New build need help and suggestions

[sleepylilazn]

I'm currently using my laptop as my main system with an external video card setup for more graphics intensive games. I can't wait until ivy bridge comes out before I start a new build. So I just need a system to tide me over these next couple months.

Here's what I'm thinking about getting so far (all USD):

CPU - Intel G530 (I need this until I replace it with an ivy bridge processor) $50

GPU - Zotac 470 (already own it) $0

Case - Rosewill THOR V2-White Edition (I like the case, but not enough to commit to it. So I'm completely open to suggestions for the case. I'm interested in going into water cooling when I upgrade to an ivy bridge processor and some sort of dual gpu solution) $140

Mobo - Asrock z68 extreme7 $280

RAM - Corsair dominator 8gb (2 x 4 gb) 1600 9-9-9-24 (This or something else I don't think it matters that much, but correct me if I'm wrong.) $100

PSU - OCZ 1000 Watt $200

SSD - Corsair force gt 120gb $200

Sound card - ASUS Xonar Essence $175

Total : $1145

I'd like to know what people think about this. I would love to hear suggestions.

 

[S_I_N]

prolly ok but why a 1kwatt psu way overkill even if ur thinking sli later 850watter should moe than suffice and a good Corsair branded on at that would be most likely cheaper than 200$ I shy away from ocz psu's as at one time they stopped making psu's but it seems there back at it again.

 

[sleepylilazn]

prolly ok but why a 1kwatt psu way overkill even if ur thinking sli later 850watter should moe than suffice and a good Corsair branded on at that would be most likely cheaper than 200$ I shy away from ocz psu's as at one time they stopped making psu's but it seems there back at it again.

I was initially thinking about the corsair ax850, but like you said I thought that would not be ideal when I switch over to sli on water with some overclocking. Would I be just fine sticking with the ax850($180)?

 

[S_I_N]

should be fine I'm running the 750 oc's and water cooled just cant sli yet because well only one gpu atm and psu would need upping as well.

 

[fcb]

Definitely agree with S_I_N. It's not necessary to have such a high powered PSU. At most, you'll probably only need 850W max for dual video cards and some OC + watercooling. The AX850 is a great power supply. If you're going to be watercooling eventually, you may want a larger case that has better compatibility with watercooling. I think the HAF X is a great case for your everything.

 

[sleepylilazn]

Definitely agree with S_I_N. It's not necessary to have such a high powered PSU. At most, you'll probably only need 850W max for dual video cards and some OC + watercooling. The AX850 is a great power supply. If you're going to be watercooling eventually, you may want a larger case that has better compatibility with watercooling. I think the HAF X is a great case for your everything.

Nice to know. I'm not a big fan of the HAF X. I liked it before, but now it just doesn't look too attractive to me. =T

I'll be searching for a more suitable case. I'm still open to more suggestions.

 

[fcb]

The CM 690 II Advanced is another case to look at. It's able to watercool as well, even though it's only a mid sized case.

 

[sleepylilazn]

I'm actually looking into the corsair 650d. What do you guys think about it?

 

[fcb]

I'm actually looking into the corsair 650d. What do you guys think about it?

You may be able to fit a thin 240mm radiator at the top of the of Corsair 650D as it has support for x2 120mm fans at the top.

 

[sleepylilazn]

You may be able to fit a thin 240mm radiator at the top of the of Corsair 650D as it has support for x2 120mm fans at the top.

Is that enough to cool what I'm going for?

I'm seeing some people add a 200mm to the front along with a 240mm rad on the top, but that makes me wonder if even that is enough.

 

[fcb]

Are you planning to cool both CPU and GPU or just the CPU? The 650D will be great for the all in one maintenance free water cooling solutions like the Corsair H100.

Another good case that allows for both air and water cooling options is the Fractal Design Arc Midi. You should be able to fit a 280mm radiator at the top without any problems with either 2 fans drawing air out of the case at the top or 4 fans in a push/pull setup. Due to the design of the Arc Midi, it allows you to have tall RAM as well. That's pretty neat if you already have tall RAM or are thinking about using tall RAM.

 

[daniSAUR]

280mm rads aren't apparently that good, 240 rads are better. I've got the 650d, you can fit a 240mm at the top no problem, but to fit a 200mm rad in at the front of the case it could resolve in a bit of modding and moving the hard drive cage.

 

[fcb]

280mm rads aren't apparently that good, 240 rads are better. I've got the 650d, you can fit a 240mm at the top no problem, but to fit a 200mm rad in at the front of the case it could resolve in a bit of modding and moving the hard drive cage.

That's really interesting. Pardon me. I don't have any experience with watercooling. It would be cool if the 650D had another 120mm placement at the top. 360mm radiator would be pretty cool if it were possible for that case.

 

[daniSAUR]

That's really interesting. Pardon me. I don't have any experience with watercooling. It would be cool if the 650D had another 120mm placement at the top. 360mm radiator would be pretty cool if it were possible for that case.

Yeah I know.

I wish I could at least fit a slim 360 rad in at the top... Ah well. I think you can put a slim rad up top and a 120mm rad on the exhaust.

