Four Full Tower Cases From $150 To $600
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Overclocking
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Cooler Master
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Cases
- Intel i7
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Last response: in Reviews comments
With Intel's Core i7 920 looking like a solid overclocking play, we wanted to find the right full-tower case for our test benches. ABS, Antec, Cooler Master, and Thermaltake battle it out for chassis supremacy.
Four Full Tower Cases From $150 To $600 : Read more
Four Full Tower Cases From $150 To $600 : Read more
More about : full tower cases 150 600
Thank you Chris, another very useful article. Not enough case comparisons around, as I'm sure you realized.
I'll be sure to add the HAF to my recommendation list. I hadn't before because I thought all the extra holes would hinder cooling more than help. The hole in the MB tray sounds especially useful.
I would have liked to see on of the Cosmos cases included, although I suspect they are simply quieter but hotter.
I'll be sure to add the HAF to my recommendation list. I hadn't before because I thought all the extra holes would hinder cooling more than help. The hole in the MB tray sounds especially useful.
I would have liked to see on of the Cosmos cases included, although I suspect they are simply quieter but hotter.
Score
6
malveaux
December 15, 2008 12:30:56 PM
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Pei-chen
December 15, 2008 12:39:33 PM
malveaux
December 15, 2008 1:11:18 PM
kubes
December 15, 2008 1:29:30 PM
Anonymous
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Overclocking
December 15, 2008 1:35:46 PM
antiacid
December 15, 2008 1:38:22 PM
Good article. Now it gives a procedure and template to test other cases as well. It'd be great to have a review of cases which could be "best of" a certain category (cooling, noise, ease of use, weight, etc). It would be even nicer if the results were put in bullet point form and were setup in a table like the ones used in hdd/video card tables. That would make it a lot easier to compare everything.
Score
1
avatar_raq
December 15, 2008 1:40:17 PM
I do believe that all the cases available in the market these days are poorly designed especially when it comes to air flow. You may notice that front fans, rear fans, buttom, side and top panel fans -when combined- cause turbulence in air flow that reduces the overall air flow. That's why I buy a cheap $25 case and modded myself!!!
I have so many innovations regarding case designs that I hope someone buys them and excutes them in reality!!
I have so many innovations regarding case designs that I hope someone buys them and excutes them in reality!!
Score
-1
avatar_raq
December 15, 2008 2:11:52 PM
Here is one of my ideas...
To put it plainly: air needs to be moved in one direction, preferably from down-upwards, since hot air tends to go upward by nature and the hottest part of any system (that's the GFX cards) is located at the lower part..Hence a PSU mounted at the upper part of the case (with its 120-140mm fan), with another 120mm top-panel exhaust fan and two 120mm buttom intake fans will be by far more efficient than all the available cases. To achieve this efficincy I close any other holes (even the ones the manufacturer meant for ventilation) so the air enters the case only from the buttom fans where I put dust filters to minimize dust inside my case. Furthermore I use a case with long "legs" to minimize inhalation of the dust at my desk's surface.
To minimize noise: I use
1.low RPM silent fans.
2.rubber washers between the fans and the case to minimize vibration noise.
3.cover all the interior surfaces with a layer of an insulator, that can be as simple as sponge!!!
4.even design external air ducts that divert the exhausted air (which carries the interior noise) to the back.
To put it plainly: air needs to be moved in one direction, preferably from down-upwards, since hot air tends to go upward by nature and the hottest part of any system (that's the GFX cards) is located at the lower part..Hence a PSU mounted at the upper part of the case (with its 120-140mm fan), with another 120mm top-panel exhaust fan and two 120mm buttom intake fans will be by far more efficient than all the available cases. To achieve this efficincy I close any other holes (even the ones the manufacturer meant for ventilation) so the air enters the case only from the buttom fans where I put dust filters to minimize dust inside my case. Furthermore I use a case with long "legs" to minimize inhalation of the dust at my desk's surface.
To minimize noise: I use
1.low RPM silent fans.
2.rubber washers between the fans and the case to minimize vibration noise.
3.cover all the interior surfaces with a layer of an insulator, that can be as simple as sponge!!!
4.even design external air ducts that divert the exhausted air (which carries the interior noise) to the back.
Score
-1
avatar_raq
December 15, 2008 2:27:41 PM
Fortunately many aftermarket CPU and GPU coolers helped me. They can be installed in a way that the fan moves the air upwards. There is evidence that the setup I suggested above reduces -though marginally- the power consumed by the CPU and GPU fans to reach thier designated rpm and increases the lifetime of these fans, since instead of meeting resistance, the one directional air flow helps them.
