If I Buy A New Case...

ShaunB-91

New member
Hello OC3D,

Okay so whilst I was thinking of building a whole new rig (which would cost a fortune, and wouldn't get used!) I've decided I'm going to make a fully watercooled rig and just improve on what I have.

Only problem is my 550D is going to need a change, any suggestions on neat cases? I'd consider something like the 900D but it's too large, and it will drop out my rig as well as making the Gigabyte G1 Sniper M5 look like a cracker.

Any suggestions?
 
I would suggest the Arc Mini R2. Small form factor, perfect for your MATX board and can be loaded up with rads out of the box.
 
If you have an MATX mobo you need an MATX case - so 350D

This.
Or the Arc Mini R2.

Ooorrr mod the Arc Midi R2 to put a thick 240mm rad in the bottom where your PSU would be and move the PSU to the front. The rad + fans will reach higher into your case and thus make your mATX board look less ridiculous in there.

Now that I think about it... If you use the entire bottom, you might be able to fit a 360mm rad?
 
Going to have to dig through the old TTL archives at some case reviews again. I do like the 350D, neat little case. Just had a look at the Arc Midi 2 and really like the first initial looks of that one too though!
 
Going to have to dig through the old TTL archives at some case reviews again. I do like the 350D, neat little case. Just had a look at the Arc Midi 2 and really like the first initial looks of that one too though!

What about the Mini R2 then?
Or do a nice mod to the Midi ;)
 
What about the Mini R2 then?
Or do a nice mod to the Midi ;)

Just had another look at both and like the look of them both. I'll have a proper look on the official site soon and maybe watch some TTL videos in a little bit if he's reviewed them. I've just finished watching his TNR Live Build so I need to take a rest for a minute. :D

I'd love to do a mod on a case but I don't know where to start! I'd like to paint the case as well so I might look into doing that, I just want it to look the shit though so don't want to do a cock up on the paintwork.
 
Painting can be really difficult if you don't know what you're doing :(

Done a quick mock-up for you. Of course the dimensions aren't exactly right. That rad + fans was a b*tch to cut-out of the black background...

Anyway, if you do a mod like this, that will surely be a build log for me to follow:

8maw.png


If you can leave the bottom HDD cage in that would be epic as it would leave you with 3 HDD bays. It might not fit though. The top cage will have to go either way and you should be able to mount your PSU there.

Won't be able to do that in the ODD bay as it would probably conflict with a second 240mm (slim) rad in the roof. You could possibly use your ODD cage to hide some cables that come staight out of the PSU.

If you want a tube res, you may be able to mount this vertically on the bottom radiator. Should make the system look nice and full, even with an mATX board :)

Edit; Woops, I forgot to crop the image. Oh well, you get the idea.
 
Painting can be really difficult if you don't know what you're doing :(

Done a quick mock-up for you. Of course the dimensions aren't exactly right. That rad + fans was a b*tch to cut-out of the black background...

Anyway, if you do a mod like this, that will surely be a build log for me to follow:

8maw.png


If you can leave the bottom HDD cage in that would be epic as it would leave you with 3 HDD bays. It might not fit though. The top cage will have to go either way and you should be able to mount your PSU there.

Won't be able to do that in the ODD bay as it would probably conflict with a second 240mm (slim) rad in the roof. You could possibly use your ODD cage to hide some cables that come staight out of the PSU.

If you want a tube res, you may be able to mount this vertically on the bottom radiator. Should make the system look nice and full, even with an mATX board :)

Edit; Woops, I forgot to crop the image. Oh well, you get the idea.

Nice one Feronix, much appreciated you took the time to do a mock up. :biggrin:

It looks good, I'm not sure about the whole watercooling side of things yet, I'll have a read of the watercooling guide because it's something I get then I forget because I've never done it before.

If you was to paint the case, do you just use one paint, I'm guessing there doesn't need to be no base coat or anything with it being black, or am I wrong?

I'm not sure exactly how I'd like to paint it, I want something really different, I saw a pic before of the Antec Cooler, it was edited so that it was made to look frosty and cold. I wonder how a rig painted (that won't be easy) would look in that design.

See it in the screenshot, the advertisement to the right?
Just something I thought might look cool if you keep it black and white. Cool and cold looking.
 

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