Cases for Radeon 5970

This is not a question, but advice to help system builders asking the same question that I was, and a follow-up to a previous thread I started (that I now can't find anywhere). I had purchased a Radeon 5970 along with my case of choice, to find that the card didn't actually fit in the case. Not even close. After some research and THG posts, I learned that there are actually a lot of cases that won't accommodate this card, and just a few that will. I got in touch with a dozen or so of the major case manufacturers to find out which cases will accommodate a 12"/300mm Radeon 5970 and will list my findings in the next post. I will list the name of each case, followed by a couple of links (one to the product page on the manufacturer site and another to a decent res image I can find in Google image search, if better than the one on the product page), and finally the price you can expect to pay in GBP. Sorry for the lack of USD, but it seems all Americans have to do is run a quick search on Newegg, so not that difficult :)
 
XClio Windtunnel
http://www.xclio.com/products/case-windtunnel.htm#details
£55

NZXT Hades
http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u90693/NZXT-Hades-beauty_full.jpg
http://nzxt.com/new/product_detail.php?series_name=Crafted+Series&series=2&id=45
£55

NZXT Hush
http://www.technic3d.com/news/images/News_Bilder_Caseking/hush.black.jpg
http://nzxt.com/new/product_detail.php?series_name=Classic+Series&series=1&id=17
£65

NZXT Tempest EVO
http://www.pcdropship.com/images/img/nzxttevo001bk.jpg
http://www.nzxt.com/new/product_detail.php?series_name=Crafted+Series&series=2&id=43
£75

NZXT Khaos
http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u16580/NZXTrevB_dm.jpg
http://www.nzxt.com/new/product_detail.php?series_name=Aluminum+Chassis&series=10&id=26
£255

NZXT Whisper
http://www.appinformatica.com/imf/torres-nzxt-whisper---silencio-total-1g.jpg
http://www.nzxt.com/new/product_detail.php?series_name=Classic+Series&series=1&id=30
£90

Thermaltake Eureka
http://localstore.com.ar/catalog/images/eureka.jpg
http://uk.thermaltake.eu/product_overview.aspx?PARENT_CID=C_00000039
£60

Coolermaster HAF 922
http://store.9289.com.au/images/haf922.jpg
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6606
£75

Coolermaster HAF 932
http://195.69.74.103/shop/images/HAF932-5.jpg
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=5363
£110

Coolermaster Storm Sniper
http://www.iloprix.com/media/product/large/1/5/9/61668951.jpg
http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/chassis/sniperblackmesh
£115

Antec 900
http://70.88.117.155/mma2kpc/IMAGES/antec900.jpg
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MTEyOQ==
£65

Antec 902
https://www.uberclok.com/store/images/P/antec902-1-01.jpg
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MTcyOA==
£90

Antec 1200
http://www.greenlyph.com/new/images/1200.jpg
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MTEzMw==
£110

Antec P183
http://www.greenlyph.com/new/images/P183_quarter.jpg
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MTgyMw==
£90

Antec P193
http://www.dvhardware.net/news/antec_p193.jpg
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MTgyNQ==
£115

Lian Li PC-X900
http://lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/upload/image/pc-x900/x900-35.jpg
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=500&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62
£400 (or £460 for red anodised finish)

Lian Li PC-A77F
http://lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/upload/image/pc-a77f/a77f-05.jpg
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=478&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=61
£250

Lian Li PC-X2000F
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=524&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=61
£?

Lian Li PC-7BYCF
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=214&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62
£?

Azza Solano 1000R
http://www.topreviewshop.com/graphics/azza_solano_1000r_front.jpg
http://www.azzausa.com/Product-Case-Solano1000.asp
I don't think this is available in the UK... $110 on Amazon

Enermax Uber Chakra
http://i.testfreaks.co.uk/images/products/600x400/114/enermax-cs-035s-eca5001bs-uber-chakra.1178994.jpg
http://www.enermax.co.uk/produkte/cases/bigchakra.html
£60

Thermaltake Xaser VI
http://www.arxvaldex.com/shop/images/Thermaltake%20Xaser%20VI.jpg
http://uk.thermaltake.eu/product_overview.aspx?PARENT_CID=C_00000183
http://uk.thermaltake.eu/product_overview.aspx?PARENT_CID=C_00000028
£90 (MX you can pick up for £45 but not sure if it'll fit it)

Akasa Infiniti
http://akasa.co.uk/update.php?tpl=product/product.detail.tpl&no=181&type=Chassis&type_sub=Full%20ATX&model=AK-BKINF-01
£80

Akasa Omega
http://akasa.co.uk/update.php?tpl=product/product.detail.tpl&no=181&type=Chassis&type_sub=Full%20ATX&model=AK-BKCSE-05
135

Silverstone Raven RV01
http://dl.maximumpc.com/galleries/towersofpower/raven1.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/raven/products/index.php?model=RV01&area=usa
£140

Silverstone Raven RV02
http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u90693/silverstoneExt-full.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/raven/products/index.php?model=RV02&area=usa
£100

Silverstone Precision PS02
http://static.scan.co.uk/Images/Products/943055-a.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=PS02&area=usa
£40

Silverstone Precision PS03
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=PS03&area=usa
£40

Silverstone Precision PS04
http://prohardver.hu/dl/cnt/2010-03/58475/kopya_silverstone_precision_ps05_01.jpg
£?

