Sad to hear that people are over the O11D layout. I was a little out of the game till I built my new rig 2 years ago, and to me the O11D was unique and new. I still absolutely love the layout and making upgrades and working on it has been great.
NV7 is now my dream case. I love that Phantex perfected what Lian Li were trying to do with the totally clean glass on the side/front of the case, without the hideous extra side-panel girth.
Phanteks NV7 is definitely a refreshing alternative, this NZXT is just another knock off with little innovation. I’d rather just wait for the refresh of the O11 XL if I wanted this design again (I have an O11 XL). If I build another PC it’ll be an NV7 or the V3000 Plus.
The NV7 is nice, would love to see something as a Mid Tower rather than Full tower - I know Phanteks will do it as well (as they have done with a majority of their high tier cases).
I'm building in the exact one right now. everyday a new piece arrives in the mail that goes into my new build. So far, I got the motherboard, CPU and ram. waiting on my psu and gpu and storage. this will be my 1st build by myself and I'm stoked to build in this beautiful behemoth!
This case is a definition of this meme "Can i copy your homework lian li?" "Sure, just change it up a little so that it doesnt look you copied it" "Sure thing"
@@420rvidxr it's a mandarin brand that distributes to other western brands, I believe WJ Coolman and Xigmatek are 2 of the renamed versions for wj Coolman it's called the Robin 2 for Xigmatek something like Aquarius but we had these back in 2014-2015 at one of my local PC Centre's... Pretty much the whole aquarium style I'm not saying this Chinese brand did it first either, but they did it before Lian Li
@@420rvidxr well its a bit hard to tell who made actually the first similar case but overall we are talking about the dual chamber cases and these have been around years before Lian Li started to make them. One of the eraliest company to make them was Rosewill - the first ones didn't have the glass sidepanels and were really expensive. But Corsair has also being making them for quite some time - I had my 540 AIR back in 2013. So the Lian Li has perfected the design but at the same time its not original. And even though I have a O11 Dynamic EVO at the moment its clear that it could use some improvements - especially with the bottom intake.
I just bought the 011 dyn EVO and have done the build in it. I was freaking impressed, I am a carpenter and know how things should be built And Lian Li did it well.I saw this NZXT case from CES here on UA-cam as I was building mine, and just LOVED the glass to glass corner. But after watching J go through this case, I appreciate the build quality and thoughts within the Lian LI. Now IDK the price of the NZXT but if its similar to the Lian Li, I dont think you can go wrong either way. Now J mentioned having this case for years, and that what I thought with My Lian LI, BUT the Lian Li has a metal top and back, of which I think would be easier modding later on in its life, as opposed to all the glass.
As a owner of a 011 Dynamic XL, which I have been using for years and luv the case. The H9 COMES WITH FANS & controller, major selling point there, like the (look) glass top which is not good for air flow, but not a fan of the "swiss cheese" side panel. So if your looking for a new case in this style I would go H9. ( Owning the 011 XL, i'll never buy another case)
I would understood included fans as a "major selling" point if we would be talking about a budget case where value tops everything and you are happy to save a few bucks on fans. But imo you would not buy a case like this, that shows everything inside of it if you are planning to have a super budget build that just works and has the best value. Most people that buy this kind of cases want pleasing aesthetics, be it with some rgb, AIO cooling, full water cooling or whatever. Chances are really high that the fans included are not the ones you want and if you want to show your pc you probably also dont want to mix 20 different fans in your case. "But this case has two more fans inclueded and therefore is better than the other one" arguments all sound like from 10 years ago, instead they should offer the same case at a better price point, which they wont do as adding cheap stuff is great the charge more money for it, so you could decide which fans you want. But maybe thats just me, but I ignore the included fans since I build my first pc on my own.
@@CritteRino I agree with you 100%, picking your own top notch fans yes, which is what I did, but with the prices now days on PC parts, saving a few bucks here and there to spend on the major parts is also a plus. As for the amount of fan's, my 011 XL didnt come with any fans, or controller so thats a saving of about $200'ish ( for avg fans), yes its not a lot of money, but to some it could make a difference in CPU, GPU, memory etc. All I was saying is that "IF' your looking for a good case this is a option over the 011 to save a few bucks right from the start. Everyone has a opinion and thank you for sharing yours which I respect.
The issue with something like this case (which is so close in design to an existing product) is that it only makes sense if you can get it cheaper than the design it is aping unless you particularly like its styling over the original.
It does get rid of the metal pillar between the glass and also has a nice glass top. Not sure about airflow until I see tests, but it sure looks better.
@@MisterJimJim Meh, I think the Lian Li looks much better and the o11 dynamic evo has so much better features than this. The metal pillar is perfect for hiding a ledstrip so you can't see the strip
@@whygamewhy First of all, my comment was from 5 months ago when there wasn't a Lian Li stock case without the middle pillar lol. Second of all, there still isn't a mid sized one without the pillar. The new one just came out last month and it's a full sized case, not mid sized like the H9 Elite.
It's great to hear someone (Jay, specifically) keep mentioning that Switch 810 case from back in the day. That was my first build with the infamous 2500k, and the Sapphire HD7970. What a legend! Thanks for bringing back some great memories :)
I still rock my NZXT switch 810 in gunmetal grey! It's never let me down, cools extremely well, accepts any mobo size even extended, has great fan and radiator support. I have thought about painting it a pearly irredescent white. Maybe mod it a bit.
Wish more cases would get away from the tempered glass and go back to vented sides/front. Some Full ATX cases with 200mm fans. Presently have a thermaltake armor revo snow edition for my unraid server. Debating swapping it for my main rig which is a corsair 680x, just so I can get more airflow
With my first build I took the advice of “a case just holds the components” and I regretted it. You have to like your case. I always wanted to build in a NZXT case. I finally did last year as a gift to a teenager. I definitely side with the Flow. As a PC, I saw the Flow offered more than a premiere priced Elite. But, get a case you like.
...because the 011 Dynamic is amazing. The double glass front and side is inspired, looks great, amazing airflow. I ADORE mine in white and see no reason to switch.
Please just do a build! I don’t care anymore in which case as long as Jay starts building an modding. Way te few builds on the channel over the last months while they are always great to watch.
Excited to see you looking at this!! I ordered the H9 flow last week and it should be getting here in a couple days. My plan is to do my first custom water loop in this with two 360s. Not sure if I want a distribution block/pump combo where the 3 stock fans would be or hide something under the power supply. Should be a lot of fun and I can't wait to get started.
I have the 011 Air and watching this video just felt like deja vu... 011 Air is an amazing case and the airflow is great. The room for cable managemant is fantasic and made the install so easy.
