Quality mATX case

[geo3]

I currently have a Cooler Master Q300l  https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Transparent-Adjustable-Ventilated/dp/B0785GRMPG and am looking to replace it

 

It's too big, has crappy airflow, the fans make noise due to turbulence sucking air through the case vents, and it's overall just an ugly case.

 

I'm  considering the Sliger Cerberus https://www.sliger.com/products/cases/cerberus/ which is really nice but expensive AF, and also the SAMA IM01 https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811197012 which is cheep, and looks nice at least and is smaller, but I'm not sure if it will be better than the Cooler Master in the air flow and noise department. 

 

Anyone have opinions on these 2 case or have other options for me to look at?

[Bombastinator]

35 minutes ago, geo3 said:

I currently have a Cooler Master Q300l  https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Transparent-Adjustable-Ventilated/dp/B0785GRMPG and am looking to replace it

 

It's too big, has crappy airflow, the fans make noise due to turbulence sucking air through the case vents, and it's overall just an ugly case.

 

I'm  considering the Sliger Cerberus https://www.sliger.com/products/cases/cerberus/ which is really nice but expensive AF, and also the SAMA IM01 https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811197012 which is cheep, and looks nice at least and is smaller, but I'm not sure if it will be better than the Cooler Master in the air flow and noise department. 

 

Anyone have opinions on these 2 case or have other options for me to look at?

My memory of the 300i was that it wasn’t terrible in the airflow department, especially for a case as cheap as it was. If you feel the airflow of that one is “crappy” I’m not sure a case that would have “excellent” airflow even exists no matter how much you spend.  I do kind of agree on the visuals, but that a entirely personal preference. Fan noise would be about fans not the case. The difference between a really expensive and really cheap case fan of similar size also isn’t all that astoundingly large though. What I notice about both your choices is they have completely solid fronts and all of their airflow is from top and sides.  My suspicion is neither of those two cases will have superior airflow to the one you have simply because it DOES have some front airflow.

Edited April 3, 2021 by Bombastinator

[geo3]

6 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

My memory of the 300i was that it wasn’t terrible in the airflow department, especially for a case as cheap as it was. If you feel the airflow of that one is “crappy” I’m not sure a case that would have “excellent” airflow even exists no matter how much you spend.

No it's measurably bad. Compare it to my other case which is an Ncase M1 with the same Noctua fans and the amount of air being pulled through each fan is much less.  

 

9 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

Fan noise would be about fans not the case.

Also this is demonstrably incorrect.  Removing the fan from the case makes it quieter. And the same fan, again in the M1, is quieter. The noise is due to the turbulence of the tiny air holes.

 

10 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

What I notice about both your choices is they have completely solid fronts and all of their airflow is from top and sides.  My suspicion is neither of those two cases will have superior airflow to the one you have simply because it DOES have some front airflow.

It has nothing to do with the location of the ventilation but the quality of it. The Q300L vents has too sparsely placed and too small holes. The M1 I have also doesn't have front vents yet has excellent air flow. 

[Bombastinator]

it may be “bad” by your definition but I suspect as far as airflow goes the other two choices are still even worse.  You want to check go look at the GN case testing stuff.  I might be wrong.  I don’t think I am but I could be.  The reason I think this is real simple: making a small airflow type case with a closed front is really hard to impossible.  The closed front was for sound insulation cases.
You get something by avoiding the glass side so you can at least perforate it.  The problem though is you can’t perforate the other side because it has the motherboard on it so air has to turn 90° no matter what.

 

im not treating your rebuttals of my statements for two reasons

one is my opinion doesn’t matter.  I’m not the one buying a case.  This is your thread not mine.

 

The other is your rebuttals aren’t even in conflict with a what I actually said.  They’re “no because a vest has no sleeves” type replies.  they say things that have nothing to do with the statement.  

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by Bombastinator

[Fraya]

PC Cases | CORSAIR

 

I would say the Corsair m-atx cases are some of the best, as duel chamber and good solid design. 

 

[geo3]

2 hours ago, Fraya said:

PC Cases | CORSAIR

 

I would say the Corsair m-atx cases are some of the best, as duel chamber and good solid design. 

 

Okay but at that price I would just get the Cerberus. 

[geo3]

I ended up getting the SAMA IM01 and couldn't be more pleased. The build quality alone is worth well more than the $60 price tag. It reminds me of more premium cases like my Ncase M1.  And switching to this did indeed improve both the airflow and acoustics of the system over the Q300l.  I blame the Coolermaster's space vent holes.