Need help choosing a Case

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Seeker1516

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Feb 28, 2016
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Hello.
I'm building a gaming PC, but just can't decide what case I should get, the ones available to me are:
CM 590 III
CM Q300P
Antec GX330
Antec GX500
Corsair SPEC-01
Aesthetically, I'm finding the Q300P to be the best, but I've heard it's airflow leaves something to be desired. I don't want to buy a relatively expensive case and then have to invest in fans, so I'd prefer a case that's got good airflow, so I'm looking toward the GX330, GX500 and the 590 III. The SPEC-01 is the cheapest and I can buy a fan or two for it if I get that one.
The components in my build are:
i5-8400 (stock cooler)
Gigabyte B360M-HD3
2 TB HDD and a 120GB SSD
Corsair TX-550M PSU
The GPU is gonna depend on prices, so either the ZOTAC 1060 6 GB AMP! or Sapphire Nitro+ RX 580 Special Edition.
I'd really appreciate any and all help, I'd just like to finalize the list before I start buying components so there's no trouble later.
 
Solution
Darkbreeze
You know what, looking at the CM 590 III that might be the better option, but you will have to buy at least one fan, 120mm PWM, to go in the back exhaust location as it only comes with two front intake fans.

That has an open front and has five fan locations total, so you can add top fans later if needed. I think you'll be happier with that case than the Q300p.
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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There are practically zero cases that come with great airflow without having to add fans. Mostly, they come with minimal included fans, even on very high end, especially on very high end cases.

Those cases are all fairly old examples of what's available today. Are these local shops that you're able to get these from or are you able to buy online?

If online, what region are you from?

Of those units, I think you're right that the Q300p is the newest and better of those you listed, and also probably comes with the best included fan arrangement. Airflow can be significantly improved by removing the lower drive cage but honestly I'd really try to find something that is a lot more inclusive and newer. Surely there must be more options available to you than just those five cases.
 
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Seeker1516

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Feb 28, 2016
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Thanks for the reply.
I'm from Pakistan, and here my only option is local stores. Other than these cases, other options which I can buy are:
CM MB600L
Versa N21
MasterBox Lite 5
SPEC-04
MasterBox K500L
Thermaltake View 27
I chose the ones I posted earlier because they were the ones I'd heard the best things about.
Anything beyond these is just going beyond my price range.
Again, I appreciate you lending a hand.
 
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phaelax

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I'm running an i7 and a 1060 on a mini-itx in a very tiny case (Jonsbo U1) and haven't had any issues. Unless you plan on doing some major OCing, the airflow from just about any case you get will be adequate.

But from your list I'd go Corsair SPEC-01 or CM 590 III. Both have the same layout so I think they'd perform about equally as well. From just looking at pictures, they look like they'd allow more air in from the front than the CM Q300P. But aesthetically, I think they're all ugly.
 
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Seeker1516

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No overclocking plans for now, but might overclock the GPU later on in the future. The SPEC-01 only comes with one front fan whilst the 590 III comes with 2 front fans, so I'll have to invest in more fans for both. The Q300P comes with 3 pre-installed though. If I do buy fans for the spec or the 590, the price will most likely reach the same as the Q300P, or maybe even exceed it.
I do agree on them looking rather bad aesthetically (except the Q300P) but I've gotta make do with what's available, as much as I'd like to import one, that would cost a pretty penny.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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I think you are better off with the Q300P for now, and if you find later that you need to add fans, and you might, since you live in a region with a really high ambient temp during the warm months, then you can always do that. You might even want to replace the fans that it comes with with better models later on. This case though I think has the most potential as most of the cases you listed don't even HAVE fan locations in the top of the case. Those will be important for exhaust if your cooling performance is not sufficient.

Exhaust fans have a bigger impact on thermals. Getting heat out is imperative. But getting cool air in to replace it is important as well. I like a balance. Two intake in front and two exhaust, one in the rear and one in the top rear. This offers the best combination of dust suppression and cooling performance.
 
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Seeker1516

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Aren't the fans in front of the Q300P blocked by the cover? It only has a small opening in the lower front side to get air in, so won't that impede airflow? In that regard, I've been thinking the other cases are superior.
 
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Seeker1516

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So it's still got good airflow? I was under the impression the front cover was stopping the fans from receiving air, since the only entrance would be an opening under the cover. From some reviews online, that's what people have been complaining about, and that's what would make it inferior to the Q300L (which I would get if it weren't unavailable in my country). The others have the front fans more or less exposed, separated from air by dust filter but a much larger area of contact with the surrounding air to pull air from, so wouldn't that give better cooling?
I'm sorry if my ignorance is annoying, I'd just like to make sure I'm making the right decision with the Q300P, since I originally wanted to buy that too, but was put off by the front cover and subsequent reviews.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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A lot of really good cases are like that. There is certainly some restriction or impediment of airflow with a case like this, but it could also be modified to circumvent that. My Fractal design Define S, for example, has only slats in the side of the front panel. With some metal mesh I created a full open front, and this is a pretty common modification with cases that have restricted openings in front.

It is however a turn off for some, so I understand if you don't want to bother with something like that.

Here is what I did with mine.

2prtf85.jpg


While normally the front panel on my case looks like this.

9fd95485-7235-41e9-96cc-ad91db6e10c0
 
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Seeker1516

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Feb 28, 2016
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Thank you so much for taking the time to be so in-depth, but I'm afraid I can't do such modifications. This is my first time building a PC and I'm sure no one in my house will even let me do something like this. As such, I'll get the Q300P and later on in the future, if need be, I'll add a top fan. Thank you so much for helping me out with this situation, believe it or not it's got me perplexed all day because the prices keep changing and increasing and the stocks also run out, so I'd like to start buying the components soon.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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You know what, looking at the CM 590 III that might be the better option, but you will have to buy at least one fan, 120mm PWM, to go in the back exhaust location as it only comes with two front intake fans.

That has an open front and has five fan locations total, so you can add top fans later if needed. I think you'll be happier with that case than the Q300p.
 
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Solution
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Seeker1516

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Feb 28, 2016
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That's more like the answer I was actually expecting at the start. As for the case fans, the options I have are actually even more limited:
CoolerMaster MasterFan MF120L 120mm
Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition
And the expensive one; Corsair LL120
 
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Seeker1516

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So I think I'll heed your advice and get the 590 III, along with an MF120L, keeping it within my budget. Once again, Thank you so much for all the help, I appreciate the explanations and advice.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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No, don't get the MF120. Cooler master's fans are crappy. I'd go with one of the Corsair fans. They are far superior to CM. Those AF120's are perfectly fine for most builds. Honestly, I'd prefer to see a Noctua, Thermalright, Blacknoise or another high end fan, but that's because I'm usually qualifying fairly high end niche builds. For most people, those AF120s are miles better than what practically any sub 100 dollar case would come with anyhow.
 
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