I just finished my first ever PC build, and it was using the H9 flow case! I loved the different mounting points. It's worth noting I was looking at this case compared to the O11 Dynamic, but I feel like NZXT has the edge on this one due to the value provided to builders with the included fans. I don't regret using this case at all!
Offering two top fan brackets makes sense for this case because the top exhaust will be higher pressure. If they used a universal 280/360 option like most cases, you'd get a lot of air bleed from the exhaust side of the fan back around to the intake through the non-used fan holes; the solid fan brackets force the air to exit the case.
Yes, it may be another 'O11 dynamic copy', but the part that almost everyone misses is that each company finds their own spin on it and little upgrades. Yes, the O11 was revolutionary for sure, but as time passes, I've noted quite a bunch of features that I don't really like and that Lian Li never 'fixed', but I appreciate from new cases of it's type. The fact that you can mount 140mm fans on the bottom is huge, and if you can do the same on the top in the H9 Flow, even better! The amount of space on the side fans, and the fact that you cound mount a rad on the back chamber instead of the main chamber is also quite interesting. And the bracket that holds the 2.5'' drives, the fact that it opens on a hinge instead of screwing on the top and the bottom is a nice change as well. I'm sure there are many more changes, but these are the ones that jumped to me.
The thing about what the O11D started is it works ~well enough~ and gives you the opportunity to really showcase more of the interior of the case. It's a reasonable compromise for the average use case. For those needing a little bit more benefit from the air flow, use a radiator and position all the heat right at the intake.
I think the next version of a "premium" O11 clone is going to be one where the top, front, and side are all one thick piece of tempered glass which mounts and provides structure to the rest of the frame.
They're all doing the O11 thing, Corsair, Phantek, NZXT, Thermaltake and et'al. All good, nice to have a choice. I have recently replaced my O11D with H9 Flow, much better cable management with the latter.
I love just doing case swaps I have about 20 cases in my garage that I swap out yearly. It’s how I’ve learned to build PCs and it gives me something to do 😊
Jay, I completely agree. I had the S340 elite for the longest time. I loved the look and size of the case. However, when I upgraded to a rtx 3070, and had a 240mm cpu aio, I did not have enough intake airflow in my system. In the summer time, let’s just say it turned into a space heater
Built in an O11 Dynamic recently. I've never experienced such an easy and enjoyable build ever. They literally thought of everything! The usb ports are stupid in their default position though. Had to get the top bar to reposition them.
I had an eye on the Lian Li case back when I built my PC, but seem to remember it was just a bit too expensive and tricky to buy at the time. So between the models I was able to justify, on a reasonably well spread budget (and NZXT were on that list, alongside Phanteks and Fractal Design), I ended up with the Corsair Crystal 460s RGB which leans towards what you were saying about a case lasting you for some time. I can well imagine that I might have a change for aesthetic reasons at some point if (when) I build another PC, but its solid industrial look combined with a simple, open interior and respectable airflow makes it a pretty perfect container. Looking at the flow edition I see that same openness in this NZXT range.
Cases are in my upgrade path usually every 2-3 years. I upgrade case more than I upgrade the rest of my components. But then again, I just like fiddling around and making my setup better every time I need to drain and flush my loop (though I must admit, with my previous setup: I left coolant in for 3 years, but the system was old and I didn't respect it any longer anyway, it surprised me how well mayhems pastel white lasted for me, especially considering how many people have had major issues with the mayhems pastels, I literally only noticed some slight separation after 2 years, but it all still mixed nicely and no gunk in the blocks like I've seen in many pictures.
I've had my h710i for like 4 or 5 years now. It has great build quality and atill looks as good as the day I bought it. And it has no issue keeping my 4090 cool.
I got this case on the airflow version and I love it. Looks really cool, even fancy, my cooling is improved (coming from an H710 lol). It's a solid option if you're looking for a case like this. Would recommend!
May i ask what you have? seem tempting to make the change, myself i have a H710, running a i9 9900K @5GHz and a RTX 3080 Rog Strix, but i have removed the front and top panel to have the whole thing get more air into it
@@Goofi3 Ended up with Elite, timw will tell how it ends up, but doesnt seem like a bad choice in the end, would obviously prefer Flow variant airflow with Elite looks, but cant get everything
I honestly think the upcoming Phanteks EV7 is going to blow all these copy cat cases away when they launch next month. I might have to buy one, even though I don't plan on putting any new builds inside.
I agree with the glass on top thing, I'd rather it just be open for airflow, but I like that the plastic piece looks designed to act as a guide, and even though the air is making those hard bends, it does look quite open to allowing the air to go either up out the top, or out the ventilated side panel. Personally, I think it's suboptimal, but I also think with the right fans(either static pressure optimized , or brute force through rpms), it'll do a good enough job, and the glass on top does *look* nice. Edit: I love the inclusion of the 280mm bracket for the top, and only solidifies to me that they intended that to be used as a flow guide. No hot air circulation with either config when used properly. A nice attention to detail on that actually, and I personally am fine with a slightly more expensive, but more modular case. Coming from someone with a Fractal Define R7
If my PC was going to be on my right side I think I would choose this over the o11 but as I only have space on the left of my desk, my next case is going to be the o11 Evo variant so I can reverse the layout. I'd be interested in seeing your thoughts/recommendations on a reverse/inverted case as I can't find many out there.
@@Spartan265 get creative with positioning, interiour design and use cubes for example. you can place them in diffrent angles rather than standard pc cases. don't always buy into design. get original and play with your space
For myself I'd do a water-cooled system in the H9 Elite. But use the top 360 area with a "stealth" reservoir instead of a slim radiator and fans. Hide a small inline pump somewhere in the back and have rads at the bottom and the side. You'll have a very clean and cool looking system.
I have an o11 since day 1 and there hasn't been a case to steer me another way. Honestly I would just intake through the top and bottom and exhaust out the side. It works for me and actually gives me the best cooling. I've tried them all and the whole "heat rises" doesn't matter when there's fans moving the air. Naturally yes it does rise but only when it's static air. But this case is a good option if you don't want the o11. Still want something innovative again to switch cases.
I have been rocking my NZXT Shift 810 for about 9 years now... I have loved this case and modified it a LOT to make it my own. I got a little excited when you mentioned the case, since I remember your old-school videos when you built in it for yourself. BTW I am building in a Corsair 7000D big boy
I honestly have never used any of their products and have heard the jokes about thermal"fake". I know their psu's were/are questionable. I can't lie though, the CTE case line looks wild and it'll likely be my next case.
@@The1WhoEatsCake Thermaltake did copy some designs of a brutally expensive case company and brought them to the main public at affordable prices. That company died because of it's overly expensive products and people blame Thermaltake. Since then every teenager heard about that incident and keeps repeating the same lame comments without having remotely any clue or first hand experience with either product. The very example of O11 is enough to prove that if your products are mint other companies copying them won't force you out of the market for gods shake. Not to mention that even serious brands copy each other so the TT haters are even more disconnected from reality. Do take the Thermaltake case, they usually offer excellent value and design.
