Proposed system + require advice for cooling.

[RobPhoboS]

Hi guys, (long post, apologies)

I've posted this elsewhere as to get a good range of opinions hopefully.

I'd really like some thoughts on what I've picked out, and if anything could be better, by all means post what you think could suit my needs better

First of all the use of my computer is effectively a custom spec'd workstation for 3d rendering:

ie decent processor speed, lots of ram and a fairly good gpu.

I'm a freelance CG lighting and matchmove artist, and I recently had a job which crippled my current machines so it's time for new bits n bobs.

Also I've been chucking computers together since around 1994, so I'm not scared to build them myself, although having one built somewhere is certainly appealing (my cable management was/is dire).

My BIGGEST conundrum is actually the cooling, and what to go for (water/air/both).

I need a fairly quiet computer as the machine is in my bedroom for now, and I sometimes have to leave the thing rendering for a week or two. So noise/heat etc. have always been a massive problem for me when I'm trying to sleep. (I'll be moving again soon so hopefully noise issue may subside for a while)

The last 'desktop' computer I built was quite some time ago now (2006), and I used a Zalman Reserator 1+. Despite all of the bitching I've read on other forums about it, I've not had 1 single problem with it and actually I even used it to help with a job a couple of weeks ago

Yes it's still working, I've not replaced a single thing except the water/coolant every now and then.

The main thing I love about it - very quiet, and works fine for the old parts.

The main thing I hate about it - physically huge, takes up too much room and I'm paranoid about all of the tubing.

So this is the main area I'm stuck with.

I'm going to give the old machine to my Dad, so it'll still be in service but I'm going to start from scratch, and I'm happy to use the latest watercooling or go with one of these huge air cooled fans like the Noctua NH-D14.

Budget - £1500ish it can go up more if I think the outcome will be worth it.

(since they get replaced every few years I don't like to go mental on a build)

These are the parts I've picked out, although I may use another company like scan or computerplanet etc to get a build as close as possible - potentially.

I definitely HAVE to overclock this sucker.

CPU = Intel Core i7 2600K

RAM = 16GB (4x4GB) Corsair Vengeance Blue DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600) CAS 9-9-9-24 ?

I actually would rather have 24Gb of RAM but I can't seem to find a deal on that.

OS HD 1 = SSD 120GB Corsair Force Sries 3

HD 2 = 3TB Western Digital WD30EZRX Caviar Green (or 2Tb caviar black)

PSU = Corsair TX850 V2 850W or Silverstone SST-ST75F-G Strider 750W

GPU = Nvidia 2GB MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II/OC

Case = Corsair Carbide Series 500R/Fractal Design R3 or something else? (not into flashing lights and all that jazz )

CPU/GPU Cooling = Noctua NH-D14 or water cooled ?

Motherboard = Asus P8Z68-V or more likely Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P

Blu-ray writer = LG, 10x Blu-ray Writer (bog standard jobbie)

I think that's the lot right?

In the near future I'm likely to purchase 1 or 2 of those little cube machines based on the 2600k to help out with the rendering as well, at around £500ish or so it's worth it for what I do.

Many thanks !

 

[FunkyMonkey90]

Possibly get a cheaper cpu now and upgrade to a hex core ivy when they get here?

 

[RobPhoboS]

Possibly get a cheaper cpu now and upgrade to a hex core ivy when they get here?

I'll stick with the 2600k as I'll need the speed of it once it's overclocked. I don't mind buying another CPU in the future, or as mentioned getting smaller 'cube' boxes just purely to help out with rendering based on the newer CPU's when they arrive.

Out of curiosity, will they work with the motherboard I have selected though ?

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on the cooling/noise issue I have ?

 

[yassarikhan786]

I'll stick with the 2600k as I'll need the speed of it once it's overclocked. I don't mind buying another CPU in the future, or as mentioned getting smaller 'cube' boxes just purely to help out with rendering based on the newer CPU's when they arrive.

Out of curiosity, will they work with the motherboard I have selected though ?

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on the cooling/noise issue I have ?

The D14 is a very quiet cooler, so that's a good choice. You should easily be able to get 4.5GHz on the 2600k.

 

[RobPhoboS]

The D14 is a very quiet cooler, so that's a good choice. You should easily be able to get 4.5GHz on the 2600k.

Well it's my choice for going the air cooled route but I think I should look at the watercooling solutions available.

I'd rather spend a bit more to keep the CPU alive for a bit longer with better cooling - well, that's if I can find a kit/components that run quietly.

 

[yassarikhan786]

Well it's my choice for going the air cooled route but I think I should look at the watercooling solutions available.

I'd rather spend a bit more to keep the CPU alive for a bit longer with better cooling - well, that's if I can find a kit/components that run quietly.

Watercooling would be better. I have no experience in water cooling so I'm afraid I can't help you there. Is the £1500 accounting for all the watercooling bits as well?

 

[RobPhoboS]

Watercooling would be better. I have no experience in water cooling so I'm afraid I can't help you there. Is the £1500 accounting for all the watercooling bits as well?

The £1500 is just the rough price guideline.

I'm looking at various kits & reviews now, so perhaps a separate thread will be better. I just watched the review on the XSPC Rasa 750 RS360 WaterCooling Kit, seems good but I'd like to know what the weak points in the system are, if any.

