Help me pick an ITX case!

[runit3]

I've scrounged up enough parts for my gaming box and after spending a good 2 hours looking through ITX cases nothing has really stuck out as a clear winner, I've only ruled out a few cases.

Build Specs:

G3258 until I delid a 4770k from another build

ASUS Z97i-Plus

Gigabyte GTX 970 (GV-N970IXOC-4GD)

G.Skill Trident X 2400 (2x4gb)

Samsung 840 EVO 250gb

EVGA 650 G1 (tentative)

Cooler Master Seidon 240M, maybe an H105 if it'll fit.

 

Case Requirements:

Space for a 240mm AIO

Slim (preferred) or 5.25" drive bay

Space for a standard sized 600-750w PSU

A dual GPU slot, although length is not a concern

 

The EVGA Hadron Hydro was a contender until I watched a few reviews, and the airflow/no filter/PSU just aren't going to work out. No preference on color or window, interior parts are mostly blacked out so matching isn't really an issue. I'd also rather not build in a BitFenix Prodigy again, and lack of a slim drive (or 5.25" w/rad) is a no go.

 

Open to any suggestions

 

 

Picked up a 250D, modded to fit an H105, and it's one hell of a little gaming box. Thanks everyone!

[Deletive]

air 240; it's a little on the big size for m-itx but it offers a lot.

edit: lack 5.25 drive. I'll keep looking.

[runit3]

air 240; it's a little on the big size for m-itx but it offers a lot.

edit: lack 5.25 drive. I'll keep looking.

Still on the fence about a cube, have to somehow fit this thing next to a 55" TV and tower speakers. Although, I do like the Air's

[Hansell]

air 240; it's a little on the big size for m-itx but it offers a lot.

edit: lack 5.25 drive. I'll keep looking.

I heard air 240 have bad build qualty?

[Darkstar101]

Use an external optical drive, they're cheap and work well.

[runit3]

Use an external optical drive, they're cheap and work well.

and look like shit, with USB 2.0 transfer rates

I'd prefer no drive at all, but the wife would appreciate being able to throw in a DVD/Blu Ray from time to time.

[Darkstar101]

and look like shit, with USB 2.0 transfer rates

I'd prefer no drive at all, but the wife would appreciate being able to throw in a DVD/Blu Ray from time to time.

 

They don't look like shit at all, I have a Asus SDRW-08D2S-U LITE and looks nice. 

 

And the Asus BW-12D1S-U is USB 3.0.

 

http://www.asus.com/Optical_Drives/BW12D1SU/

[ComputerGUY82]

Bitfenix phenom , bitfenix colous , corsair 250d

[ManWithBeard1990]

Fun fact: Mini-ITX motherboards can be mounted in a Corsair Obsidian 900D with room to spare.

[Jcowley]

Are you dead-set on the full size power supply? If not you could go for something like the FT-03 Mini from Silverstone, pretty tower-y looking if you ask me.

[belgiumkiddo]

I think the 250D is a good choice.

[runit3]

Are you dead-set on the full size power supply? If not you could go for something like the FT-03 Mini from Silverstone, pretty tower-y looking if you ask me.

Tentative winner here!

 

I'll have to mod a quick release bracket to mount the 240mm rad externally, but the top cut-out allows the block/tubes to be routed inside relatively easily. Having to use a SX-600 hurts the wallet a bit, but it looks pretty clean.

[mariohead123]

You could try going for a silverstone raven rvz01 and throw a slimline dvd drive in there, It's pretty neat case if you ask me.

[Jcowley]

Tentative winner here!

 

I'll have to mod a quick release bracket to mount the 240mm rad externally, but the top cut-out allows the block/tubes to be routed inside relatively easily. Having to use a SX-600 hurts the wallet a bit, but it looks pretty clean.

 

Your build would be fine with the 450 watt SFX supply from silverstone, no need for the 600 unless you were going for something like an OC 980 + OC 4790k, any 970 will be absolutely fine as it has similar power consumption to a 760.

[spwath]

If you are willing to sacrifise AIO

 

FT03-mini

 

If not

lian li pc-q36

[Jcowley]

If you are willing to sacrifise AIO

 

FT03-mini

 

If not

lian li pc-q36

 

You can still have a 120mm AIO in the FT-03 mini - it's been done by a few people if you look around.

 

Also here are results from Anandtech for power consumption of an entire system (with a 4960X at 4.2GHz) with a 970 in - NOT just the card

 

[spwath]

You can still have a 120mm AIO in the FT-03 mini - it's been done by a few people if you look around.

 

Also here are results from Anandtech for power consumption of an entire system (with a 4960X at 4.2GHz) with a 970 in - NOT just the card

 

Yeah, he said a 240mm one tho

 

The 240mm would fit in the pc-q36

[Chucky401]

no one has mentioned this but i love inwin cases here are a few examples:

Inwin H frame mini: 

Inwin D frame mini: 

[runit3]

Your build would be fine with the 450 watt SFX supply from silverstone, no need for the 600 unless you were going for something like an OC 980 + OC 4790k, any 970 will be absolutely fine as it has similar power consumption to a 760.

planning on swapping to a 4770k (OC) down the road and flashing the BIOS of the 970... I'd rather have more than enough overhead than barely enough.

[runit3]

no one has mentioned this but i love inwin cases here are a few examples:

Inwin H frame mini:

Inwin D frame mini:

I like them but I can't do open air, cat would be shredding it up day one :lol: Although it looks like a few of their cases are completely sealed.

[runit3]

If you are willing to sacrifise AIO

 

FT03-mini

 

If not

lian li pc-q36

Can't sacrifice AIO, and I can build a bracket to have it exterior mounted, the case just needs to have one side large enough (240mm).

[spwath]

Can't sacrifice AIO, and I can build a bracket to have it exterior mounted, the case just needs to have one side large enough (240mm).

The lian li PC-q36 can do that

[STRMfrmXMN]

Don't know if anybody has suggested as I haven't read the whole thread but would a BitFenix Prodigy do? It can house Micro ATX as well.

[runit3]

Don't know if anybody has suggested as I haven't read the whole thread but would a BitFenix Prodigy do? It can house Micro ATX as well.

Mentioned not wanting to build in a Prodigy in my OP.

[STRMfrmXMN]

Mentioned not wanting to build in a Prodigy in my OP.

Ah I sees. EVGA Hadron? As long as you use EVGA's disc drive slim thing you're good.

EDIT: Hadron is also out, umm OK... lemme get back to ya.