Computer Cases 2019

[wabbitslayer]

When I built my current system in 2013, I decided that I'd just get another HAF 932 b/c it worked so well in my 2010 build. Fast forward six years and I have decided it is UGLY as Hell and I'm sick of looking at it. So I'm going in the opposite direction on my upcoming build....big, black, monolithic look.

If I could find a new or used (in like-new condition) Corsair 900d, I 'd get it. The 1000d is too $$$ for me. The 750d has the look I want but like its big brothers it's an older design...which has led me to the Fractal Define R6. I love the way it looks and it seems that even someone unskilled as I could do a decent looking wiring job in it (because it hides everything).

The Phanteks Luxe 2 might be an option, but release dates is unknown.

Suggestions appreciated. Going with the R6 unless someone can convince me why I shouldn't.

[Dave]

I have the Fractal R6 myself. ****ing amazing case, whisper quiet yet amazing cooling capability. Highly recommended.

[deadite_9]

Go with the R6. Unlike a lot of sub-$200 cases, it doesn't feel cheap/janky, and it's built like a tank.

[Nunz]

Big fan of my Corsair 750D. Classy looking, tons of space, and cools great. It’s getting older in design but I still love it.

[Mangler]

If you can deal with the slightly more gamer-y look, then there's also an airflow version of the r6 called the meshify s2.

[bob saget]

i have the corsair graphite 760. insane airflow. i would say just as much if not more than the beefy cooler master HAF cases, but none of the dust. the inside of my case is pretty much spotless because all the intake fans come with filters.

[Shapeshifter]

Apparently most of the S2, S2 meshify and Vision s2 parts will work on an R6 as well. (They are after all R6's at heart, same tooling)

So while the R6 doesn't come with a psu top cover, you can buy them and use them in an R6.

[DeathKnight]

I've had the R5 for about four years and love it. Another vote for the R6.

[KAC]

I think I have the 760T graphite as well.

[wabbitslayer]

Appreciate the responses. I'm guessing this next build will be with me for a few years (at least), just want to make sure there isn't any "OMG must get" feature that has come out in the last year I hadn't heard of. One of the things I like about the R6 and S2 is the ability to hide the drives completely.

Also...why is the R6 Black (with white fans) about $30 less than the Blackout (with black fans)?

[andino]

Still have my CaseLabs case from 2013.

http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=34003634

EDIT: The case still looks brand new. It's built like a tank.

It's a damn shame that CaseLabs went out of business last year.

[bill dennison]

Originally Posted by andino

Still have my CaseLabs case from 2013.

http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=34003634

EDIT: The case still looks brand new. It's built like a tank.

It's a damn shame that CaseLabs went out of business last year.

first I heard about it


no more parts for my monster


sure hope they don't change the MB back panel again if I can't get new draws now
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost...&postcount=192

[Shapeshifter]

Originally Posted by wabbitslayer

Appreciate the responses. I'm guessing this next build will be with me for a few years (at least), just want to make sure there isn't any "OMG must get" feature that has come out in the last year I hadn't heard of. One of the things I like about the R6 and S2 is the ability to hide the drives completely.

Also...why is the R6 Black (with white fans) about $30 less than the Blackout (with black fans)?

I guess because people want all black?

[Trunks0]

Basically unless you want glass, or built in RGB stuff, nothing much has changed.

Hell my Raven 2 is still one of the air cooling kings all these years later.

[andino]

Originally Posted by bill dennison

first I heard about it


no more parts for my monster


sure hope they don't change the MB back panel again if I can't get new draws now
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showpost...&postcount=192

Not to get all political here but they blamed the increased costs in materials due to the tariffs.

It's a shame really. They made great cases. They were pricey but they were built like a tank. I can wholeheartedly see myself using this SM8 case for 10 more years. So in that regard, it was WELL worth the price I paid.

[nycdarkness]

Work on my new baby InWin 928

[bill dennison]

Originally Posted by andino

Not to get all political here but they blamed the increased costs in materials due to the tariffs.

It's a shame really. They made great cases. They were pricey but they were built like a tank. I can wholeheartedly see myself using this SM8 case for 10 more years. So in that regard, it was WELL worth the price I paid.

more like they were using cheap china dumped aluminum

if they can't use metal made here and stay in business they had more problems than just tariffs .

[deadite_9]

Originally Posted by Shapeshifter

So while the R6 doesn't come with a psu top cover, you can buy them and use them in an R6.

You mean the top plate at the front of the shroud to block off the opening? No idea why they left that option out on the R6, but it would've been nice to have that from the beginning. I think the panel where the 3.5" drives mount on the R6 looks a little more elegant, but I have to admit that I like the horizontal brackets on the S2 better.

[andino]

Like I said, I didn't want to get this political but all steel and aluminum prices increased across the board with the tariffs. Not just the stuff coming in from China. Larger companies like GM, Alcoa, and Sonoco felt the pain and had to decrease outlooks. Harley-Davidson did as well. Companies like Whirlpool just passed the increases on to the consumers. Smaller companies like CaseLabs just had to close because the cost increase outweighed the profits on the outstanding orders.