*Slowly raises hand* I still use my (2) 10TB IronWolf HDs for uncompressed YT video storage. Also, this case looks pretty cool but I think I would just get the Lian Li version based on the air flow path from bottom to top being unobstructed. I am sure the free flowing version of this case will solve that issue though.
Your decision, but as a professional SI, i'd recommend the H9 If you want nice cable management, the H9 is probably the best case i've ever worked with. Yes, you don't have the space for as many HDDs / SSDs as the O11s have, but with all the space in the back, you could easily put like 8- 10 HDDs in there
If you want that much storage, it's probably better to buy or build a dedicated server to keep all those cumbersome drives out of your personal rig. Or you can buy a cloud storage subscription.
@@FieryMeltman That is exactly how I have it setup. I have 3 RIGs, one of which has the Iron wolf drives. I access them over my network from the main computers.
My case is the only original part I still have in my build from over 6 years ago. Still rocking the NXZT S340 Elite. It's been through 2 mobos and processors, 4 graphics cards, and 3 fan sets
That’s it. I’m finally going to get a new case for my PC. I’ve been rocking the Thermaltake Core P3 for over 8 years now, it’s been with me through 3 builds and a water cooling setup, but I’m tired of cleaning my PC all the freaking time. This case is beautiful and the flow version is a really good value in my opinion.
when I was thinking about the perfect case design that I'd want, i basically came up with the O11D configuration. separate compartment for psu and 3 360mm radiators. I was so damn happy when I found out it already existed. now running it with all SL120 / galahad setup.
Surprising how many case manufacturers have ripped off the design of the O11 Dynamic with little or no substantial changes. I guess Lian Li is going with the principle "imitation is the greatest form or flattery" and perhaps no real patent. Phanteks did it multiple times with the MagniumGear Neo Qube and the NV7, now NZXT. Seems like a "Clone Wars" segment by someone would be in order. Which 011 is the best 011......
011 to be honest. It looks better built and Lian-Li seems to trend more towards better build quality. I know on mine ever seam is perfect, everything lines up properly, and the finish is perfect.
I have been following your channel for nearly 2 years now Jay. Its actually what got me into computers. Started with a prebuilt with ryzen 3 3600 CPU Amd 580x GPU B450 MB 600w psu 500gb ssd m.2 Wasn't able to play certain games so I finally built my own. Currently running B550 CPU Ryzen 7 5600 AIO water cooled GPU GEFORCE 3080 3 1tb ssd 1 1tb m.2 ssd 800w psu In the original case! Lol huge jump but about to atemp my first watercooled system...
@@tbreeze79 Thats what im saying.. i have it as well the XL version. You dont need another copy from NZXT of pretty much the same case, Lian-Li Even looks way better with some details in my opinion.
@@waldoonalld it's up to preference, if people like the H9 over the o11, why not let them be? I have the Jonsbo D41 LCD because of its small form factor while still able to get an ATX motherboard in it and the LCD screen that can be used as an external display, it's very gimmicky but that's why i like it
@@keonxd8918 H9 vs O11 are the same, O11 XL is just bigger.. they is also O11 mini.. other than that lian-li is atleast better quality for the money and overall just looks better (i wonder why its most sold case out there duh) others just copy it to get on the train and thats kinda sad but it wont really work 🙃 O11 will still be on the top with pretty much everything.
I can't believe that hardly nobody talks as bout the coolermaster haf 700 evo and non evo. I've built in those cases and they are phenomenal. My son even got one and its great.
Just built a new PC and went with the Lian 011 Dynamic Evo simply because I really liked the glass and sleek look of it. My old case was the original Coolermaster HAF 932 and I didn't think I'd ever find something that appealed to me more. I've got 9 fans in the Lian Li, where the old case only had 6, so I can see why people are copying the design, it's beautiful and allows people to really go nuts with builds.
JAY: CASELAB is back in business. They are now in Sweden. It will be a while before they are actually producing retail, but it would be great to see you do a complete water-cooled build.
I have the OL 11D XL since a few years, best PC case I've ever had in terms of build. Fractal design have very interesting design approach though so Phantek too..
lian li has started an interesting trend and more aesthetic variety in pc cases is ultimately good for everybody (just look how many 'my first build' videos use the o11, clearly a lot of especially new builders are drawn to this look) but personally the double-width cases aren't an aesthetic i like; a bit too square and stocky compared to standard narrow width with front-to-back airflow
The PSU shroud look of narrow cases is also overdone and severly limits cooling too. At least there's options. But it would be cool to have more of them.
@@ledoynier3694 yup, i find that the o11 aesthetic heavily benefits people who are interested in rgb/watercooling but if you want the absolute best airflow and don't like rgb, all that glass paneling does nothing you
I feel called out about the using an old case... LOVED my Antec Sonata 2, but after a decade, it was looking rough. So I got a DP502 Flux, and it'll probably last me a decade, too.
The Dynamic EVO is still in my opinion the best case when it comes to this design because of its modularity and amazing looks (especially the white one). Two big complaints I have with this case: 1. Absolutely no point in going with the glass on top. The majority of these will sit on a desk where the user will be looking inside the case and not at the top. 2. Why have the PSU mount only on top? The evo (and original dynamic for that matter) give you the option to mount the PSU on either the top or bottom. Mounting it on the bottom gives you a more bottom heavy case to help with sturdiness and it allows you to access the cooler backplate from behind the motherboard. That's a huge oversight IMO.
When you were talking about the top of the case I was reminded of the NZXT H630, and how I wish it had an exit on both sides of the top instead of one side. I liked that the top was covered so dust wouldn't fall into it while it was off, and still had a simple exit for exhaust. It would have been great if they did something like that here even if the top was glass. I don't use that case anymore. It's just a night stand.
