Overheating! Need new case! Please help

[Fayt19]

Hello, My computer is currently overheating. The case I have had 2 120mm fans in it, but they dont work. My computer literally has the side open for its cooling with a box fan next to it. It is time to buy a new computer. But since I dont really have the money to buy a whole new computer I want to buy the case first and build off that. I need an excellent case to last me years. Ive done some research and I am still lost.

My spending limit on just the case is <$200. I was looking at the Cooler Master HAF X and it looks like an amazing case but everyone I know says its terrible because the dust filters kill the air flow and that theres better cases out there for the same price.

I will be using the case for gaming and slight Overclocking. I dont think ill be watercooling but that is subject to change when i get to the actual building part. Till then I plan to use it on my old build.

E6600
250GB HDD
7950GT
2GB DDR2
Enermax 550W PSU

Basically is the HAF X a good case or is there other cases out there that are better for the price? What I like about the HAF X is that it has 4 HUGE fans in it. Most cases I see only have 3 or maybe 4 but they are only 120mm fans.Maybe someone could explain to me that bugger isnt always better?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jorona]

The HAF cases always come across cheap feeling to me. Very plasticy.

If you want something to outlast 3-4 builds, get a Lian Li aluminum case.Very sturdy.

 

[Fayt19]

Any suggestions? I saw some good reviews on the NZXT Switch 810. I dont know anything on the Lian Li aluminum cases.

 

[Dangman]

Here are some case recommendations:
$80 - Corsair Carbide Series 300R ATX Case
$100 - Corsair Carbide Series 400R ATX Case
$100 - Antec 1100 ATX Case
$115 - Corsair Carbide Series 500R ATX Case
$120 - Lian Li PC-9F ATX Case
$120 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$130 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$130 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-002OR Black Finish w/Orange Trim Full Tower ATX Case
$144 - Silverstone RV03B-WA ATX case
$150 - Silverstone TJ04B-EW ATX Case
$155 - Thermaltake VN300M1W2N Chase MK-1 ATX Case
$160 - Corsair Graphite Series 600TM ATX Case
$160 - Silverstone RV02B-W ATX case
$162 - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D ATX Case
$164 - Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$178 - Silverstone RV02B-EW ATX case
$220 - Silverstone FT02S-W ATX Case
$230 - Silverstone FT02B ATX Case
$270 - Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Full Tower ATX Case

Personally not a fan of the HAF line of cases either. Their quality doesn't seem as high as other similarly priced cases.

 

[Soulmetzger]

+1

Silverstone TJ04B-EW ATX Case

I just built my new rig with this and feel it has great flexability and lots on fans. The only thing I dont like is how the front is nice like the Lian Li but the rest is all just standard paint. It doesn't look bad, but after having a couple LianLi cases seems lacking in the finish.

 

[MacLeod]

Gotta throw a shot in there for my 500R. Looks great, built great, plenty of features and tons of cooling options and its not too big.

 

[Jorona]

Here are some case recommendations:
$80 - Corsair Carbide Series 300R ATX Case
$100 - Corsair Carbide Series 400R ATX Case
$100 - Antec 1100 ATX Case
$115 - Corsair Carbide Series 500R ATX Case
$120 - Lian Li PC-9F ATX Case
$120 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$130 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$130 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-002OR Black Finish w/Orange Trim Full Tower ATX Case
$144 - Silverstone RV03B-WA ATX case
$150 - Silverstone TJ04B-EW ATX Case
$155 - Thermaltake VN300M1W2N Chase MK-1 ATX Case
$160 - Corsair Graphite Series 600TM ATX Case
$160 - Silverstone RV02B-W ATX case
$162 - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D ATX Case
$164 - Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$178 - Silverstone RV02B-EW ATX case
$220 - Silverstone FT02S-W ATX Case
$230 - Silverstone FT02B ATX Case
$270 - Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Full Tower ATX Case

Personally not a fan of the HAF line of cases either. Their quality doesn't seem as high as other similarly priced cases.

