Building a 5 year rig around 2600k. What case do you guys like better from the options

[Power5]

CM 692
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119216


Enermax Fulmo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811124144


Corsair 500R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139009



NZXT 410 Phantom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146093





I have a 2600k. I have a Asrock pro4 Z77. I have my old 4890 for now. I have a Corsair HX620. I will have 8gb high speed ram. I will have xspc rasa 750 rs240 water cooling kit. XSPC kit

I like each case for different reasons. I think the 500R fits my hit list best but I do like the look of the 410. However it lacks one of my top hit list items of an external dock. I could add a bay I guess if it comes down to it but thats just more money and headache if anything goes wrong. Actually both my top choice are missing the external dock.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

I have the Corsair Obsidian 650D so I'm partial to the Corsairs you've posted. They're great cases.

[A.Wilder]

My stepson has the NZXT, it's really nice, but friggin huge.

[Power5]

This is the 410 its not the full version. The water kit has a double 5.25 bay. So an optical would be the only other 5.25 possible. Though I do not use optical much anymore but its not as dead as the floppy/zip/tape yet. Problem is since neither the corsair or nzxt have an external dock slot I would need to add a swap bay. Or I could keep using my external dock on my desk when I needed it. Just hate pulling it out, plugging it in, and getting around to plug it into the computer. Dropping a drive in to a fixed kit is nice.

[A.Wilder]

that top-hot-swap feature is cool. It's up to you, i don't think any of those cases differ in quality, it's mostly features. If the swapping feature is what you want, go for the enermax.

[Egilbe]

I like my case to have a flat top so I can put things on top of it...and looking at my case, I just noticed one of my kids put a DVD on top of the top exhaust fan Maybe that's not such a good idea. I have an Antec 900.

[Loke]

I know its not a poll option, but I've always considered Lian Li cases to be the best. Simple designs and absolutely the highest quality possible.

[Power5]

I like my case to have a flat top so I can put things on top of it...and looking at my case, I just noticed one of my kids put a DVD on top of the top exhaust fan Maybe that's not such a good idea. I have an Antec 900.

I have a 900 in my current build. I have taken HDD screws out and thumb screws and placed them in the little tray. Then I have watched as my girls tried to see how many they could put into the top fan. While it was running. A few got kicked around by the fan before I could get them to stop. Luckily they fell and did not short anything.

[Power5]

I know its not a poll option, but I've always considered Lian Li cases to be the best. Simple designs and absolutely the highest quality possible.

Which Lian Li are you recommending?

[Hostile]

I have a CM 690II Advanced that I like a lot. The only real downside is the lack of hidden cable routing.

[HuDuVuDu]

I have my current i7-2600K in the NZXT Tempest EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=nzxt%20evo

The Tempest is nice it holds a lot of drives. I have it filled with a BR-RW, DVD-RW, an SSD + 5 3.5" HDD.

I have a first gen i7-860 in the NZXT Gamma
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146061

The Gamma is smaller than the Tempest. But it can still hold a bunch of drives. I have it stuffed with 8 3.5" HDD, and a DVD-RW.

NZXT cases are in the right price range, offer good cooling, storage options.

[BRealistic]

You are going to be building this rig for 5 years?
That seems an odd plan.

[az__quattro]

i have a white phantom. it is huge. the front airflow is a little gimped. it is pretty difficult to achieve positive pressure in this case.

it's still the best case i've ever had. tons of room inside, as well behind the back panel to route cables. the drive mount cradles are a little difficult to use, no big deal really.

[Power5]

I have my current i7-2600K in the NZXT Tempest EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=nzxt%20evo

The Tempest is nice it holds a lot of drives. I have it filled with a BR-RW, DVD-RW, an SSD + 5 3.5" HDD.

I have a first gen i7-860 in the NZXT Gamma
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146061

The Gamma is smaller than the Tempest. But it can still hold a bunch of drives. I have it stuffed with 8 3.5" HDD, and a DVD-RW.

NZXT cases are in the right price range, offer good cooling, storage options.

No offense but not too drawn to either of those. The tempest is basically my current 900 and I now despise that drive config as its a pain to get them out. Gama is a little odd looking to me as well.

You are going to be building this rig for 5 years?
That seems an odd plan.

Didnt plan on my current e4300 lasting as long as it did. Had it since launch and still running its duties pretty well though some gaming has suffered. Now that I have a 27" 26x14 screen though it should be even easier for it to keep up. But I got a great deal on a MC 2600k for $199 and asrock z77 pro4 for $79 so the upgrade is happening. My e4300 is 4.5 years old so that is why I say I am building a 5 year rig. At least that is the life span expectancy. If I build new in 3 years, thats ok too.

i have a white phantom. it is huge. the front airflow is a little gimped. it is pretty difficult to achieve positive pressure in this case.

it's still the best case i've ever had. tons of room inside, as well behind the back panel to route cables. the drive mount cradles are a little difficult to use, no big deal really.

The reviews say the 410 is just as good of a case just smaller and one of the reasons its on my short list.

[turbinepowered]

I have no experience with any of these cases, and my desktop is in a Koolance watercooled case. Or was, she's a bit dead these days. Needs a heart and spine transplant, CPU and Motherboard.

