What Should I Do (in the event of a need to game anywhere but the comforts of my own home)?

Buggu · Nov 7, 2015

Hi all,

I built a PC this May and it has performed extremely well (after a few fixes, all thanks to this awesome community) and I've begun to realize how impractical a behemoth like the NZXT Phantom 630 is. How practical, at this point, would a case swap be? Furthermore, if I swap cases, are there any recommendations for a good, simple mid-tower case with a case fan or two? I know Fractal makes a few good ones. Unfortunately, I am confined by the cruel reality of not being Bill Gates. I am not on an extremely restrictive budget but I'm also not keen to buy a $600 diamond-encrusted case that can fly and talk.
(I am not just a lazy bum who can't be bothered to do his own research - I just know absolutely nothing about PC cases and such)

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Buggu

JackNaylorPE · Nov 7, 2015

What do you got in it ? Ever since I started building PCs in the early 90s , always had different brand 'go to" cases. But this is the 1st time that I had a case from the same manufacturer in every category. I have others that I will show folks but since I don't have a budget, I'll just lisr those from phanteks

Bast Bang for the Buck Case ($150) - if the money's there, the Enthoo Luxe is my easiest favorite over similar offerings from NZXT, Corsair. Fractal and others. Great looks, incredible finish, and features just not found in many cases such as velcro cable tie downs, tool box, best cable routing options, SSD brackets, built in fan control, built in expandable LEDs and control system and water cooling options that are unequaled.

Hi end case, Modest Budget ($240) - Enthoo Primo took home the Case of the Year Award in 2103 from Computex for the Primo and it set a new standard for water cooling. No modding tools required, anti vibration pump mounts, reservoir mounts, everything is provided for you. It is H U G E

Modest Budget ($100)- The following year phanteks again took home the Case of the Year Award in 2103 ... a smaller version of the Luxe w/o the LED system.

There's also the MinXL which lets you build two systems inside the same case, the Evolv (two sizes) and the new ProM series at $80. There's a lot of great cases out there but Phanteks is the only one I can say has a strong entry for the Top 3 in every price category.

The Luxe and pro are fill towers but just by a hair.... the true mid tower offering would be the ProM

These are the generally accepted descriptions
Full Tower (22" high)
Mid Tower (18" high)
Moini Tower (16" High)

Evolv is 14.75" (iTX)
Evolv is 17.7" high (mATX)
Evolve is 19.5" high (ATX)
ProM is 18.89" high
Mini XL is 21.65" high
Pro is 21.06" high
Luxe is 22' high
Primo is 25.6" high

That should give you a good start... if ya have more direction you can give feature or size wise, list it and I'll offer more suggestions.

Buggu · Nov 8, 2015

Sorry for not including a list of specs. I am really looking for a mid tower case, I guess. I want something that isn't huge.

Mobo: Asus Z97-PRO
CPU: Intel i7-4790K
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 960 2GB GDDR5
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 2x8GB
Storage: Crucial MX200 250GB
Case: Phantom 630 (NZXT)
CPU heatsink: Corsair H100i
Optical Drive: ASUS

JackNaylorPE · Nov 9, 2015

The 630T is a huge "ultra tower" on the order of magnitude (25" high) and price of the of the Primo. If ya looking to spend the same amount and shrink a bit (22"), the Luxe ($150 black / $160 white) will give you all the features and more for less than ya paid for the Phantom.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811854007
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811984003

It's a superb case and I included a interior LED strip which just plugs into the same control system that you have for the exterior LED system it comes with. If LEDs not ya thing, ya can drop another inch with the Pro... biut it sound slike you really want toi o small and the ProM really fits the bill

The Military Green version would be a nice choice if you play CoD, BF4 and stuff and only $79

Can see color here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzWXErbxYP4

You get 1 fan in the rear but with your H100i installed as per Corsair instructions, it will be blowing in which should be fine. You could add two fans if you want more air flow and the PH-f140SP is the best case fan on the market right now

Front: 2x
Top: 2x (taken by H100I)
Rear: 1x (installed)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709023&cm_re=PH-F140sp-_-35-709-023-_-Product

Here's a comparison w/ the Fractal DefineS ... both have advantages and disadvantages but with no optical drive mount on the DefineS, ya gotta go with the ProM....I also prefer the separate PSU chamber and the cool mounting method for top mounted CLCs. The DefineS comes with an extra fan, but you have plenty of those from your old case, it also has more wc flexibility but in such a small case, not sure how that would factor in.

If ya didn't have the h100i and the optical drive, it's pretty much a 50-50 decision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxxnFjEFeEE

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What Should I Do (in the event of a need to game anywhere but the comforts of my own home)?

Buggu

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Buggu

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