So as a general comment with this entire structure of case design (not just the H9). The strangest thing with this trend is the O11-style case is they're really great for a few things: * Aesthetics/showcasing your AIO alongside your other components (and only then if you mount it next to your motherboard) without having a visible PSU shroud * Being slightly shorter in height due to not having your PSU mounted above/below your motherboard * Running custom liquid loops due to having more slots available for radiators (compared to similar-sized options) And yet, they're becoming a general trend for a lot of cases and builds in general and people are putting air cool builds in that really should use a different case. Air-cooling, thermally these cases perform WORSE than traditional front-to-back case designs, particularly mesh cases. The only major advantage in most instances is having fans directly blowing from the bottom up to the GPU which you can already get on cases like the Fractal Torrent, and mesh-fronted cases with good fans already get sufficient airflow to the GPU anyways (the difference/advantage on the O11 is only a few degrees at most). Plus you only really get that GPU advantage with the GPU in traditional mount - as soon as you vertical mount, you have a lot of the air simply going past the GPU. If you're running all the various fan slots on O11-style cases you actually very quickly hit a thermal plateau anyways because more air intake is not necessarily better - there comes a point where static pressure prevents you from getting notable performance gains. Plus, think about the airflow design for this case style. Traditional case design gives you a miniature wind-tunnel effect going front (+bottom) to back (+top). O11-style cases it's an L shape, not a straight line - the air is losing momentum from the vortical flow quite literally hitting a wall after entering the case before getting pulled to the top and back. The air from the bottom is hitting the GPU nicely, sure, but what about the CPU cooler? For reference: the Fractal Torrent (and compact) and Meshify 2 (and compact), be Quiet 500DX and 802, Corsair 4000D and 5000D Airflow, Phanteks 400A and 500A all beat *every* O11-like case in most tests. Heck, Lian Li's own Lancool II Mesh, 215, 216, and Lancool III all beat all O11 variants in most tests - the only time the O11 is competitive is the O11D Evo w/ front mesh kit (which turns it into a traditional case airflow design anyways). See basically every reviewers' thermal testing of these cases at stock plus GN + Tom's Hardware standardized fan testing. Liquid cooling mitigates this problem somewhat. With an AIO you've got the radiator fans either pulling cool air through it at full speed (mount next to motherboard or on the bottom) or pushing air through it out the top with the help of the bottom fans blowing upward (top mount) - works even better if you have a CLC GPU too. With a full custom loop you can just put push/pull radiators on all these fan mounts anyways and probably won't see a huge difference versus traditional case airflow.
in my opinion the MagniumGear NEO Qube 2 IM, Dual Chamber ATX Mid-tower, Digital-RGB Infinity Mirror Front Panel, Front I/O USB Type C, Tempered Glass Panels, White is the best looking case on the market and the quality is absurd this case is truly amazing
Just got an o11 air mini for $60 brand new(basically). It was open box from MicroCenter but it had everything unopened. Can't wait to do a new build in it
Because it's a really nice for pretty much what ever you want to do...custom waterloop its got you covered and if you can't keep your temps right in 011 Dynamic your in trouble😉
I went out on a limb and picked up the H9 flow before it sold out and before any reviews. Haven't received it yet but this is the earliest I've ever been to the case game I hope my fav reviewers give it a good score.
It's so funny that Jay keeps talking about pops and cracking in the audio when using the HD Audio cable. I personally have never had that issue, and yes I know that everyone's mileage is different. But I've never had to have the audio cable run along the power lines and I've never had any noise except when I used a super cheap Chinese knock off headset plugged into the back of my motherboard.
I would chose the NZXT. The front and side glass doesn't have metal support in the corner where they meet up so it looks more "clean". I would probaly go with the flow case cause you don't really see the top of your case that much and the airflow is a bit better in that case. I would go with a 360 rgb radiator at top and 7 rgb 120mm fans. I'm thining about making an all white build. The price difference between flow and elite is fair when you compare the price for rgb fans and controller.
Like the case, well presented Jay! But what I would prefer is to be able to buy a case without having preinstalled fans on it tbh. Makes the case less pricey overall and as customer you can decide which fans you put into it.
Sad to hear that people are over the O11D layout. I was a little out of the game till I built my new rig 2 years ago, and to me the O11D was unique and new. I still absolutely love the layout and making upgrades and working on it has been great.
I got the 011D XL for my system and love it. Not surprised that others are copying it.
Out of the O11 alternatives, I really like the Phanteks NV7 the most
This case is what the O11 Evo should've been
NV7 is now my dream case. I love that Phantex perfected what Lian Li were trying to do with the totally clean glass on the side/front of the case, without the hideous extra side-panel girth.
Phanteks NV7 is definitely a refreshing alternative, this NZXT is just another knock off with little innovation. I’d rather just wait for the refresh of the O11 XL if I wanted this design again (I have an O11 XL).
If I build another PC it’ll be an NV7 or the V3000 Plus.
The NV7 is nice, would love to see something as a Mid Tower rather than Full tower - I know Phanteks will do it as well (as they have done with a majority of their high tier cases).
Oh definitely! Phanteks makes fantastic cases.
The H9 Flow is awesome, alot better than the O11. NZXT did resolve the front corner "Problem" where everyone was grinding for the deep effect.
I'm building in the exact one right now. everyday a new piece arrives in the mail that goes into my new build. So far, I got the motherboard, CPU and ram. waiting on my psu and gpu and storage. this will be my 1st build by myself and I'm stoked to build in this beautiful behemoth!
This case is a definition of this meme "Can i copy your homework lian li?" "Sure, just change it up a little so that it doesnt look you copied it" "Sure thing"
Funny thing is Lian Li didn't do it first they only made it Modular
@@jamesholloway5682 what was the first one then? I can't recall seeing a similar one but I'm not into cases tbh
@@420rvidxr it's a mandarin brand that distributes to other western brands, I believe WJ Coolman and Xigmatek are 2 of the renamed versions for wj Coolman it's called the Robin 2 for Xigmatek something like Aquarius but we had these back in 2014-2015 at one of my local PC Centre's... Pretty much the whole aquarium style I'm not saying this Chinese brand did it first either, but they did it before Lian Li
@@420rvidxr well its a bit hard to tell who made actually the first similar case but overall we are talking about the dual chamber cases and these have been around years before Lian Li started to make them. One of the eraliest company to make them was Rosewill - the first ones didn't have the glass sidepanels and were really expensive. But Corsair has also being making them for quite some time - I had my 540 AIR back in 2013. So the Lian Li has perfected the design but at the same time its not original. And even though I have a O11 Dynamic EVO at the moment its clear that it could use some improvements - especially with the bottom intake.
The Change: You Don't mount the Powersupply on the bottom but at the top.
Amazing change NZXT
I just bought the 011 dyn EVO and have done the build in it. I was freaking impressed, I am a carpenter and know how things should be built And Lian Li did it well.I saw this NZXT case from CES here on UA-cam as I was building mine, and just LOVED the glass to glass corner. But after watching J go through this case, I appreciate the build quality and thoughts within the Lian LI. Now IDK the price of the NZXT but if its similar to the Lian Li, I dont think you can go wrong either way.
Now J mentioned having this case for years, and that what I thought with My Lian LI, BUT the Lian Li has a metal top and back, of which I think would be easier modding later on in its life, as opposed to all the glass.
The Elite is around $240
H9 Flow is $160
I mean i cant blame them the 011 is solid design. Still rocking a O11 Mini with Front-Panel-Mod.
I can't wait to see Jay getting and building in some of those new amazing cases from CES.
