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Case Selection: NZXT Phantom or CM HAF X For This Build?

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  • Water Cooling
  • Cases
  • Build
  • Components
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April 13, 2013 9:05:49 AM

I'm a week or two away from ordering the parts for my first-ever PC build, but I'm still torn between two cases for this build. I aim to build an air-cooled system with the possibility for mild OCing and SLI in the near future; the parts are below (minus the case):

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($81.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.49 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($116.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($162.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($127.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 4GB Video Card ($426.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional Gold 850W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($160.98 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($182.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Keyboard: Corsair Vengeance K90 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1965.36

Right now my eye is on both the Coolermaster HAF X (http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6653) and the NZXT Phantom (http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/crafted_series/phantom), both of which are ATX full-tower cases. The room, utility, and air-flow of the HAF X looks good, but I'm not a fan of the industrial look of the case. Meanwhile, I love the aesthetics of the Phantom (I'm eying the black one), despite the supposedly inferior air-flow; this creates a problem, as case appearance is something I like to take into account when selecting a case.

Given that both cases are within my budget, would I be cheating myself if I chose the Phantom over the HAF X? I know that the HAF X is far better for water-cooling setups, but I don't really plan to do any WCing in the future (I would like to try mild OCing with this build in the future, but not so much that a WC system is required. Plus the time/money cost for a good WC setup doesn't appeal to me). That being said, I've heard glowing praise about the HAF X, and I want to ask if personal taste is enough to justify not picking it.

Oh, and if the parts can't fit in the Phantom (particularly the Noctua cooler), please let me know; that'll make my selection considerably easier, I imagine.

Thanks in advance!

More about : case selection nzxt phantom haf build

April 13, 2013 10:00:53 AM

They are both good, get the one you like more.
April 13, 2013 10:40:56 AM

missopium said:
well im not sure about you but i think the HAF X looks better, and you wont have any problems keeping cool.. :D 


To each his own, I suppose. I can see why people like the HAF X's appearance, but I'm just not too crazy about it. :p 

I suppose my biggest concern now is fitting the components into the Phantom case. It seems like they should all fit, but I'd like to make sure.

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April 13, 2013 10:49:00 AM

Nightspectre said:
missopium said:
well im not sure about you but i think the HAF X looks better, and you wont have any problems keeping cool.. :D 


To each his own, I suppose. I can see why people like the HAF X's appearance, but I'm just not too crazy about it. :p 

I suppose my biggest concern now is fitting the components into the Phantom case. It seems like they should all fit, but I'd like to make sure.


It will fit for sure.
April 13, 2013 11:03:40 AM

L Helps said:

It will fit for sure.


A little bit of additional research on my end seemed to confirm that. Thanks!

April 13, 2013 11:16:26 AM

Nightspectre said:
L Helps said:

It will fit for sure.


A little bit of additional research on my end seemed to confirm that. Thanks!



You're welcome, do you already know what case you want? If not just get the one that looks better and/or is cheaper. Some people also recommend the storm trooper instead of the haf x.
April 13, 2013 12:41:33 PM

L Helps said:


You're welcome, do you already know what case you want? If not just get the one that looks better and/or is cheaper. Some people also recommend the storm trooper instead of the haf x.


I'm leaning towards the Phantom for now. I may take a look at the Storm Trooper as well.

April 13, 2013 5:24:30 PM

Your kind of comparing cases that are $100 apart, the more expensive one is always going to be functionally better with that kind of gap. I suggest finding a case you like the look of around the HAF-X's price bracket and then start comparing. The NZXT Switch 810 is a fairly good one with a similar aesthetic to the Phantom, though there is the Phantom 820.
April 14, 2013 5:34:16 AM

manofchalk said:
Your kind of comparing cases that are $100 apart, the more expensive one is always going to be functionally better with that kind of gap. I suggest finding a case you like the look of around the HAF-X's price bracket and then start comparing. The NZXT Switch 810 is a fairly good one with a similar aesthetic to the Phantom, though there is the Phantom 820.


Yeah, I figured the price gap would explain the functionality differences. I just wasn't sure if my build needed all that the HAF X had to offer.

What of the Phantom 630? It's a similar aesthetic, but around the same price range. Is it worth picking up over the Phantom for air-cooling the above build?
April 14, 2013 5:52:10 AM

When it comes to cooling performance, all decently designed cases will perform the same. There's only so much the a case can do, more airflow beyond a point just doesn't do anything.
Only real exception is that for Crossfire/SLI setups, you will want more airflow as suddenly you have nearly double the hot air to get rid of.

Between high end cases, look for aesthetics and features. Functionally, they are all going to be the same unless your doing higher end stuff like water-cooling.
Its actually worth thinking about water-cooling capability. It might not appeal now, but who knows in the future. For me, never thought I would but within 3 months of building my rig I was looking into it. If I hadn't a case that could support it (the HAF-X funnily enough), it would have been a major constraint to what I could have done in regards to water. In general just think about what you might end up doing in the future.

!