Help me decide on a case please

[terminal2]

So Im moving from MicroATX to ATX meaning new motherboard and case (Motherboard is being upgraded because current one is failing with my graphics card power draw - Cheap ECS essentials class POS)

 

Im going with the ASRock Z97 for my motherboard.

 

I would like the case to be

-Sub-100 if possible, 150 max (USD)

-At least 6 Hard drive mounts

-Cable management is biggest priority

-Side window

-Solid build quality feel. (No flimsy hard drive mounts or case doors) 

-Separate SSD bay is a big plus, but not required

-Bottom mounted power supply

-No preference between full and midtower

-Practicality over aesthetic design.  (Id take a black box with a solid build over some spaceship that feels like its going to fall apart).  But I wouldn't mind something that looks nice too.

 

 

[Amazingasian]

NZXT H440, NZXT S340, Fractal Design R4 and R5

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

I'm a big fan of Corsair so I'd have to say Corsair 450D. It's the big brother of my 350D and I've done a great job cable managing inside it

[Rusty_Shackleford]

So Im moving from MicroATX to ATX meaning new motherboard and case (Motherboard is being upgraded because current one is failing with my graphics card power draw - Cheap ECS essentials class POS)

 

Im going with the ASRock Z97 for my motherboard.

 

I would like the case to be

-Sub-100 if possible, 150 max (USD)

-At least 6 Hard drive mounts

-Cable management is biggest priority

-Side window

-Solid build quality feel. (No flimsy hard drive mounts or case doors) 

-Separate SSD bay is a big plus, but not required

-Bottom mounted power supply

-No preference between full and midtower

-Practicality over aesthetic design.  (Id take a black box with a solid build over some spaceship that feels like its going to fall apart).  But I wouldn't mind something that looks nice too.

 

 

get the air 540 do not get anything else it only has 2 HDD mounts but it has a shit ton of SSD mounts it has everything you're looking for

[Kermit]

I'm a big fan of Corsair so I'd have to say Corsair 450D. It's the big brother of my 350D and I've done a great job cable managing inside it

 

Would've said that, although he needs 6x3.5in HDD mounts

[Clyne]

I'm a big fan of Corsair so I'd have to say Corsair 450D. It's the big brother of my 350D and I've done a great job cable managing inside it

Sees 6 hard drive mounts...

450D has 3.......

Man Corsair likes to cost you extra for a cage.

750D as it has a SSD section, 6 HDD mounts, a lot of cable management space and hooks.

Just some pics on how large/spacious the 750D is. 

@givingtnt thinks his 450D is too small.....

[NikiiStarman]

Check out Define R5 or R4, those are great cases and match your needs.

[Whorax]

Phanteks Enthoo Pro. Best case ever imo, especially for its price.

 

Wouldn't recommend the NZXT H440 unless looks are literally the only thing you care about. I switched from the Enthoo Pro to the H440 and I was just not impressed.

[Thebman712]

enthoo pro, r5, h440, basically any of the cases you see most often are the ones that are good

 

classy looks go with the h440, r5, enthoo pro

 

little but more bling then it is easily the nzxt noctis 450

[Gale]

NZXT H440, NZXT Noctis 450, Fractal Design Define S, Fractal Design Define R5, Enthoo Pro M.

[EliasNM]

Coming from a big fan of NXZT cases, a H440, a Phantom 410, a Source 530 or a Phantom 530.

[Clyne]

Phanteks Enthoo Pro. Best case ever imo, especially for its price.

Most overrated/overrecommended case ever.

Lacks SSDs mounts on Enthoo Pro and lack 5.25 drive bays on H440 is why i bought the 750D.

[Whorax]

Most overrated/overrecommended case ever.

Lacks SSDs mounts on Enthoo Pro and lack 5.25 drive bays on H440 is why i bought the 750D.

Well I think it's a spectacular case for 100 bucks. Way more of a justifiable purchase than the H440 for ~120 bucks surely.

[AlwaysFSX]

Phantom 410/530.

[Clyne]

Well I think it's a spectacular case for 100 bucks. Way more of a justifiable purchase than the H440 for ~120 bucks surely.