Especially the Phanteks NV7
Honestly it’s the first NZXT case I have liked in years!
As a owner of a 011 Dynamic XL, which I have been using for years and luv the case. The H9 COMES WITH FANS & controller, major selling point there, like the (look) glass top which is not good for air flow, but not a fan of the "swiss cheese" side panel. So if your looking for a new case in this style I would go H9. ( Owning the 011 XL, i'll never buy another case)
I would understood included fans as a "major selling" point if we would be talking about a budget case where value tops everything and you are happy to save a few bucks on fans. But imo you would not buy a case like this, that shows everything inside of it if you are planning to have a super budget build that just works and has the best value.
Most people that buy this kind of cases want pleasing aesthetics, be it with some rgb, AIO cooling, full water cooling or whatever. Chances are really high that the fans included are not the ones you want and if you want to show your pc you probably also dont want to mix 20 different fans in your case.
"But this case has two more fans inclueded and therefore is better than the other one" arguments all sound like from 10 years ago, instead they should offer the same case at a better price point, which they wont do as adding cheap stuff is great the charge more money for it, so you could decide which fans you want.
But maybe thats just me, but I ignore the included fans since I build my first pc on my own.
@@CritteRino I agree with you 100%, picking your own top notch fans yes, which is what I did, but with the prices now days on PC parts, saving a few bucks here and there to spend on the major parts is also a plus.
As for the amount of fan's, my 011 XL didnt come with any fans, or controller so thats a saving of about $200'ish ( for avg fans), yes its not a lot of money, but to some it could make a difference in CPU, GPU, memory etc.
All I was saying is that "IF' your looking for a good case this is a option over the 011 to save a few bucks right from the start.
Everyone has a opinion and thank you for sharing yours which I respect.
The issue with something like this case (which is so close in design to an existing product) is that it only makes sense if you can get it cheaper than the design it is aping unless you particularly like its styling over the original.
It does get rid of the metal pillar between the glass and also has a nice glass top. Not sure about airflow until I see tests, but it sure looks better.
@@MisterJimJim Meh, I think the Lian Li looks much better and the o11 dynamic evo has so much better features than this. The metal pillar is perfect for hiding a ledstrip so you can't see the strip
@@MisterJimJimthe lian li also has a version that get rid of the pillar.
@@whygamewhy First of all, my comment was from 5 months ago when there wasn't a Lian Li stock case without the middle pillar lol. Second of all, there still isn't a mid sized one without the pillar. The new one just came out last month and it's a full sized case, not mid sized like the H9 Elite.
It's great to hear someone (Jay, specifically) keep mentioning that Switch 810 case from back in the day. That was my first build with the infamous 2500k, and the Sapphire HD7970. What a legend! Thanks for bringing back some great memories :)
same build here lol still use the 810 switch but i9-10series now
Tbh I think this is the better case for the price, simply because it comes with 3 nice fans while the lian li case has 0.
I still rock my NZXT switch 810 in gunmetal grey! It's never let me down, cools extremely well, accepts any mobo size even extended, has great fan and radiator support. I have thought about painting it a pearly irredescent white. Maybe mod it a bit.
It's got to be really hard to design a case without having similarities to another case.
impossible
This is why modern cases are boring and has the Apple dongle life.
Wish more cases would get away from the tempered glass and go back to vented sides/front. Some Full ATX cases with 200mm fans. Presently have a thermaltake armor revo snow edition for my unraid server. Debating swapping it for my main rig which is a corsair 680x, just so I can get more airflow
@@AlfaPro1337 Well what life altering changes would you make to a case then?
I’ll tell you it’s HARD TO CHOOSE between the ones that look similar. It’s basically based on the statistics of aesthetic and cooling
With my first build I took the advice of “a case just holds the components” and I regretted it. You have to like your case.
I always wanted to build in a NZXT case. I finally did last year as a gift to a teenager. I definitely side with the Flow. As a PC, I saw the Flow offered more than a premiere priced Elite. But, get a case you like.
Looks good, but I think Lian Li still has the edge over this with the bottom to top airflow.
I do like the ventilated back panel on this one though
well thats why you have the flow version from nzxt, watch video to end plz.
Theres an H9 flow, top mesh panel
so they didn't hesitate to come up with a 1:1 copy. nice i guess
@@bikemike1945 lian li needs to take notes* is what ya mean. lian li shoulda been fish tank modded this entire time.
@@U--Haul o11d evo XL is coming out & looks much better with WAY more customization on it. they have a trailer for it on their channel.
DadzTwoCents best tech channel
Looks very cool Jay, but I still prefer my new Hyte Y60. These are fun times (finally) for interesting case designs.
...because the 011 Dynamic is amazing. The double glass front and side is inspired, looks great, amazing airflow. I ADORE mine in white and see no reason to switch.
I really like o11 evo for its modularity parts(front mesh; vertical gpu mount; and USB port mount choices)
Please just do a build! I don’t care anymore in which case as long as Jay starts building an modding. Way te few builds on the channel over the last months while they are always great to watch.
I’ve had my O11 since Jan 19, and still love it for my water cooled build. But I would consider the Flow version if I were going to do an AIO build.
i used to have the NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case (Glossy White) back from 2014 - 2020 and it was a beast
Excited to see you looking at this!! I ordered the H9 flow last week and it should be getting here in a couple days.
My plan is to do my first custom water loop in this with two 360s. Not sure if I want a distribution block/pump combo where the 3 stock fans would be or hide something under the power supply.
Should be a lot of fun and I can't wait to get started.
Honestly, i'm pretty sure you'll love the case.
I got mine last week and absolutely love it
I have the 011 Air and watching this video just felt like deja vu... 011 Air is an amazing case and the airflow is great. The room for cable managemant is fantasic and made the install so easy.
I just finished my first ever PC build, and it was using the H9 flow case! I loved the different mounting points. It's worth noting I was looking at this case compared to the O11 Dynamic, but I feel like NZXT has the edge on this one due to the value provided to builders with the included fans. I don't regret using this case at all!
Offering two top fan brackets makes sense for this case because the top exhaust will be higher pressure. If they used a universal 280/360 option like most cases, you'd get a lot of air bleed from the exhaust side of the fan back around to the intake through the non-used fan holes; the solid fan brackets force the air to exit the case.
I’m spoiled on the y60. It’s a piece of art, every time I walk into the room. Really well done. So glad ibuy made a different division named hyte.
