My budget is £125.

Thanks
 
Solution
Nicolay Setre
I would go for the 820. The Haf X is a half finished case when it commes to parts. The stock fans doens't match at all, the cables isn't sleeved (neither are they black), the PSU cover that commes with it is really low quality buildt, etc etc etc.

The 820 looks better, it doesn't come with a load of crappy extra "equipment", it supports more cooling, got loads of room to work on just like the the Haf X, RBG LED lighting and fan controller. And for a few bucks you can pick up a different sidepanel that has a bigger window around the cpu and gpu area (if you happen to like that better than the stock panel). :)


Like this one: http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/100-phantom-window-panel-case-accessory.html

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Nicolay Setre

Nicolay Setre

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Phantom 410 supports: Top 240mm radiator (pull), bottom 120m (push - pull) radiator or a Pivot 120mm radiator (push - pull).

Personally i'm modding this case to support top 240 (pull) + Front 240mm (push - pull) + Bottom 120mm (push - pull). For a full custom loop for the cpu + 2 gpu's.


Now if i where to purchase a nice case with lots of room, good sound dampening and watercooling compability (without modding / personal design), then i guess the NZXT H440 would be golden.

Radiator support:
Front 280mm / 360mm
Top: 280mm / 360mm
Back: 120mm / 140mm

Positive sides:
- The case has a nice clean look.
- Has loads of room to work on.
- The psu area is completely covered and has a LED logo on it.
- Its fully dust filtered.
- The backside around the motherboard is LED lighted.
- Supports loads of cooling options both for air and water cooling.
- Allows you to mount up to 3 SSD's / 2.5" drives without using any of the HDD trays, making it possible for a 360mm (push - pull) radiator at the front.


Negative sides:
- It doesn't have any 5.25 optical drive room (not that this is needed, almost no one uses optical drives anymore anyway).
- The HDD area isn't made of cages that can be removed, only the HDD trays themselfs are removable.
 
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Nicolay Setre

Nicolay Setre

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If removable HDD tray cages is 100% needed, then the H440 isn't the right choice ofc.

Any other case then that i would have to say go for the 410 if you want a slightly smaller case, with loads of room to work with, has a cool look and supports a decent amount of prefilled watercooling solutions, and you can remove the HDD tray cage.

If you are planning on building your and large custom loop, then i guess NZXT Phantom 820 is the one for you, as in this case you can remove all HDD tray cages.
 
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Tesla_Whizz

Tesla_Whizz

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Thanks for the help Nicolay. I kind of need HDD trays and it would be easier too.

I have narrowed it down between the NZXT Phantom 820 and the Cooler Master HAF X. I am going to be using the Corsair H100i water cooling system. Which would you think would be best?
 
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Nicolay Setre

Nicolay Setre

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I would go for the 820. The Haf X is a half finished case when it commes to parts. The stock fans doens't match at all, the cables isn't sleeved (neither are they black), the PSU cover that commes with it is really low quality buildt, etc etc etc.

The 820 looks better, it doesn't come with a load of crappy extra "equipment", it supports more cooling, got loads of room to work on just like the the Haf X, RBG LED lighting and fan controller. And for a few bucks you can pick up a different sidepanel that has a bigger window around the cpu and gpu area (if you happen to like that better than the stock panel). :)


Like this one: http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/100-phantom-window-panel-case-accessory.html

 
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Solution
Tesla_Whizz

Tesla_Whizz

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Thanks for clearing my dilemma.
The clear winner...is the NZXT Phantom 820!
I gotta admit the 820 is beautiful to look at and It looks more of premium product. It's awesome that it has a fan controller too. I will buy the side panel, it looks like it would be great.
Yet again, Thanks!
 
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Nicolay Setre

Nicolay Setre

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My pleasure mate. Glad you got to deside on your new baby is looks ;D
 
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ssddx

ssddx

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i would just like to note that i've seen the phantom cases in person..

while i have to admit i was impressed that they have 200mm fans and did have a rather striking look however the plastic does feel cheap and the door is impractical. while i might have liked the aesthetics it did not live up to my inspection standards for picking cases for my own builds. doing my normal research on the case also revealed that users have trouble fitting some fans onto the cases since they are a bit nonstandard which turned me off.

i ended up picking the corsair 750d for $130 which has dual 140mm front fans and an aluminum front panel. while definitely not up to the standards of the 800d it was replacing (comparing a $279 case to a $130 one isnt really fair) it definitely had all the features which i needed. cable storage,, removeable cages, good airflow, nondescript look, large window, etcetera.

you can see my new 750d in the build link i have in my signature
 
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Nicolay Setre

Nicolay Setre

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The only fans that people would have "trouble fitting" is the 200mm once, as NZXT has their own special dimensions for the 200mm's. All 120mm and 140mm fans will fit as they would in any other case. Besides, sticking with NZXT's fans aren't a bad idea either, as they have a really good performance to noise ratio.

I'm currently building and modding a Phantom 410 myself, and yes the plastic has a some what "cheap" feel to it, but i'v done a little testing on the quality of it, and its actually quite solid. They do a fantastic job at matching the pain on the plast vs metal and as long as you don't have the pc standing in the sun 24/7 then its gonna take alot for it to fade.

I also enjoy the fact that the 410 has a "clicker" to hold the front door, instead of the magnets that alot of case producers are using. Might be a personal pref, but in the end atleast i know that its gonna stay put when first closed. :)


The D series from Corsair has alot of great futures, and possibilites for modding. But frankly, i find them a little to "standard" / boring looking at stock.
 
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Tesla_Whizz

Tesla_Whizz

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I am thinking of going for the Cooler Master HAF X. Yeah it is dull and not as good looking as the NZXT Phantom 820 but it sure has room and I've opted for a air cooler instead of water cooling. Chosen the Noctua NH-D14.
Mind you, The Corsair 750D does look good.
 
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ssddx

ssddx

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you do realize how big the nh-d14 is though right?

__2.jpg


most people dont realize how huge it is (or the fact that it can interfere with some ram clearances) until they have it in hand.
 
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