Case query

[derek1971]

I am pretty much settled on the spec of the pc i am going to order other than the case.
This is the spec i am looking at.

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7-2600k Quad Core (3.40GHz, 8MB Cache) + HD Graphics
Motherboard
ASUS® P8Z68-V PRO: USB 3.0, SATA 6GB/s, NVIDIA®SLI™, ATI®CrossFireX™
Memory (RAM)
8GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz, X.M.P (2 x 4GB KIT)
Graphics Card
1.5GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 580 - 2 DVI, HDMI, DP - 3D Vision Ready
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
1TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD1002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
2nd Hard Disk
1TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD1002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W ENTHUSIAST SERIES™ TX850 V2-80 PLUS® BRONZE (£99)
Processor Cooling
SUPER QUIET 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£19)
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Monitor
IIYAMA E2473HDS 24" LED WIDESCREEN, 2 x HDMI/DVI-D HD 1920x1080 (£169)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days


I am looking at cases up to £79.
What case would people recommend?
How do you know what fans are installed in these cases? I am probably just missing something but from the descriptions i can't see what fans come fitted in the cm690, the haf 922, the storm enforcer or the dragon rider.
I was originally looking at the PCS Maelstrom but it doesn't seem to get recommended too often. Any thoughts about it?
Hoping to order in the next 24 hours so a quick response would be much appreciated.
Cheers

 

[MeveM]

Well I don't think the HAF 922 have the side fan included, so you'd have to add that, which add onto the price and you might as well get a NZXT Phantom, or what I did, get a Sniper. I was personally going for the HAF 922 until I found out that the sidefan wasn't included, adding on a fan pretty much takes the price of the case up to those who have it included.

I personally also spent a bit extra on the case with the thought that 4 years down the line when I'll order another PC from PCS, I'll send my sniper black edition case in to them, and that's £120 less for the next PC. If you get a cheaper case it might not be at a very high quality when you want another. In the long run, it might save you some money.

But if you specificly want one of the ones you mentioned, for cooling purposes without adding extra money by adding fans, I'd go with the InWIN Dragon since I -think- it has the best cooling out of the cheaper cases. Not the best looks, but meh.

 

[derek1971]

Thanks for that. Think i will just go for the InWIN Dragon Rider then. Like the look of the Sniper but i am already WAY over budget lol. I know it's not much more in the grand scheme of things but i have to draw the line somewhere. Just need to measure the space on my desk to make sure it will fit and then place the order tonight

 

[Wozza63]

IF this is for gaming then you could remove the i7 and change it to an i5, there will be no difference in gaming performance

Also remove the k version if you are not overclocking, you can also change to the 1333mhz ram if not overclocking

Its optional but you could also change two drives to one which would save money

The pro version of the z68 board is also not really necessary

These changes would probably allow you to get the sniper if you want it

 

[derek1971]

Cheers. It is mostly for gaming but also for photo and video editing. I am not going to overclock immediately but may do in the future. Thanks for the suggestions. Decisions decisions

 

[MeveM]

Well if you're going to overclock in the future you'd have to get yourself a better CPU fan either now or later. That said, going with the Fenrir would remove any option of having a fan on the side of your case unless you get a massive case. So then you're adding on more money now or later, I'd skip overclocking, try to save a bit of the money you'd get from removing 'k' on the CPU, and opt for a better case.

It's just a thought really, I had the same before, I was first going for the Maelstrom case, but believe it or not, my missus talked me into getting the sniper case instead (Isn't it lovely to have a woman who plays as much games as I do.)

But ye, some options are to drop the 'k' CPU, drop the RAM to samsung, drop the pro off the motherboard, drop the 850W PSU? (Don't know whether you really need that much, and if you're going to SLI later, I highly doubt 850W is good enough for 2xGTX850's.) Do you need the card reader? That's another £5 off.
That'd save you a lot of money, which could indeed give you a Sniper case.

 

[derek1971]

I do a lot of photography so the card reader is very handy. The psu is indeed in case i decide to sli in future - i put in a 2nd 580 to that spec and it said the total was 852w including the 20% allowance so i figured the 850 should be ok. Thanks for the suggestions. Food for thought!

 

[Wozza63]

If it says 852 i say get a 1050, you dont wont the psu breaking everything do you, and the 20% is for a reason as that is what it will probably use at maximum capacity, or its that PSUs deteriorate and eventually produce less output, you also wont be able to add anything like RAM or HDDs

 

[derek1971]

Thanks

 

[MeveM]

How do you know what fans are installed in these cases? I am probably just missing something but from the descriptions i can't see what fans come fitted in the cm690, the haf 922, the storm enforcer or the dragon rider.

Completely forgot to answer this question.

I don't know about cm690.

HAF 922
1 x 200mm front red LED fan, 1 x 200mm top fan, 1 x 120mm rear fan. (It does not include the side fan you can actually see on the pictures on the website, this is the reason I went for Sniper as said above.)

Storm Enforcer
Looks like it's only got the three, front intake, top+back exaust.

InWIN Dragon
From reviews it comes with a ton of fans;
1. Rear: 12cm Fan x - Included
2. Front: 12cm Fan x - Included
3. Top: 12cm Fan x 1 (Supports max 2 x 12cm fan) - Just 1 included
4. Side: 22cm LED Fan with switch x 1 (Supports max 6 x 12cm fan) - 1 22cm LED fan Included
5. Water-Cooling Hole Ready
6. 12cm LED Side Fan - Included (This is the little fan seen on the opposite side of the big side fan. So basically it's behind the motherboard.)

Since the InWIN comes with such a mass amount of fans included with its cheap price, that's why I said, that's the one I'd go for if I couldn't afford the Sniper case.

Also, you might wanna go on youtube or something and watch some actual reviews that show you stuff rather then just read about it.
I found that the HAF 922 does not have ANY dust filters, it basically sucks your PC full of dust, so you'll have to clean it regulary.
The Sniper has easily removeable dust filters on all intake fans which is a massive bonus.

Alternatively you could always go for the slightly cheaper NXZT Phantom, even though it looks like a Alien ware case styled after a Fridge, despite its extremely childish looks, it's supposed to have some really nice features, plenty of dust filters and fans with great airflow. Too much plastic for me though.

 

[derek1971]

Thanks again. That is a really big help. Now just trying to work out how to modify my desk to fit cases as big as these - my current pc is tiny by comparison!!