Phenomenal List. I'd add the...

Antec Solo 2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129177
Antec P280 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129179
Fractal Arc Midi http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352007
Fractal Design Define http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352017

And take that god awful looking Tt Chase off.

 

[Fayt19]

So many cases...is it just personal preference? or is there a difference between that $80 case and the $200+ cases?

I dont really care about looks at all. I just want amazing Airflow with watercooling capabilities. I never plan to run a bunch of HDDs, maybe 1 storage and 1 SSD. I will probably never run SLI/Crossfire GPUs.

 

[Dangman]

Antec Solo 2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129177

Biggest issue I have with that case is its price. Just seems so overpriced for what it offers. Not a horrible case but just needs to be cheaper before I add it to my personal case list.

Antec P280 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129179

Great case and it's actually part of my general case list that you'll usually see posted around General Hardware. However due to its huge emphasis on low noise, its cooling isn't all that great compared to the other cases out there. Since the OP is having cooling issues, didn't make much sense to recommend it. But still a solid case for those who aren't having or won't have cooling issues.

Fractal Arc Midi http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352007

Huh, how the hell did I forget this case? Gotta remember why I didn't add this case.

Fractal Design Define http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352017

Thie Bit-Tech review of that case pretty much killed that case for me:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/11/19/fractal-design-define-xl-review/1

And take that god awful looking Tt Chase off.

Not a fan of the case look myself but its internal features and cooling capability kinda makes up for the gawdiness of the case. Not to mention that compared to other TT cases, it's not that gaudy looking. A few more years and they'll finally "get it" in the looks department.

 

[Jorona]

So many cases...is it just personal preference? or is there a difference between that $80 case and the $200+ cases?

I dont really care about looks at all. I just want amazing Airflow with watercooling capabilities. I never plan to run a bunch of HDDs, maybe 1 storage and 1 SSD. I will probably never run SLI/Crossfire GPUs.

It really is personal preference at this point with that list. All the suggested cases have proven themselves as really solid choices.

Biggest issue I have with that case is its price. Just seems so overpriced for what it offers. Not a horrible case but just needs to be cheaper before I add it to my personal case list.

Great case and it's actually part of my general case list that you'll usually see posted around General Hardware. However due to its huge emphasis on low noise, its cooling isn't all that great compared to the other cases out there. Since the OP is having cooling issues, didn't make much sense to recommend it. But still a solid case for those who aren't having or won't have cooling issues.


Huh, how the hell did I forget this case? Gotta remember why I didn't add this case.

Thie Bit-Tech review of that case pretty much killed that case for me:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/11/19/fractal-design-define-xl-review/1

Not a fan of the case look myself but its internal features and cooling capability kinda makes up for the gawdiness of the case. Not to mention that compared to other TT cases, it's not that gaudy looking. A few more years and they'll finally "get it" in the looks department.

I just built a 3960K SLI 670 rig for a customer in the Solo 2 and it just amazed me. I'll agree, its abit stiff on price, but a very well made case with suprising thermals and great noise isolation.

I ment to link the R3 Define, not the XL.

Yeah, Tt needs to get out of the "ricer" theme for its cases.

 

[Dangman]

So many cases...is it just personal preference? or is there a difference between that $80 case and the $200+ cases?

Mostly personal preference but there are differences between the $80 case and the $200+ in terms of features, quality, and even size. As Jorona noted, every one of thoses cases have solid cooling. In addition, they usually have good cable management and are of good quality.

I ment to link the R3 Define, not the XL.

Ahh. Same thing with the Antec P280 earlier: Great case but not entirely suitable for the OP.

Yeah, Tt needs to get out of the "ricer" theme for its cases.

Definitely. Though there's probably a decent sized market (anyone below the age of 14 probably) for those gaudy cases if TT is still making them.

