Yep, its pretty much the reason I am planning to do a 3rd build/refresh in my old Antec P280 case, just can’t find anything I like better.
stusser
8467
If I needed a new case, I’d go with the Fractal Meshify 2. It’s available with a solid side panel. Excellent airflow, very well built, and I like the way it looks too.
https://www.newegg.com/black-fractal-design-meshify-2-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811352131
Hmmm, I do not dislike that case. Also its priced pretty reasonably.
stusser
8469
Airflow really matters, and the old way of making silent cases like your P280 (I had a P180 back in the day) is generally looked-down upon these days. I have a Fractal R5 myself which is a quiet case too, but that makes airflow problematic unless I open the front door. It’s otherwise extremely thoughtfully designed though, Fractal knows their stuff.
Anyway it turns out that the best way to keep your computer quiet and cool is to go for minimally obstructed airflow with as many large fans as possible, and then run those large fans at low speeds.
I just built a PC for my kid using this. It’s excellent in every way I can think of. As tool free as is possible, lots of space, easy access, good cable management.
I did buy the glass panel version thinking she’d want some RGB bling. It turned out she wasn’t interested. Weirdo.
Yeah, I did a lot of searching to find a good case with no glass panels. Ended up buying a Phanteks Eclipse P600S for my new build, and I can recommend it. Excellent build quality, easy to work in, high air flow with the front and top covers removed (I just leave them off all the time).
https://www.newegg.com/black-phanteks-eclipse-p600s-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811854081
I lined the front with 140mm Arctic Cooling PWM fans and mounted an AIO cooler to the top as exhaust. When I hit the power button, the fans spin up and then settle down to their normal idle speeds, and for a second I panic thinking the PC has shut down. This rig is virtually silent, and still moves a lot of air.
I think I’d get this one, it’s aa great price for a small form factor that isn’t too restrictive with component sizes.
Yep, Fractal is what I have had my eye on for my next build, probably the Meshify C or the newer Meshify 2 Compact due to space considerations with my current desk setup.
stusser
8474
That certainly is meshtastic! I would want to see reviews first though.
Re compact, sure, that works too. I keep my PC on the floor so I don’t care if it’s (relatively) large, I want it unobtrusive, quiet and cool.
This was pretty glowing, I think its the best SFF PC channel on YouTube.
Thanks for that. I’ve had the evolv shift 2 air on my list of things to buy/do, but that may well supplant it.
This looks like a dust nightmare.
Aren’t they all? It’s a losing battle, just surrender to it.
rei
8479
These super ITX boxes cost too much for me ($300-300USD) made worse after Canadian conversion so remain a pipe dream. The CM NR200P was just an all time low of $100CAD so a future build will be in that for me. Plus they take months to ship if even they ship at all to Canada like NCASE ones.
stusser
8480
No, the meshify has filters that are very easy to pull out and clean. They do of course restrict airflow though.
Yeah they’re all dust vacuums. I clean mine out quarterly and still amazed at how much dust gets on every dang thing.
I understand there’s an anti-glass sentiment in the thread, but for those looking for large cases with some glass then I’ll put a recommendation out there for the Lian Li O11 XL. Handles all the size and connectivity you could want to go with excellent cooling (air or water). Only drawback is the cost; not only is it towards the pricey side (released at $200, but now $230 at Newegg and higher elsewhere) plus you have to buy fans separately.
It’s an absolute joy to work with compared to other cases I’ve built in. There’s a part of me that wouldn’t have minded an extra inch or two in the main cable channel to deal with my “rats nest” But it’s not too bad and of course the inner panel tucked it all away when I felt it was “good enough.”
https://www.newegg.com/black-lian-li-o11-dynamic-e-atx-full-tower-case/p/2AM-000Z-00048
For anyone who wants to have a glass case panel: I have one for you in a bag you’ll just need to reassemble it.
antlers
8485
Got on the EVGA waiting list in November, and they notified me today they had 3070’s available. One is on its way, should be here next week. I got a 2060 as a stop-gap to play Cyberpunk (previous card was a 750ti); looks like I can sell it for, well not the price of the 3070, but pretty near what I paid for it.
