I've been mulling over this build for a while now, mainly whether or not the pros of a microATX board/case outweigh the cons. The basic parts I'm already decided on:
CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K
RAM: G.skill Ripjaws 8GB
GPU: Sapphire FLEX 6850 1GB
PSU: Rosewill HIVE-550W
I figure that if I decide to go mATX, the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z will suit my needs just fine. If not, the Asus P8Z68-V seems like the de facto ATX equivalent. No problems there.
My real concern is the case for this build. I've moved around a lot in the past, and transporting Mid-towers has never been fun. It's at that point that I realize I've never used enough of the expansion slots or other drive bays to really justify the larger chasis. I've looked through countless similar threads, read all the reviews I can stand, and I'm still undecided if saving the empty weight/space is worth losing potential air flow and future options like SLI and/or OC (given the space limitations for new hardware).
In short, I'm looking for any comments or suggestions regarding Mini vs Mid Tower cases. If I'm only going to need a single optical drive and graphics card (for now), is it worth the extra size to make cooling & modifying a breeze?
A couple of the cases I've been eyeing (all with their own pros/cons, I know):
Carbide 500R (Mid-Tower)
Thermaltake Armor A30
Dragon Slayer
Silverstone TJ08
CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K
RAM: G.skill Ripjaws 8GB
GPU: Sapphire FLEX 6850 1GB
PSU: Rosewill HIVE-550W
I figure that if I decide to go mATX, the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z will suit my needs just fine. If not, the Asus P8Z68-V seems like the de facto ATX equivalent. No problems there.
My real concern is the case for this build. I've moved around a lot in the past, and transporting Mid-towers has never been fun. It's at that point that I realize I've never used enough of the expansion slots or other drive bays to really justify the larger chasis. I've looked through countless similar threads, read all the reviews I can stand, and I'm still undecided if saving the empty weight/space is worth losing potential air flow and future options like SLI and/or OC (given the space limitations for new hardware).
In short, I'm looking for any comments or suggestions regarding Mini vs Mid Tower cases. If I'm only going to need a single optical drive and graphics card (for now), is it worth the extra size to make cooling & modifying a breeze?
A couple of the cases I've been eyeing (all with their own pros/cons, I know):
Carbide 500R (Mid-Tower)
Thermaltake Armor A30
Dragon Slayer
Silverstone TJ08