 

[Fayt19]

I noticed the NZXT Switch 810 wasnt on your list. Is there a reason why?

Also I noticed some of the suggested cases are mid towers. I would like to have a Full Tower so I have enough space for whatever I would like to add.

Is there anyway to narrow down the cases to a select few?

Things I want in a case:

- <$200
- Full Tower
- Amazing Airflow
- Watercooling Capabilities
- Has lots of fans or at least supports them
- Looks dont matter

A couple of cases that draw my attention is:

$109 NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$169 Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$179 NZXT Switch 810

 

[jamsomito]

I noticed the NZXT Switch 810 wasnt on your list. Is there a reason why?

Also I noticed some of the suggested cases are mid towers. I would like to have a Full Tower so I have enough space for whatever I would like to add.

Is there anyway to narrow down the cases to a select few?
*snip*

I was in almost the exact same situation as you. I went with the Switch 810, and have the numbers to back up my decision. If you're interested, see how things stacked up here.

I also found that this case goes on sale about once a month. If you shop around, you can get it for sub-$150, which makes it a really great deal.

 

[Dangman]

I noticed the NZXT Switch 810 wasnt on your list. Is there a reason why?

Just seems a tad overpriced for what you're getting. Great case but the price is a slight stickling point for me. I'll probably end up adding it to my list anyawy since I'm a fan of the case look and features.

Also I noticed some of the suggested cases are mid towers. I would like to have a Full Tower so I have enough space for whatever I would like to add.

Do note that the line between Full and Midtower is pretty much blurred. There's no set standard or general rule as to what determines whether a case is a Full Tower or Mid-Tower. In the case of some of the Silverstone cases I listed, some of those cases are listed as Full Tower but their overall dimensions are only about an inch or so higher than some of the mid-tower cases listed. Then again, that's due to the internal layour of some of those Silverstones.

Is there anyway to narrow down the cases to a select few?r

Be a lot more specific. The list of features you want is pretty much shared by 83% of those cases I listed. There are reasons why I have those cases in my personal recommended case list. It was the budget that knocked out 3 of the cases listed. Pretty much the fastest way to narrow down that case list is just go on looks. If you're still unwilling to go on looks or just that lazy to narrow down the list further, open up the links of each of the cases, and eliminate them by whether or not they have "Full Tower" in the name. I actually didn't put in "Full Tower" for all of the "Full Tower" cases due to the whole blurred line thing. So there's probably more "Full Tower" named cases in my list. And I've updated my list with the "Full Tower" removed.

 

[Fayt19]

its funny you said something because I just got done reading your charts and videos. In your charts, the Switch 810 blew everything out of the water. Is that because youre bias or is the Switch 810 really that good?

After watching your videos (which were very good btw), I still have a few questions about the case now that you have it up and running:

Does it have good airflow?
How many fans did you end up adding to the case?
I noticed it doesnt have a side fan, does that effect cooling on the GPU?
Are you 100% satisfied?
Any regrets?

Sorry for all the questions

@Danny Bui - Narrow it down more? hmm. Well I feel as if the more fans I have the better the airflow? I looked over all the cases you listed. I read somewhere that Full tower cases will have slightly better airflow than a mid tower. How many fans is enough to keep the computer at a good temperature? My current case has 2 120mm fans both in the back set to exhaust...but like i said they dont even work anymore...I would like a case with air filters to reduce the dust that gets into my case. I live in New Mexico and dust and heat is a problem here. Air filters hurt air flow though right? Good Cable management is a must...every case ive ever had suffered from all the cables just scattered everywhere.

$109 NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$169 Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$179 NZXT Switch 810
$189 Cooler Master HAF X

These are the cases I found that interest me. The NZXT seems to be the cheapest by far but doesnt have a front fan I dont know if that really matters.

