Paradox: The Continuum
- Thread starter XANADV
- Start date
Moving to the new house
[BEGIN TRANSMISSION]
Hello again guys and gals! We are over a month into 2014 and a lot has been done. I've moved into a new house and acquired some new gear. Challenges have been overcome and lessons have been learned. This will be a long post so grab some coffee or tea, sit back and enjoy the ride.
PHANTEKS ENTHOO PRIMO
Ever since I built this rig in the summer of 2012 it has been in the Cosmos II. There were other options I was looking at, like the 800D or some of the Case Labs options. All of those fell short in one area or another. I knew I eventually wanted to go with custom watercooling one day but I also wanted to satisfy the "P" in PC so it had to have character and personality. The Cosmos II satisfied those requirements but there were challenges and there were shortcomings. I found that while it worked for watercooling purposes it was not quite as functional in some areas. While it could be modded to overcome these challenges that is not a skill that I possess at this time. So began the search for a worthy successor. Again it has to have "P" and be more functional for watercooling than the Cosmos II. Again Case Labs is always ideal for watercooling but lacks "P" without serious modding involved. The 900D has watercooling chops but is still a box; not enough "P". The NZXT Phantom series has "P" but I was looking for a certain type of character. Had to be simple and monolithic in appearance like the examples above but not plain or boxy, and not quite to the impact of the Phantom series either. Now I take a look at the Enthoo Primo for the first time. The subtle curves and brushed aluminum give it the personality I'm looking for. It has the watercooling chops. Then I watched a certain in-depth review on Youtube and it got me thinking, wow, this is a worthy successor. It costs less than the Cosmos II, I can use 480mm radiators top and bottom, it actually has a side window, and I don't even have to drill any holes or do any real modding work. Let's take a look at it shall we (and please excuse my shoddy camera and lighting conditions).
I couldn't get this shot right.... :mellow:
Next to the Cosmos II the Primo looks to be about an inch shorter, 2 to 3 inches slimmer, and 2 inches less deep.
Now let's put some gear in it but first...
The former home of a mighty and powerful gaming PC
I have also taken this opportunity to do some things in the intermediary. Lets go over those.
Here I have optimized the connection between the CPU and VRM blocks using a Bitspower Crystal Link hard tube. Before I was using 90 degree compression fittings and 3/4" tubing. It doesn't line up precisely but it works.
The graphics cards now have EK full-cover blocks with backplates connected by an FC-terminal. I really love the clean looks of these blocks it's just pure bliss.
Now we can install everything.
This stage of the move took me almost a day to get right. I experimented with many combinations of radiator and reservoir placements until I found the optimal configuration shown above. The Primo comes with two places you can mount a res; either next to the expansion slots or in the dedicated res mount that is placed next to the right side of the motherboard. That's what I ended up using here.
There are some things to note about the res mount. First, you will need reservoir clips. I'm using Alphacool 60mm res clips here. Secondly plan on connecting all of your cables to the motherboard first; the mount is held by thumb screws from the back and can be removed. And thirdly, should you use the res mount you will be limited in the length and number of graphics cards you can use. My GTX 780 Ti's are 10.5" in length and they barely fit. Anything longer than that need not apply. Also the mount has changing widths at top and bottom to accommodate attachment points so one can only use up to a 3-way graphics configuration. 4-way configurations need not apply.
Moving on to the radiators I am using the same ones minus the 140mm unit for now. My overall configuration for the loop is actually very similar to last time. I still have all of my temp sensors in place and the flow path is the same order as before (minus the 140mm rad of course). This time, however, I am using all black tubing throughout. Still using laboratory-grade deionized water with biocide additive as before.
Drain valve still attached to the bottom monsta rad as before. Overall my temperatures are more or less the same as before as well so that 140mm rad won't be missed.
Here are the optional SSD mounts that the Primo comes with. Other cases come with this but with these you can stack two SSDs on the same mount. It doesn't really work because it wreaks havoc on SATA power cables so just use one SSD per mount. Another thing that irks me is that the Primo comes with two mounts but three possible mounting points. Why not just include that third mount? I've gone back to using my ICY DOCK 6-in-1.
