I want a new case, but there are soo many...

[pc_man_iac]

Hai Guyz, I was thinkin about gettin a new case and watercooling unit. There are just so many out there, and I know several of u guys have some here so I was lookin for some input/ideas.

Some Musts
1) Window
2) Easy to throw Watercooling in
3) Dust filter
4) Case price $150-$250 b4 tax
5) If case premodded with water cooling price $300-$450

Thats it, just lookin for somethin, that has some

Help much appreciated

[werty316]

I guess a Mountain Mods is out of the question huh? In that case the CM Stacker 810 is a good full size tower with a lot of interior room; for a little more you can get a TT Armor.

[westy87]

Ye I was just about to suggest the TT Armour or Kandalf (Kandalf is exact same basically, but with a different front door)

[Pat123]

Gigabyte aurora old one or new one, the only slight let down is the front intake fan, needs replacing with something with abit more ummphh.. :)

[pc_man_iac]

I was really looking, at that one, do you have it? Does it have dust filters, that is a huge issue for me, as I live in a 125 year old house, and there is more dust then u can imagine

[pc_man_iac]

Double post, but w/e I found a case that is a bit more, but IDC, I really want it, but I want to know one thing first, does Koolance make good water cooling stuff?

Here's the case
http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=28_43&products_id=179

Make NCIX price match it, and everything will be dandy, if Koolance kooling is good, only $11 more then what I wanted to pay for a case with integrated cooling, it is a Lian Li case, so that makes it sexc just like that lol, and in theory I could just throw any good cpu water block on like a swiftech apogee, or a solid danger den one, or even koolance, as it doesnt come with a block, like that, but meh, sexc case, and all that

[Bio-Hazard]

Koolance makes fairly good stuff, pretty expensive IMHO though. I'm not a huge fan of aluminum radiators, but with the proper care you won't have any problems with them.

[werty316]

Newegg??? but don't you live in Canada?

As far as I know, Koolance does make some good watercooling gear but I haven't been upto date with the performance of their products.

[pc_man_iac]

/palm-face meant NCIX, ma bad, ma bad, and what kind of care is required for aluminum rads?

[Bio-Hazard]

Normally Koolance only warranties their stuff if you use their brand of fluid, not 100% sure if it's still that way or not, you might want to check on that though. Aluminum requires a higher amount of anti-freeze (or whatever Koolance calls it these days, but it's the same stuff) to prevent corrsion in mixed metal cooling loops. This really isn't that big of a deal, but might cost you a degree or 2 at full load as the stuff doesn't heat as well as loops with a lower % of the mixture..........;)

[pc_man_iac]

But its their bad ass blue liquid right? Cuz it comes with that, and I would buy it, simply b/c it is badass blue and like $1-2 more, and I like, and 1-2 degree at full load isn't that much of a loss right? I was thinkin about the Apogee GT waterblock, would that be a good choice?

[Bio-Hazard]

The Gt block should work well with the unit, I'm not sure what pump comes with that case, but most of their latest setups come with the Laing DDC series, which is the same as what you have in the Corsair kit.

[pc_man_iac]

Is that good? or bad?

[Bio-Hazard]

I'm checking to see just what pump in in the unit, if it's the Laing DDC, that's good, but it seems that this case has been out for some time now, so I'm not 100% sure just what it has for a pump.............:(

Here's a old review from the site I used to write for.

http://www.systemcooling.com/koolance_pc3-725bk-01.html

Here's a little info about the pumps in the unit from the review link I posted. Specs aren't all that impressive for todays high-end CPU's.

The pumps are 2W units with a nominal flow rating of 42cc/sec, or ~2.5 liters/min. In the event one of the pumps fail, a single working pump can maintain 60-70% of the rated flow. This might or might not be enough to maintain sufficient cooling to operate the system, depending on how heavily it's loaded, but in any event will offer ample time to shut down the system before it is damaged. The bottom image below shows a closer view of the reservoir, with its dual pumps and fill port.