 

[SieB]

XSPC are releasing some new radiators, the EX series, in the next couple of weeks that are supposed to give RX performance form a RS sized rad, there are no reviews yet though still waiting for them to appear.

It's worth waiting to see how they do perform because if you are going with the 500r you would only be able to fit a slim RS240 rad (XSPC RS 240 kit) up top and if it's true that the EX rads have the cooling performance of the RX (which are twice as thick as the RS) you will be better off getting one of those because it will offer more bang for your buck and double the performance of the RS240.

Also, the RX and RS kits come with the XSPC RASA CPU block but XSPC have just released the XSPC Raystorm CPU block which is currently the best performing CPU block there is.

Instead of buying a kit you would be better off buying the parts separately so you can get the better parts like the Raystorm and a EX radiator, unless XSPC do EX kits with the Raystorm that is.

Then all you need is a 12V Laing DDC-1T+ Ultra pump, a drivebay or cylinder reservoir, tubing, fittings, fans and coolant.

Have a read of this if you need some help understanding about the different parts, it's worth watching TTL's vids on WC as well, there are links in the guide.

http://forum.overclock3d.net/index.php?/topic/37973-a-guideintroduction-into-watercooling/

 

[RobPhoboS]

Hi,

Appreciate the info on those parts

The case isn't 100% decided, I'll go with what will work for my needs but something like the Corsair 500R/650d or Fractal Design R3 are in my list.

If I need a bigger case for water cooling that won't sacrifice primarily the noise issues I want to avoid, then I'm flexible in what to go for.

I merely put that particular kit down as a reference/starting point. I know that it's probably a good all-rounder but as with most of these things I'll get what I want it to do if I customise my list.

Excellent guide you've posted up there, so I'm reading through that as well.

With regards to this:

12V Laing DDC-1T+ Ultra pump

Do you have a link to the exact one you meant ? Seems like there are several in a google search.

 

[SieB]

They are all basically the same thing just with different names the best one to go for would be this one though.

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...ump-600-Lhr-18W-MCP355--DDC-1-T-pid-3179.html

When you decide on your case make sure you research what size radiators you can fit and if you will have any clearance problems though because not all cases fit all rads and some require moding to be able to fit them.

 

[RobPhoboS]

They are all basically the same thing just with different names the best one to go for would be this one though.

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop...ump-600-Lhr-18W-MCP355--DDC-1-T-pid-3179.html

When you decide on your case make sure you research what size radiators you can fit and if you will have any clearance problems though because not all cases fit all rads and some require moding to be able to fit them.

Ah many thanks for that.

If I was going for something like one of the HW SR1 rads, xspc RX or the new EX, would going with their larger ones be more suitable for me ?

I'm thinking larger will be better for cooling but obviously more fans will generate more noise, unless I can keep them running at lower RPM's ?

So there is probably a balance in their ranges.

Ideally like to overclock the CPU to around 5Ghz (if that makes a difference as well).

Basically the water cooling will dictate my case choice, if I need the gigantic cooling rad, then I'll find a case that will work with it.

Thanks for your help !

 

[SieB]

The larger the rad the better cooling performance you will have but you are limited to what you can fit in your case, unless you mount the rad externally.

This is why the EX series could be good, it is supposed to offer the same cooling performance of a thick 60mm rad from a rad that is only 30mm thick, meaning more case options because not many cases fit thick rad.

The larger the rad also means you can have your fans on lower because the rad is doing most of the work and you just need a small amount of air flow to push the heat out of the case. When choosing fans though go for ones with a high static pressure, a high static pressure is more important than just pure CFM because fans with a high SP can push the air through a rad reducing the resistance from the fins. A high static pressure also allows you to set your fans even lower because even on a low speed they are still able to push the air through the rad.

 

[RobPhoboS]

Well I spent a bit of time looking at other cases last night, and I may end up going with the Xigmatek Elysium, then replace fans if I think any of the stock ones with the various kits are too loud.

 

[SieB]

The Elysium is a good case probably the best for watercooling in terms of the amount of space you have and what you can fit in there. The only bad thing about it is the size, it's absolutely huge and anything apart from an SR2 mobo looks tiny in it.

I don't know how good the stock fans are but I wouldn't think they are that good most stock fans aren't, if you haven't already check out Tom's video review of the Elysium on the Youtube channel.

 

[RobPhoboS]

The Elysium is a good case probably the best for watercooling in terms of the amount of space you have and what you can fit in there. The only bad thing about it is the size, it's absolutely huge and anything apart from an SR2 mobo looks tiny in it.

I don't know how good the stock fans are but I wouldn't think they are that good most stock fans aren't, if you haven't already check out Tom's video review of the Elysium on the Youtube channel.

Yep I checked out his video immediately after finding that case.

The size doesn't bother me, as really it's just the how tall it is, compared to my old computer at the moment with the resorator on the ground it takes up effectively 2 widths of computers (sort of).

Looks like these are the included stock fans:

120mm x 2

140mm x 1

200mm x 1

So I guess I should look up what fans will be suitable replacements if required, I'll use the same ones on the Rad as well (depending what on earth I end up with).

 

[RobPhoboS]

Well HOPEFULLY it's 'pay day' at some point this week, and if I get what my invoice was for, hopefully I should be ordering

I guess the only new thing that's come out is the i7 2700K but not exactly a vast improvement eh.