Yes, it may be another 'O11 dynamic copy', but the part that almost everyone misses is that each company finds their own spin on it and little upgrades. Yes, the O11 was revolutionary for sure, but as time passes, I've noted quite a bunch of features that I don't really like and that Lian Li never 'fixed', but I appreciate from new cases of it's type. The fact that you can mount 140mm fans on the bottom is huge, and if you can do the same on the top in the H9 Flow, even better! The amount of space on the side fans, and the fact that you cound mount a rad on the back chamber instead of the main chamber is also quite interesting. And the bracket that holds the 2.5'' drives, the fact that it opens on a hinge instead of screwing on the top and the bottom is a nice change as well. I'm sure there are many more changes, but these are the ones that jumped to me.
The thing about what the O11D started is it works ~well enough~ and gives you the opportunity to really showcase more of the interior of the case. It's a reasonable compromise for the average use case. For those needing a little bit more benefit from the air flow, use a radiator and position all the heat right at the intake.
I think the next version of a "premium" O11 clone is going to be one where the top, front, and side are all one thick piece of tempered glass which mounts and provides structure to the rest of the frame.
I did my first ever pc build in this case, went pretty smooth, wishing they had a bigger grate on the top to push more air out like mentioned
They're all doing the O11 thing, Corsair, Phantek, NZXT, Thermaltake and et'al. All good, nice to have a choice. I have recently replaced my O11D with H9 Flow, much better cable management with the latter.
I like the glass on the NZXT better since the Lian Li uses the paint around the edges of the glass.
I love just doing case swaps I have about 20 cases in my garage that I swap out yearly. It’s how I’ve learned to build PCs and it gives me something to do 😊
looking forward to the H9 build and how the components configure inside it.
This is like the 1st gen 011 with the price of a 011 EVO, I'd go with the EVO for its modularity
Jay, I completely agree. I had the S340 elite for the longest time. I loved the look and size of the case. However, when I upgraded to a rtx 3070, and had a 240mm cpu aio, I did not have enough intake airflow in my system. In the summer time, let’s just say it turned into a space heater
Built in an O11 Dynamic recently.
I've never experienced such an easy and enjoyable build ever. They literally thought of everything!
The usb ports are stupid in their default position though. Had to get the top bar to reposition them.
I had an eye on the Lian Li case back when I built my PC, but seem to remember it was just a bit too expensive and tricky to buy at the time. So between the models I was able to justify, on a reasonably well spread budget (and NZXT were on that list, alongside Phanteks and Fractal Design), I ended up with the Corsair Crystal 460s RGB which leans towards what you were saying about a case lasting you for some time. I can well imagine that I might have a change for aesthetic reasons at some point if (when) I build another PC, but its solid industrial look combined with a simple, open interior and respectable airflow makes it a pretty perfect container. Looking at the flow edition I see that same openness in this NZXT range.
Cases are in my upgrade path usually every 2-3 years. I upgrade case more than I upgrade the rest of my components. But then again, I just like fiddling around and making my setup better every time I need to drain and flush my loop (though I must admit, with my previous setup: I left coolant in for 3 years, but the system was old and I didn't respect it any longer anyway, it surprised me how well mayhems pastel white lasted for me, especially considering how many people have had major issues with the mayhems pastels, I literally only noticed some slight separation after 2 years, but it all still mixed nicely and no gunk in the blocks like I've seen in many pictures.
I've had my h710i for like 4 or 5 years now. It has great build quality and atill looks as good as the day I bought it. And it has no issue keeping my 4090 cool.
I got this case on the airflow version and I love it. Looks really cool, even fancy, my cooling is improved (coming from an H710 lol). It's a solid option if you're looking for a case like this. Would recommend!
May i ask what you have? seem tempting to make the change, myself i have a H710, running a i9 9900K @5GHz and a RTX 3080 Rog Strix, but i have removed the front and top panel to have the whole thing get more air into it
@@Gollet95 I have the same case h9 flow, I really love it and airflow is good. I have ryzen 9 5900x and rtx 3070 ti
@@Goofi3 Ended up with Elite, timw will tell how it ends up, but doesnt seem like a bad choice in the end, would obviously prefer Flow variant airflow with Elite looks, but cant get everything
@@Goofi3 Do you use an AIO WC? Where you mounted it, side intake or top exaust?
@@phabranI mounted my AIO on the top. It's better for the GPU to get cooler air than the CPU, and top mounting is better for AIO's anyway.
I bought my first large case and never needed to replace it, I love large so easy to work with
I honestly think the upcoming Phanteks EV7 is going to blow all these copy cat cases away when they launch next month. I might have to buy one, even though I don't plan on putting any new builds inside.
* Phanteks NV7
I also CANNOT wait to get my hands on one, it looks amazing
I agree with the glass on top thing, I'd rather it just be open for airflow, but I like that the plastic piece looks designed to act as a guide, and even though the air is making those hard bends, it does look quite open to allowing the air to go either up out the top, or out the ventilated side panel. Personally, I think it's suboptimal, but I also think with the right fans(either static pressure optimized , or brute force through rpms), it'll do a good enough job, and the glass on top does *look* nice.
Edit: I love the inclusion of the 280mm bracket for the top, and only solidifies to me that they intended that to be used as a flow guide. No hot air circulation with either config when used properly. A nice attention to detail on that actually, and I personally am fine with a slightly more expensive, but more modular case. Coming from someone with a Fractal Define R7
If my PC was going to be on my right side I think I would choose this over the o11 but as I only have space on the left of my desk, my next case is going to be the o11 Evo variant so I can reverse the layout. I'd be interested in seeing your thoughts/recommendations on a reverse/inverted case as I can't find many out there.
Yeah same here. Couldn't find much other than the o11. Would like seeing a video or just some recommendations of reverse or inverted cases.
@@Spartan265 get creative with positioning, interiour design and use cubes for example. you can place them in diffrent angles rather than standard pc cases. don't always buy into design. get original and play with your space
For myself I'd do a water-cooled system in the H9 Elite.
But use the top 360 area with a "stealth" reservoir instead of a slim radiator and fans.
Hide a small inline pump somewhere in the back and have rads at the bottom and the side.
You'll have a very clean and cool looking system.
I have an o11 since day 1 and there hasn't been a case to steer me another way. Honestly I would just intake through the top and bottom and exhaust out the side. It works for me and actually gives me the best cooling. I've tried them all and the whole "heat rises" doesn't matter when there's fans moving the air. Naturally yes it does rise but only when it's static air. But this case is a good option if you don't want the o11. Still want something innovative again to switch cases.
Upgraded to the H9 flow from a Nzxt phantom 410 loving the H9 flow !
Now I want to see Fractal Design's take on Lian-Li 011. Maybe from Meshify series where that pretty mesh would be in the side panel!
I have been rocking my NZXT Shift 810 for about 9 years now... I have loved this case and modified it a LOT to make it my own. I got a little excited when you mentioned the case, since I remember your old-school videos when you built in it for yourself. BTW I am building in a Corsair 7000D big boy
I'm really looking forward to the thermaltake cte cases. I usually wouldn't go for thermaltake, but damn the cte series looks awesome.
