Compact Mid-Tower Suggestions

[ZakierB]

I'm looking to get a new compact mid-tower case for my PC (Currently have an old basic case).

 

My PC Specs:

• CPU : 4790K
• CPU Cooler : MSI Core Frozr L (Push/Pull)
• Motherboard : MSI Z97 Gaming 5
• GPU : MSI GTX 980 Ti Gaming

 

Important case features:

• Black
• TG Side Panel
• Decent Airflow
• Watercooling/Radiator support doesn't matter to me as I have no plans to go that route
• Budget is $100 (willing to push a bit higher if there's something really good)

 

Cases I've found (My Thoughts):

• Corsair 275R (TG Mounting )
• Corsair 460X (Sexiest case imo, but bit over my budget and read that cable management is terrible)
• NZXT H500 (successor to S340 Elite? but airflow looks like it's still a problem)
• NZXT S340 Elite (4 USB Ports!)
• Phanteks P350X (decent airflow perhaps?)
• Phanteks P400S

What do you guys think? Any other cases to recommend perhaps?

 

PS. Don't bother mentioning the Meshify C (Fractal isn't sold in my country ) or the Enthoo Pro M (only SE version sold here).

[Crunchy Dragon]

-Moved to Cases and Power Supplies-

 

The S340 airflow isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be, I haven't had any problems with it(I have 2x120mm fans installed in the front as intake). I really like the look of the H500 personally. The P400S has garbage airflow(unless I'm confusing with the Enthoo Elite).

[glenalz81]

The Phanteks P350X looks awesome in my eye's, possibly my next case. I have owned a P300 in the past, build quality was on point and it looked great.

 

That P350X though, stunning.

[ZakierB]

1 hour ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

-Moved to Cases and Power Supplies-

 

The S340 airflow isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be, I haven't had any problems with it(I have 2x120mm fans installed in the front as intake). I really like the look of the H500 personally. The P400S has garbage airflow(unless I'm confusing with the Enthoo Elite).

 

I know what you mean, they not stellar, but they are ok, I was actually about to pull the trigger and go for it, until I saw the Phanteks P350X and NZXT H500 both came out this week.

Seems the H500's temps are worse off than the S340 Elite, I just read this review: https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/3309-nzxt-h500-case-review-thermals-noise-vs-s340

 

27 minutes ago, glenalz81 said:

The Phanteks P350X looks awesome in my eye's, possibly my next case. I have owned a P300 in the past, build quality was on point and it looked great.

 

That P350X though, stunning.

So far it looks like the winner for me, seems like it has the best balance of price, temps and looks, but I watched HardwareCanucks' review of it and, although he likes, he does mention some drawbacks, that's why I'm just scouting around a bit first

[glenalz81]

5 minutes ago, ZakierB said:

So far it looks like the winner for me, seems like it has the best balance of price, temps and looks, but I watched HardwareCanucks' review of it and, although he likes, he does mention some drawbacks, that's why I'm just scouting around a bit first

Yeah i did see that,  still, it's the only case released in the last 12 months that made me think about changing my P7-C1.

[ZakierB]

2 hours ago, glenalz81 said:

Yeah i did see that,  still, it's the only case released in the last 12 months that made me think about changing my P7-C1.

Why not the Meshify C? From what I read on forums, seems like hands-down the best compact mid-tower for airflow, If it was sold in my country, I'd have picked it up ages ago

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

Can you import a Meshify C from USA?

 

Otherwise the 275R is pretty nice, stupid glass mount aside

[glenalz81]

1 hour ago, ZakierB said:

Why not the Meshify C? From what I read on forums, seems like hands-down the best compact mid-tower for airflow, If it was sold in my country, I'd have picked it up ages ago

Airflow on the P7-C1 is hard to beat, any case i pick may be worse..lol..   The Meshify C is a little overpriced i think and in the hand it doesn't feel as high quality as the Phanteks.

[Zusafek]

9 hours ago, ZakierB said:

I'm looking to get a new compact mid-tower case for my PC (Currently have an old basic case).

 

My PC Specs:

• CPU : 4790K
• CPU Cooler : MSI Core Frozr L (Push/Pull)
• Motherboard : MSI Z97 Gaming 5
• GPU : MSI GTX 980 Ti Gaming

 

Important case features:

• Black
• TG Side Panel
• Decent Airflow
• Watercooling/Radiator support doesn't matter to me as I have no plans to go that route
• Budget is $100 (willing to push a bit higher if there's something really good)

 

Cases I've found (My Thoughts):

• Corsair 275R (TG Mounting )
• Corsair 460X (Sexiest case imo, but bit over my budget and read that cable management is terrible)
• NZXT H500 (successor to S340 Elite? but airflow looks like it's still a problem)
• NZXT S340 Elite (4 USB Ports!)
• Phanteks P350X (decent airflow perhaps?)
• Phanteks P400S

What do you guys think? Any other cases to recommend perhaps?

 

PS. Don't bother mentioning the Meshify C (Fractal isn't sold in my country ) or the Enthoo Pro M (only SE version sold here).

