Need a case, but I'm picky

Heya guys!

So... planning my new build and it is time to pick a case! I'm going with an all black theme (maybe a few green accents) so I want a black case. I was originally looking at the 650D, but it's lack of serious watercooling option turned me off. I then took a look at the Switch 810. Beautiful case but I hate the glossy plastic. What about a matte black one? Beautiful! But I can't buy it anywhere in this country.

Besides, even though it's going to be an X79 build, the motherboard specifications list it as regular ATX. Now that would look kind of stupid in a Switch 810 with just an H100i (my plan at the time, I'm waiting for the Swiftech H220) and aircooled GPU's.

Gigabyte X79-UP4​

I'll be using 2x GTX 670 FTW editions by EVGA because they exhaust the warm air out of the case and this seemed better as I'm using SLI and the CPU will be watercooled. I also need fit in an Asus Xonar D2X sound card in there somewhere, so I'm probably going (look at the mobo pic for reference):

- GPU
- 2 empty slots
- GPU
- Sound card

or

- Sound card
- Empty slot
- GPU
- 2 empty slots
- GPU

(because this is a dual slot cooler, it will hang over the edge of the board. I guess that would make it look slightly less funny in a full tower case with 9 expension slots as this board only has 7 lanes. My GPUs would run at 8x, even though it is PCI-E 3.0 I'm not sure if this is a good idea.)



My demands! (There are a lot :lol

- So I'd preferably have a mid-tower case, or a full tower if it's not too big. I'd hate to see an awful lot of space between the edge of the motherboard and the optical/HDD cages like it would in the Switch 810.

- I love clean looks. No plastic-y bits and childish stuff hanging off my case! I LOOOVE the look of brushed metals

- It's gotta have at least 2x USB 3.0

- Good front intake! I'll be using dual GPUs so I would want at least 2x120MM intake in the front. I've looked at Lian Li cases but they only had one which I don't like.

- Watercooling compatibility. At least a 240mm rad in the top. If possible, spaec for a 240mm in the bottom where I can place a nice thick rad (60-80mm) in push pull without having to remove *all* the HDD cages (I need at least 2).

- A window! A nice clean one without fan mounts although I could always swap the plexi out. I'm going for an all black build, so I want to show that off!

- My budget is around 150 quid. I can't stretch much more than that, I'll most likely need some spare money to buy me some black fans

- As compact as is possible for my wishes! It will be on the desk


Any advice and ideas are welcome!
Thanks in advance guys

Fractal Arc Midi would be a good option, I don't know if you can buy it with a window but I know you can buy a side panel with a window for it.

It's only around £80 so that leaves you with £70 for fans and a windowed side panel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vaB_QnENLc

I've had a look at it and it seems like a good option! Though I think I'm going with the
- Sound card
- Empty slot
- GPU
- 2 empty slots
- GPU
Setup, so I would need at least 8 expension slot. 9 Would actually work but that would give me a full tower case and they are deeper than I need them to be. Why isn't there a case that 9 PCI slot high, but only mid-tower deep? ._.

Found a matte black Switch 810 btw, should I just go with that and use the fans on the drive cages to make it look a bit... more full?

Feronix said:

I've had a look at it and it seems like a good option! Though I think I'm going with the
- Sound card
- Empty slot
- GPU
- 2 empty slots
- GPU
Setup, so I would need at least 8 expension slot. 9 Would actually work but that would give me a full tower case and they are deeper than I need them to be. Why isn't there a case that 9 PCI slot high, but only mid-tower deep? ._.

Found a matte black Switch 810 btw, should I just go with that and use the fans on the drive cages to make it look a bit... more full?

Click to expand...

Go with what you think is best dude.

If the main thing you need is the 9 expansion slots, then the switch is the best one to go for. Fans on the cages will make it look less empty also.

I must say I love corsair cases, they build so many features into it to make your life easier. have you looked into something like the 550D or for extra room mabey even an 800D or my favorite the 600t but it dose not have all the features you want let us know what case you go for!

your demands are unrealistic mate. first you say you dont like the space between the board and drive bays but them you want to mount a 240 on the floor cant be done without that spacing between the board and bays, unless your psu is elsewhere. I have the switch with a normal sized psu (AX850) and a 280 rad on the floor BARELY fits. True my rad is a tad larger than the 240 but not by alot. So this leaves ya standing it up in the bay area which you also said you dont want to loose. Now if the psu isnt on same floor as the rad it can be done without the space between the board and bays.

I think the case your looking for is the cosmos II or similar with what I call the basement type area lol.

Decided to go with th Switch 810 matte black! Seems to be the only case that suits my needs even though it's a tad big.

Thanks for the help guys!