PC Peripherals New cabinet to replace my el cheapo 1k cabinet

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S

Sei

Galvanizer
Hey viewers!

I've been wanting to replace my cabinet for quite some time and finally get the chance to do so.

I am currently using a cheap Rs. 1k "Circle" branded cabinet.

I don't want to spend a bomb on the cabinet but it should be good enough to feel like an upgrade.

Some narrowed down choices -

Cooler Master Elite 431 Mid Tower Cabinet - Rs 3500
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K56 Black ATX Mid Tower Cabinet - Rs 3190 + Rs 650 (shipping) + Rs 200 (octroi) ~ Rs 4000
Cooler Master HAF 912 Combat Cabinet - Rs 4899 + Rs 250 (octroi) ~ Rs 5100
Cooler Master 690 II (ver.2) - Rs 4500 + Rs 250 (octroi) ~ Rs 4750
NZXT LEXA S Crafted Series - Rs 3972 + Rs 300 (shipping) + Rs 200 (octroi) ~Rs 4500

I am sure I have missed some good options.

The Elite 431 is obviously the cheapest and most VFM cabinet but all reviews complain the lack of cable management as a problem. Taking that into consideration, the Lexa S seems to be the next best cheapest option, by a slight margin.

Once you guys help me out narrowing down the best option, I can further look for the best possible deals.

Looks are a big factor too. The flashier the better. Bling Bling! :)

Thanks in advance!
 
@Sei, here are your options --
  • Cooler Master eLite 311 Plus ~2500/-
  • NZXT Gamma ~2600/- (sourcing from Bombay might add to charges)
  • Cooler Master eLite 361 ~2600/- (a specialized µATX form-factor cabinet)
  • SliverStone SUGO SG-02 ~4100/- (another µATX cabinet, source from Prime ABGB)
  • Corsair Carbide 300R ~4500/-
Hope this helps, Cheerio!
 
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Sorry I forgot to mention my current configuration -

E8500 with Ultima 90
Gigabyte G31M
Galaxy GTX 260 - quite a long card
4 GB RAM

-I am not really looking for a small cabinet since I have an Elite 360 at home and they can get really cramped the moment you add extra hard disks. So Elite 361 is out.
-CM 311 is too plain and boring. My Circle cabby looks exactly the same :(
-Not liking the horizontal placement of the Silverstone cabinet.

The Corsair Carbide 300R is a pretty good cabinet but what is wrong with the other choices in the same price range? Why shouldn't I opt for the Lancool PC-K56, CM 690 Plus II, HAF 912, NZXT Lexa S by spending a few hundred extra?
@ALPHA17 Just want to know because I really don't have much knowledge about cabinets.
 
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Sei said:
The Corsair Carbide 300R is a pretty good cabinet but what is wrong with the other choices in the same price range? Why shouldn't I opt for the Lancool PC-K56, CM 690 Plus II, HAF 912, NZXT Lexa S by spending a few hundred extra?
Just want to know because I really don't have much knowledge about cabinets.
Click to expand...

Actually I am not a cabinet buff myself, I suggest what I think would be decent for you.

You will have to research on choices on your own, we can only suggest and assess we are not buying that cabinet OR using it (under your circumstances)

If you are willing to go as high as the Cooler Master 912 Combat, might as well look at the Corsair Carbide 400R.

Every cabinet will have its draw, the choice is yours, more bling OR functionality. And that is a decision I am not making for you.

So read up and find out about the options and make a choice. Hope this helps, Cheerio!
 
ALPHA17 said:
Actually I am not a cabinet buff myself, I suggest what I think would be decent for you.

You will have to research on choices on your own, we can only suggest and assess we are not buying that cabinet OR using it (under your circumstances)

If you are willing to go as high as the Cooler Master 912 Combat, might as well look at the Corsair Carbide 400R.

Every cabinet will have its draw, the choice is yours, more bling OR functionality. And that is a decision I am not making for you.

So read up and find out about the options and make a choice. Hope this helps, Cheerio!
Click to expand...

