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Best Case for Air Cooling

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DarkDonut

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Messages
302
It's been quite a while since i've shopped for a case, and I feel the time to do it is now.

My specs and current case are in my sig. I have had problems with my temps for a long time now. I have my zalmon turned up to max speed and if I close up my case, I reach up to 47C idle and 60+ load temps. I suspect there are many problems here. First, this case if kind of small and airflow isn't great to begin with. It has 2 front intake fans, 1 blowhole, 1 exhaust. All 80mm fans. There's also no room for an extra fan in the back for exhaust. With my old rig this setup worked, but now with my new P4 setup (bought in Sept so not rly that new) it has constantly gotten hot so I've had the side anel of the case off for months. My house is room temperatute (72-74) most of the time. Sometimes it can get up to the high 70s or low 80s.

I need a suggestion on a good case. I'll be purchasing a new video card and PSU to go along with it also, so I need to make sure the case can handle the heat but still be an air cooling solution. I plan to get ties to tie off all wires and whatnot. The case I'm looking at now is a Antec PlusView1080AMG. It has 2 exhaust and 1 side intake that comes with it, along with 2 intake expansion slots for more fans (which I'll be putting 1 80mm in). This way, my case will have more hot air LEAVING the case because of the negative pressure, and less "hot" outside air coming in, which is the exact opposite of my current setup. My only gripe is that the side intake fan is pretty low on the side of the case, so it would effectly be more over my northbridge and video card than over the actual cpu.

ANY suggestions are welcome, but remember, I'm not looking for an expensive case. I'm looking for a top notch air cooling case.
 
DarkDonut said:
ANY suggestions are welcome, but remember, I'm not looking for an expensive case. I'm looking for a top notch air cooling case.
Click to expand...

Expensive is a relative term and, if you want top notch, you are going to have to pay for it. Right now I would have to say the very best is the Coolermaster Stacker. You get this case and not only do you have excellent air cooling, you also will not have to buy a new case later on down the road when you make the switch to BTX, so it is future proof as well. Just take a look at the reviews linked from the news page over the last couple weeks and you will likely come to the same conclusions.
 
cst-97.jpg

cst-97_2.jpg

Expensive is sort of a subjective term, I picked up one of these coolermasters at a local Fry's Electronics for around $160. At first I was sort of put off by the sticker-shock but after getting it home and looking at it closely I think it's a great value. The case is top notch in every aspect, high quality parts, assembled well, the aluminum is twice as thick as most other cases (the curved door is extruded, not bent aluminum), sliding mobo tray, psu adapter plate, 3 fans included as well as a kit to add another to the top. The pics really don't do it justice.
After looking at this case I was left wondering what all the hype about the Lian-lis is all about.
 
You sure those bad temps aren't because of the cooler? I have 1 intake fan, and I get 40 idle, 47load
 
^^

I'll second that, those temps seem very high. Check my sig, I'm running 33 idle & 44 full load. Maybe check your paste? (I use AS3).

(edit) I know Abit report higher than most MBs, but still!
 
Also, if you like it nice & quiet, you could do worse than go for an Antec Sonata. All I get from mine is a gentle 'Shuuuuush'.... & respectable temps to boot (good PSU as well - quiet 380 Truepower). :)
 
you may also want to check out the Antec 3700AMB/BQE if you're looking for decent airflow. They use 120mm fans, one in front and one in back. Comes with a "SmartPower" 350w (which I promptly replaced with my Enermax450).

Quiet case if you have quiet fans. My case temp is generally the same as my room temp.

It can be had for about $80 shipped or I think Best Buy even carries them now.
 
i have the plus view, and its a decent case. that side fan hole is for video card cooling.. and counting a PSU fan, you have 3 intake and 3 exhaust. i get about 42c on warm days (85-90F)
 
the coolermaster atc-710 can be set up really nicely for air cooling. i got mine of these forums for $45 shipped, so keep your eyes open
 
i just recently ordered a pc-61 lian-li. i think it's more important to get good air intake over number of fans. you could have four intake fans (as in my case) but have them obstructed and are probably less CFM than two open intakes.
 
The SLK3700 "type" case.... AMB or BQE or SuperLanBoy... Compucase LX-6A19, D8000, etc.

All use 120mm intake/exhaust, nd I would recommend putting a 120mm door fan in aimed at the video/dimm intersection and using a SuperFlower 550W psu with 120/140mm exhaust fan. Yeilds 2x 120mm intake, 2x 120mm exhaust and still remains very quiet.

Not the BUZZSAW that most multi-80mm fan cases end up :D
 
That these expensive cases have a mere one exhaust fan is just inexcusable. What gives? Sure there is a top exhaust, but that is no substitute.
 
is 2 rear exhaust fans that big of a deal when you have 2x in the psu, one on top and one in the back? I havent experimented to see which is best but mine gets sufficient airflow with just one exhaust fan imo, you can always strap some 80mm tornados if you really want some cfm =D

btw im running in a coolermaster praetorian case atm
 
Gotta have a side blowhole. How these "high end" cases come without as simple a thing as another rear exhaust and sideblowhole is beyond me.
 
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