Which case?

[Bolas]

I'm doing a new build from the ground up. I want something that is easy to build for a novice builder (me), that can hold plenty of water cooling stuff, and that has good looks. I've basically gotten it narrowed down to only a few cases. I'm looking for a full tower or cube case.

It doesn't have to be particularly portable, because I don't plan to lug my 30" monitors around but rather leave them set up in one spot. Just bought them, they're on the way here via Con-way Freight, should have them in a week. I'm so excited!! Now to quickly build a system to power them.

Here are my main case options:

Corsair 800D. Least expensive, noob friendly. Limited water cooling room.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139001

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=26505

Lian Li PC-343B. Lots of room. Would need to powder coat the interior.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25186

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=21901

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/64...tml?tl=g1c2s35

Murdermod TJ07. Best looking but also most expensive. Quad in the bottom of the tower case is nice.

http://www.murdermod.com/murdermod-t...ermod-tj07.htm

Mountain Mods Extended Ascension. Biggest, room for huge boards. Would go with anodized aluminum and many many fans and radiators. The only currently available option that would fit the EVGA Classified SR-2 motherboard.

http://www.mountainmods.com/computer...o-c-21_96.html

Mick64 Case. Well designed, but no idea about availability or price.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=217611

There might also be some other case that I've overlooked or that is coming out soon. If so, please post a link to it and tell me the advantages of choosing that case over another one on the list. Thanks for your help in choosing!

[Bolas]

Oh, the total budget for my build is $5k to $5.5k, so whatever I don't spend on a case I can spend on the contents of the case. So I will have to make trade-offs because it's not an unlimited budget, but I could afford to spend on a case if it was the right one.

[lkiller123]

Can you provide more specific needs?

I will start it out, what will you be running in your loops?

[skeyo]

Mountain mods is the best. Because you can put any combination of rads without any problems.

[squishee]

I voted murder mod only as you didnt have a vanilla tj07 listed...The asking price of a silverstone is well worth it.

[Bolas]

Can you provide more specific needs?

I will start it out, what will you be running in your loops?

Well I"m totally new to this so I'm not sure yet. I've been reading about water cooling and researching components for about six months now -- that's how I found these forums.

I am waiting a week to find out the specs on the fermi before deciding for sure if I'll do Radeon or Fermi gpu's. Also, the case will have some effect on this choice as well -- if I go with the corsair, I'm not sure that there will be enough cooling available to do much more than a single 5970 plus the cpu and chipset. But with a larger case, I could potentially run a whole bunch more stuff, money permitting.

How much do I really need in order to run three 30" monitors? That's kind of the question. I mostly play 2d games, with a couple older 3d titles in the mix occasionally, so a single 5870 might be enough. But I am interested in things like Batman: Arkham Asylum, so I might want to go with Nvidia for the PhysX. Lots for me to think about.

[kInOzAwA]

A custom case is the only way to go. Tired of waiting for Mick64's case? I've already built an improved variation of that design (easily enlarged to hold the EVGA Classified SR-2 board).




Or how about a taller or wider variation of the TJ07? I could build you one of those as well.

i like your custom build case. anyway how much its price for the stuff?

[dho]

If you've got the floor space for a wide case, go for the Mountain Mods case. Unless you really want to build custom or do a lot of cutting, the flexibility of this case has no equal. You can design any configuration to meet your airflow/mounting needs and end up with a great looking case, built exactly as you wanted it. How can you go wrong with that?

[Bolas]

If you've got the floor space for a wide case, go for the Mountain Mods case. Unless you really want to build custom or do a lot of cutting, the flexibility of this case has no equal. You can design any configuration to meet your airflow/mounting needs and end up with a great looking case, built exactly as you wanted it. How can you go wrong with that?

I think I'll do the Corsair now, and then when I upgrade, sell off the case for 2/3 price to one of my buddies and get the mountain mods one for my next build.

I want to at least get some experience with a normal build before I go for a crazy-ambitious build like an SR-2 in a mountain mods case with a half dozen water cooling loops.

[PaRn ssR]

Lian Li PC-B70

[DARK_01]

Lian Li PC-B70 2nd vote
________________

[lee63]

TJ07

[triggs75]

I say the 800D is a good choice and it does not have limited Liquid cooling space. Just a couple little cuts and you are fine. I was choosing between the 800D or the TJ07 as both are really nice cases, but I went with the 800D for me.

Chad

[Bolas]

I say the 800D is a good choice and it does not have limited Liquid cooling space. Just a couple little cuts and you are fine. I was choosing between the 800D or the TJ07 as both are really nice cases, but I went with the 800D for me.

Chad

I figure I can fit a 120.3 and maybe a 120.2 into the 800D. Is it possible to fit more than that into the case?