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Recommendation on Mid Size case with good airflow?

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#21 · (Edited)
#22 ·
Yeah that would limit air cooler options. H510 clearance is only 165mm though so not much better.
 
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Discussion starter · #23 ·
AlphaC said:
The P400A has less air cooler compatibility due to 160mm CPU cooler limit. P400A gets a mesh front panel and it's $70 for the non-RGB version.


It's the same chassis as P400 more or less.
Click to expand...
Not sure what to make of your comment... I have an H115 Pro so the CPU limit won't be an issue. The 400A has mesh like the Meshify and I would say $70 for non RGB and $90 for RGB is very reasonable.

Was the P400 not a good case?
 
#24 ·
The original P400 had poor airflow due to only having air come in through the bottom and top of the front panel. Everything else about it was just average but it's a budget-minded case.


Anyway if you have a 280mm radiator it should fit in the front of the P400A. Radiators don't fit in the top.
 
Discussion starter · #25 · (Edited)
AlphaC said:
The original P400 had poor airflow due to only having air come in through the bottom and top of the front panel. Everything else about it was just average but it's a budget-minded case.


Anyway if you have a 280mm radiator it should fit in the front of the P400A. Radiators don't fit in the top.
Click to expand...
What would your recommendation be out of the cases that have been discussed?

NZXT H510
Phantek P600S
Phantek P400A
Meshify S2

I am coming from the NZXT 810 which is the largest case out of the group (23"x24"). So a all of them are smaller options..

Just need room for that Corsair H115 and my apparently long 286.5 mm gpu...
 
#26 ·
I went from a Arc Midi R2 to a P400S to a Meshify S2. P400S front panel is a deal breaker, shouldn't be an issue on the P400A/P600S. Both the Fractal cases felt higher quality than the P400 too, but the Arc Midi almost cost double and the S2 costs more than double the P400S.

Get the S2 if you don't want a small case. Get the P400A/P600S if you want a smaller case or to save a buck. Never used the H510 so I don't have an opinion on it.
 
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#27 · (Edited)
You mentioned 23x24" so I'm guessing width isn't a constraining factor.

Phanteks P600S (20.5" height, 20.1" length/depth, 9.5" width) will give you better GPU results and if you decide to upgrade or expand your system it has support for 140mm fans at the top (as well as support or 280mm or 360mm radiator ; 190mm CPU cooler clearance). The biggest complaint people have had with it is the 24-pin ATX connector interaction with the sliding plates that they use instead of cable grommets. If I had to add to that list it would probably be the lack of any secure fastening method besides magnets for the side panels that swing open.

P400A (18.3" height, 18.5" length, 8.3" width) is an option with 420mm GPU clearance (i.e. even if you subtract 60mm for some clearance from front mount radiator you will have space) if you can't tolerate the P600S size (keeping in mind it is using the budget Metallicgear Skiron fan) . There's some design concessions to hit the price point: for example the panels are slotted into the side similar to other budget cases , putting the TG panel on requires 4 thumbscrews , 3.5" drive bays are plastic. It's better than H510 because H510 is vented only on one side + bottom but you lose USB 3.1 gen 2 type C at the IO (it's a budget case at its core).
http://www.phanteks.com/assets/manuals/PH-EC600PSTG.pdf
http://www.phanteks.com/assets/manuals/PH-EC400ATG.pdf

The Meshify S2 (18.3" height, ~21.2" length, ~9.2" width) can mount the radiator in the top but since you have an air cooled GPU it wouldn't make as large a difference. It supports 140mm fans in the top (most cases that support 140mm fans in top also have higher CPU cooler clearance, this has 185mm) and up to 360mm radiators in the top unobstructed / 420mm radiator with 35mm motherboard component height. The fans are weaker than the ones in the P600S.
 
#29 ·
I just completed a build in a Phanteks Pro M SE. I love it. Has great airflow and room to mount a custom loop.

It has the same basic layout as the 600S but is shorter.

I wish the 600S was out when i was parting out this build as I would have paid up for that case. Then I could have put a 420 rad in the front instead of just a 280...
 
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#31 · (Edited)
Don't forget the new Bitfenix Nova Mesh. It also has a really fine metallic front like the Phanteks P400A and the Cooler Master NR400/NR600. Just remove the filter it has next to the front mesh and you're golden (the filter really isn't necessary considering how similar to the phanteks and cooler master meshter it is).

I'm pretty sure the Bitfenix Enso Mesh is the same, so you could get that one as well. However both are 160mm fan clearance. Only the Cooler Master NR600 is 166mm, but the the build quality and the looks on the CM one are questionable.


P.S. Personally I've come to accept and plan around 160mm height for cooling for the future, there's plenty of great coolers that can fit in this height:

Noctua NH-D15S, Thermalright Silver Arrow T8 and Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT with best overall clearances for pci-e, vrm heatsinks and ram.

The new Noctua NH-U12A as a good premium option (the 3 above still have better performance to noise ratio).