 

[Nathan_P]

Love my Corsair 650D, Loads of room to work in, decent cooling and room for lots of fans - especially if you get the mesh side panel. I run a dual CPU setup in mine that folds most of teh time and i never have any problems

 

[Dangman]

I read somewhere that Full tower cases will have slightly better airflow than a mid tower.

Not necessarily as a case can be a tad too large for all of the fans in that case to interact with one another.

Well I feel as if the more fans I have the better the airflow?
.....
How many fans is enough to keep the computer at a good temperature?

3-4 is all you really need. You see really diminishing returns after that. I highly recommend reading this article:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/02/10/the-big-cooling-investigation/1

Air filters hurt air flow though right?

Pretty much. Basically the more effective the filter, the worse the airflow will be.

Good Cable management is a must...every case ive ever had suffered from all the cables just scattered everywhere.

That's also one of the metric/rubric/factors I use when determining if a case is good or not. Hence why every single one of the case I listed have good cable management.

$109 NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$169 Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$179 NZXT Switch 810
$189 Cooler Master HAF X

These are the cases I found that interest me. The NZXT seems to be the cheapest by far but doesnt have a front fan I dont know if that really matters.

The Phantom does come with a slot for a front fan. However, if you read the Bit-tech article above, it may not be a deal breaker if it doesn't come with a stock fan.

 

[Fayt19]

Just got done reading the guide. Very informative, thanks! From what I gathered, the side fan is the most important if your case has 1-3 fans. More than 4 doesnt make a huge difference. So does that make the Switch 810 worse? The Phantom has 2x Side fans so thats nice. hmm

 

[Dangman]

Just got done reading the guide. Very informative, thanks! From what I gathered, the side fan is the most important if your case has 1-3 fans. More than 4 doesnt make a huge difference. So does that make the Switch 810 worse? The Phantom has 2x Side fans so thats nice. hmm

A tad worse but the airflow layout of that case helps compensate a bit for the lack of a sidefan

 

[Fayt19]

Ok so after hours of research ive pretty much narrowed it down to these 2 cases.

$169.99 - NZXT Switch 810

$179.99 - Corsair 600T

$179.99 - Corsair Obsidian 650D

Cases I eliminated:

NZXT Phantom - While I dont really care about the looks, I just couldnt go with the phantom because of looks. its just a very strange case.

Corsair Carbide Series 500R - This case seems pretty like a very good case but in the end the 600T and 650D seems to be better and they are both in my budget so why not?

Cooler Master HAF X - My cousin bought the HAF 932 and he loves it. I was 100% sure I was going to buy this case before getting help from all of you guys. Thanks for talking me out of this case and showing me all the nice cases out there.

In the end Corsair and NZXT seem to have an amazing line of cases.

Can any of you guys help me finish this decision? Maybe a short Pros and Cons list of the 3 cases I listed above?

 

[Dangman]

In terms of looks, I love the 650D.

 

[silent-circuit]

I can't believe others haven't already said this, but... a pair of 120mm fans should be /plenty/ with that hardware, there is clearly something else going on.

What is your room temperature? Under 80F I'd hope. If not, time to get a window unit airconditioner, not a new case.

Are you using the stock HSF on your CPU? If so get a cheap aftermarket HSF like the Hyper 212+ and you'll see a world of difference.

When is the last time you cleaned your GPU HSF? Blow it out with canned air and consider replacing the TIM while you're at it.

How is your cable management? If it's bad (big wads of cables in the way of airflow) clean it up and you should see some improvement.

All in all there's zero reason to get a new case.

EDIT: If you must have a new case, Lian Li. Period. I've owned pretty much every brand on Danny's list and many, many others. Nothing compares. Even my current $250 Silverstone FT02 isn't as well built as my $100 Lian Li A05B was.

 

[Dangman]

I can't believe others haven't already said this, but... a pair of 120mm fans should be /plenty/ with that hardware, there is clearly something else going on.

When he said the 120mm fans weren't working, I thought he meant the fans were dead.

