Windows 10: Best Computer Cases of 2015

Same here. I would rather spend more on heat absorption/cooling and have lots of ventilation space.

 

Interesting case doorules.

Also, that "In Win Tou" looks really interesting.

 

See this review:
Quiet ATX Gamer, R5 Version | silentpcreview.com
I would follow the lead from the review: keep the two 140mm Fractal fans, but put in an extra 140mm fan at the front. Do not bother with a fan at the bottom.
I have a Fractal Design Design R5 myself, and the space at the bottom is 12mm. At 140mm diameter, this would give a geometrical flow area of 53cm2 (PixDxh) . A 140mm fan itself (without filter) would have a flow area of 140cm2 (Pi/4x(Do**2-Di**2) . So the bottom gap is very restrictive.

I got the Fractal Design R5 myself a few weeks ago, and played around with stresstesting Prime95 and measuring temperatures with HWMonitor. It is good fun, and shows what results can be achieved.
The side vents at the front are flow restricted: 2x1.4cmwidthx26cmhigh = 73cm**2. That is half the flow area of one 140mm fan. Could well be that even with two front intake fans and one outlet fan, there is no positive pressure in the case.
With two 140mm front fans and one rear 140mm fan, all at 600rpm, I have a reasonable quiet operation, and i7-6700K during Prime95/shortFFT at 58degrC. Maxing the fans to 1200rpm (with front door open) only lowered CPU temperature by 1 - 2degrC, so the cooling of the case at 600rpm with filter and front door closed is good enough. Any further improvement has to be achieved by the CPU cooler.

 

When I was building my own computers I was more concerned with the layout of the case than I was of the looks. I always tried to find one that had plenty of drive bays and USB ports that were decently located.

 

As long as the case has dust filters, I am pretty much happy with it. I don't get case windows and such. I don't run extra fans when they aren't required. I usually don't use anything but the OEM cooler. I prefer smaller cases these days over large cases.

 

I have been using Cosmos 11 for some time now, seem ok.

 

My rule for desktop cases: If you can't tuck under your arm, it's too damn big!

Rich

 

Thanks for some great feedback folks

That Coolermaster is looking good, I had the first Cosmos, and then went on to a ATCs 840, which is what I have now.
Lovely cases to build in, especially the 840, because the entire motherboard is on a ball bearing track, so you just unplug it, and pull it right out.
So in a way, I'm upscaling my monitor, I just got a 34" 2560x1440 BenQ, (which is a great idea for a panel, it's, it's, native resolution), but downsizing on my pc.

This rig, I have now, was a midrange attempt at a gaming rig, then, I realised, I didn't really like gaming very much. I was more awed by the realism, and graphics, and used to regularly get killed whilst enjoying the view.

So. I'm a photographer. The new monitor plays into that. It calibrates into true colour very well. It's also good for watching movies, and TV. The viewing angles on this new type of panel are nearly as good as IPS.

So I need an averagely powerful pc, mid range GPU (for the resolution), and less all round power than I have now.

I think Turboman has thought deeply about ventilation, and I think I will go with his approach. I'd thought of putting the two Noctua fans in the front, and leaving the Fractal 140 as the only exhaust.
I thought maybe the two 120mm Noctuas might force their way through 4 HDDs spaced out in the 5 drive caddy, (I'm also putting a 120 M2 SSD behind the mobo, for a boot drive), because they have more static pressure than just one 140mm Fractal fan would, and leaving the rear Fractal where it is, what do you think?

All this only becomes more important, and more doable, in a small, closely engineered case, like the R5.
It's designed to be a pretty closed environment, to contain noise, so the gaps are less, also, there is insulative foam, like thick bitumen. on the inner panels. This helps deaden the noise, especially in the non- windowed version I'm getting, but also helps seal the box more.

Creating positive pressure in the case means there is more air blowing in, than out. So every gap, and hole has air coming out of it. So, cool case, no dust. Hopefully

So, I'm getting a midrange ASUS mobo, a Core i5 running at 3.6GHz (no OC), an EVGA 9650 GTX GPU. 8 GB of Corsair RAM, and a 750 watt Corsair PSU, all in the R5 case.
I think I've overspecced the GPU, I reckon I could have got away with a 750 GTX, may be I should have spent that on RAM.

Anyway, we shall see, thank you for your contributions J.

 

Just re - read your post @turboman, and this made me think :

"The side vents at the front are flow restricted: 2x1.4cmwidthx26cmhigh = 73cm**2. That is half the flow area of one 140mm fan. Could well be that even with two front intake fans and one outlet fan, there is no positive pressure in the case."

This suggests that no matter what, or how many, fans you use in the front, you only have sufficient air supply for one 14" fan to push into the case,
If this is so, is there any good reason for putting the two 140 fans at the front, and using one of my Noctua NF P12, 120mm fans as exhaust?
I suppose that if you put really powerful intake fans on the front, the air would make a dreadful noise as it rushed through the narrow vents

 

Just a thought.. here's a case I've been thinking of getting later next year: Amazon.com: NZXT Phantom 410 Mid Tower USB 3.0 Gaming Case - White: Computers Accessories

It's a bit more than I would normally spend but it's well worth it,, IMO. 99.99$ Amazon.

 

I think it looks great - reminds me of a storm trooper *Smile

I don't know anything about cases but it got good review here NZXT Phantom 410 Case Review - Overclockers

 

I like the look and from the reviews I've seen(one great video) it's a great overall case. Lots of cooling capability and you can organize the cables easily. And the only thing that keeps me from getting it is the work I would have to do to set it up.. I might have a local shop do that job for me when I get it around Christmas next year.

 

I have a recording studio and "quiet" cases are a desirable trait. I'm using a Corsair Carbide 5R case, at the moment, and I've tamed the front fans so its fairly quiet. One of my requirement is out front (front side of the case) I/O jacks (USB and mic/headset) and that limits my selections. My case is placed under the left side of my studio desk and access to top of the case USB and mic/headset is restricted.

I have a Thermatake liquid CPU cooler with 3rd party quiet fans for the radiator.

 

I'm using an Antec 900 case that I found still in the box at a garage sale. Cooling is great. There are 3 120mm fans and a 200 mm fan on top. Not really a fan of the power supply being on the bottom of the case and it is a little cramped but for $10.00 who is gonna complain.

 

I got an NZXT Phantom 820 case when I did this X-79 PC build I have now a couple of years ago.

I really like this case, very functional and has very good cooling. I will probably hold on to this case for my next PC build as well.