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M8 or SM8

post #1 of 41
12/3/12 at 10:03am
Thread Starter 
I wanted to get some opinions from some of you guys on which case to purchase for my next build.

Ill be basically taking my components out of my recent build and put them one of these cases. The M8 seems like a great case to grow into IF, and BIG IF, I ever watercool. The SM8 seems like a great case also mainly becuase it is a more traditional case.

I like the M8 because I can "hide" my psu. Cable management seems easier in the M8 also. Both offer the option of hiding my HDD and SSD. The SM8 offers options for three intake fans and two optical drives free for a fan controller and a bluray burner. The M8 offers three intake fans, but only one optical bay open. Both can do push pull on my existing H100 so thats great.

Any advice you can give, would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.







Edited by nezff - 12/3/12 at 10:18am
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post #2 of 41
12/3/12 at 11:58am
I just went through the same process of deciding between the SM8 and the M8 and decided on the M8 even though I'm not likely to put watercooling into it anytime soon. The major factor for me was that you don't have to compromise your air flow plan to work around the PSU and other cabling as it can all be hidden in the back compartment. I did see a pic of a prototype accessory for mounting the PSU inside the SM8 case (away from the top/bottom) that would give you more options, and the SM8 does have lots of room behind the MB for routing as at 11" it is wider than many other tower designs. In the end I don't think the differences are huge and it comes down to personal preference... I just like cube designs more.
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post #3 of 41
12/3/12 at 12:40pm
You basically said it yourself if and only IF you watercool.

What do you need all of the space for?

Eitherway I would go with the SM8 over the M8 I don't like the Fatboy look.
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post #4 of 41
12/3/12 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave1924 View Post

I just went through the same process of deciding between the SM8 and the M8 and decided on the M8 even though I'm not likely to put watercooling into it anytime soon. The major factor for me was that you don't have to compromise your air flow plan to work around the PSU and other cabling as it can all be hidden in the back compartment. I did see a pic of a prototype accessory for mounting the PSU inside the SM8 case (away from the top/bottom) that would give you more options, and the SM8 does have lots of room behind the MB for routing as at 11" it is wider than many other tower designs. In the end I don't think the differences are huge and it comes down to personal preference... I just like cube designs more.

I really dont like the psu floating in the sm8. If you are going to do that, why not get the M8. thumb.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by freitz View Post

You basically said it yourself if and only IF you watercool.
What do you need all of the space for?
Eitherway I would go with the SM8 over the M8 I don't like the Fatboy look.

Yeah, I think the M8 turns some people off because of the cube design. Still a nice case IMHO.

thanks.
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post #5 of 41
12/3/12 at 12:52pm
Honestly. Caselabs makes excellent Case's but if your not sure if you want to watercool or not. I dont' know if I would cough up 400+$ for a maybe. Like I said these cases are great but you wouldn't be able to utilize the space, judging by what you say is going inside of it. On the other side of things from the people that I've known that have air cooled in here. They are still excellent cases.
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post #6 of 41
12/3/12 at 12:58pm
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That's a win win IMO.

I have the SM8, It's fantastic. I just roll a standard bottom mount PSU.

However, I've always wanted something like the M8..

What kind of orientation were you planning? I went standard ATX, but the rATX setup's are drool.gif

LL

Would have certainly got me some 480 rads if I knew I'd win this puppy.

LL

So much clearance!
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post #7 of 41
12/3/12 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by freitz View Post

Honestly. Caselabs makes excellent Case's but if your not sure if you want to watercool or not. I dont' know if I would cough up 400+$ for a maybe. Like I said these cases are great but you wouldn't be able to utilize the space, judging by what you say is going inside of it. On the other side of things from the people that I've known that have air cooled in here. They are still excellent cases.

If I watercooled it would still be a great case. So us air/ closed loop water coolers can't have a caselabs? Lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by jagz View Post

That's a win win IMO.
I have the SM8, It's fantastic. I just roll a standard bottom mount PSU.
However, I've always wanted something like the M8..
What kind of orientation were you planning? I went standard ATX, but the rATX setup's are drool.gif
LL
Would have certainly got me some 480 rads if I knew I'd win this puppy.
LL
So much clearance!

I'm going atx. I know right now I'm doing a atx mobo, dual gtx 680s, h100
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post #8 of 41
12/3/12 at 1:25pm
I'd go with the "reversed" atx plan. That puts the pci slots at the top and the CPU at the bottom. Should work better for air cooling as most of the heat comes from the graphics and you can pull it right out the top.
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post #9 of 41
12/3/12 at 1:33pm
One of the neat design features I really like about the SM8 is that it is completely reversible, without the purchase of additional hardware. If you think you might to play around with standard vs. reverse layout, SM8 could be the way to go. Getting a standard sized window instead of XL might hide your PSU, too, though I suppose it would also obscure other hardware you might want to showcase... Honestly I think either has the potential to be the last case you ever have to buy smile.gif
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post #10 of 41
12/3/12 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
thanks guys. I definately dont like reversed. Doesnt appel to me at all. biggrin.gif
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