Thermaltake makes some really good looking cases.
Thermaltake is the only company daring to try new designs anymore.
I honestly have never used any of their products and have heard the jokes about thermal"fake". I know their psu's were/are questionable. I can't lie though, the CTE case line looks wild and it'll likely be my next case.
@@The1WhoEatsCake Thermaltake did copy some designs of a brutally expensive case company and brought them to the main public at affordable prices.
That company died because of it's overly expensive products and people blame Thermaltake.
Since then every teenager heard about that incident and keeps repeating the same lame comments without having remotely any clue or first hand experience with either product.
The very example of O11 is enough to prove that if your products are mint other companies copying them won't force you out of the market for gods shake.
Not to mention that even serious brands copy each other so the TT haters are even more disconnected from reality.
Do take the Thermaltake case, they usually offer excellent value and design.
This is exactly what I want. An o11 that isn’t an o11. I love the NZXT touches I think the case looks great
*Slowly raises hand* I still use my (2) 10TB IronWolf HDs for uncompressed YT video storage. Also, this case looks pretty cool but I think I would just get the Lian Li version based on the air flow path from bottom to top being unobstructed. I am sure the free flowing version of this case will solve that issue though.
Your decision, but as a professional SI, i'd recommend the H9
If you want nice cable management, the H9 is probably the best case i've ever worked with. Yes, you don't have the space for as many HDDs / SSDs as the O11s have, but with all the space in the back, you could easily put like 8- 10 HDDs in there
If you want that much storage, it's probably better to buy or build a dedicated server to keep all those cumbersome drives out of your personal rig. Or you can buy a cloud storage subscription.
@@FieryMeltman That is exactly how I have it setup. I have 3 RIGs, one of which has the Iron wolf drives. I access them over my network from the main computers.
My case is the only original part I still have in my build from over 6 years ago. Still rocking the NXZT S340 Elite. It's been through 2 mobos and processors, 4 graphics cards, and 3 fan sets
The top glass is cool I guess besides the terrible airflow of it
Until it breaks
@@Skreamies what’s it breaking from?
If you even can see through.. When the case is on the desk you only see sideways into it.. maybe get a glimpse of the fans if you're 8' tall..
That’s it. I’m finally going to get a new case for my PC. I’ve been rocking the Thermaltake Core P3 for over 8 years now, it’s been with me through 3 builds and a water cooling setup, but I’m tired of cleaning my PC all the freaking time. This case is beautiful and the flow version is a really good value in my opinion.
when I was thinking about the perfect case design that I'd want, i basically came up with the O11D configuration. separate compartment for psu and 3 360mm radiators. I was so damn happy when I found out it already existed. now running it with all SL120 / galahad setup.
It's an O11 improvement from what I see and I've been really critical of NZXT. Yes, it needs the Flow top piece.
Mesh in the front, the bottom, the rear and the upper case are my favorites. 😀
Call me immature, but every case I see with "Flow" tacked onto the end of the name makes me expect a free box of Tampax inside. So far, disappointed.
Surprising how many case manufacturers have ripped off the design of the O11 Dynamic with little or no substantial changes. I guess Lian Li is going with the principle "imitation is the greatest form or flattery" and perhaps no real patent. Phanteks did it multiple times with the MagniumGear Neo Qube and the NV7, now NZXT. Seems like a "Clone Wars" segment by someone would be in order. Which 011 is the best 011......
011 to be honest. It looks better built and Lian-Li seems to trend more towards better build quality. I know on mine ever seam is perfect, everything lines up properly, and the finish is perfect.
not to mention that the 011D is also not a small chunk of change cheaper than even the flow
I absolutely love my XL, great setup for an open-air 4090. Side intake is perfect for my AIO fans with top exhaust.
Yep, another Lian-Li O11D variant
I have been following your channel for nearly 2 years now Jay. Its actually what got me into computers. Started with a prebuilt with
ryzen 3 3600 CPU
Amd 580x GPU
B450 MB
600w psu
500gb ssd m.2
Wasn't able to play certain games so I finally built my own.
Currently running
B550
CPU Ryzen 7 5600 AIO water cooled
GPU GEFORCE 3080
3 1tb ssd
1 1tb m.2 ssd
800w psu
In the original case!
Lol huge jump but about to atemp my first watercooled system...
I stopped doing this a long time ago, but I do see the appeal atm sooooo..... FIRST! 😂
Ooh, off by one. Nice try
Unfortunately you ended up 2nd. 🤣
@@MafiaboysWorld only cuz I took the time to type all that extra shit 😂
@@J_spec6 That's why you go "FiRsT" then edit it once you know you took the W. 😂👍
I'm still waiting to get my hands on an O11 Evo XL. Personally love my current O11XL, it was so easy to build open loop in.
Just get Lian-Li 011D or the XL version.. you wont need anything else. 😄
I have it and you're right!
@@tbreeze79 Thats what im saying.. i have it as well the XL version.
You dont need another copy from NZXT of pretty much the same case, Lian-Li Even looks way better with some details in my opinion.
@@waldoonalld it's up to preference, if people like the H9 over the o11, why not let them be? I have the Jonsbo D41 LCD because of its small form factor while still able to get an ATX motherboard in it and the LCD screen that can be used as an external display, it's very gimmicky but that's why i like it
@@keonxd8918 H9 vs O11 are the same, O11 XL is just bigger.. they is also O11 mini.. other than that lian-li is atleast better quality for the money and overall just looks better (i wonder why its most sold case out there duh) others just copy it to get on the train and thats kinda sad but it wont really work 🙃 O11 will still be on the top with pretty much everything.
Can't wait for Corsair to release their O11 copy
Still rocking my 820!
Jay never holds back on His reviews, I luv it. Keep em comin.
nzxt tryed to do something similar,but they fked up with that glass panel on top,i've seen many complains about the airflow so... O11 dynamic rocks
I can't believe that hardly nobody talks as bout the coolermaster haf 700 evo and non evo. I've built in those cases and they are phenomenal. My son even got one and its great.
Just built a new PC and went with the Lian 011 Dynamic Evo simply because I really liked the glass and sleek look of it. My old case was the original Coolermaster HAF 932 and I didn't think I'd ever find something that appealed to me more. I've got 9 fans in the Lian Li, where the old case only had 6, so I can see why people are copying the design, it's beautiful and allows people to really go nuts with builds.
As a person working for europes biggest System Integrator i can tell you that this is the best case i've ever build in.
JAY: CASELAB is back in business. They are now in Sweden. It will be a while before they are actually producing retail, but it would be great to see you do a complete water-cooled build.
I have the 011 XL and i love it. I like the no frame on the corner on the NZXT.
