Chassis Question - Looking for a cheap effective one

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Libertas Computers

Libertas Computers
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Hi there folks,

For those not interested in my story and who just wants to comment on my decisions, scroll down to the last paragraph.

This time around it's my turn to ask a question as I'm not sure about what to get for myself and I realized you guys should know best.

To make a long story short I realized the other day that my 6 year old 'el cheapo chassis cools more effectively lying on its side with the side panel open.:confused:

This made me decide to now get a new chassis.

I do not care about noise or looks. All I need is a chassis that can cool my components. I can also sort dust out myself for most components. I want a cheap effective chassis.

To give you an idea I started by thinking about the CoolerMaster Elite 371 for R325 as it has what I need. Not expensive, supports up to 315mm GFX cards and accommodates up to 7 fans (though I'd only need 4 max). After reading up on it a bit this morning I found what I like to describe as a big flaw: There's no cable management.

So I decided looking around a bit more and came across quite a few options.
I'm not willing to spend a very big amount on the chassis, I just want it to cool effectively with cable management. It should also last without needing to upgrade, hence hold large graphics cards (Currently using a XFX GTX 280 and might go DX11 later this year)

Here's some options:

Antec One Hundred = R480 - leaning towards this, but does the rotation of the psu matter
Coolermaster RC-502-KKN1 (Centurion 5ii) = R520
Coolermaster RC-600 (Gladiator600) = R530
Zalman Z9 = R545

That's about the price cap right there.
 
I have the Gladiator 600 and it's a fine choice, but horizontal space is limited so take that into consideration. It does have very good cooling - I have 3x140mm and 2x120mm in there and temps stay very low. But a gtx275 is about the limit of what you can fit in there so it's a factor.
CA-178-CM_22364_400.jpg


The CM Elite 430 is also a decent choice - my friend has that, and it has plenty of cooling and horizontal space, decent cable management and a nice side window:
Cooler_Master_Elite_430_Back_Open.jpg


The antec isn't a great case - I feel with Antecs you need to go for the higher end models - 1200 and such. Lower end skip on features too much.
 
I had a look at the 430, but the lack of cable management bugged me a bit. I was set on getting the Elite 371 (Basically the 430 without the window, exterior looks and painted interior which are things I don't mind at all), but pulled out because of its lack of cable management.

My current chassis looks about the same as the 430/371 for cable management, but there's a smaller gap between the end of the backplate and the HDD cage, so I've got mine running on the other side of the cage, cable tied to it, and then popping back in where needed.

Looking at pictures of the 371 I actually think that I might be able to manage as there seems to be quite a lot of space behind the HDD cage if I want to route them behind there and tie them up to it:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/images/reviews/cases/RC-371-KKN1/Cooler_Master_371_HHD_Bay.jpg

For R325 I also think it's exactly what a chassis should be if I use the rear mounted fan and slap on one at the hdd's and another at the top. (Was thinking one to blow from underneath, but by the looks of things that's where the cables will end up being unless I cut a small box for it.


But I really am clueless. What do you guys think? Pay R325 and struggle a bit with cabling (which can be sorted with a saw) and has support up to 31.5cm GFX cards or bump it up to R520 for cable management, but only support up to 25cm cards (don't even think my GTX280 will fit) for the Centurion.

I'm just getting this feeling that the Elite 371 is what I should go for, especially with the long card support..
 
Dude, go for the CM gladiator, my friend bought one last year and for R500 bucks its really nice. Decent fan spaces and they manage to justify R500 bucks, very good bang for buck case(besides a cm 692 :D). Very sturdy and reasonably spacious, and enough room for basic cable management. DO IT :p
 
OP, an important point you didn't mention, what board will you be using?

I ask because if it's got the side facing SATA ports like most Asus ones, the Cooler master wont work, there's just too little space between the hdd rack and the edge of the board, you have to be a gynaecologist to plug them all in, it's the main reason why I had to go to a full tower. It will really drive you insane. Otherwise it's still a great case..
 