 

[silent-circuit]

When he said the 120mm fans weren't working, I thought he meant the fans were dead.

Then get a couple Yates for $10-15 shipped?

 

[USMCGrunt]

Honestly, Corsair has such a good reputation (and well deserved) that i'd go with the 600 or 650. When I go for cases now, I usually look at Silverstone, Corsair, and Lian Lee...though not so much for LL because of their cost. All three of them make really quality stuff.

I had an NZXT Panzerbox a few years back and it was alright, though panel fitment was a bit loose and they seemed to use some fairly thin materials in its construction. Don't get me wrong though, the case was still nice and solid, but I think that was only because of its framework.

 

[stratosrally]

Personally, as much as I like most Corsair cases - out of those 3 choices I personally would get the NZXT Switch 810.

It will take your choice of 140mm or 120mm fans in all 10(!) locations and is extremely easy to convert from an air-cooled rig to a multiple-custom radiator beast. Also has a few innovative features like a hotswap bay that is removable if you don't want it & an illuminated rear I/O panel & a built-in SD card reader. Don't forget about the adjustable top ventilation slots, either.

Frankly, I think it's the most attractive as well.

The Corsairs use 200mm fans which are hard to find premium quality replacements for and they do not have as much interior space - only 8 vs 9 expansion slots, room for 1 240mm radiator vs 2, and standard ATX-sized vs E-ATX & XL-ATX capability.

In the end, however - you need to decide if you will ever really need dual 240 or 420mm radiators, 9 expansion slots, a super-sized mobo, and if you plan to upgrade the fans of your case.

Plenty of customers absolutely rave about both of those Corsairs, they are excellent cases.

 

[Fayt19]

On the issue of my old case...I submitted a thread Here under General Hardware.

My computer is currently suffering from something. Everyone says its overheating so thats why im here now.

I bought this computer off a friend for $50 and the case is trash. it only has slots for 2 fans which both are mounted in the back. The fans were always making weird noises so I tried to clean them off as their was a retarded amount of dust caked on them. Since then they just dont work now...its like they try to start spinning and just wont. All the 5.25 Driver bay panels are missing and so thats just a huge hole in the front. I mean the computer is on its side with the other side off, I have a statue on top of the CPU stock heatsink to apply pressure so that the contact is better since when I removed the CPU heatsink a month ago, I didnt have thermal paste to replace the old paste on it. I do live in NM but the house does hold around 70-78F on average.

I want a good big case because I have a limited amount of money right now and since I have a overheating problem I thought a case and a heatsink would be the best upgrades. I want a case that will last me for years and pretty much be future proof so when I get my hands on more money I can shove whatever I want into the case and not have to worry

After yet another day of researching and countless hours of watching case reviews I think that the NZXT Switch 810 is probably the best case. Its $10 cheaper than both Corsair cases and has a crazy amount of features. Although I will most likely never dual radiator my system its the fact that I have the space and capability to do so. I think its the small things that the 810 bring to the table that I love the most. Such as the LED rear I/O panel and the pivot inner case fans.

I guess it really comes down to, why pay more for less (Corsair 600T/650D vs Switch 810). While jamsomito guide to finding a case was extremely helpful it was a fellow on another forum by the name of PCModderMike who made a guide called The Switch who "upgraded" from his Corsair 600T to the NZXT Switch 810. After reading his blog it pretty much settled everything.

In the end, while buying a smaller case such as a Lian Li for a lot less money seems better for my current setup. I want to future proof and I just got back from a deployment and the wifes giving me a budget even though its my money but you know how it is being married with kids. So the way I see it...I need pretty much max out this budget which is only $300. Because I need a case and theres really nothing I can do to fix this build up with such a small budget. So I see it as, get a good future proof case, Heatsink, and maybe a SSD/better PSU. The thing is...if I dont use my budget ill never see the money I saved from going cheaper.

