i7 + acrylic case + ??? = cold comp

[Sarra]

I'm building my first computer soon, and planning on using the Intel i7 920 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202&CMP=OTC-TechReport&ATT=19-115-202&nm_mc=OTC-TechReport&cm_mmc=OTC-TechReport-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA) and MSI Radeon 4890 1gb (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127439), or something similar. I was looking at this 630W Raidmax (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152035).

Can I use an acrylic case like this nice X-Clear Case (http://www.xoxide.com/clearacatxca.html#)?

And as for cooling, are 4x80mm fans enough or do I need an aftermarket cooler? If I baby overclocked the i7, I'm guessing I would need something - but what? I just want something solid (if i need a cooler), nothing fancy.

Thanks a lot for your help.
<3
Sarra

[FuzzyPlushroom]

The one you linked isn't a 580w (and I wouldn't recommend most lower-rated Rosewills) but it is a good value, according to DriverHeaven (http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews.php?reviewid=765&pageid=6).

I had a similarly vented case (front/rear 80mm, though I never had a top fan) that overheated with just a dual-core 4400+ and a single x1950Pro; I wouldn't be too confident with that case as-is. However, if you enlarge the intake hole to 120mm (and preferably the exhaust as well, if there's room) or have a similar case with front/rear 120s custom-made, you'd be all set.

[Sarra]

How about one of these two clear ones that are 120mm capable?

Sunbeam Acrylic UFO Cube Case (http://www.xoxide.com/sunbeam-ufo-cube-case-clear.html)
Sunbeam 9 Bay Acrylic Case (http://www.xoxide.com/sunbeam-9bay-acrylic-clear.html)

& sorry I linked the totally wrong psu. I fixed it.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

I was just about to suggest the second one, actually. That should be about on par with most midtower cases; you can always add another fan place in the front too. If you like the style of the Cube, it is also undeniably freakin' sweet; I've been half-considering building something similar with steel and ABS plastic, aside from the small factors of not needing it and having a few other projects going.

That's quite far down the list of power supplies I'd choose for this project. If you're sinking money into a system like that, you don't want to cheap out on the power supply; some of Raidmax's suppliers aren't very good, and the power supply is probably fudging the numbers on its label if not flat-out lying. The numbers on the 12v rails would barely cut it, if they'd be enough at all, for that system - and there's no combined figure; knowing Raidmax it's probably "if you have 22a on one rail, you can only have 5a on the other".

Short version: Poor value, questionable quality. You'd be better off with something like, say, this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005) with your current build. Are you planning to upgrade? Add another video card, for instance, or more than a few hard drives?

Regardless, what are your concerns? Would you prefer a modular power supply, due to the transparent case? How much of an issue is cost?

[Sarra]

I'm relieved to hear you think those two could work. I asked about cooling the system I'm considering on the forums I use the most (Aion game forums) and they really shut me down on the whole acrylic idea and scared me off from cooling an i7 in it... here (http://www.aionsource.com/forum/technical-support/31291-cooling-noobs.html).


Short version: Poor value, questionable quality. You'd be better off with something like, say, this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005) with your current build.

I completely agree with your take on the PSU, I just don't know where to start since I don't know the brands, and I'm trying to get the most reasonable price I can that will do it's job. Is the one you linked probably the lowest priced of the 'quality' PSUs?


Are you planning to upgrade? Add another video card, for instance, or more than a few hard drives? If I have the room, and money in the future, I'd explore dual-vid cards...but it's not a priority. By the time I get around to doing that my whole system would probably be outdated so who knows :rolleyes: I'm building this to hopefully last in the longer run... (college student here)



Regardless, what are your concerns? Would you prefer a modular power supply, due to the transparent case? How much of an issue is cost?
Basically, if this system requires a more expensive psu to be safe and run well, then by all means I will get that. I will be saving up money to get this system and I want to do it right, so if I need to spend more, I will just wait until I have more to spend. That said, I don't want to waste money getting something fancy or overpowered, because I want to get this thing done and working =)

And modular? I had to wiki that to find out what it even was. I'd prefer it, but I don't know how it looks if not modular, or if there's any real risk to doing a modular one (wiki said: "Modular cables and connectors add electrical resistance between the power supply and the hardware components, which could affect the performance of the power supply, but in reality the difference is not noticeable as long as the connections were designed to a good standard". I would have no idea how to see if connectors were good or not O_o; )

Thank you so much for your help :)

[Trace]

I honestly have http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817812004 that one, and I have it severly overloaded and it still performs great. I have 2 * 3870x2's and a q6600 on it. It has no trouble with it

[Sarra]

Yeah, I'm mainly concerned about putting an i7 & radeon 4890 in an acrylic case, with only 120mm fans. I'd like to use this (http://www.xpcgear.com/sbac9bt.html) but people are telling me it will be too much heat for this to handle... :/

[Kayin]

'Twil be rough. Acrylic's thermal dissipation is not the issue, the fan placement is. If your budget covered liquid cooling, that would be well worth it.

But, for your edification, as the i7 is server class hardware, it's pretty thermally tough, though the 4890 will want to be a bit cooler. However, my X2s have seen 110C. And lived.

[x88x]

Agreed on the problem with AC9B-T being the lack of proper fan placement. For the hardware you're looking at, I would definitely not want to go with anything less than at least 1x120mm or 2x80mm at each end. Of the ones mentioned so far, personally I would go with the cube b/c it would give probably the best airflow (though tbh, I wouldn't be getting an acrylic case in the first place, but hey, to each their own). If you plan on doing any overclocking at all, I would highly recommend an aftermarket CPU cooler, such as this guy (http://www.xoxide.com/scythe-kama-cpucooler.html). As for the PSU, personally the only manufacturers that I consider are PC Power & Cooling, Corsair, OCZ and Antec, in that order. I've never dealt with any of Mushkin's PSUs, but I have heard great things about their RAM. Personally I wouldn't even touch the RAIDMax though. I've been burned too many times by bad PSUs.