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Looking for that perfect case.

343 views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  RnRollie 
#1 ·
Hello all, I am having issues finding a computer case that will fit my criteria and so I figured I would ask the water cooling guys!

I am planning an upgrade for my current PC. I am ditching the mATX to go EATX. Also I plan on watercooling. I have purchased my radiators already, They are both (2) the EK-CoolStream XE 360.
They are 60mm thick and I would like to have both of them in push/pull configuration. On top of that I would like to have at least two 5.25 bays free for an optical drive and a fan controller.
I have not purchased a reservoir yet as I figured I would have to base that on whatever space I am left with inside of the case when finished. Also I would require at least enough space for four 3.5" HDD's and 4 SSD's

Lastly I would prefer to go for premade cases before looking somewhere like caselabs or mountain mods.
I could go tower or cube, either is fine with me.

So to sum things up, I need a case that can accommodate:

- EATX Motherboard
- two 60mm thick 360 rads (preferrably in push/pull)
- two 5.25" optical bays
- at least four 3.5" HDD's
- four 2.5" SSD's


Currently I am looking at the Thermaltake CA-1F8-00M1WN- 02 Core X71 but I have concerns about the front 5.25" optical bays and HDD space after cooling is installed.

I am open to do some light modding but nothing too crazy.

Thanks in advance for any help on finding my dream case.
 
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#2 ·
i have the x71 i use the 2 bays for my pump res i took all the hardrive cages out and have a 360mm in the top a 420mm in the front and s 240mm in the bottom. I have 3 ssds mounted behide the motherboard heres a pic of my current setup in the x71 we have a owners club for the x71 also.

 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bal3Wolf View Post

i have the x71 i use the 2 bays for my pump res i took all the hardrive cages out and have a 360mm in the top a 420mm in the front and s 240mm in the bottom. I have 3 ssds mounted behide the motherboard heres a pic of my current setup in the x71 we have a owners club for the x71 also.
How thick is that top 360 rad? It looks like it is practically touching your Res in the 5.25" bays. I have a feeling if yours is anything less then 60mm thick I might have issues.
 
#4 ·
that is a thin rad only like 30mm or 40mm i did have a rx360 in thier befor could only do push or pull not enough room to do push pull and the exhaust fan has to be removed to have enough room.
 
#6 ·
yea finding cases with bays you can use when rads are installed can be a major pain if you don't already own the 360s you could go with 280s people say they cool nearly identical.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stiltz85 View Post

Yeah, I already own the rads, I wanted to make sure I had cooling be my main focus so I bought them first.
That's a bit of an odd way to go about it, now you're going to end up underutilizing whatever case you go with. Most cases that can fit 2 thick 360mm rads with the hardware you want can also fit bigger radiators (think 420mm or 480mm rads) and surface area is more important than thickness when it comes to radiators.

Anyway, here are some options.

Phanteks Enthoo Primo: Can do push/pull in the bottom, push or pull in the top, fits all your other stuff too. And you could even add some more radiators in the future if needed.

Lian Li PC-D600: Could be ideal if only if you're willing to look for/make a bracket that can adapt the triple 140mm mount in the motherboard chamber into triple 120mm.(might not want to go crazy with long GPU's as they'll interfere with the radiator)
 
#13 ·
Build Your Own
Plenty of guides & examples on t'internet .... MDF, Alu, cardboard, even concrete...

After all you are starting with a "box", which you can modify as needed. Bolt a MB tray/panel to it and you are already halfway there. Even when stricktly speaking you do not even need a MB Tray, it just makes it easier.

And if making simple MDF box is too much of a challenge.... IKEA to the rescue, part numbers: 902.576.56 AND 602.466.88 OR 802.463.00
smile.gif




plus

or

and they also come in different colours & sizes. Above examples are 50 x 58 x 16 cm.
 
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