[werty316]

$527CAD WOW :shock:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22261&vpn=PC3-725BK&manufacture=Koolance

[Bio-Hazard]

This one would better fit your needs when running a Quad..............;)

http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=28_43&products_id=273

[pc_man_iac]

ye werty thats why I make NCIX price match Koolance's site, so it is not so bad, ugh the 1025 is mucho money, then a waterblock = bank smashed

[werty316]

$682CAD :shock:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=21602&vpn=PC4-1026BK&manufacture=Koolance

[pc_man_iac]

nope $580.91, price match http://www.koolance.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=28_43&products_id=273

show prices in CAD

[werty316]

From NCIX:

Prices submitted for Price Match must be from a Canadian retailer and must be in Canadian funds. No foreign retailer Price Match requests or currency conversion equivalents will be honored.

[pc_man_iac]

They Has Canadian Price On Koolance!!!! :d

[werty316]

Yeah but they aren't a Canadian retailer as their office is located in the US and Korea.

No foreign retailer Price Match requests or currency conversion equivalents will be honored.

Hard to say if NCIX will honour the price match but request a price match first before ordering just to be on the safe side.

[pc_man_iac]

will do, or find somewhere else canadian cheaper

[werty316]

Only other Canadian dealer on Koolances website is RB Computing

http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/searchResults.php?keywords=koolance&sortBy=price&sortDir=desc&page=1

[pc_man_iac]

http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?pid=19424

cheaper so, maybe

[Pat123]

The aurora is great and it does have a dust filter and you can get versions with windows...

[AJ.]

Now my opinion may be baised because it's the only aftermarket case i've ever owned but the NZXT Zero case is one hell of a case. It's huge, has awesome airflow, and is very reasonable priced considering it's a full tower. Not only that but this case is perfect for a watercooling rig.

Just my 2 cents :icon_tiphat:

[pc_man_iac]

I am pretty sure I don't care if it is gonna be a bit more expensive, but I am getting that Koolance/Lian Li case, it is sooo sexc, and so many more options, it just makes sense

[pc_man_iac]

What is the best waterblock, I can buy from ncix for Socket 775 C2Quad

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?minorcatid=1165&subminorcatid=163

theres a link for all the cpu blocks they have

[westy87]

:offtopic::offtopic:
Lol werty your avatar is the same as mine but i resized mine the cheap way so it doesnt animate and im too lazy to choose another 1

[werty316]

I didn't notice that LOL I'll change it out of respect for you ;)

I would either go for the D-TEK Customs Fuzion (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22081&vpn=FZ-CP&manufacture=D-Tek%20Customs) or Swiftech APOGEE GTX (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23362&vpn=APOGEE-GTX&manufacture=Swiftech).

[westy87]

I didn't notice that LOL I'll change it out of respect for you ;)

I would either go for the D-TEK Customs Fuzion (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22081&vpn=FZ-CP&manufacture=D-Tek%20Customs) or Swiftech APOGEE GTX (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23362&vpn=APOGEE-GTX&manufacture=Swiftech).

Haha thats alright werty I really should get around to changing mine. But that new one of yours thats a cracker! Anyhow ill stop jacking the thread now

[Bio-Hazard]

D-Tek if you're running more than one block in your loop, other wise, I'd go with the GTX, but then again, I'm sort of a Swifty fan, they have never done me wrong in all my years of water cooling.

[Bio-Hazard]

Here's a nice little review of Koolances new block up against the D-Tek and Swifty block just to show you just how close the 2 top blaocks are to each other and how much better they are that the others............;)

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/hardwarecanuck-reviews/2131-koolance-cpu-330-water-block-review-compared-against-fuzion-apogee-gtx-tuniq-tower.html

While the CPU-330 outperforms the air cooling Tuniq by about 6 degrees under load, the results it generates do not compare quite as favorably to the other WATER blocks that we've tested.

The Koolance CPU-330 is outperformed by every other block we've tested, and by as much as 10 degrees in the case of the D-TEK FuZion. Even the $37 ($42 with some nice D-TEK barbs) budget Magicool CPU block outperforms the Koolance CPU-330 under load.