Seeing a sexy case with "non worthy" components inside will no doubt push me to rebuild the computer.

Is there anything I didnt cover? I still dont know if its actually a overheating problem thats causing my issues but I wont really know till I can fix that first.

 

[silent-circuit]

Regardless of what case you decide to go with, pick up a couple cheap 120mm fans first and a good CPU HSF. I'd probably just get whatever 120mm fans are cheapest on Newegg or wherever you order from at that time. They don't have to be the best -- anything is better than the current non-spinners you have. If you're willing to go a little higher on the fans these are great and will last you a very, very long time. I recommend this HSF since it is LGA775 compatible (your current socket) and also has brackets for modern systems if you upgrade and want to reuse it. It's also only $15 after rebate.

Install the HSF and the new fans in the old case, see if you still have overheating problems. If not, consider upgrading the power supply and GPU with the remainder of your budget, as this will give you a really perceptible boost in performance for the money. A new case at this point will leave you (as you said) with nothing but a bunch of weak components in a fancy box.

 

[JayJapanB]

I can't believe others haven't already said this, but... a pair of 120mm fans should be /plenty/ with that hardware, there is clearly something else going on.

What is your room temperature? Under 80F I'd hope. If not, time to get a window unit airconditioner, not a new case.

Are you using the stock HSF on your CPU? If so get a cheap aftermarket HSF like the Hyper 212+ and you'll see a world of difference.

When is the last time you cleaned your GPU HSF? Blow it out with canned air and consider replacing the TIM while you're at it.

How is your cable management? If it's bad (big wads of cables in the way of airflow) clean it up and you should see some improvement.

All in all there's zero reason to get a new case.

EDIT: If you must have a new case, Lian Li. Period. I've owned pretty much every brand on Danny's list and many, many others. Nothing compares. Even my current $250 Silverstone FT02 isn't as well built as my $100 Lian Li A05B was.

This guy raises some good points.
Worse quality than lian li but ft02 still cool!

+1 on looking at some mid sized lian li's

 

[Fayt19]

Regardless of what case you decide to go with, pick up a couple cheap 120mm fans first and a good CPU HSF. I'd probably just get whatever 120mm fans are cheapest on Newegg or wherever you order from at that time. They don't have to be the best -- anything is better than the current non-spinners you have. If you're willing to go a little higher on the fans these are great and will last you a very, very long time. I recommend this HSF since it is LGA775 compatible (your current socket) and also has brackets for modern systems if you upgrade and want to reuse it. It's also only $15 after rebate.

Install the HSF and the new fans in the old case, see if you still have overheating problems. If not, consider upgrading the power supply and GPU with the remainder of your budget, as this will give you a really perceptible boost in performance for the money. A new case at this point will leave you (as you said) with nothing but a bunch of weak components in a fancy box.

Well say I did get 2 120mm fans and bought a HSF for my CPU for a total of $50 before unreliable mail in rebates. And say it did solve my overheating issue...which im 100% sure it would since the amount of cooling I have now is pretty much zero..other then the CPU HSF with old thermal paste on it. What would I be able to buy to improve my system with the other $250 give or take? Sure I could probably get a decent GPU but wouldnt it just be bottle necked from the E6600 and 2 lonely GB of DDR2. Id hate to buy another 2GB of DDR2 for the price of 8GB of DDR3. I understand the help youre trying to give me but I guess it just comes down to "the best way to spend $300"

This guy raises some good points.
Worse quality than lian li but ft02 still cool!

+1 on looking at some mid sized lian li's

If I have the budget for a Full ATX Case like the Corsair 600T/650D and the NZXT Switch 810. Why would I go with a case such as the Lian Li? Is it because they just have good quality cases? I dont know...I guess I see it as...Why buy a i3 CPU when I can afford a 2500K/2600K. You know what I mean? Im still new at this so i guess im also seeing it as..."you get what you pay for" and that the more I spend on the case the better it is? Please dont take this as me blowing you off, I am just trying to get myself to understand the though process behind this.

