New PC case and a CPU cooler, recommendations please

[robhooley167]

Hi Gang

I feel it's time to update my case (ATX size) as it's getting quite hard to manage the cabling and cooling.
My current case, a Novatech branded one has no consideration for cable management so the cables just hang and ruin the airflow.
It's also very cramped with very little space for adding extra drives or the like, this also makes cleaning an utter ballache.
Now i'm not looking for a case with LEDs and obnoxious styling but decent airflow, bottom mounted PSU space (already have PSU) and cable management space is essential.

The CPU cooler is less of an issue, I've been looking at the Noctua NH-U12P but it's a bit big for my current case (a paltry 19cm wide externally) failing that the Acrtic Cooling Freezer Xtreme.

The case is more of a priority and would preferably want to use Amazon as I've got some vouchers to use, although Ebuyer and Novatech would do if the price were better.

Has anyone got any recommendations, internal pictures would be great too!

Thanks

 

[arad85]

Fractal Define R4 or XL R2 (I have one of each). The XL R2 needs a PSU with long ATX cabling mind...

Some of the posts in this thread: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/aiming-for-a-quieter-pc.481748/ might give you some idea what the cases are like (they are very similar). Also: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/completely-silent-pc-build.449072/ shows the Arc Mini (microATX sized) case. They do a larger ATX version if you wanted to go that way.

 

[neil_g]

For heat sinks and fans definitely look at nocuta.

 

[arad85]

The XL fits a NH-D14 with ease. I suspect the R4 would fit it just as well as the NoFan (see one of the threads above) fits quite nicely too. I went for the -2011 and conversion kit to fit socket 1155 as the -2011 has PWM controlled fans whereas the non -2011 socket version has (or at least had when I was looking mid last year) standard fans.

 

[Davemm]

I have the following case as i wanted something subtle with good space for cable management and a larger cpu cooler

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Car...F8&qid=1389345717&sr=8-3&keywords=corsair+500

As for a cpu cooler a silver arrow or noctua nh-d14 would be where my money goes

 

[robhooley167]

Cheers guys, those fractal cases look the business. Going to be having a look at those in depth

 

[Mikesphotaes]

On my last PC, used an Antec case and a Be Quiet cooler.
http://www.ebuyer.com/143854-antec-300-three-hundred-case-0761345-08300-3
Be Quiet not available in ebuyer when I looked.

 

[Ozei]

Corsair's Graphite Series 600T has very good cable management.

http://www.corsair.com/pc-cases/gra...hite-graphite-series-600t-mid-tower-case.html

http://www.corsair.com/en/pc-cases/graphite-series-pc-case/graphite-series-600t.html

 

[robhooley167]

@arad85 What are the actual case dimensions for the R2-XL? As many places seem to be using the packaging dimensions and case dimensions interchangeably.

 

[arad85]

@arad85 What are the actual case dimensions for the R2-XL? As many places seem to be using the packaging dimensions and case dimensions interchangeably.

From: http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-xl-r2-black-pearl

• Case dimensions (WxHxD): 232 x 559 x 560mm

They are about the best "bang for buck" case you can get IMHO. I've taken all the vent covers off and run mine almost passively 99% of the time (except when I'm recoding video).