[pc_man_iac]

Thanks for that info, will read that them there review, and see which I want to get, think I will go with the D-tek, as once I recooperate $$ I will likely add a North Bridge Loop, or video card. One thing though, since the kit that comes with the case is 3/8, I would need these (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=21189&vpn=A6-8&manufacture=Swiftech) to make it go to the block correct?, or should I try and change the tubing so it is all 1/2 and have The 3/8-1/2 going into/out of the rad?

[Bio-Hazard]

The D-tek block should come with both sizes of barbs, 3/8" and 1/2". I'd go with what the system is set up for (3/8"), in the overall picture of things these days, you'll only see a minimal differance in temps between 3/8" and 1/2" tubing.................;)

[pc_man_iac]

Only minimal, I have been thinkin about things, and it just doesnt make $$ sense to go this route, I was thinkin instead to grab a Coolermaster CM Stacker 830/832, or the Gigabyte Aurora 570. And grab the D-tek CPU block, the Laing D5 12V pump, D-TEK Customs UV Blue Single 5.25IN Bay Water Cooling Reservoir , but I don't know what to do for rad's so much as if I should go for a dual(2 actual radiatiors, thinkin like a dual 12, and a single 12) Rad setup to help keep cool when I add Northbridge, and Vid card, or just to get a good dual 12cm now, and wait to see how things go

[pc_man_iac]

Ok, I am 90% sure of what I am doing now, just want some clarifications on some things, and if it is a good idea. I want to get the coolermaster cm stacker 832, and thinking about dual rad setup, and it will look something like the drawing below, if thats a good call. Single pass radiator at the top of the case, mainly for management, and I was thinking a single pass for the back one, but i dont know if double pass is better, or what, and with that being said, which rad's would be the best to use? or arrows reversed? IDK u guyz are the experts, and as for pumps should I grab the Laing D5 12V Pump, or Swiftech MCP655 12V?

[Bio-Hazard]

Go with at least a dual 120 radiator, you can add a second single later if and when you add more blocks........:) For radiators, I'd go with the Swiftech QP series for the dual to get the most bang for your buck. For a single, Black Ice Pro should fit your needs well, normally I like Swiftech better, but their single 120 has fixed 3/8" barbs and that's a no-go if you want to run 1/2" tubing.

[pc_man_iac]

and which of the 2 pumps? I will need to get the radbox as well then correct?

[Bio-Hazard]

Either or of the pumps, the only differance between the 2 is the sticker on the motor.........;)

If you go with the Stacker with a single 120 on the rear, yes you'll need a rad box.

If you get the Gigabyte case, the radiator should bolt directly to the fan openings (small spacers are required) PM Pat for exact info on the Gigabyte case, he just installed one of my old systems into his not to long ago ....................:)

[pc_man_iac]

awesome thanks

[Bio-Hazard]

NP.........if you have any more questions, feel free to ask, I'm always willing to talk water...............;)

[pc_man_iac]

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/Kandalf_lcs/vd4000bws.asp , this case, save rad, maybe res, add pump, block tubing? Would that be good, cuz the rad is built in to the front panel would be leet, could add a single to the back, and all would be leet?

[Bio-Hazard]

I've heard that they preform fairly well, I just don't care for the radiator type, they are extremely old tech (tube style) and flow killers. You'd still be better off getting the bare case and installing your own parts Radiator, pump and what not........;)

[pc_man_iac]

Oh I had heard that the rad performed well, so I thought hey integrated triple rad, that performs well, and I much prefer this kandalf to the older style one, I wish they offered it without water, so I could add my own rad etc. to it

[Bio-Hazard]

I thought TT did sell the standard case, maybe not.

Here's one I read about today that might fit your needs, I don't have any idea what it would cost though.

Puget Systems Liquid Cooled Gaming Case (http://www.pugetsystems.com/liquid_P180.php)

Review:

http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=reviews&id=629

[pc_man_iac]

love the case, would love it more if it had a window, which is a must, otherwise, I would buy the one that swiftech threw all their gear into, but window is a must, and the side panel is hella thick with sound dampening stuff (friend has case)

[Bio-Hazard]

The QP180 is a fairly nice case, I've got one in parts around the house somewhere...........:) I used the water cooling gear for my GPU loop.........:) I really didn't care for the air flow through the case all that much, but they are a well built chassis.

Pic of the QP180 slightly modded.