 

[silent-circuit]

Actually, Corsair rebates are fairly reliable. About a 2 month turn-around in my experience. Regardless, that's a nice HSF for $35, and an amazing deal at $15.

As for best way to spend the money... you can't get a i5 setup together for $250 (or $300) even selling your current stuff. Maybe if you went used and got a cheap P67 board, but I wouldn't count on it. A 2500K alone is going to be $150 or so used. $60 for motherboard, $40 for RAM all assuming used... yeah, it's doable I guess. Then you're stuck with a bad GPU, though.

 

[Fayt19]

yeah that is my concern, then again I really only play LoL and Minecraft ATM which arnt very GPU demanding. I basically just need to get my current setup "stable" i guess, till I can get enough money for a real upgrade. I figured that buying a good case and a heatsink such as a Hyper 212 EVO, and a good PSU...it would set me up for a "cheaper" upgrade in the near future since I would have mostly the main foundations at that point. Also its easier to then talk the wife into upgrading the computer for $600-$700 as suppose to $900-$1000 if you know what I mean =P.

 

[JayJapanB]

If I have the budget for a Full ATX Case like the Corsair 600T/650D and the NZXT Switch 810. Why would I go with a case such as the Lian Li?

Bigger isn't necessarily better. Yes I would be buying lian li for the quality and personally I like the aesthetic, however that is up to you to decide.

Cases can be one of the most future proof parts of a pc so it's good you are taking some good consideration.

Lian Li PC-90 just breaks budget but is a full tower. An idea.

 

[silent-circuit]

Don't get the Hyper EVO -- it does not come with LGA775 holddown hardware so far as I know, so it will not work with your current setup. Get the Corsair I linked -- it includes LGA775 /and/ LGA1155 hardware so it will work on Core2Duo and Ivy/Sandy Bridge.

 

[Fayt19]

Don't get the Hyper EVO -- it does not come with LGA775 holddown hardware so far as I know, so it will not work with your current setup. Get the Corsair I linked -- it includes LGA775 /and/ LGA1155 hardware so it will work on Core2Duo and Ivy/Sandy Bridge.

Is the Corsair better? They Hyper 212 says it supports LGA 775 so i figured it would work. Also why would it not work with my current setup?

 

[stratosrally]

On the issue of my old case...I submitted a thread Here under General Hardware.

My computer is currently suffering from something. Everyone says its overheating so thats why im here now.

I bought this computer off a friend for $50 and the case is trash. it only has slots for 2 fans which both are mounted in the back. The fans were always making weird noises so I tried to clean them off as their was a retarded amount of dust caked on them. Since then they just dont work now...its like they try to start spinning and just wont. All the 5.25 Driver bay panels are missing and so thats just a huge hole in the front. I mean the computer is on its side with the other side off, I have a statue on top of the CPU stock heatsink to apply pressure so that the contact is better since when I removed the CPU heatsink a month ago, I didnt have thermal paste to replace the old paste on it. I do live in NM but the house does hold around 70-78F on average.

I want a good big case because I have a limited amount of money right now and since I have a overheating problem I thought a case and a heatsink would be the best upgrades. I want a case that will last me for years and pretty much be future proof so when I get my hands on more money I can shove whatever I want into the case and not have to worry

After yet another day of researching and countless hours of watching case reviews I think that the NZXT Switch 810 is probably the best case. Its $10 cheaper than both Corsair cases and has a crazy amount of features. Although I will most likely never dual radiator my system its the fact that I have the space and capability to do so. I think its the small things that the 810 bring to the table that I love the most. Such as the LED rear I/O panel and the pivot inner case fans.

I guess it really comes down to, why pay more for less (Corsair 600T/650D vs Switch 810). While jamsomito guide to finding a case was extremely helpful it was a fellow on another forum by the name of PCModderMike who made a guide called The Switch who "upgraded" from his Corsair 600T to the NZXT Switch 810. After reading his blog it pretty much settled everything.