Score
-1
malveaux
December 15, 2008 2:48:58 PM
Heya,
I'm curious about putting sinulation in a case. I'd love to see measurments of noise levels in a case with just random sponges in the case versus not.Heya,
I'm curious about putting insulation in a case. I'd love to see measurments of noise levels in a case with just random sponges in the case versus not, and other solutions. Personally, I don't like lights and other stuff in the case, I don't look at my case, I look at my display. Reducing the case's obvious footprint and pressence is a nice thing. Less noise would be wonderful (especially since I use mine as a HTPC too). I've always been a fan of the blow hole (top fan to draw hot air out). Sealing up a case to reduce all holes to just air flow from bottom to top, with insulation of some kind to reduce noise would be a great project to try.
Again, I'd love to see some noise and temp measurements! To the forum? Got some ways to measure it?
Cheers,
I'm curious about putting sinulation in a case. I'd love to see measurments of noise levels in a case with just random sponges in the case versus not.Heya,
I'm curious about putting insulation in a case. I'd love to see measurments of noise levels in a case with just random sponges in the case versus not, and other solutions. Personally, I don't like lights and other stuff in the case, I don't look at my case, I look at my display. Reducing the case's obvious footprint and pressence is a nice thing. Less noise would be wonderful (especially since I use mine as a HTPC too). I've always been a fan of the blow hole (top fan to draw hot air out). Sealing up a case to reduce all holes to just air flow from bottom to top, with insulation of some kind to reduce noise would be a great project to try.
Again, I'd love to see some noise and temp measurements! To the forum? Got some ways to measure it?
Cheers,
Score
-1
avatar_raq
December 15, 2008 3:23:17 PM
Believe it or not the setup I mentioned keeps my E6750 (overclocked from 2.66ghz 1.23v to 3.8ghz 1.44v) under 55 c under full load (hours of dual prime 95) in a very hot room that lacks a cooling system(temps:40 to 50 c !!). (Don't be smart with me, we lack electrical power in my country and private small-groups generators are the only reason I can be online!!)
I don't have the means to measure the noise level but I can tell you -though subjectively- it is very quiet when using all the mentioned steps. In the end I wish someone with enough resources (like the guys at Tom's) tests my project and give the whole world accurate objective measures and compare them to the available cases..Even the high end ones.
I don't have the means to measure the noise level but I can tell you -though subjectively- it is very quiet when using all the mentioned steps. In the end I wish someone with enough resources (like the guys at Tom's) tests my project and give the whole world accurate objective measures and compare them to the available cases..Even the high end ones.
Score
-2
avatar_raq
December 15, 2008 3:35:05 PM
kamkal
December 15, 2008 4:00:35 PM
kelfen
December 15, 2008 7:16:27 PM
Shadow703793Good write up. But should have increased the # of cases and droped the range to a max of $350-400.
Shadow,
Kept the number lower so I could spend more time with the cases involved--takes a deceptively long time to build each system up, test it, etc. The ABS case is actually the one that set the whole roundup off--it was a struggle finding enclosures that could compete. I think we'd all love to have that thing, but the price is just prohibitive. Even still, very nice to look at.
Score
-1
ccintron
December 15, 2008 8:56:39 PM
Anonymous
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Overclocking
December 15, 2008 10:37:29 PM
Okay I'll bite:
1.low RPM silent fans.
2.rubber washers between the fans and the case to minimize vibration noise.
Okay, these 2 ideas are pretty well established. Although personally i have doubts about #2 really making a difference.
3.cover all the interior surfaces with a layer of an insulator, that can be as simple as sponge!!!
Right, but it can also be as simple as extreme fire and inhalation hazard. Make sure what you are using doesn't burn easily.
4.even design external air ducts that divert the exhausted air (which carries the interior noise) to the back.
This may seem like a good idea on the surface, but by restricting the air flow (you build additional pressure in the outlet) you might actually be increasing fan noise and heat buildup.
High legs are a good idea to prevent dust (i have this problem as well) but can be dangerous for someone who has the case on a carpet or other uneven surface, since it increases the chances of the case tipping over.
1.low RPM silent fans.
2.rubber washers between the fans and the case to minimize vibration noise.
Okay, these 2 ideas are pretty well established. Although personally i have doubts about #2 really making a difference.
3.cover all the interior surfaces with a layer of an insulator, that can be as simple as sponge!!!
Right, but it can also be as simple as extreme fire and inhalation hazard. Make sure what you are using doesn't burn easily.
4.even design external air ducts that divert the exhausted air (which carries the interior noise) to the back.
This may seem like a good idea on the surface, but by restricting the air flow (you build additional pressure in the outlet) you might actually be increasing fan noise and heat buildup.
High legs are a good idea to prevent dust (i have this problem as well) but can be dangerous for someone who has the case on a carpet or other uneven surface, since it increases the chances of the case tipping over.
Score
-1
V3NOM
December 15, 2008 11:17:48 PM
dmbinbc
December 15, 2008 11:19:25 PM
I bought a Lien Li PC-V2100 Plus. I am wondering why this case isnt included in a caparison such as this? Maybe its because its a full tower? Too big? Or, just too many cases to compare? Its cheaper than the ABS but I do believe it to be a better case. I think it has more room and easier hard disk drive bays!
