The perfect case?

R

Re83L

Expert Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2007
Messages
1,258
Reaction score
5
Location
Cape Town - Northern Suburbs
Hi guys..

I have my PC fully built into a tiny Lian-Li V352 at the moment.

So I've been looking around trying to find a new case.
Money was no object in my considerations, but I still wanted relatively good value for my money.

I considered the Corsair CC600T, the CoolerMaster ATCS 840 and a bunch of Lian-Li cases, but none had everything I wanted.

For my considerations, I wanted the following:

  • Good dust management with removeable and washable filters
  • Larger fans like the pimped out CoolerMaster gaming cases has for moving lots of air silently
  • NO LED's - Geez, these days all the higher-end cases are pimped out, don't know what's up with that
  • Preferably no see-through panel or anything.
  • Good cable management, and also a case that looks good inside for when I ever want to work in it
  • Relatively silent performer

The funny thing is that there's almost no such cases on the market.

Who needs 7 5.25" bays when the case only comes with 3-6HDD racks?
Who needs awesome cooling if there's no dust management? (Eg HAF)
Who really wants a case to look like 50cent's car?
Why doesn't any of the cases that has good cooling also have sufficient noise reduction material?

And most importantly: Why aren't there too many cases out there that has a "gaming feel" about them, but that can be silent too when you want to use it as a media rig?

Anyways: I found this case courtesy of Oj0 from the Prophecy forums, and will try my utter best to get it into South-Africa.

Define R3, Black Pearl - Fractal Design

If you want one, mail me at pcpelser[at]gmail[dot]com
We may have to wait a couple of months, but I'll even import it myself if I have to.

Otherwise, if anyone knows of a cheap way to get 20 odd of these into the country, also please mail me.
 
Last edited:
So what exactly makes that case better than the CM690ii??

NVM - I see it has some sound insulation. Otherwise they share very similar features
 
Last edited:
690ii doesnt come standard with these quality fans
This case's design is IMO way better inside
Even if your motherboard or CPU cooler has irritating LEDs, you won't see it
Dust filter removes in a couple of seconds.
This has only 2 or 3 5.25" bays with 8HDD bays
The case comes standard with very high-quality fans

Literally the only thing I'd change:
I'd build everything in this case from aluminum.
 
Frag said:
690ii doesnt come standard with these quality fans
This case's design is IMO way better inside
Even if your motherboard or CPU cooler has irritating LEDs, you won't see it
Dust filter removes in a couple of seconds.
This has only 2 or 3 5.25" bays with 8HDD bays
The case comes standard with very high-quality fans

Literally the only thing I'd change:
I'd build everything in this case from aluminum.
Click to expand...

1) fair enough
2) Subjective, I like how you can remove some HDD bays in the CM690ii for more airflow
3) Side panel of the CM690ii blocks most of this too
4) So do the CM690ii filters
5) Extra bays are there for water cooling resevoirs and fan controllers, different market
6) you said that already

My next case must have front USB3 connectors, so both are actually out. Might make my own if fabrication costs are not too high actually.
 
Just buy one of the Lian-Li front I/O panel adapters with USB3 use it.
Well, obviously if you really want to compare this to a CM case it's OK.. It is actually in the same price range too.

To each their own, I just said that this case is basically exactly what I've been looking for.
I know there's others out here like me that think spinners on your car is almost comparable to flashing LEDs everywhere in your pc?
I'm pretty sure if this case was in SA, a big proprotion of CM690II users would have considered this as an alternative.
 
I will say that the Cooler master ACTS 830 is the best case. removable dust filters on all the fans and man its BIG/HUUUUGGGGGEEEEE
 
I know, but after looking at video reviews of the ATCS 840, it's size was what made me not go for it.
I have a use for a case with lots of HDD racks and sufficient quiet cooling that can operate dust free.

I will probably never run crossfire or SLi, and won't go liquid-cooling soon (if ever)
I just want my gaming PC to also be my media server, which can also be a workstation that doesn't sound like you're about to take off, and doesn't need to be disassebled to clean the dust filters (aka my previous CM Sniper BE's side intake...)
 
Build another CM690ii [Advanced] yesterday with H50... Awesome, awesome case.

Fans are perfect too IMO - totally silent from what I could tell.

Definitely want to upgrade from my CM690. Will never need another case for a long time.
 
I will say that the Cooler master ACTS 830 is the best case. removable dust filters on all the fans and man its BIG/HUUUUGGGGGEEEEE
 
I went with the Zalman GS1000 Plus - http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=349

Love the built quality, the cooling without making my PC sound like a rubberduck...
Only negative thing I can think of, is its pretty big in terms of dimensions, but its a dream to work on... allows you to do your cabling very neat on the inside as well.
Good airflow, dust filters, cable routing paths, quick release HDD brackets, quick release PSU bracket.
 
Sadly the perfect case doesn't exist...... I have been looking and looking and I still can't find the case I want. They either don't offer USB 3.0 or don't have great airflow (Corsair 600T) or don't have air filters (The HAF series) or aren't bigger enough (All the affordable Lian Li)..... If only they released a new CM Storm Sniper sigh
 
doobyscoo said:
Raven RV02? Think it ticks all your boxes. Available mid December I think.
Click to expand...

The Raven RV02 doesn't tick all his boxes because firstly it doesn't have USB 3 and secondly it has a side panel

EDIT
My bad, thought frag was the one who wanted USB 3.0. Frag if you don't mind not having USB 3.0 then The Raven RV02 is a good idea.
 
Last edited:
Nicko said:
Sadly the perfect case doesn't exist...... I have been looking and looking and I still can't find the case I want. They either don't offer USB 3.0 or don't have great airflow (Corsair 600T) or don't have air filters (The HAF series) or aren't bigger enough (All the affordable Lian Li)..... If only they released a new CM Storm Sniper sigh
Click to expand...

Storm Sniper isn't the perfect case..

Was also my previous one, and much as I liked it, it still had too much plastic and one cleanable dust filter.
A revision may fix it though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X