In the end, while buying a smaller case such as a Lian Li for a lot less money seems better for my current setup. I want to future proof and I just got back from a deployment and the wifes giving me a budget even though its my money but you know how it is being married with kids. So the way I see it...I need pretty much max out this budget which is only $300. Because I need a case and theres really nothing I can do to fix this build up with such a small budget. So I see it as, get a good future proof case, Heatsink, and maybe a SSD/better PSU. The thing is...if I dont use my budget ill never see the money I saved from going cheaper.

Seeing a sexy case with "non worthy" components inside will no doubt push me to rebuild the computer.

Is there anything I didnt cover? I still dont know if its actually a overheating problem thats causing my issues but I wont really know till I can fix that first.

If I was aware that this was your current situation I would have never even suggested spending over $150 on a new tower case.

I'd never put that setup in a new full-tower case, that would be like getting a wide-body kit and a show-quality paint job on an old economy hatchback that's only running on 2 cylinders.

This is my recommendation:

For a new case, get one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%20600029808%20600010503&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&CompareItemList=7%7C11%2D129%2D181%5E11%2D129%2D181%2DTS%2C11%2D815%2D014%5E11%2D815%2D014%2DTS%2C11%2D146%2D084%5E11%2D146%2D084%2DTS%2C11%2D146%2D078%5E11%2D146%2D078%2DTS

They are all highly rated cases with a couple fans inside that cost about $50.

Since 2 fans would run almost $20 alone, you might as well spend $30 more to get a nice case with proper bay covers to keep more dust from coming in and to just make it look decent.

For now I'd just get this inexpensive but recommended CPU cooler:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200034

and some themal paste - because you said yourself that you're only playing Minecraft and similar games. You don't need a big cooler like a Hyper 212 unless you're overclocking. Remember that you're running an older processor!

You could add a PSU like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194090

Great ratings and only $45.

So, $50 case (includes fans) plus $12 CPU cooler plus $5 for thermal paste plus $45 for a PSU.

Total is $112 plus shipping. Save the rest and remember that prices on PC components are constantly falling.

I know this isn't as glamorous as getting a top-of-the-line full tower delivered to your door, but in my opinion you will be much happier in the long run.

 

[silent-circuit]

That Rosewill HSF is barely an improvement over the stock... Again, I strongly recommend the $35 shipped / $15 AR Corsair I linked above. I'd also never recommend anything less than a 550w (and ideally, 750w) PSU; buying smaller than that could easily mean you have to get a new PSU as soon as you pick up a decent GPU.

 

[stratosrally]

OK - I hear ya, I only mentioned it because there really isn't a need for anything better than stock playing what he is playing. However, at that price (sorry, I missed the AR price you mentioned) get the Corsair CPU cooler and convert the 450W PSU I listed to this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182068

which together would only add less than $40, so we have a total outlay of about $150.

 

[Think]

My current case is the graphite, non-windowed flavor of Corsair 600T. It's the best case I've ever had for my main system. I'm not a fan of windowed cases or terribly flashy ones, so the case's understated design appeals to me. It's got a ton of space for even the longest video cards, it has great cable management, and it runs very quiet and very cool. But, I can't recommend it if you move your system around a lot, as it isn't a lightweight at all.

My biggest complaint with the 600T is that the 200mm fans it came with are trash, and leave you with few options for replacements. My front fan died recently - the bearing gave out and you could feel the motor grease on the outside hub of the fan. No bueno.

 

[silent-circuit]

My biggest complaint with the 600T is that the 200mm fans it came with are trash, and leave you with few options for replacements. My front fan died recently - the bearing gave out and you could feel the motor grease on the outside hub of the fan. No bueno.

BitFenix Spector fans are very good quality. I'd recommend them if you need replacements.