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Best matx case for water cooling

Spook_
By Spook_
in Power Supplies
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Posted

Soooooo... I currently have a system housed in a HAF X full tower case, and while it has served me well it is freaking huge and weighs an absolute ton (not very good qualities for a rig you intend to take to lan's).

 

I am interested in a smaller matx case with good water cooling potential for both a CPU and 1 to 2 graphics cards (without an insane amount of modding). I have narrowed my list down to a few but feel free to list any you think are better than my current choices.

 

These are in no particular order.

 

1.Fractal Design Arc Mini r2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352034 

 

2. Corsair 350D

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139021&cm_re=Corsair_350d-_-11-139-021-_-Product

 

3. Phanteks Evolv

http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-EVOLV.html <--- Currently not available in the U.S.

 

4. Sliverstone  Fortress FT03

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163176 Note: Yes I realize it is no longer sold on newegg (I have a friend who is willing to sell his) and yes i realize it isn't perfect for water cooling but I think the design is extremely cool. So if there are cases out there like this that work better for water cooling that would be perfect.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

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My vote goes to the 350D. I've seen amazing water cooled builds in it.

 

Welcome to the forum btw! :)

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I'd say 350D\

 

You should also consider the Arc mini 2 

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Not 350D , Fractal Design mini arc r2 is what you seek

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Air 240? 

Computing enthusiast. 
I use to be able to input a cheat code now I've got to input a credit card - Total Biscuit
 

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Poll please.

 

And the 350D is a reasonable size for a Micro ATX case if that matters to you. The Arc Mini is crazy deep meaning that the sizing has simply been taken off the width and height (the two most important things to have LOTS of) and added to the back to make it longer...

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Arc or 350D would be my top two. The Evolv, despite my initial fondness for it gives me mixed feelings now.

 

The 350D has front 140mm mounts which I really like, but just as a case I like the Arc so much more.

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And the 350D is a reasonable size for a Micro ATX case if that matters to you. The Arc Mini is crazy deep meaning that the sizing has simply been taken off the width and height (the two most important things to have LOTS of) and added to the back to make it longer...

Not really. The 350D is the size of a mid tower. The Arc Mini R2 is better designed and it shows from how much more you can stuff in it than the 350D. 

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Ok so I have added a poll.

 

Arc or 350D would be my top two. The Evolv, despite my initial fondness for it gives me mixed feelings now.

 

The 350D has front 140mm mounts which I really like, but just as a case I like the Arc so much more.

What gave you the mixed feelings for the evolv?

 

Air 240? 

From what I have seen there isn't really much room for any rads except for the front of the case. 

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Arc Mini R2. 360mm rad support clinched it me for me. Especially for a CPU and 1 to 2 Graphics Cards.

 

Also the front panel on the 350D makes me think restricted air flow. This coming from a person who owns a H440.

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I own the 350D and although I have not done custom loop in it I can see where you would run into problems depending on your hardware.

 

For example, I have two 3.5" HDDs in the drive cage at the bottom and relocating them to allow for a front rad would be a mess. If I didn't have these than I could remove the cage, Velcro the 2.5" SSD/HDDs to the back of the mobo tray and throw a 240/280 in the front.

 

I think the 350D aesthetically takes the lot hands down and has a good amount of expandability depending on your hardware but at the same time would limit your options on rad depending on your hardware.

 

FWIW, I have no problems with airflow on my 350D. I did flip the rear exhaust around to get positive case pressure but, other than that it just worked.

 

I am a little bias but, my vote goes to the 350D.

 

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FWIW, I have no problems with airflow on my 350D. I did flip the rear exhaust around to get positive case pressure but, other than that it just worked.

 

I could be wrong about the 350D front panel.

 

Isn't positive pressure kind of pointless when you're running unfiltered intakes?

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Not really. The 350D is the size of a mid tower. The Arc Mini R2 is better designed and it shows from how much more you can stuff in it than the 350D. 

I still don't like how deep the Arc is...

kinda pointless as a Micro-ATX case if it's longer than my desk including cables and whatnot.

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I still don't like how deep the Arc is...

kinda pointless as a Micro-ATX case if it's longer than my desk including cables and whatnot.

Not everyone has your desk. 

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I could be wrong about the 350D front panel.

 

Isn't positive pressure kind of pointless when you're running unfiltered intakes?

Yes, I have a magnetic filter on the back  :)

 

There is a pretty good gap between the fans and the front and on the sides of the front panel. Yes you would probably get better airflow if the front was off but, not that much.

 

I have two power hungry heat generating OC'd 7970s in there and they get enough air so I'm convinced just about anything will  B)

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My vote goes to the Arc mini R2 because of the top rad space and I clicked other because my Node 804 is just asking to be watercooled. (you can probably tell that I'm a Fractal fanboy)

Have a bad day...

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ive built in both the mini R2 and 350D and hands down for a custom loop the

mini R2 is far superior than the 350D. radiator options alone speak volumes.

the 350D is a bigger cabinet to build in, but limited factors of a 30mm in the roof

just sealed its death in a functional loop. plus the air inlet is so restrictive, you

should buy another $50 modified front panel to allow more air into the case.

 

360x 60 in the roof and 240x 60 in the front for the min R2 allows the beefiest

of SLI/CFX with low fan speeds (noise) and thermal control for any reasonable

voltage overclock.

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I still don't like how deep the Arc is...

kinda pointless as a Micro-ATX case if it's longer than my desk including cables and whatnot.

From what I can gather it's only 2 inches (roughly) longer than the 350D and the fact that it supports a 360mm rad is awesome as well. Any other suggestions other than the ones I have posted?

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Not everyone has your desk.

No, obviously everybody has my desk water you thinking :P
But 20 inches is deeper than most ATX cases, just saying. Is the Fractal Arc not bigger than the 350D...?

EDIT: Fractal is shorter but elsewhere, both are equally wide and Fractal is deeper.



From what I can gather it's only 2 inches (roughly) longer than the 350D and the fact that it supports a 360mm rad is awesome as well. Any other suggestions other than the ones I have posted?

Hmmm, for watercooling?
Uhm.
Well, the Arc isn't bad - just not for me.
I suppose an mATX Prodigy could do it but it would be a tight fit.

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What gave you the mixed feelings for the evolv?

It just seems hugely over sized and restrictive.

 

With some more thought, my vote goes to the Arc. I like the idea of a solo 360 rad up top. Nice and simple.

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It just seems hugely over sized and restrictive.

With some more thought, my vote goes to the Arc. I like the idea of a solo 360 rad up top. Nice and simple.

Is it really that much bigger? Its kinda hard to get a good understanding for the size of these cases without having actually ever seen any of them in person.

If I were to use the 360mm rad I won't be able to use the 5.25 in bays correct?

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Is it really that much bigger? Its kinda hard to get a good understanding for the size of these cases without having actually ever seen any of them in person.

If I were to use the 360mm rad I won't be able to use the 5.25 in bays correct?

Seems it's not actually massive when the measurements are compared.

 

(L/W/H, mm)

350D: 440-210-450  (L & H may be incorrect, nobody labels the measurements so I'm just guessing which is L and which is H)

Arc Mini: 484-210-405

Evolv: 400-230-450

FT03: 284-235-487

 

Volume wise, the first 3 are all very close in overall size, despite their differences. The FT03, while being the tallest, has a very small footprint.

 

Technically you would, there is enough room for one, but you won't have any airflow the the forward fan.

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Phanteks mini XL when its out

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Accessories : K65, Naos 3200, Superlux 681, Chord CCU1

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