So what do I think about this lovely new case? Well it is not for everyone. It is almost as large as the Cosmos II and the asking price will put it out of reach for some folks. Compared to other enthusiast-class cases however, the Primo is almost a bargain; a lot of case for the money.
What I like:
That sums it up for the new house. But there is one more major addition:
ROG RAIDR Express
I know this post is getting quite long so I'll keep this short. The RAIDR is quite the looker and is for the most part faster than a standalone 2.5" SSD but not by much. A conventional RAID 0 array will outperform this solution. The Marvell RAID controller it uses is probably the limiting factor. I got it anyway to fill that free 4x slot on my motherboard and because I was curious about it. At US$1.45/GB it is quite a hard pill to swallow, so I will only recommend this for users of older motherboards that don't have SATA III. Of course those people are much better off upgrading said motherboards to something more current. I'm not entirely happy about this addition but I'll keep it anyway.
If you made it this far you have my applause and my thanks. In the next episode I will be upgrading my office space. I plan to change my desk and add some kind of pedestal for my rig. It's been sitting on the floor all this time and I need to get it off the floor, especially with the Primo case. The ROG PG278Q is also in the cards. WQHD, high refresh and G-sync make it something to get excited about; you can bet I will provide my opinion about it. This is the Great and Powerful XANADV signing off!
[END TRANSMISSION]
[BEGIN TRANSMISSION]
Hello again guys and gals! We are over a month into 2014 and a lot has been done. I've moved into a new house and acquired some new gear. Challenges have been overcome and lessons have been learned. This will be a long post so grab some coffee or tea, sit back and enjoy the ride.
PHANTEKS ENTHOO PRIMO
Ever since I built this rig in the summer of 2012 it has been in the Cosmos II. There were other options I was looking at, like the 800D or some of the Case Labs options. All of those fell short in one area or another. I knew I eventually wanted to go with custom watercooling one day but I also wanted to satisfy the "P" in PC so it had to have character and personality. The Cosmos II satisfied those requirements but there were challenges and there were shortcomings. I found that while it worked for watercooling purposes it was not quite as functional in some areas. While it could be modded to overcome these challenges that is not a skill that I possess at this time. So began the search for a worthy successor. Again it has to have "P" and be more functional for watercooling than the Cosmos II. Again Case Labs is always ideal for watercooling but lacks "P" without serious modding involved. The 900D has watercooling chops but is still a box; not enough "P". The NZXT Phantom series has "P" but I was looking for a certain type of character. Had to be simple and monolithic in appearance like the examples above but not plain or boxy, and not quite to the impact of the Phantom series either. Now I take a look at the Enthoo Primo for the first time. The subtle curves and brushed aluminum give it the personality I'm looking for. It has the watercooling chops. Then I watched a certain in-depth review on Youtube and it got me thinking, wow, this is a worthy successor. It costs less than the Cosmos II, I can use 480mm radiators top and bottom, it actually has a side window, and I don't even have to drill any holes or do any real modding work. Let's take a look at it shall we (and please excuse my shoddy camera and lighting conditions).
I couldn't get this shot right.... :mellow:
Next to the Cosmos II the Primo looks to be about an inch shorter, 2 to 3 inches slimmer, and 2 inches less deep.
Now let's put some gear in it but first...
The former home of a mighty and powerful gaming PC
I have also taken this opportunity to do some things in the intermediary. Lets go over those.
Here I have optimized the connection between the CPU and VRM blocks using a Bitspower Crystal Link hard tube. Before I was using 90 degree compression fittings and 3/4" tubing. It doesn't line up precisely but it works.
The graphics cards now have EK full-cover blocks with backplates connected by an FC-terminal. I really love the clean looks of these blocks it's just pure bliss.
Now we can install everything.