Score
-1
enforcer22
December 15, 2008 11:32:47 PM
ccintronWow, those are four hideously UGLY cases... I'll stick with the Cooler Master Cosmos series.
Good thing this is what matters i guess. The cases look fine as long as they do the job. Though all my comps are in the lian li pc-a70b. But if your more interested in your computer wining a computer case pagent then whatever.
Score
-1
chookman
December 15, 2008 11:54:08 PM
Wgfalcon
December 16, 2008 1:30:30 AM
DFGum
December 16, 2008 9:53:09 AM
"and seven expansion slots (that’s right—no room for three GTX 280s, if that was what you were planning."
That was written for the antec 1200... i dont even know how you came to that conclusion.
2 slots per card x 3 cards is 6 out of 7 slots...
If you can fit 2 way sli , card at top card at bottom with 2 slots in center open you can fit 3 way sli..
This needs to be fixxed.
That was written for the antec 1200... i dont even know how you came to that conclusion.
2 slots per card x 3 cards is 6 out of 7 slots...
If you can fit 2 way sli , card at top card at bottom with 2 slots in center open you can fit 3 way sli..
This needs to be fixxed.
Score
-1
In order for that configuration to work, you’d need EVGA’s X58-based motherboard. The ASUS Rampage II Extreme, used for testing throughout this piece, will not support a three-way SLI setup, despite having three x16 slots. Bear in mind that 3-way SLI isn’t just about how many slots you have free—it’s all contingent on the platform you’re using. The cases with eight expansion slots, however, will work regardless, even if the third double-wide card hangs off the bottom of the board.
Score
-1
royalcrown
December 16, 2008 1:10:48 PM
EnFoRceR22Good thing this is what matters i guess. The cases look fine as long as they do the job. Though all my comps are in the lian li pc-a70b. But if your more interested in your computer wining a computer case pagent then whatever.
you forgot the stupid drive on the side canyon, that's not just asthetic, it's dumb ! As long as it works, why not put the mb tray so stuff comes out the top too ? Plus, for home use, ppl do have to actually look at this crap ! Form should count to some degree almost always.
Score
-1
royalcrown
December 16, 2008 1:17:29 PM
Come on randomiser , even the ventro is not as ugly as NZXT, remember the "transformer" cases from them, or the chenbro "gaming" aka "ugly" bomb ?
I refer you to this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
I'd take a Ventro any day over garbage like this, or the thermaltake case with one eye, the cyclops or whatever.
I refer you to this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
I'd take a Ventro any day over garbage like this, or the thermaltake case with one eye, the cyclops or whatever.
Score
-1
royalcrown
December 16, 2008 1:22:44 PM
also hideous from Thermaltake:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Ijust threw up a little in my mouth...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Ijust threw up a little in my mouth...
Score
-1
stoner133
December 16, 2008 3:25:35 PM
dragonsprayer
December 16, 2008 5:23:42 PM
I lov THG but sometimes......it takes 10 mins to prep a 1200 case - remove both doors, remove all the front bay screws, slide out the trays - easy tooless designs always fail securely hold drives. Comon guys, make the wiring look as bad as possible and make the $600 case look nice - lol! its suppose to look (this is only few extra mins to tuck a few wires) like this: http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l373/warpedsystems/W...
ok nice article!
ok nice article!
Score
-2
dragonsprayer
December 16, 2008 5:28:09 PM
ps: remove one the 3 antec 1200 bays - reconfigure the top 3 single slots covers and you have just as much room as the canyone for 1/4 the price and looks better then that beast! Did you guys think of rearranging the bays? such as: http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l373/warpedsystems/W...
Score
0
CrackeD_B0neZ
December 16, 2008 7:03:54 PM
Marcus52
December 16, 2008 7:33:38 PM
royalcrownI refer you to this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146030
You have a point. I think I remember my dad wanting that case once, but I convinced him that after a few days of turning around in his chair he'll have to have physio on the knee he would keep bashing into the front.
Score
-1
dmbinbc
December 16, 2008 9:51:02 PM
s311_bvm
December 17, 2008 12:19:23 AM
Score
-2
Primus462
December 17, 2008 12:59:35 AM
Anonymous
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Overclocking
December 17, 2008 2:09:40 AM
theLaminator
December 17, 2008 3:57:10 AM
I'm an owner of the HAF 932 and I just wanted to say that the PSU does not have to be installed on the bottom. There are supports and a cover (with two 1/2" holes for water cooling) at the top of the case on the back. This cover will also screw over the bottom PSU opening. I think this should have been mentioned in your article. Also, man I'm sorry but the picture of cable management you have in this case is sad lol. I have a 850 watt Antec PSU, 3870 & a 3870x2 in a tri-fire and a water cooled cpu and NB, with hardly any wires showing. There are several holes cut into the MB tray so cable management is a breeze. Otherwise great article. I was pleased to see my case at the top
Score
-1
theLaminator
December 17, 2008 4:05:22 AM
jaragon13
December 17, 2008 4:23:26 PM
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