By the way, CaseLabs was a true Made In America company.

Their statement on their website was, "The tariffs have played a major role raising prices by almost 80 percent (partly due to associated shortages), which cut deeply into our margins. The default of a large account added greatly to the problem... We reached out for a possible deal that would allow us to continue on and persevere through these difficult times, but in the end, it didn’t happen.".

Shortages and increased prices killed them. In the end they had 16 people working on making cases. When the prices on metal increased they couldn't stay in business.

Still sucks. They made great products.

[Shapeshifter]

Originally Posted by deadite_9

You mean the top plate at the front of the shroud to block off the opening? No idea why they left that option out on the R6, but it would've been nice to have that from the beginning. I think the panel where the 3.5" drives mount on the R6 looks a little more elegant, but I have to admit that I like the horizontal brackets on the S2 better.

Yea, they now sell the S2 version of that plate (the plain cover) on their spare parts page.




but the Vision S2 version is superior for utility.




They also sell the "S plate" or whatever you want to call it where you could mount water etc. That may be a drop in as well that would work in the R6, haven't heard of anyone trying but the PSU covers apparently work in the R6 no problem.

https://www.fractal-design-shop.de/D...-S-Plate-Black

https://www.fractal-design-shop.de/D...ud-Plate-Black

No vision s2 parts yet but it usually takes them a couple of months to have parts for the newest cases listed afaik.

Prices are not to crazy but shipping is a killer to north america it looks like

[Och]

They should start making more compact cases that no longer have slots for HDD/SDD, but still accommodate ATX motherboard with full height video card and high power PSU.

[howard stern]

Corsair 780T is a fantastic case. Many options for water cooling and the power supply sits at the bottom of the case.

[Rummy]

This is what I have

https://www.amazon.com/Phanteks-Enth...a-382856554040

[kaarel]

Originally Posted by Och

They should start making more compact cases that no longer have slots for HDD/SDD, but still accommodate ATX motherboard with full height video card and high power PSU.

Fractal Design Define C is more compact ATX case with no HDD rack. You have plenty of places to install 2.5" SSD-s though.
I have used several of these cases and own two of these. Good fit for WC and AIO. High quality minimalist design. I also considered R5 and R6 but they are unnecessary if you don't need extreme amounts of 3.5" HDD-s installed.

[eNforcer]

I have the Fractal Meshify C TG, I really like it.

[BababooeyHTJ]

I've been using a loan like pc-7hx for quite a while now. It's pretty basic but does a good job keeping my video card cool while being surprisingly quiet.

[Napoleonic]

guys, what's the top 3 mid tower case now? and aside from obvious size difference what's the advantage or disadvantage by using just mid size tower vs full size? is it still make sense to use full size now or mid size is enough for a gaming build?

[Jay20016]

Originally Posted by Napoleonic

guys, what's the top 3 mid tower case now? and aside from obvious size difference what's the advantage or disadvantage by using just mid size tower vs full size? is it still make sense to use full size now or mid size is enough for a gaming build?

Think it really come down to your cooling plan. Most mid towers can hold a single 240 radiator, but the full tower is going to give you more options on sizes and placements. Other consideration, some mid tower cases have a shorter GPU length based on the way it is built.

[Napoleonic]

Originally Posted by Jay20016

Think it really come down to your cooling plan. Most mid towers can hold a single 240 radiator, but the full tower is going to give you more options on sizes and placements. Other consideration, some mid tower cases have a shorter GPU length based on the way it is built.

I've narrowed it down to NZXT 700i and Corsair Carbide 678C, both have the white color option that I like...

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nzxt-h700i-atx-case/
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/c...-carbide-678c/

both can handle 3x140 fans on the top, that should be enough for the biggest CLC AIO isn't it? I Mean my current Obsidian 750D list the same fan compatibility...

I'm leaning more to the NZXT because it give me 4 free fans while the Corsair only give 3, the Corsair have much more flexible internal though.

[Jay20016]

Originally Posted by Napoleonic

I've narrowed it down to NZXT 700i and Corsair Carbide 678C, both have the white color option that I like...

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nzxt-h700i-atx-case/
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/c...-carbide-678c/

both can handle 3x140 fans on the top, that should be enough for the biggest CLC AIO isn't it? I Mean my current Obsidian 750D list the same fan compatibility...

I'm leaning more to the NZXT because it give me 4 free fans while the Corsair only give 3, the Corsair have much more flexible internal though.

So you've gotta watch clearance values. They may hold a fan, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they can hold a fan + radiator in the same spot. Depending on your motherboard, the 6pin may be at the top of the board and cause issues with whatever cooling you're looking at as well.

I haven't really looked too much into the cases you linked, so can't comment on those two, but these are just more things to remember when choosing.