Silverstone Temjin TJ09
http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2008/03/26/system_builder_marathon/silverstone_tj09_profile.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=tj09&area=usa
£160

Silverstone Temjin TJ10
http://silverstonetek.com/images/products/tj10/tj10b-3-4view.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=tj10&area=usa
£190

Silverstone Grandia GD02
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=gd02&area=usa
£100

Silverstone Crown CW02
http://www.productreview.com.au/uploads/images/items/106225_silverstone_crown_cw02.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=cw02&area=usa
£300

Silverstone Sugo SG01
http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2005/07/20/silverstone_sugo_sg01_is_stylish_flexibility/silverstone_sg01-black.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=sg01&area=usa
£65

Silverstone Sugo SG02-F
http://www.avgs.gresouth.com/images/SST-SG02B-F.JPG
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=SG02-F&area=usa
£?

Silverstone Sugo SG07
http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/1180/sg07front.jpg
£?

Silverstone Fortress FT02
http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u90693/Silverstone-beauty_full.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=FT02&area=usa
£180

Silverstone Fortress FT02B-W
http://static.scan.co.uk/Images/Products/1119867-a.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=FT02&area=usa
£180

Silverstone Fortress FT01 (with removal of secondary HDD cage)
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=FT01&area=usa
£130

Silverstone Lascala LC13-E (with removal of secondary HDD cage)
http://www.alphacity.co.nz/images/components/LC13-E-3-4.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=LC13-E&area=usa
£80

Silverstone Lascala LC17 (with removal of secondary HDD cage)
http://www.overclockers.co.nz/product/case/silverstone/LC17B-B.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=lc17&area=usa
£70

Silverstone Lascala LC20 (with removal of only HDD cage)
http://www.sangarcomputer.com/images/LC20.1sc1.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=lc20&area=usa
£80

Silverstone Crown CW03 (with removal of only HDD cage)
http://www.sangarcomputer.com/images/cw031.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=cw03&area=usa
£520

Silverstone Grandia GD03 (with removal of only HDD cage)
http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2010/01/silverstone-grandia-gd03-review/3.jpg
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=GD03&area=usa
£150

Silverstone Sugo SG01-E (with removal of only HDD cage)
£?

Silverstone Sugo SG02 (with removal of only HDD cage)
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=sg02&area=usa
£45

(Crown, Grandia and Lascala are horizontal style)

Corsair Obsidian 700D
http://blog.corsair.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/700D_top-angled.png
http://www.corsair.com/products/700d/default.aspx
£190

Corsair Obsidian 800D
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/wp-content/uploads/corsair-obsidian-800d.jpg
http://www.corsair.com/products/800d/default.aspx
£210
 
This list is not exhaustive. Some manufacturers did not respond (yeah I'm looking at you, Thermaltake), but should provide you with a pretty decent selection of cases to choose from, across a range of price points. Some may also be discontinued... looks like Thermaltake maybe did receive the email, because their cases section has been rearranged, quite a few moved to the Discontinued section (including the Eureka).

Reason there are so many Silverstone cases is that they were helpful enough to send me a spreadsheet including most (not all) of their cases with what size cards will fit by default, what needs to be moved or removed to make more space (where applicable), and how much space you'll have to play with when that is removed. If you'd like a copy of the .xls, feel free to PM me (or you could just email Silverstone).

For anyone new to building computers (and to THG, Anandtech etc), the Antec 900, 902 and 1200, as well as the Coolermaster HAF 922 and HAF 932 are very highly regarded.

Special thanks to those who helped me out in that original thread (wherever it is), especially to THG bearded guy. Can't remember your username, but the case fits the card like a glove and looks awesome :-D Nice one mate.
 


If you only want a 5970 and won't actually buy one, you don't need this list anyway :) You can buy pretty much any case you want with smaller cards! Far as I know, other than the 5970 at 12", only other card currently out there above 10.5" is the 5870 at 11". I can also post a few more Silverstone models for additional options that will accommodate a 5870, but not a 5970.