Thank you guys so much for your help with my last case poll, your advice was very helpful. I am working on a different build now that Sandy Bridge has really let me down by getting recalled before I could get my hands on a 2500K and appropriate motherboard. I have come across the opportunity to get my hands on an R3 or a Define XL at the same price point at a local store. I have to tell him which one to hold for me before I make the long drive out there next week. So basically, which case would you choose if price were not a factor and you were going to load each one up with silent 140mm fans & possibly sli/crossfire: Fractal Design R3 vs XL Fractal Design Define XL External View Internal View Fractal Design Define R3 External View Internal View Also, I was hoping you could give me some advice on a power supply. I am planning either a 1090T build or an i7-950 with either 2xGTX 460's or 1xGTX 560. In addition I will probably run at least 4 hard drives and need room for future expansion. Where in the 600-1000 Watt range would I need? I am actually planning to get a Fractal Design PSU as well, so if you could advise me as to which model if possible that would be great.
Hello... with PSU reqs I would look at a 600W if the GPU remains as above. 750W is you plan to have a pair of 560s with a good 6-10 drives. System will draw around 450W max with 2 cards and all that other kit but its nice to run a PSU between 50 and 75% to keep the efficiency happy As for the case... the XL has plenty of space downstairs to keep your drives whilst maintaining air flow through the front of the case. The R3 will be restrictive will all your drives taking up space up front so my vote goes on the XL.
Hello. Thanks for your reply. I was considering getting the Newton 1000W just to be sure I have the last PSU I will buy for the next 5 years. You said it is efficient to run at 50%, would it be inefficient/wasteful/damaging to throw in the 1000 Watt in case I decide to go with better GPUs in the future? (I might even start out with the 4 Hard Disks, 2 Optical Disks, and just a single GPU).
I wouldnt say it isnt efficient... Its just at its sweet spot between those points but a Big beefy PSU is never a bad thing unless its too beefy for the build. I myself have an Silverstone Strider 1200W. However this runs either a 920 @ 4.92 or a gulfy at what ever speed I can throw at it along with 4 SSDs, 2 HDDs, an optical unit and a triplicate of 480s. Even with all that it only draws 802W at the wall when its being throttles to an inch of its life. I have had an 850W version of that PSU and I loved it! Couldnt fault it at all if I am honest so a good choice if you decide to go down that route.
Efficiency drops through the floor costing you more in your leccy bills and its a waste of money lol. Try looking at the 850W unit instead perhaps. Just as reliable and pretty yet youll save £30+ and play closer to running a more efficient set up
Go for the define, the xl has had alot of bad reviews. The only benefit I can see of the XL is that it has more space so its easier to build in/less clutter. Getting a bigger PSU then needed is just a waste of money, but there are some benefits like a bigger PSU isn't really going to work that hard to give you power and life expectency should be longer. Also with PSU's like the Corsair HX850 its fans don't kick in unless it goes over 500W so they are quieter. Personally I just built a machine which only needed about 400-500W max but I bought a 850w for the reasons I just stated. If you didn't know, the higher the efficiency a PSU has the less energy is wasted and less heat is given off. Which can save money.
Thanks . . . asides from laughing at my ignorance JK though I don't want to waste electricity, I do pay for that. Cool, I will go for the 850 Watt, and then as far as cooling the R3 I would go: 2x120mm in front, 2x 140mm in top, 1x120mm in back, 1x 140mm in side panel, 1x 140mm in bottom. I'm going with all Fractal-Design fans for that superb white and black look. Plus the 140mm's move the same CFM at a fraction of the dB. Looking over the bit-tech review, it looks like the XL only gets you an extra two hard drive bays and performs a little bit worse than the R2. I guess at this point I'm leaning towards the R3 Black Pearl. And then the 850Watt Newton PSU.
I have the XL around and it's a good case, but the size just doesn't make any sense. Also IMO the bottom compartment is a waste of space, as it makes the mobo chamber feel crazy crowded (for a case this size, anyway). So I'd go for the R3. Anyway looking at your fan plans, I'd skip on some of the fans, namely the side panel and floor.