This stage of the move took me almost a day to get right. I experimented with many combinations of radiator and reservoir placements until I found the optimal configuration shown above. The Primo comes with two places you can mount a res; either next to the expansion slots or in the dedicated res mount that is placed next to the right side of the motherboard. That's what I ended up using here.
There are some things to note about the res mount. First, you will need reservoir clips. I'm using Alphacool 60mm res clips here. Secondly plan on connecting all of your cables to the motherboard first; the mount is held by thumb screws from the back and can be removed. And thirdly, should you use the res mount you will be limited in the length and number of graphics cards you can use. My GTX 780 Ti's are 10.5" in length and they barely fit. Anything longer than that need not apply. Also the mount has changing widths at top and bottom to accommodate attachment points so one can only use up to a 3-way graphics configuration. 4-way configurations need not apply.
Moving on to the radiators I am using the same ones minus the 140mm unit for now. My overall configuration for the loop is actually very similar to last time. I still have all of my temp sensors in place and the flow path is the same order as before (minus the 140mm rad of course). This time, however, I am using all black tubing throughout. Still using laboratory-grade deionized water with biocide additive as before.
Drain valve still attached to the bottom monsta rad as before. Overall my temperatures are more or less the same as before as well so that 140mm rad won't be missed.
Here are the optional SSD mounts that the Primo comes with. Other cases come with this but with these you can stack two SSDs on the same mount. It doesn't really work because it wreaks havoc on SATA power cables so just use one SSD per mount. Another thing that irks me is that the Primo comes with two mounts but three possible mounting points. Why not just include that third mount? I've gone back to using my ICY DOCK 6-in-1.
So what do I think about this lovely new case? Well it is not for everyone. It is almost as large as the Cosmos II and the asking price will put it out of reach for some folks. Compared to other enthusiast-class cases however, the Primo is almost a bargain; a lot of case for the money.
What I like:
- Brushed aluminum front and top
- Well-implemented cable management options
- WATERCOOLING CHOPS
- Covered primary PSU area
- Two PSU mounting locations
- Covered 5.25" bay area (also more bays than Cosmos II)
- Much attention paid to some of the finer details. Screws are used just about everywhere for example.
- Build quality. Though good overall, the latching mechanisms for all of the fan filters felt cheap
- Reservoir mount limits GPU configurations
That sums it up for the new house. But there is one more major addition:
ROG RAIDR Express
I know this post is getting quite long so I'll keep this short. The RAIDR is quite the looker and is for the most part faster than a standalone 2.5" SSD but not by much. A conventional RAID 0 array will outperform this solution. The Marvell RAID controller it uses is probably the limiting factor. I got it anyway to fill that free 4x slot on my motherboard and because I was curious about it. At US$1.45/GB it is quite a hard pill to swallow, so I will only recommend this for users of older motherboards that don't have SATA III. Of course those people are much better off upgrading said motherboards to something more current. I'm not entirely happy about this addition but I'll keep it anyway.
If you made it this far you have my applause and my thanks. In the next episode I will be upgrading my office space. I plan to change my desk and add some kind of pedestal for my rig. It's been sitting on the floor all this time and I need to get it off the floor, especially with the Primo case. The ROG PG278Q is also in the cards. WQHD, high refresh and G-sync make it something to get excited about; you can bet I will provide my opinion about it. This is the Great and Powerful XANADV signing off!
[END TRANSMISSION]
Last edited by a moderator:
kenny01924
New member
nice case
yes this case is some what nice I have one and it is better in my mind just a good allrounder and for air cooling excellent couldn't wish for any thing better.
yes this case is some what nice I have one and it is better in my mind just a good allrounder and for air cooling excellent couldn't wish for any thing better.
Another year, another upgrade. I'll skip all the boring teardown and reassembly and get right to it.