Cooler Master 912 Combat was just an example. Never really researched cabinets, but this is a good time as any! Guess I can afford to spend a week on this before I pull the trigger.

Nonetheless, thanks for the reply.

Will look up reviews in the meantime.

Others, if you have suggestions regarding this, please let me know! :)
 
While going through the detailed specifications, please note the following.

1. The number of fans does not really matter in your case. What you need is two fans one in front, one at the back and one on the side to increase cooling. Three fans would give you a positive air flow.

2. Lookout for removable dust filters on all fans and all openings. Even bigger manufacturers do not come with dust filters.

3. Look at the specifications of the fans provided. Higher RPM, Higher CFM fans are better. Again check for PWM control on Fans.

4. The placement of the Front panel. Some prefer placement on the top.
 
sankar_45 said:
3. Look at the specifications of the fans provided. Higher RPM, Higher CFM fans are better. Again check for PWM control on Fans.
Click to expand...

Most manufacturers bundle very cheap fan(s) with their cabinets. And higher RPM = loud fans. When buying fans its a trade off, decent CFM at a low RPM is much more desirable than high RPM, high CFM fans as they are noisy and tend to suck in proportionally higher amounts of dust.

PWM fans are really not worth it because motherboards have a limited number of fan-headers and even which are available are three-pin variants not the four-pin PWM variety. Spending extra on a useless attribute is useless.

@Sei, give a look at the NZXT Tempest EVO, barring the fact that it does not have front USB 3.0 ports it is a mean package which comes with all fans on deck (4x 120mm + 2x 140mm) ~5500/-.

If you want fans and front USB 3.0 + a few bundled fans (3x 120mm), then the Carbide 400R ~5500/- is the other option.

A few other contender that might be worth looking at are --
  • Cooler Master STORM Scout II
  • Bit Fenix Outlaw APAC edition
Hope this helps, Cheerio!
 
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setonfire said:
What about BitFenix Merc Alpha?
I am looking for a cabinet upgrade too and had zeroed in on the above.
Click to expand...

Competes with the NZXT Gamma, a bit tight on space compared to the mid-towers such as Corsair Carbide 300R and bigger.
 
Please plan to replace the front Fan with a an excellent low noise, high CFM fan. Add this to your cost. This is what I have. SickleFlow 120 2000 RPM Blue LED. Should be about Rs.500.

Remember that all you need are Two Fans. One for intake and one for exhaust. You could add one 120 mm or two 80 mm fans in the side.

More the fans the noisier the rig would be. Five/Six fans make more noise than two/three fans.

BTW I believe that cabinets should also aesthetically appealing. We like to show off our computers. Have a look at my Cabinet. Cooler Master Mystique. Not a great cabinet. But a fantastic Looking one. case1.jpg
 
sankar_45 said:
BTW I believe that cabinets should also aesthetically appealing. We like to show off our computers. Have a look at my Cabinet. Cooler Master Mystique. Not a great cabinet. But a fantastic Looking one.View attachment 15387
Click to expand...

Dude that cabinet is ancient, alright. And it does not support bottom mounted SMPS OR front façade fan how are we to setup and effective airflow?
 
ALPHA17 said:
Dude that cabinet is ancient, alright. And it does not support bottom mounted SMPS OR front façade fan how are we to setup and effective airflow?
Click to expand...

It has a front fan. You open the cover and you see the full front grill. Please see the image. Bottom mounted SMPS are of recent origin and no conclusive evidence that they are better. You can also see the review of the Mystique here.

Mystique Review by overclockersclub.com

case_2.jpg

This was available in India till 2009.

Now my point is pointing out the number of fans is that most of the cabinets are Gaming cabinets. They need extreme cooling because of the graphics cards. But these many fans are not necessary for the machine which is being assembled now by sei.

The LIAN LI Lancool PC-K56 Black ATX Mid Tower Cabinet has only two fans.

NZXT Cabinets are styled differently.
 
