Case Advice .

[TechFan@ic]

I'm looking for a water-cooling optimized case (triple 120 in the top with light modding & dual 120 in the front without modding) with a clear side window for about 100-130$ .

I like the massive space and the water-cooling options of the Cooler Master HAF XM , but the window cutout doesn't actually show the CPU area, so as far as aesthetics it's not what I'm looking for.

I also like the Corsair c70 , but I'm not sure whether I'll be able to fit a triple 120 radiator in the top of it.

Any advice is appreciated & thanks in advance.

[Whaler_99]

That budget is a little tight - My Switch 810 meets your needs perfectly - but runs about $185. But if you wait and grab it on sale, you can sometimes find it for about $150... I did... Have you also looked at the Stryker?

[TechFan@ic]

I actually like both of those cases, the switch 810 is great but I don't like the sheer size of it, I go to a lot of lan parties and so I like to keep my case as light & as small as a water-cooled rig can possibly be.

The stryker is fantastic, but It only comes in white, that's basically my only problem with it.

The trooper has a side window available for purchase but it doesn't normally come with the case so I'd have to pay extra for it + it doesn't match the styling of the other side panel .

In general cases that are 150$ & upwards are quite large, that's why I did not aim for that in my budget .

[the_devil52]

You might have some trouble finding a case with that sort of watercooling potential for less than $130. You might be able to mod a case to fit those rads in but you'll probably lose your top 5.25" drive bay depending on the case.

[Guest]

TTL's Orca may be of interest. He modded so he got a 360 in the top but I can't remember if he got a 240 in the front.

[walden_emrys]

There's actually a few cases that are in your budget, are built for lans, and have windows. There's not too many of them without going outside of your budget but they do exist. I've listed some below:

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/prod...rm%20Scout%202 - Cooler Master Storm Scout 2

http://www.corsair.com/us/pc-cases/v...tal-black.html - Corsair Vengeance C70

There's also a HAF XM side window version custom made by frozen cpu, but its out of your budget.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16...22XM-KKN1.html

[Guest]

There's actually a few cases that are in your budget, are built for lans, and have windows. There's not too many of them without going outside of your budget but they do exist. I've listed some below:

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/prod...rm%20Scout%202 - Cooler Master Storm Scout 2

http://www.corsair.com/us/pc-cases/v...tal-black.html - Corsair Vengeance C70

There's also a HAF XM side window version custom made by frozen cpu, but its out of your budget.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16...22XM-KKN1.html

The Scout II won't take a 360 and a 240 and I doubt even with modding the other two would

[walden_emrys]

There's actually a few cases that are in your budget, are built for lans, and have windows. There's not too many of them without going outside of your budget but they do exist. I've listed some below:

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/prod...rm%20Scout%202 - Cooler Master Storm Scout 2

http://www.corsair.com/us/pc-cases/v...tal-black.html - Corsair Vengeance C70

There's also a HAF XM side window version custom made by frozen cpu, but its out of your budget.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16...22XM-KKN1.html

The Scout II won't take a 360, but it can take two 240's and one 120 rads with minimal modding (although I admit it would be a bit tight inside the case).

With some modding to the HAF XM (it looks like just drilling extra holes on the top) you could fit a 360 at the top and a 240 at the bottom.

The Corsair Vengeance is in the same position as the Scout II with cooling where you probably won't be able to fit a 360, but should be able to fit the same amount of rad power with 2 240s and 1 120.

[Guest]

There's actually a few cases that are in your budget, are built for lans, and have windows. There's not too many of them without going outside of your budget but they do exist. I've listed some below:

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/prod...rm%20Scout%202 - Cooler Master Storm Scout 2

http://www.corsair.com/us/pc-cases/v...tal-black.html - Corsair Vengeance C70

There's also a HAF XM side window version custom made by frozen cpu, but its out of your budget.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16...22XM-KKN1.html

Got to be a rather thin rad for the Scout 2 - I'm not even sure if it'll take the H100

[walden_emrys]

There's actually a few cases that are in your budget, are built for lans, and have windows. There's not too many of them without going outside of your budget but they do exist. I've listed some below:

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/prod...rm%20Scout%202 - Cooler Master Storm Scout 2

http://www.corsair.com/us/pc-cases/v...tal-black.html - Corsair Vengeance C70

There's also a HAF XM side window version custom made by frozen cpu, but its out of your budget.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/16...22XM-KKN1.html

Yeah, I was looking at that again, the scout 2 might be a no go for a top rad, but it could do a side rad.

[walden_emrys]

Techfan@ic, what are you going to put into this case? Depending on what you get (unless you bought everything already) you should go with a 240 rad and 120 rad for the lan sized case. Most case in the size and budget you're looking for won't have space for a 360. The only exception I've seen so far is a modded HAF XM.

[TechFan@ic]

Techfan@ic, what are you going to put into this case? Depending on what you get (unless you bought everything already) you should go with a 240 rad and 120 rad for the lan sized case. Most case in the size and budget you're looking for won't have space for a 360. The only exception I've seen so far is a modded HAF XM.

A corsair c70 can take a 360 @ the top with minimal modding, but there will be an issue of air restriction towards the front bays, because there will be no top grill/mesh on that side to vent the air (exhaust it) .

[TechFan@ic]

I think I'll just settle for a dual 140 @ the top and a dual 120 @ the front , because fitting a 360 @ the top doesn't make any sense if it's going to be restricted .

Also @ the windowed haf XM, the window actually looks akward and doesn't reveal the CPU area properly, that's why I didn't like it very much.

The HAF XM is an awesome case , can fit a thick 360 with minimal modding without any air constriction problems or front bays issues, it's a shame though that you can fit awesome water-cooling kit in it and not be able to see it properly, they should redesign the side panel to accommodate a proper window .

[Quantum]

Fractal Design Define R4 w/ Window! $104 on NCIX. You can't get a triple 120 rad on the top mount, but you can fit a dual 120 on the top and in the front! The pump/res can be in the 5.25 drive bays or on top of the hard drive bays if you move it to the left of the case. I haven't tried it, but it's possible.