Before we begin let us have a moment to reflect on my humble beginnings:
Anybody remember this? This is day zero. Level 1. The starting line. The beginning of something truly good in my life. Building a PC from scratch for the first time began as it did for a lot of people: an intellectual curiosity. A chance to learn something new. It was largely unknown territory. Mistakes were no doubt made (and still being made) and I learned a lot. But what makes it special was that it became so much more. It turned into something no less than transformative. The kind of something that only happens a few times in one's life. This something has changed my outlook on life on many levels. "How tranformative?" one might ask. Well, for starters I (mostly) only play games on PC now after being a lifelong console gamer. In fact I almost literally can't play on consoles anymore because the experience seems so sub par now. Also I'm starting to care more about the 'quality' of experiences and things in life. Are the toppings in this pizza fresh? Is that piece of furniture hand-made? What is customer service like at this place? I am very critical and picky about everything lately it seems. It could just be a coming-of-age type of thing, who knows (I turned 30 last year).
So how far have I come in the last two-and-a-half years?
Alottachanges
First things first. I was not satisfied with the new house so I moved back into the old one. The Cosmos II is back. The configuration and layout is the same as before. There were some glaring issues I've had with the Primo; some things didn't quite work the way I would have liked and there were some quality issues with the case so here I am. There is no place like home is how the saying goes.
Now it gets interesting. New mobo, new CPU, new memory, and a 3rd GPU to round things out. And I've overclocked the hell out of all of it because I can. Behold the specs and the numbers!
Rampage V Extreme + 5960X + 16GB Dominator Platinum
CPU frequency: 4.5 GHz
Uncore: 4.5 GHz
CPU strap: 125 MHz
BCLK: 125 MHz
Multiplier: 36
DRAM frequency: DDR4-3000 (kit is rated for DDR4-2666)
DRAM primary timings: 16-16-16-36 2T
CPU Vcore: 1.30V
CPU Cache voltage: 1.40V
DRAM voltage: 1.30V
The GPU's are still GTX 780 Ti's except there are now three of them. And I DO need three of them to drive my new display configuration. Looks like my initial investment in a 1200W power supply is starting to pay off too since I do not have to buy a new one to support this new configuration.
Out are the VG278HE's from before. In are 3 PG278Q's. At least until VR really takes off; we are still in early days for that IMO.
Some stuff had to go as well. The RAIDR SSD no longer being used. I have found that good SATA SSD's are superior in performance overall. This exodus leaves a void that must be filled. I've added two 480GB Intel 730 series SSD's to boost SSD storage capacity to well over a TB. This time however no more RAID. The sound card had to go as well. I will eventually replace it with something external.
And there you have it. Two-and-a-half years of evolution in one post. Next upgrade on the horizon is to replace the GPUs with something with more VRAM. 3 GB is quite limiting at 7680x1440 resolution. I do not think 4 will cut it either. Hopefully the next line of GeForce will have 8 GB in non-Titan form. Not going to hold my breath on this but here's to hoping. A *proper* PCIe SSD that runs on NVMe to fill that last slot would be nice too. And Windows 10 shows much promise, but that will only be a consideration for the time being (I'm still a Win7 user).
Signing off
Before we begin let us have a moment to reflect on my humble beginnings:
Anybody remember this? This is day zero. Level 1. The starting line. The beginning of something truly good in my life. Building a PC from scratch for the first time began as it did for a lot of people: an intellectual curiosity. A chance to learn something new. It was largely unknown territory. Mistakes were no doubt made (and still being made) and I learned a lot. But what makes it special was that it became so much more. It turned into something no less than transformative. The kind of something that only happens a few times in one's life. This something has changed my outlook on life on many levels. "How tranformative?" one might ask. Well, for starters I (mostly) only play games on PC now after being a lifelong console gamer. In fact I almost literally can't play on consoles anymore because the experience seems so sub par now. Also I'm starting to care more about the 'quality' of experiences and things in life. Are the toppings in this pizza fresh? Is that piece of furniture hand-made? What is customer service like at this place? I am very critical and picky about everything lately it seems. It could just be a coming-of-age type of thing, who knows (I turned 30 last year).
