Opinions on a new gaming case...

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jaymz

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#53860 14-Dec-2009 19:18

Hi,

I am in the market for a new case to replace my ThermalTake Xaser V.

I have been looking at the reviews for the ThermalTake Element G case and quite like the look of it.
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=381291

Basically my needs/wants are as follows:
Large fans - front, top and side
Ability to control speed of fans without software
PSU at bottom of case
Support for 4-6 Hard drives

What do you guys think of the case? Any better options that you can suggest?

Oh and my budget is anything under $300, but if you can convince me that a slightly more expensive case is better then I will put more money towards it (do some more overtime :P)

Cheers
Jaymz

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#282484 14-Dec-2009 22:04

Thats a pretty cool looking case! Only problem for it is that my computer is in my room (I wouldn't DESERVE to be on Geekzone otherwise!) so all those lights would make it difficult to sleep.

I got the Thermaltake V9

BIG fan on the top, only the front fan lights up, good ventalation, but doesn't allow you to control your fan speed, so may rule it out for you.

friedCrumpet

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#282495 14-Dec-2009 23:04

Adamal: Thats a pretty cool looking case! Only problem for it is that my computer is in my room (I wouldn't DESERVE to be on Geekzone otherwise!) so all those lights would make it difficult to sleep.

Computers have an off button you know.

jaymz

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#282534 15-Dec-2009 07:56

Yeah, I am quite taken by the ThermalTake cases, they seem to do a good job of them!

The manual fan control is so I can ramp up the speed of the fans when playing games like crysis to help keep things cooler, and the side fan is the best way I can see to get fresh cold air onto the video card (rather than having the air come in over my HDDs then onto the rest of the system.

Thankfully I have a seperate office so no need to worry about fan lights :)

AMDMAN

20 posts

Geek

#282689 15-Dec-2009 13:36

Its a nice case , pretty basic , even my case the Apevia x-discovery , which is VERY cheap and costed me 95$ keeps it very cool , most cases do the same these days ( imo ) so branding i dont think is a biggie. Does it have a fan speed controller?

jaymz

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#282704 15-Dec-2009 14:04

AMDMAN: Its a nice case , pretty basic , even my case the Apevia x-discovery , which is VERY cheap and costed me 95$ keeps it very cool , most cases do the same these days ( imo ) so branding i dont think is a biggie. Does it have a fan speed controller?

Yeah, it is not a bad case, but what I am wanting is to have larger fans than the standard 80mm ones (too loud) My current case is doing ok, but i want a more open one (in terms of airflow) and the ability for more drives (RAID)

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#282709 15-Dec-2009 14:25

For under 300 you can get the antec 902, or for a little over it's full tower brother the 1200(I love mine).
fans everywhere and all have manual speed controls, PSU is at the bottom and can fit at least 6 HDD.
Not too many cons, you can't turn off the lights on most of the fans, lots of screws so un/installing hard drives can take a while and they are kinda heavy especially once all your gear is inside.

Desktop: i7 920, GTX 275, asus P6T, antec 1200, 6gb ram, 1tb spinpoint f1, 1tb spinpoint f3, Logitech Z2300, Zero DAC, Shure SRH440
Laptop: Toshiba satellite, T5300, Go 7300
Home Theatre: 32" loewe CRT, Harmon kardon amp, dvd player, image 418 speakers, rega planar 25 turntable :)

jaymz

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#282717 15-Dec-2009 14:42

samwooff: kinda heavy especially once all your gear is inside.

Lol my current case (with gear in it) weighs around 20kg (the case itself is around 15kg)! Not too worried about the weight, only gets moved every so often.

tis not a bad case the 902, i looked at that when i started looking at new cases. The only thing I kinda dislike is the direction that the hard drives are mounted, I have become used to the side mounted type of case and quite like it.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, sorry if I sound fussy (I just know what I like tis all)

friedCrumpet

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#282786 15-Dec-2009 16:50

I don't know about you guys but I'm not a big fan of all the glowy fans and bling that goes into these fancy cases. I got myself a Lancool (Lian-Li, but not aluminium frame) K7 and was quite happy with it. They have some new ones now including this one:

http://ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=381967 (Product link)

Ok so it doesn't quite meet your criteria, there is no side fan and you'd have to install your own fan controller but otherwise it's a fairly nice case for not a huge cost.

jaymz

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#282792 15-Dec-2009 17:00

friedCrumpet: I don't know about you guys but I'm not a big fan of all the glowy fans and bling that goes into these fancy cases. I got myself a Lancool (Lian-Li, but not aluminium frame) K7 and was quite happy with it. They have some new ones now including this one:

http://ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=381967 (Product link)

Ok so it doesn't quite meet your criteria, there is no side fan and you'd have to install your own fan controller but otherwise it's a fairly nice case for not a huge cost.

Yeah, I should take the time now to say that manual fan controllers are not a huge need, more of a want really.

I do need a side fan though, so I can ensure cold air onto my graphics card(s), I am a strong disbeleiver in having all your cold air coming from the front of the case and being warmed by your HDD's. It is fine if you only have 1 or 2 drives, but if you run 5 like me, that once cold air gets quite warm.

I am not a huge fan of bling fans either, but to me, as long as the fan does its job it doesnt bother me :)

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#282952 15-Dec-2009 22:22

friedCrumpet:
Adamal: Thats a pretty cool looking case! Only problem for it is that my computer is in my room (I wouldn't DESERVE to be on Geekzone otherwise!) so all those lights would make it difficult to sleep.

Computers have an off button you know.

Sometimes I leave it on over night to download things. And by sometimes, I mean pretty much all the time :P

jaymz

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#283821 18-Dec-2009 15:49

All-righty-then, i have just placed an order for the Element G case, should turn up next week sometime. I will try to write up a review if anyone is interested?

But that also means my old case will be up for grabs! Offers accepted for it now - bear in mind that it is heavy so shipping might be costly

Cheers

jaymz

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#284931 23-Dec-2009 23:12

Wicked, new case turned up today. Swapped the gear over and started it up.

Things that I am amazed and happy at:

It is SO quiet compared to my old case! even with the fans turned up full!!
So much cooler than my other case too, everything runs at least 5-8degrees cooler
You can turn the fan lights (bling) off completely, no crazy bright lights!

Very impressed with the case, install was a breeze too!

jcyshin

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#286069 30-Dec-2009 13:54

I would have to agree the case is great, however I have been interested in a Antec P193 or an Antec 1200 case. Ideas?

eXDee

4025 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#286194 31-Dec-2009 00:48

Bought a CM690 for $120 from playtech with free shipping on boxing day, turned up today and its running awesome. Best value case ive ever got, plenty of room and fans etc.