ALPHA17 said:
Sei, give a look at the NZXT Tempest EVO, barring the fact that it does not have front USB 3.0 ports it is a mean package which comes with all fans on deck (4x 120mm + 2x 140mm) ~5500/-.

If you want fans and front USB 3.0 + a few bundled fans (3x 120mm), then the Carbide 400R ~5500/- is the other option.

A few other contender that might be worth looking at are --
  • Cooler Master STORM Scout II
  • Bit Fenix Outlaw APAC edition
Hope this helps, Cheerio!
Click to expand...

The more I look at reviews, the more I'm inclined towards the NZXT Lexa S. Should cost me around Rs 4.5k delivered to home.

Plus points -
4 of 5 fans included ( Front 120mm fan, Top 140mm fan, Side 120MM LED fan, rear 120mm exhaust included )
SSD bracket
Side-facing HDDs
Motherboard punched holes for routing cables
Side mounted USB ports - will help since I keep the cabinet on the table next to my mouse
Flashy looks but not too tacky
Removable filter at the bottom PSU
Front mesh filter


What say guys?
 
sankar_45 said:
It has a front fan. You open the cover and you see the full front grill. Please see the image. Bottom mounted SMPS are of recent origin and no conclusive evidence that they are better. You can also see the review of the Mystique here.

Mystique Review by overclockersclub.com

Now my point is pointing out the number of fans is that most of the cabinets are Gaming cabinets. They need extreme cooling because of the graphics cards. But these many fans are not necessary for the machine which is being assembled now by sei.

The LIAN LI Lancool PC-K56 Black ATX Mid Tower Cabinet has only two fans.

NZXT Cabinets are styled differently.
Click to expand...

A bottom mounted SMPS has one advantage, it does not block 'hot air rising (waste)' to vent from the top. That itself has warranted most decent cabinet designs to go for bottom-mounted SMPS.

As for bling-bling that you like, I prefer pure functionality.

I repeat more fans do not mean a cooler PC, irrespective of whether they are pre-bundled OR tacked on by you later; w.r.t to your comment on Lian Li having only two fans. The airflow matters. The Mystique does not figure in the race because it is not available and leave the aesthetics to the end-user.

NZXT cabinets are uniquely designed but those designs are functional for example the sloped front of the NZXT Gamma allows it to draw more air than a conventional flat face design(s). I dislike cabinets like the NZXT Guardian 921 RB for its lack of fan points (limited to 3 fans) and piano-plastic finish front façade.

@Sei I prefer you go for the Corsair Carbide 300R, it has almost all the features apart from the pre-bundled fans and flash in its looks, it has a USB 3.0 forward port that will come handy in the long run, also the Corsair comes with 3 fans (3x 120mm) if I am not wrong.

Finally most SSD's ship with a mounting bracket / kit (2.5" -->3.5" SSD frame) so the SSD bracket offered by the Lexa-S is really not a revolution. Plus keeping the front façade clean will be a pain.
 
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Sei said:
The more I look at reviews, the more I'm inclined towards the NZXT Lexa S. Should cost me around Rs 4.5k delivered to home.

Plus points -
4 of 5 fans included ( Front 120mm fan, Top 140mm fan, Side 120MM LED fan, rear 120mm exhaust included )
SSD bracket
Side-facing HDDs
Motherboard punched holes for routing cables
Side mounted USB ports - will help since I keep the cabinet on the table next to my mouse
Flashy looks but not too tacky
Removable filter at the bottom PSU
Front mesh filter


What say guys?
Click to expand...

NZXT Lexa S looks Good. It has got favorable reviews. I have a couple of friends who have bought NZXT cabinets. They have style. It has dust filters. Cable management . Yes. To some extent. You can go through the review here.

Review by overclockersclub.com of nzxt_lexas/

You can also check the review on Corsair 300R there.

At the price that you are getting, I think it is a Good choice.
 
Placed the order for a NZXT Lexa S - read a whole bunch of reviews online. Seems like the optimal balance between bling and features. I agree with Alpha17 that it is quite personal decision so went ahead with it.
 
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