Will the NZXT h440 have adequate airflow for an MSI Lightning 290x? If not, which case will?

[Kvyg]

Easy answer first; R4 can't match the aforementioned 3 cases. The case itself is too restricting (like the H440).

 

All three are very good, but they do things a bit differently. Pro is the most versatile, and has the best stock configuration. It's a case that puts cooling and functionality first. It may actually be the cheapest option (though I have no idea about non US pricing, so I may be wrong) because it works very well in it's stock configuration. R5 will end up running the most expensive, because their goal was to silence as much as they could without restricting cooling capability. You get almost as much cooling capacity as the Pro, while gaining sound dampening design. The S340 may end up costing close to the price of a Pro fully outfitted, but it is a space efficient solution.

 

If you go for the S340 with a 290X, you'll want to leave the stock fans where they are (rear and top exhaust), and add in 2 front intake fans. I like matching fans when I can get them, so I would probably put NZXT's own FN V2 140mm fans. They're pretty good too.

 

Yeah US prices and CAD prices are different. From your suggestions I'd probably be going with the S340 and get two 140mm fans. Since they're in the front and hardly seen, would getting Noctua fans be worth it?

 

 

@Kvyg

 

Get the Pro.  It has the best airflow, it comes with the best stock fans, it is the largest, it is reasonably priced, it has tons of radiator support, and lots of room for future expansion.

 

It is not loud by any means.  My room without the PC on is 34dBa.  When I turn my PC on, I go up to 46dBa.  This is measured from two feet away, and my computer is at ear level.  I use the Sound Meter Lite app on my Phone to measure.

 

Pumps in my X31 and Seidon 240M are both at 90% speed.

 

Front fans, Cougar Vortex 120mm PWM are both attached via rubber grommets are running at 1500rpm

Inside bottom two front HDD fans, Aerocool Dead Silence White are screwed in, both running at 1000rpm

Inside top front fan, Phanteks 140mm is not screwed in, just sitting upright, running at 1000rpm

Top Radiator(Seidon 240M) Cooler Master Blade Master 120s are running at 1250rpm

Top front most fan, Cougar Vortex 120mm PWM is running at 1000rpm

X31 has two fans in push/pull, Cooler Master Blade Master 120s running at 1200rpm

The rear bottom fan is the included 92mm fan from the G10, it is running at full speed, 1500rpm

The G10, I replaced the VRM fan with a Cooler Master Blade Master 92mm fan, it is running at 2200rpm

 

In total, 2 pumps, and 12 fans, 1 HDD, 1 SSD, 1 GPU Cooled via NZXT G10.

 

I'm curious, what is it about the Pro that you are not liking?  I am clearly bias, I just want to be as transparent as possible.  Admittedly, I am a very pragmatic person and let logic and reason dictate my decision making, but the Enthoo Pro is one of the rare products that I absolutely fan boy over because of how amazing it is.

 

The customer service is top notch, some of the best I have ever dealt with.  The toolbox came loose during shipping and scratched up the inside of the acrylic panel.  I contacted Phanteks, within 10 hours, I had an email, a phone call, and a tracking number with my new side panel being shipped free of charge.  Other Phanteks owners will all tell you the same, the customer service is incredible.

 

Personally I like the S340 design better than the Enthoo pro. It's also smaller and not as large. Last reason is the price of 90$ (I can buy in store) S340 vs $140 after shipping Enthoo Pro. R5 is even more expensive at $140.

[RazrLeaf]

Yeah US prices and CAD prices are different. From your suggestions I'd probably be going with the S340 and get two 140mm fans. Since they're in the front and hardly seen, would getting Noctua fans be worth it?

I don't think so. Especially if you're going to need to dissipate the heat load of a 290X.

[Kvyg]

Pro>R5>S340>>>>>>H440>R4

 

H440 does come with great fans, but the case itself has too little ventilation. The Pro and R5 are equal on 3 sides, but the Pro lets you use top ventilation in a much more acceptable fashion (filtered top, and the purpose of moduvent covers is to block noise). R4 ventilation is worse than the H440 (similar lack of ventilation and worse fans). Pro, R5, and S340 are miles better than H440 and R4.

 

Phanteks comes with pretty good fans. I don't think they're worth swapping out. But with both the S340 and the R5, you'll want to add another 140mm fan or 2. S340 because the included fans are best as exhausts, and having 2 extra 140mm fans would make it's airflow almost perfect. R5 because the fans, while good for what they are, doesn't have the capacity for a 290X. They're not designed that way. I'd put the stock fan as the exhaust and as the bottom intake, and have the one that can feed air directly to the GPU be a fan that can move more air.

 

I just got the R5 (because it was on sale) and I'm wondering which two 140mm fans I should get? So you're saying I should take the included fans, and put them as back exhaust, and bottom intake, and then add two additional 140mms at the front?

[Overkilled]

The luxe looks much better aesthetically but the pro is still great

[RazrLeaf]

I just got the R5 (because it was on sale) and I'm wondering which two 140mm fans I should get? So you're saying I should take the included fans, and put them as back exhaust, and bottom intake, and then add two additional 140mms at the front?

That's what I've done. I chose the Phanteks PH-F140SP to augment my R5. Other members of the forum advocate for Noctua (too expensive for me), but I'm very happy with my Phanteks's. I use their CPU cooler too.

[idxearo]

 

I've heard a lot of concerns about the airflow and easily scratched window on the h440s and I'm not sure if that would be a problem for a 290x. The prices (in Canada) at the moment are...

• H440 = $119+
• S340 = $99
• R4 with window = $109
• R4 windowless = $99
• R5 with or without window = $139

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/knBZP6

 

 

Just wanted to offer my own bit. I have the H440 and a G10 for my GPU. I can not speak for the default fans because when I bought the case, I bought SP Quiet Fans to replace all. My temps are quite acceptable especially with my GPU, it does not even go above 56C on load. I do think the temps with this case will be higher than most cases but not that much higher, just maybe a few degrees which I dont mind since I have a very clean interior (no dust!). It would be like upgrading a GPU for just 10 extra frames when you already around 120 FPS in a game. 

 

My point is that all the cases you a selecting from are fine so just go for your personal preference. It is something you will want to show off and look at for a very long time.