Well everybody is subjected to their own opinion. 

I just don't like the Enthoo Pro...just lacks what i want. 

[zzenigmaxzz]

NZXT H440, NZXT S340, Fractal Design R4 and R5

he pretty much hit all the ones i was gonna suggest

[terminal2]

get the air 540 do not get anything else it only has 2 HDD mounts but it has a shit ton of SSD mounts it has everything you're looking for

Actually that would be perfect I think!  I can get 4 2.5 inch laptop HDDs for my video storage and run them in RAID 10.  Then one 3.5 inch Hybrid drive for my video games, and one SSD for my OS boot. 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Actually that would be perfect I think!  I can get 4 2.5 inch laptop HDDs for my video storage and run them in RAID 10.  Then one 3.5 inch Hybrid drive for my video games, and one SSD for my OS boot. 

 

believe me man you won't be disappointed.

[Bob Jim]

Phanteks Enthoo Pro. Best case ever imo, especially for its price.

 

Wouldn't recommend the NZXT H440 unless looks are literally the only thing you care about. I switched from the Enthoo Pro to the H440 and I was just not impressed.

What is wrong with the H440? Just curious.

[Whorax]

What is wrong with the H440? Just curious.

I just think it trades too much to look nice and to be "quiet".

 

I'll start with what I like because there are things I like about it. I like the HDD mounting brackets and I like how the SSD mounts are right below the GPU so if you have cool SSDs like the Intel or Samsung ones you can show them off. I like the rear IO LED that you can turn on to see the ports better. I like how minimalist the case is--gives it a sleek modern look. I also like the PSU cover, though I wish you could remove it to make managing cables a bit easier. I'm sure there are other things I like, I just can't think of them.

 

Now for what I don't like. Firstly, I'll list off the things that I don't think should take away from the case because they should already be expected to happen before buying the case or the issues really don't effect me/I don't mind them. The most glaring and obvious issue in temps--while the temps I'm getting now are in no way dangerous to my parts, I just don't like that 10c increase. That's something I knew when getting the case though, so I won't say the case stinks because of that. I may end up trying to modify the front panel though to get some increased airflow. Noise isn't a big issue with me, as it wasn't with my Enthoo Pro (I mainly got the H440 for the looks and slightly smaller size for easier transportation), but the H440 is actually louder than the Enthoo Pro was. I can't hear this unless my headphones are off though which I hardly ever use my computer without them.

 

The two biggest issues, and really only issues I have that (imo) are big enough to buy the Enthoo Pro as opposed to the H440 are 1) cable management is not nearly as effortless and easy (something that reviews really touched on) in this as the Enthoo Pro and 2) I couldn't get my H100i GTX to fit in pull in the back of the case with the tubing at the back of the case--next to the rear exhaust. It may not be a big deal to you or anyone else but I really wanted to run pull with the tubing at the back, but I couldn't for the life of me do it. Just wouldn't fit. The one thing I think all case manufacturers need to start doing is using the velcro straps that Phanteks uses for their cases. Makes things much much easier cable management wise; that way you don't have zip ties and whatnot that you need to deal with when opening your computer up and removing/changing parts.

Just one afterthought: I really cannot stand how difficult it is to put the side panel on the case after you have all of your cables good to go behind the motherboard. There's not much space for cables behind the mobo in the first place with that noise dampening foam so when you have them bunched together getting that panel back onto the case is way too tedious.

 

Those are the big problems I have with it. You may think they're really stupid complaints or whatever but everyone has different preferences, needs, etc. I just happen to think you're better off going with the Enthoo Pro over the H440 for a little bit less. Think there's more bang for the buck. Even thought the Enthoo Pro isn't the nicest looking of all cases, it certainly has tons of features and it's without a doubt a quality case.

[chiprunner2112]

Sees 6 hard drive mounts...

450D has 3.......

Man Corsair likes to cost you extra for a cage.

750D as it has a SSD section, 6 HDD mounts, a lot of cable management space and hooks.

Just some pics on how large/spacious the 750D is.

@givingtnt thinks his 450D is too small.....

Yeah , pick a large case with room to grow . [emoji818]