The Phanteks PH-TC14PE with only the middle fan (shouldn't use dual towers any other way anyway), with a different screw/no screw and middle fan pushed down (however pci-e and VRM heatsink clearance is a bit iffy, and RAM clearance is quite problematic especially for high-end HEDT motherboards.

And the cheap king itself SilentiumPC Grandis 2 XE1436. Or if you're feeling nostalgic for Prolimatech stuff :), you can order the Prolimatech Basic 83 from aliexpress (AM4 supported)
 
#32 · (Edited)
@JMattes you're asking for a case with good airflow. The H510 has a good airflow along with better looking than the meshify and p400s. No bias but the NZXT has better build quality and premium feel than the other cases. Plus it's more forward looking with its mic/headphone combo (I wish I have this) and USB type-C in front-panel.

Although the meshify s2 has better airflow but you'll end up with too many dust on your PC. Same can be said with cases with too much mesh/holes.

I just own a H200i which has similar fan config to H510. Installed 2 1600 rpm front fans and 2 1200rpm exhaust fans and I live in tropical country and airflow is better than I expected.

EDIT: I think 510 has better cable management that the other suggested cases too. Those cable routes at the back are extremely helpful.
 
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#33 ·
momonz said:
@JMattes you're asking for a case with good airflow. The H510 has a good airflow along with better looking than the meshify and p400s. No bias but the NZXT has better build quality and premium feel than the other cases. Plus it's more forward looking with its mic/headphone combo (I wish I have this) and USB type-C in front-panel.

Although the meshify s2 has better airflow but you'll end up with too many dust on your PC. Same can be said with cases with too much mesh/holes.

I just own a H200i which has similar fan config to H510. Installed 2 1600 rpm front fans and 2 1200rpm exhaust fans and I live in tropical country and airflow is better than I expected.

EDIT: I think 510 has better cable management that the other suggested cases too. Those cable routes at the back are extremely helpful.
Click to expand...

https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/3496-nzxt-h510-elite-case-review-making-things-worse
 
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#34 · (Edited)
^
It's literally the same fan config as with the older H500 which Gamers Nexus gave a generally good review. For H510 they didn't put a top exhaust which is very critical and important for H series cases. And you have to read their first few statements here:

"We didn’t go beyond the standard batch of tests for this one; for more fan configurations, check our original H500 review, since the chassis is effectively identical. We ran tests with the case noise normalized to 36dBA, without the front panel, and with our standardized fan layout. The standardized fan layout is three Noctua fans we’ve reserved for case testing, two 140mm front intake and one 120mm exhaust. Since the H510 Elite is already configured this way, the only difference from stock is the type of fan."

EDIT: a single exhaust fan is not enough. Also GN reviewed the elite. The H510 has one with single side panel TG.
 
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#35 ·
True, but the H series are really only worth getting if you really like the look of them. Airflow isn't great. It's not the worst but there are better options in the same price range.

To be fair, I'm a contrarian so I tend to avoid things just because they're popular lol. I would never own something like an H500/H510 or Meshify C because everyone and their brother has one.
 
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#37 ·
No one here is denying meshify's airflow advantage over h510. H510 is compact compared to the meshify s2. Meshify-C is has outdated ports. 510 has good airflow. OP can check other's experience with 500/510 though.
 
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#38 ·
momonz said:
No one here is denying meshify's airflow advantage over h510. H510 is compact compared to the meshify s2. Meshify-C is has outdated ports. 510 has good airflow. OP can check other's experience with 500/510 though.
Click to expand...
The OP is looking for good airflow, and the Meshify's is superior to the H510, as well as providing options for improvement.

The Meshify C is all of 7mm wider, 19mm deeper and 7mm shorter. The extra width provides more room for cable management. Nobody cares about a single 3.5mm jack when PC headsets come with splitters in the box. A Type C port is nice, but the loss of a Type A port makes life more difficult for anyone using an external drive.
 
#39 ·
The OP's first choice is H510. He's concern about its airflow which I would recommend it's not a concern since it really has a good airflow.
He is looking for good airflow at the very least <--- THIS

H510 cable management is way better than Meshify C. At least one usb type C is a must if you're building a new PC right now. We are on the transition. Yes it's a bummer it only has a single type A.

OP is also looking for a compact case.

"Nobody cares about a single 3.5mm jack when PC headsets come with splitters in the box." - This is what I am doing right now and that small dongle is annoying to keep around when you're using the same headset for your desktop, laptop, cellphone, console.

H510 is better looking than Meshify C (subjective) and is better build quality.

I am also familiar with Meshify C because I also considered this as my next case coming from H440.
 
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#40 · (Edited)
momonz said:
The OP's first choice is H510. He's concern about its airflow which I would recommend it's not a concern since it really has a good airflow.
He is looking for good airflow at the very least <--- THIS
Click to expand...
The point is that the Meshify's airflow is better, and can be easily improved if needed. With the H510, you're stuck if it turns out be inadequate.

[edit] removed the rest as JMattes has stated the Meshify S2 is under consideration, not the C. The above statement remains true for the S2, which also has a Type C port.
 
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