I have 4 P400 cases in my household right now.  What I can tell you is the airflow isn't bad but it isn't great.  But if you can set your fans up correctly its actually workable.  After all...one of the systems is an AMD 8300FX setup that is mildly oc'd on a noctua air cooler.  Has 3 fans in front, 2 fans on the CPU Cooler, 2 fans on top of the case, 1 rear fan and the psu is being used as an exhaust.  The GPU is an AMD Radeon RX480 4gb that is also OC'd a bit.  Temps have been fine and no major issues.

 

But if I were to choose right now its that new Phanteks P350X.  That is one sexy case that has improved front airflow over the P400.

[glenalz81]

@ZakierB , totally forgot about INWIN,  The 101 and 303 are reasonably priced and look damn fine!

[jlcald839]

Check out in win 303 c because it has USB c Black and RGB. Airflow isn’t the best but it is usauble. 

[TVwazhere]

18 hours ago, ZakierB said:

PS. Don't bother mentioning the Meshify C (Fractal isn't sold in my country ) or the Enthoo Pro M (only SE version sold here).

^{South America is the Worst}

 

P350x seems pretty solid

[ZakierB]

15 hours ago, orbitalbuzzsaw said:

Can you import a Meshify C from USA?

 

Otherwise the 275R is pretty nice, stupid glass mount aside

Importing cases is ridiculously expensive due to their size  I really liked the what I saw from HardwareCanucks' review of it, but the glass mounting and those bright white light sides are hard to ignore

10 hours ago, Zusafek said:

I have 4 P400 cases in my household right now.  What I can tell you is the airflow isn't bad but it isn't great.  But if you can set your fans up correctly its actually workable.  After all...one of the systems is an AMD 8300FX setup that is mildly oc'd on a noctua air cooler.  Has 3 fans in front, 2 fans on the CPU Cooler, 2 fans on top of the case, 1 rear fan and the psu is being used as an exhaust.  The GPU is an AMD Radeon RX480 4gb that is also OC'd a bit.  Temps have been fine and no major issues.

 

But if I were to choose right now its that new Phanteks P350X.  That is one sexy case that has improved front airflow over the P400.

Isn't negative air pressure bad? (not too knowledgeable on that)  The store that sells Phanteks told me I should just go for 2x140 front intake and 1x120 rear exhaust for positive pressure, and not fill the top slots 

5 hours ago, glenalz81 said:

@ZakierB , totally forgot about INWIN,  The 101 and 303 are reasonably priced and look damn fine!

 

5 hours ago, Jcald01 said:

Check out in win 303 c because it has USB c Black and RGB. Airflow isn’t the best but it is usauble. 

I looked at the 303C, really liked it, especially with the USB Type-C, but when I watched a review of it, I saw that it's not well suited wit hATX motherboards due to the bottom fans almost blocking the ports.

1 hour ago, TVwazhere said:

^{South America is the Worst}

 

P350x seems pretty solid

Haha yeah, if the Meshify was sold here, I'd have picked it up ages ago already, but  looks like the P350X is my next best bet...so far.

[TVwazhere]

On 5/25/2018 at 10:34 AM, ZakierB said:

Haha yeah, if the Meshify was sold here, I'd have picked it up ages ago already, but  looks like the P350X is my next best bet...so far.

The only thing I would suggest would be to get an extra case fan, possibly two to get some extra airflow. The side vents are well positioned to allow all but the most "optimal" airflow 

[ZakierB]

On 5/25/2018 at 4:37 PM, TVwazhere said:

The only thing I would suggest would be to get an extra case fan, possibly two to get some extra airflow. The side vents are well positioned to allow all but the msot "optimal" airflow 

Thanks, after browsing around a bit more, I decided to go for it, along with the fans and some other goodies  

Looking forward to getting everything in the next week. 

[mattjax12]

On 5/24/2018 at 2:16 PM, glenalz81 said:

The Phanteks P350X looks awesome in my eye's, possibly my next case. I have owned a P300 in the past, build quality was on point and it looked great.

 

That P350X though, stunning.

this case is impossible to get through I ordered it through new egg and then they refunded me saying they didn't even know when they were getting more in

[glenalz81]

1 hour ago, mattjax12 said:

this case is impossible to get through I ordered it through new egg and then they refunded me saying they didn't even know when they were getting more in

Where are you located?

 

[ZakierB]

Thought I'd update you guys with some pics, after getting my case and getting everything moved over, my PC is now complete...for now 

 

[ZakierB]

Note that the front and side panel LED strips are RGB and have a few modes with the controls on the case (I just chose red to go with my other parts).

Also, if you plan the to place the case on the desk right next to you, like I did, the fans will be quite audible due to the mesh sides on the front cover.

 

Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase considering it's budget price, it's quality is solid, imo it's a good looking case and my CPU temp has considerably dropped compared to when it was in my old, basic Cooler Master K281, but GPU temps have remained more or less the same (granted, the K281 had a side-mounted exhaust fan right next to the GPU).

 

Building in it was easy enough, the only problem you'll face is that the space in the PSU area is a bit tight for all the cables.