My friend has the 430 and ok it's not the ideal cable management case but he does fine with it. He has a non-modular psu with a lot of cables and he hides them all pretty well.
How about the Silverstone PS04?
 
TJ99 said:
OP, an important point you didn't mention, what board will you be using?

I ask because if it's got the side facing SATA ports like most Asus ones, the Cooler master wont work, there's just too little space between the hdd rack and the edge of the board, you have to be a gynaecologist to plug them all in, it's the main reason why I had to go to a full tower. It will really drive you insane. Otherwise it's still a great case..
Click to expand...

I'd rather not mention the board to be honest. But it's a micro-ATX and the SATA ports has to be sideways, otherwise the GFX doesn't fit. I managed to get them in with a pair of pliers.. But the Elite 371 is quite wider than this one, so there should be more than enough room to put them in with. I've only got 2 drives as well, so I won't die :D

cerebus said:
My friend has the 430 and ok it's not the ideal cable management case but he does fine with it. He has a non-modular psu with a lot of cables and he hides them all pretty well.
How about the Silverstone PS04?
Click to expand...

Had a look at the Silverstone, but other than it being painted inside and lack of top vents, it still doesn't compare better than the Elite 371. (also no cable management)
 
O ok, if it's a small board it shouldn't be a problem. I just know my top two sata 6G ports were really hard to use. One I could get in with pliers but for the other I had to take the board out. There just wasn't any room for the cable to move. It was an Asus (or uhsoos as they're now known) P8P67 Evo, with the Gladiator 600 pictured above.

Otherwise it was a nice case. I love the PSU in the bottom, just make sure your cables are long enough, especially the EPS12V one that goes in the top corner next to the CPU
 
What exactly is the thinking behind having the PSU at the bottom? Aside from lower center of gravity I can't see any real benefit?

Fuma said:
Never compromise on case and PSU.
Click to expand...
Or mobo, or CPU or...eh just never compromise on anything.
 
Cable management is easier on bottom mounted psu's I think...that's the only reason I know of.
 
Prefer the PSU at top as it is one of the biggest heat generators.

Cable ties work fine for cable management if you want a cheap case (just do it properly).

If you are not worried about noise, years back I used to run a P4 2.66 at 3.00gHz by putting a 220v 20x20cm fan in the bottom front of case at an angle so it points toward the CPU/GPU. I still have that cpu/motherboard combo and it still works.
 
wabbit16 said:
Looks like a neat case..I'd like one like that but in lime green :D
Click to expand...

Have you had a look at this?

Fuma said:
Never compromise on case and PSU.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but from what I can tell the 371 actually cools pretty well, even with just the 1 fan installed (I'm going to put in 2 more at least though)

HavocXphere said:
What exactly is the thinking behind having the PSU at the bottom? Aside from lower center of gravity I can't see any real benefit?
Click to expand...

To be honest, I'm still working on that :)

For me it's center of gravity. I'm not sure if it actually has cooling abilities pointing downwards..?

cerebus said:
Cable management is easier on bottom mounted psu's I think...that's the only reason I know of.
Click to expand...

I suppose, because then the HDD cage is right there, so the cables are easily stored.
The cable management is only easy when the PSU can be downward facing as most PSU's cables comes out on the side closest to the backplate then.

AstroTurf said:
Prefer the PSU at top as it is one of the biggest heat generators.
Click to expand...

I'm also not convinced yet about the improved cooling with it at the bottom. Although I see Antec's got a chassis that has its own compartment for the PSU with a dedicated fan for it. Will post a link a bit later, it's also triple insulated (metal, plastic, metal) for noise dampening.


I'm just still not convinced that a Centurion or Gladiator will in fact have a difference in terms of cooling. From what I can tell from schematics it's only the looks and inside paint that's added as well as a removable HDD cage..
 
The psu fan also helps suck all the latent heat out the box when it is at the top. Heat rises so having it at the bottom makes no sense to me.
 
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