New case and watercooling advice

[jamesriley94]

Hi,

Been thinking of all my options of what to do with the Specialtech voucher, and decided it's probably best to spend it on what it was meant for - proper watercooling!

I have a CM690 - which only has space in the roof for a slim 240mm in the roof, and I kind of think if I can only fit a slim 240, I may as well just get an H100i...so I'm thinking of a new case too.
I have a non-reference 670, so no waterblocks for that. I know I can fit another 240 in the floor of my case, but I think it'd look stupid without GPU watercooling to have a tube going all the way to the floor.

So...

I'd like a case that can fit a 360mm rad in the roof. It does need to fit a 60mm thick rad as I'll only be cooling the CPU, but if it ends up having space, then I may as well put one there.
Choices atm are:
600T - and mod in a 360mm
CM Stryker - and mod in a 360mm
CM Trooper - and mod in a 360mm
Switch 810
Phantom 630*
Phantom 820*

*Do think these a both pretty overpriced however.

I'm open to any other ideas.

Now onto watercooling -

As I've kind of said, I only need a single 360mm rad, and I'd like to go with a D5 just for future proofing if I get a reference GPU at a later date.

Kits in mind:
http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus...-Cooling-Kit--D5-EX-Series-Kit-pid-15996.html

http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus...-Cooling-Kit--D5-RX-Series-Kit-pid-15994.html

I'd also consider getting parts separately if people think that would be better.

Total budget is a pretty flexible £450 including the voucher - although I'd prefer not to go massively over as I am a student

Specs are:
3770k, P8Z77-v Deluxe, KFA2 670...
Not sure what else is really relevant.

Anyway, Thanks in advance for all the advice and thanks to Tom and OC3D for making this possible with the competition!

 

[seumasbeathan]

Well I do see a lot of cool water cooling in the switc 810, and from what I hear/read it is a very nice case White to

 

[airdeano]

how much "modding" are you will to do?

ive knocked out the ODD/HDD in my midi case for a 360 install..

 

[Spiderz]

For straight up watercooling out the box the switch 810 is the best bet. If you prefer the looks of the others though, feel free to mod it in. I prefer the looks of the stryker from the front but the switch has the most versitility.

If you want the 60mm thick rad, only the RX kit has it, the EX is a 30mm rad.

 

[jamesriley94]

how much "modding" are you will to do?

ive knocked out the ODD/HDD in my midi case for a 360 install..

Erm, probably not that much tbh...
I don't have a dremmel, and unless I get it sorted within the next 2 weeks I can't do any in halls at uni.
I do have a jigsaw though, so I could probably manage the mod TTL did to fit the 360 in the roof of the 600t and the Stryker/Trooper.

Although I do have a fair few mates in engineering so I could probably employ someone if need be

I think I'd like something a little bigger than the arc midi though.

I am considering the Switch 810, although it is a bit cliché and I'm not a huge fan of the plastic :/

Thanks for the replies so far guys

 

[airdeano]

i hear ya.. im going CaseLabs SM8.. im tired of paying for mass-market cases
only to remove half the parts from it to accomodate my needs.

they have a newer SM8 for more radiators..or if your a mini man, the SM5

 

[jamesriley94]

I kind of agree...
But I'm not a massive fan of the designs of the niche cases like Caselabs.

As I'm not that much into modding, I can live with the extra parts on mass-market cases. If I have to throw away drive bays then I'm not too bothered.

I'm edging more towards the NZXT cases though, due to lack of alternatives.
I do prefer the Phantoms to the switch, so I'll have to see if I can justify the extra cost

 

[airdeano]

i, like you, do not care for all the "plasitcals". went minimal like the arc cases, now i
want none of it. looking back, most of the time i left the covers off to guard against
scratches and breakage.

 

[jamesriley94]

i, like you, do not care for all the "plasitcals". went minimal like the arc cases, now i
want none of it. looking back, most of the time i left the covers off to guard against
scratches and breakage.

Yeah, I feel the same.
I just find a lack of options. It seems everything else that fits a 360mm rad is huge or horrible - or massively expensive.

I just wish someone made a nice midtower that fit a slim 360mm rad.