I have, however, built cases before. I have sheet metal, a brake, a flange roller, drill press and pop rivets.

[Power5]

I think i am going with the nzxt 410. Newegg has 20% off this weekend making it hard to pass up.

[Loke]

Which Lian Li are you recommending?

HP employee and a laptop guy. I haven't used any desktop cases in years so I can't recommend any specific models. Unless they've changed over the years, they're all great.

[Hostile]

HP employee and a laptop guy. I haven't used any desktop cases in years so I can't recommend any specific models. Unless they've changed over the years, they're all great.

What does working at HP have to do with this thread?

[Loke]

What does working at HP have to do with this thread?

I was asked if I recommended a specific Lian Li case. HP sells proprietary PCs in their own cases, not individual hardware. My last few PCs have been HP models. When you get something for free or cheap, you don't tend to buy expensive alternatives (like Lian Li).

Why do people feel the need to call other people out on the Internet when they're only trying to help?

[Power5]

I dont think he read the earlier posts. I completely understood your post though.

I looked at a few Lian Li, so I looked at just about all Lian Li. They are just a bit too "sleek" for me. I want some design to my electronics not just a black box. Hell if they made beige you would think they sold old 386 machines but out of aluminum.

[Vision33r]

Silverstone > Lian Li.

Lian Li are like old MK3 VWs, the internals are structurally outdated. Silverstone are more like Audis, modern internals and great engineering.

[Power5]

Got the case last night. Looks very nice. Very solid. Everything feels high quality. Installed MOBO, CPU, Ram. Going to install a HDD, optical and PSU tonight and get windows installed

[Egilbe]

got the case last night. Looks very nice. Very solid. Everything feels high quality. Installed mobo, cpu, ram. Going to install a hdd, optical and psu tonight and get windows installed

nzxt 410?

[Power5]

Yup.

[Loke]

I dont think he read the earlier posts. I completely understood your post though.

I looked at a few Lian Li, so I looked at just about all Lian Li. They are just a bit too "sleek" for me. I want some design to my electronics not just a black box. Hell if they made beige you would think they sold old 386 machines but out of aluminum.

Only a few? There are hundreds of models, 30 just in the standard ATX size alone. Features and design? Now that I've looked at their current line up, Lian Li is still my favorite. I had a few 286, 386, and 486 PCs back in the day. This one isn't my style, but I never saw any back then that looked anything like this:
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product...s_index=61&g=f

[Power5]

Scan through these and tell me the major differences between the majority of them.

http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product...index=62&num=1

[Loke]

Scan through these and tell me the major differences between the majority of them.

http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product...index=62&num=1

I'm not sure what you're getting at. Sure, that first page has mostly models with plain styling, but I tend to like the simple designs, perhaps I'm getting old. Some are desktops, some are towers. Some are rack mountable. Further pages in that listing have models with aesthetics like lights and windows. I more appreciate the functional features, fans, air ducts, air filters, integrated cable management, toolless design, etc. I do like the PC-V1020 with the full mesh front.

[Markg813]

My brother just bought a Cooler Master 932 HAF case. Really cool case, lots of rooms and amazing cable management.

[1stRabbit]

Only a few? There are hundreds of models, 30 just in the standard ATX size alone. Features and design? Now that I've looked at their current line up, Lian Li is still my favorite. I had a few 286, 386, and 486 PCs back in the day. This one isn't my style, but I never saw any back then that looked anything like this:
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product...s_index=61&g=f

Be careful on SOME Lian Li cases... they make an awesome looking modern/sleek style case however the ones with the backwards layout of PSU in front and the motherboard flipped to the opposite side absolutely suck as far as air flow goes.

I just replaced my i7 920 w/ an i5 3570k. I did tests on both machines and with the front cover in place temps rise by at least 4-5C... There is a fan behind the front cover and on intake it totally reduces airflow and does similarly for exhausting if you use it in a different direction.

The Lian Li's are generally very nice though. I have a PC-A05B and while it's a nice fit and finish the layout (reverse layout) is terrible.

I do have my 3570k OC'd to 4.5ghz at around 1.24 core voltage. Temps are at 79C max (What a stock clocked 3570k will run on stock cooling (I have a Noctua HSF). All in a Lian-Li PC-A05B.

Also, check out rocketfish cases at best buy... many of them are rebranded lian-li. I got a giant tower that could hold 12 3.5" HDDs for $50 when they were on sale (I bought 2). It was just a lian-li with a rocketfish sticker on the front and came w/ all the same hardware/screwdriver kit.

[egecko]

After looking at the case, I really liked it, except for the side panel. I just wish it didn't have any cutouts and all red. Then after looking at the site, I see the PC-P80N which is the same exact case but black. I think this will be the case I get to replace the one I'm using for my unRaid server.......but I want red!


http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product...s_index=66&g=f

Only a few? There are hundreds of models, 30 just in the standard ATX size alone. Features and design? Now that I've looked at their current line up, Lian Li is still my favorite. I had a few 286, 386, and 486 PCs back in the day. This one isn't my style, but I never saw any back then that looked anything like this:
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product...s_index=61&g=f