Hey guys looking for options to replace my HAF-X case.  I've had it for about 7 years now, it was the release before the USB 3.0 internal headers were available, so I'm looking for something with USB 3.x ports and maybe something a little lighter in weight but don't want to lose cooling performance either.   I'm not tied to a full tower, as long as air cooling is good, but I'd also like the option to be able to mount at least a 320mm radiator in case I decide to go water cooling down the line.  I was looking at maybe one of the EVGA cases just for a different look but sounds like at least the DG-7 series might have some airflow issues.  One thing I've noticed with my HAF-X that I'm hoping to avoid is the PCIe slots are not super accurately lined up like the back panel bows out a hair and I need to use some pressure to get screws into mounting brackets for GPU's etc.  On a previous build I think I actually resorted to zip ties on one addon card I was running (not the gpu).
 
Other considerations.........
1x mechanical 3.5" HDD
1x 2.5" SSD
1x DVD-RW (still use discs so need either a bay or will have to go to an external USB which could work since I wanted to put a blu-ray drive in anyway)
1x GPU for now but I keep cases for a number of years and SLI is always a possibility down the road (though not super likely)
CPU cooling for now it needs to fit a Noctua NH-D14
Front panel audio would be nice
 
Edit:
forgot to mention, I was thinking of a mid-tower because I want to move the tower to the top of my desk to reduce dust intake by PSU etc, but a full tower would still be ok.  Or I may put a platform on the floor to at least get it off the carpet.  I'm going to be building a new desk setup in my office to replace a 10 year old Ikea thing that just has no room.

 
My HAF X case may be heavy, but I won't replace it. No way, no how. Mine also has 3.0 ports. It keeps everything inside nice, and cool. Love this case.   

VegetaCreeper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DcIuljU4XQ&feature=youtu.be

This is a temporary video that I made just to give you a glimpse into the awesomeness of this case

Try gaming while all those lights are flashing. LOL. Just a flashy mid-tower case.     

XrayMan

VegetaCreeper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DcIuljU4XQ&feature=youtu.be

This is a temporary video that I made just to give you a glimpse into the awesomeness of this case

Try gaming while all those lights are flashing. LOL. Just a flashy mid-tower case.     

A flashy mid tower case full of awesomeness. I can turn off all the lights if I want. I modded the side panel out so when I use the vertical gpu mount, it has lots of room to breath (Im currently RMA’ng my gpu riser because it was bad).

Trust me it looks freaking amazing in person - I’ve built around 10 really nice custom pc’s and this one looks the best to me.

I replaced my HAF X case so i can fit 2 hybrids in my case along with 2 sata ssds and large cpu cooler. new case is a Corsair 760T case.

Check EVGA, Thermaltake and Phanteks cases

Thanks for the input guys.  I haven't decided for sure to replace it or not just looking at options right now.  The biggest thing will be making sure I don't go with a case that has noticeably less cooling performance.  Either way I need to swap at least a couple of my HAF-X's fans out.  They've become super noisy if turned on cold.  Guess I kinda figure if I maybe want to replace the case anyway then why bother though.

To be clear, mine has 3.0 ports but it's the 1st gen style that came with cables you had to route out the back and plug into back panel USB ports on the motherboard.  I found at one point for about $50 or so I could buy a whole new top assembly with the updated IO panel but at that point I might as well start looking at new cases.

bdary

flyinion
To be clear, mine has 3.0 ports but it's the 1st gen style that came with cables you had to route out the back and plug into back panel USB ports on the motherboard.  I found at one point for about $50 or so I could buy a whole new top assembly with the updated IO panel but at that point I might as well start looking at new cases.

That's right...I forgot about it being that way.  Shows how much I use USB 3.0 I guess (never).

The only things I truly use it for are my external HDD and a Ducky Shine 5 that likes USB 3.0 for apparently extra power for brighter RGB lighting.  I actually have the alternate USB 2.0 headers hooked up to the front panel USB 3.0 ones.  Mostly cause I don't know where I put the USB 3 external cables now for the case, but also I have no need for actual front panel USB 3.0 right now.

fearpoint
I recently upgraded from a HAF 922 to a Phanteks P400 tempered glass. It's heaven. Put a 280mm radiator in the front to suck in air. No issues with airflow here. I use 1 SSD and 1 3.5 HDD. Their adapters/cages are amazing. I didn't even bother with the dvd/r/w drive I had in the HAF either. The external USB optical drivers are super cheap and slim. Having a yuge internal optical drive just doesn't make sense any longer. I can't say enough good things about this Phanteks case. It went beyond my expectations and I feel it's easily the best $80 I've ever spent on a case. 

The front is the only place you can mount a dual fan radiator in the case.  It's weird how some cases they don't give you enough room at the top for a 240/280mm radiator.

Definitely a thread that has my interest. What made the HAF-X unique is that when it launched it was just one of a few cases that could fit a triple 140mm radiator in the top with minimal modding. I've been looking for a replacement case that has the same ability with better cable management room, but they still aren't easy to find without going extreme like a 900D.
 

flyinion
To be clear, mine has 3.0 ports but it's the 1st gen style that came with cables you had to route out the back and plug into back panel USB ports on the motherboard.  I found at one point for about $50 or so I could buy a whole new top assembly with the updated IO panel but at that point I might as well start looking at new cases.

Wow, no kidding. Would've expected it to be a lot cheaper since it's all just plastic. I replaced the top on my HAF-X some years back, the very earliest models were missing an insulating plastic shim for the top IO port controller PCB that prevented the potential for shorts. CM had to sent out replacements, and because they glued the entire thing together they were forced to send out entire top assemblies to affected customers. 

kougar
 
Wow, no kidding. Would've expected it to be a lot cheaper since it's all just plastic. I replaced the top on my HAF-X some years back, the very earliest models were missing an insulating plastic shim for the top IO port controller PCB that prevented the potential for shorts. CM had to sent out replacements, and because they glued the entire thing together they were forced to send out entire top assemblies to affected customers. 

Ok it was slightly cheaper than I remember ($40) but yeah it's the entire top panel.
 
http://www.cmstore-usa.com/haf-x-top-panel-with-i-o-panel/
 

just buy a 5 1/4 bay with USB 3.0 and maybe a nice card reader, they make them and keep the HAF X

candle_86
just buy a 5 1/4 bay with USB 3.0 and maybe a nice card reader, they make them and keep the HAF X

  +1       

Measure them, should be easy to tell the difference.  30mm is over an inch larger