 

[fcb]

What other cases out there have preconfigured radiator mounting so you don't actually have to customize the case to fit the larger radiators?

 

[sleepylilazn]

Are you planning to cool both CPU and GPU or just the CPU? The 650D will be great for the all in one maintenance free water cooling solutions like the Corsair H100.

Another good case that allows for both air and water cooling options is the Fractal Design Arc Midi. You should be able to fit a 280mm radiator at the top without any problems with either 2 fans drawing air out of the case at the top or 4 fans in a push/pull setup. Due to the design of the Arc Midi, it allows you to have tall RAM as well. That's pretty neat if you already have tall RAM or are thinking about using tall RAM.

I plan on cooling an ivy bridge processor and dual gpus(most likely one of those dual gpu single card because of cost).

280mm rads aren't apparently that good, 240 rads are better. I've got the 650d, you can fit a 240mm at the top no problem, but to fit a 200mm rad in at the front of the case it could resolve in a bit of modding and moving the hard drive cage.

Odd. One would think that larger rad = better. I'm not saying I don't believe you, just doubting, but I would like to see some credibility behind that claim.

That's really interesting. Pardon me. I don't have any experience with watercooling. It would be cool if the 650D had another 120mm placement at the top. 360mm radiator would be pretty cool if it were possible for that case.

A 360mm possibility for the top would be just perfect, but sadly the 650d just doesn't have it. =T

What other cases out there have preconfigured radiator mounting so you don't actually have to customize the case to fit the larger radiators?

I'm not sure. I'm still trying to find some nice cases for me. There aren't that many options out there for that.

I'm starting to wonder if I actually go through with the 650d with the 240mm on top and 200mm in the front, then would that be cheaper and/or perform better than getting a larger/more water cooling friendly case and sticking a 360mm on top or something like that.

 

[daniSAUR]

I plan on cooling an ivy bridge processor and dual gpus(most likely one of those dual gpu single card because of cost).

Odd. One would think that larger rad = better. I'm not saying I don't believe you, just doubting, but I would like to see some credibility behind that claim.

A 360mm possibility for the top would be just perfect, but sadly the 650d just doesn't have it. =T

I'm not sure. I'm still trying to find some nice cases for me. There aren't that many options out there for that.

I'm starting to wonder if I actually go through with the 650d with the 240mm on top and 200mm in the front, then would that be cheaper and/or perform better than getting a larger/more water cooling friendly case and sticking a 360mm on top or something like that.

Yeah I looked into it, apparently the 280mm rads create a lot of static pressure in the case which isn't known for great cooling. Sucks, I know.

I was going to get a slim 280mm rad for my rig but I was convinced otherwise.

I'd recommend the Coolermaster CM690 ii advance. It's cheap, and can hold a thick and thin 240mm rads within the case. I had one for my previous setup, I had a slim rad at the top of the case (as I have for the 650d) and a thick PA120.2 at the bottom with half the HDD cage removed. So it's definitely do-able in that case.

I think you should go with whatever you find to be an attractive case. Have a look at these rigs, all in 650ds:

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=96079

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=94403

And just google it also, there're a few lovely builds out there.

Also, I've got the buzzing on the front 200mm fan, with a fan controller (not the one that comes with the case) and the front fan is a lot louder than any of the others in my case. Just so you know.

 

[sleepylilazn]

Yeah I looked into it, apparently the 280mm rads create a lot of static pressure in the case which isn't known for great cooling. Sucks, I know.

I was going to get a slim 280mm rad for my rig but I was convinced otherwise.

I'd recommend the Coolermaster CM690 ii advance. It's cheap, and can hold a thick and thin 240mm rads within the case. I had one for my previous setup, I had a slim rad at the top of the case (as I have for the 650d) and a thick PA120.2 at the bottom with half the HDD cage removed. So it's definitely do-able in that case.

I think you should go with whatever you find to be an attractive case. Have a look at these rigs, all in 650ds:

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=96079

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=94403

And just google it also, there're a few lovely builds out there.

Also, I've got the buzzing on the front 200mm fan, with a fan controller (not the one that comes with the case) and the front fan is a lot louder than any of the others in my case. Just so you know.

I have seen those builds around and they look really nice.

I'm actually considering the 800d now. It's about $50 more than the 650d and I was wondering what you guys think about that.

Compared to the 650d and other viable water cooling friendly cases, how good or bad is the 800d?

 

[daniSAUR]

Or air cooling, the 800d is a terrible case as it was really only made for cooling with liquid. So it's pretty great under water with the separate chambers.

I believe you can fit massive rads in at the bottom which will cool you CPU and GPUs nicely.

 

[sleepylilazn]

Or air cooling, the 800d is a terrible case as it was really only made for cooling with liquid. So it's pretty great under water with the separate chambers.

I believe you can fit massive rads in at the bottom which will cool you CPU and GPUs nicely.

I think I'll most likely go with the 800d now seeing as how I'm not going to be running anything extremely hot until I upgrade, and when I do I'll be putting them on water. =]

Now that I think about it. I think they made it so that the 650d cannot accommodate a 360mm rad at the top because sales would go towards the 650d and make the 800d that much more obsolete. Just a thought.