I have the OL 11D XL since a few years, best PC case I've ever had in terms of build. Fractal design have very interesting design approach though so Phantek too..
Nice NZXT case, but I'm waiting for the Thermaltake CTE C750.
lian li has started an interesting trend and more aesthetic variety in pc cases is ultimately good for everybody (just look how many 'my first build' videos use the o11, clearly a lot of especially new builders are drawn to this look)
but personally the double-width cases aren't an aesthetic i like; a bit too square and stocky compared to standard narrow width with front-to-back airflow
The PSU shroud look of narrow cases is also overdone and severly limits cooling too. At least there's options. But it would be cool to have more of them.
@@ledoynier3694 yup, i find that the o11 aesthetic heavily benefits people who are interested in rgb/watercooling
but if you want the absolute best airflow and don't like rgb, all that glass paneling does nothing you
"What's in the box" reference at 14:33 is gold!
These sold out everywhere when you posted this video. That said they just now came in stock on NZXT site and I snagged a FLOW!
In the UK, the NZXT H9 Flow Dual-Chamber ATX Mid-Tower PC Gaming Case with the High-Airflow Perforated Top Panel is £210.00 + £7.50 delivery
I feel called out about the using an old case... LOVED my Antec Sonata 2, but after a decade, it was looking rough. So I got a DP502 Flux, and it'll probably last me a decade, too.
The Dynamic EVO is still in my opinion the best case when it comes to this design because of its modularity and amazing looks (especially the white one). Two big complaints I have with this case: 1. Absolutely no point in going with the glass on top. The majority of these will sit on a desk where the user will be looking inside the case and not at the top. 2. Why have the PSU mount only on top? The evo (and original dynamic for that matter) give you the option to mount the PSU on either the top or bottom. Mounting it on the bottom gives you a more bottom heavy case to help with sturdiness and it allows you to access the cooler backplate from behind the motherboard. That's a huge oversight IMO.
I initially liked the O11 and in the end, got a neoqube which was fairly similar since the O11 was out of stock (surprise, surprise).
That glass to glass, no metal, is just soooo attractive holyyyyy
011 is the cuurent Beige case, everyone has/had one by now
When you were talking about the top of the case I was reminded of the NZXT H630, and how I wish it had an exit on both sides of the top instead of one side. I liked that the top was covered so dust wouldn't fall into it while it was off, and still had a simple exit for exhaust. It would have been great if they did something like that here even if the top was glass. I don't use that case anymore. It's just a night stand.
So as a general comment with this entire structure of case design (not just the H9). The strangest thing with this trend is the O11-style case is they're really great for a few things:
* Aesthetics/showcasing your AIO alongside your other components (and only then if you mount it next to your motherboard) without having a visible PSU shroud
* Being slightly shorter in height due to not having your PSU mounted above/below your motherboard
* Running custom liquid loops due to having more slots available for radiators (compared to similar-sized options)
And yet, they're becoming a general trend for a lot of cases and builds in general and people are putting air cool builds in that really should use a different case.
Air-cooling, thermally these cases perform WORSE than traditional front-to-back case designs, particularly mesh cases. The only major advantage in most instances is having fans directly blowing from the bottom up to the GPU which you can already get on cases like the Fractal Torrent, and mesh-fronted cases with good fans already get sufficient airflow to the GPU anyways (the difference/advantage on the O11 is only a few degrees at most). Plus you only really get that GPU advantage with the GPU in traditional mount - as soon as you vertical mount, you have a lot of the air simply going past the GPU.
If you're running all the various fan slots on O11-style cases you actually very quickly hit a thermal plateau anyways because more air intake is not necessarily better - there comes a point where static pressure prevents you from getting notable performance gains. Plus, think about the airflow design for this case style. Traditional case design gives you a miniature wind-tunnel effect going front (+bottom) to back (+top). O11-style cases it's an L shape, not a straight line - the air is losing momentum from the vortical flow quite literally hitting a wall after entering the case before getting pulled to the top and back. The air from the bottom is hitting the GPU nicely, sure, but what about the CPU cooler?
For reference: the Fractal Torrent (and compact) and Meshify 2 (and compact), be Quiet 500DX and 802, Corsair 4000D and 5000D Airflow, Phanteks 400A and 500A all beat *every* O11-like case in most tests. Heck, Lian Li's own Lancool II Mesh, 215, 216, and Lancool III all beat all O11 variants in most tests - the only time the O11 is competitive is the O11D Evo w/ front mesh kit (which turns it into a traditional case airflow design anyways). See basically every reviewers' thermal testing of these cases at stock plus GN + Tom's Hardware standardized fan testing.
Liquid cooling mitigates this problem somewhat. With an AIO you've got the radiator fans either pulling cool air through it at full speed (mount next to motherboard or on the bottom) or pushing air through it out the top with the help of the bottom fans blowing upward (top mount) - works even better if you have a CLC GPU too. With a full custom loop you can just put push/pull radiators on all these fan mounts anyways and probably won't see a huge difference versus traditional case airflow.
in my opinion the MagniumGear NEO Qube 2 IM, Dual Chamber ATX Mid-tower, Digital-RGB Infinity Mirror Front Panel, Front I/O USB Type C, Tempered Glass Panels, White is the best looking case on the market and the quality is absurd this case is truly amazing
Just got an o11 air mini for $60 brand new(basically). It was open box from MicroCenter but it had everything unopened. Can't wait to do a new build in it
Because it's a really nice for pretty much what ever you want to do...custom waterloop its got you covered and if you can't keep your temps right in 011 Dynamic your in trouble😉
I went out on a limb and picked up the H9 flow before it sold out and before any reviews. Haven't received it yet but this is the earliest I've ever been to the case game I hope my fav reviewers give it a good score.
I went with the 4000d air flow. love it. NZXT cases have never been for air flow. Im sure we will find out.
It's so funny that Jay keeps talking about pops and cracking in the audio when using the HD Audio cable. I personally have never had that issue, and yes I know that everyone's mileage is different. But I've never had to have the audio cable run along the power lines and I've never had any noise except when I used a super cheap Chinese knock off headset plugged into the back of my motherboard.
I would chose the NZXT. The front and side glass doesn't have metal support in the corner where they meet up so it looks more "clean". I would probaly go with the flow case cause you don't really see the top of your case that much and the airflow is a bit better in that case. I would go with a 360 rgb radiator at top and 7 rgb 120mm fans. I'm thining about making an all white build. The price difference between flow and elite is fair when you compare the price for rgb fans and controller.
I have a Fractal Design Meshify 2, but I’m really interested in the H9 flow. It isn’t too expensive and it looks really nice.
Like the case, well presented Jay!
But what I would prefer is to be able to buy a case without having preinstalled fans on it tbh.
Makes the case less pricey overall and as customer you can decide which fans you put into it.