So how far have I come in the last two-and-a-half years?
Alottachanges
First things first. I was not satisfied with the new house so I moved back into the old one. The Cosmos II is back. The configuration and layout is the same as before. There were some glaring issues I've had with the Primo; some things didn't quite work the way I would have liked and there were some quality issues with the case so here I am. There is no place like home is how the saying goes.
Now it gets interesting. New mobo, new CPU, new memory, and a 3rd GPU to round things out. And I've overclocked the hell out of all of it because I can. Behold the specs and the numbers!
Rampage V Extreme + 5960X + 16GB Dominator Platinum
CPU frequency: 4.5 GHz
Uncore: 4.5 GHz
CPU strap: 125 MHz
BCLK: 125 MHz
Multiplier: 36
DRAM frequency: DDR4-3000 (kit is rated for DDR4-2666)
DRAM primary timings: 16-16-16-36 2T
CPU Vcore: 1.30V
CPU Cache voltage: 1.40V
DRAM voltage: 1.30V
The GPU's are still GTX 780 Ti's except there are now three of them. And I DO need three of them to drive my new display configuration. Looks like my initial investment in a 1200W power supply is starting to pay off too since I do not have to buy a new one to support this new configuration.
Out are the VG278HE's from before. In are 3 PG278Q's. At least until VR really takes off; we are still in early days for that IMO.
Some stuff had to go as well. The RAIDR SSD no longer being used. I have found that good SATA SSD's are superior in performance overall. This exodus leaves a void that must be filled. I've added two 480GB Intel 730 series SSD's to boost SSD storage capacity to well over a TB. This time however no more RAID. The sound card had to go as well. I will eventually replace it with something external.
And there you have it. Two-and-a-half years of evolution in one post. Next upgrade on the horizon is to replace the GPUs with something with more VRAM. 3 GB is quite limiting at 7680x1440 resolution. I do not think 4 will cut it either. Hopefully the next line of GeForce will have 8 GB in non-Titan form. Not going to hold my breath on this but here's to hoping. A *proper* PCIe SSD that runs on NVMe to fill that last slot would be nice too. And Windows 10 shows much promise, but that will only be a consideration for the time being (I'm still a Win7 user).
Signing off
This will be a short post 'cause I'm lazy today.
I just got these:
Straight up swapped out my old cards and refilled my loop in under half an hour. Yes they are still air cooled for now but here is the damage that I have been able to do in just a few short hours.
Here is the best that my outgoing configuration can do (I have a higher score but it didn't count):
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4224355
Here is the new configuration out of the box:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4389793
And when I OC it:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4389898
And that's that for now. It goes without saying that I will eventually do my watercooling thing with them and revisit this again. This was just a quick OC and I don't think I've found the limits quite yet, but 1450 MHz and 7900 MHz VRAM is not a bad way to start.
Can't bench at 7680x1440 yet but I intend to. I just sold two of my ROG Swifts and holding out for the XB270HU from Acer. I will get one and look at them both side by side but I have a very good feeling which one will be better. I'll be back!
See I told you this would be a short post.
I just got these:
Straight up swapped out my old cards and refilled my loop in under half an hour. Yes they are still air cooled for now but here is the damage that I have been able to do in just a few short hours.
Here is the best that my outgoing configuration can do (I have a higher score but it didn't count):
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4224355
Here is the new configuration out of the box:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4389793
And when I OC it:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4389898
And that's that for now. It goes without saying that I will eventually do my watercooling thing with them and revisit this again. This was just a quick OC and I don't think I've found the limits quite yet, but 1450 MHz and 7900 MHz VRAM is not a bad way to start.
Can't bench at 7680x1440 yet but I intend to. I just sold two of my ROG Swifts and holding out for the XB270HU from Acer. I will get one and look at them both side by side but I have a very good feeling which one will be better. I'll be back!
See I told you this would be a short post.
Last edited:
Dicehunter
Resident Newb
You sir owe me new pants !
Would you like denim jeans or silk trousers?
