Please help me decide on a case, and heatsink
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:34 pm
I am planning to build a computer straight after Sandy Bridge is released.
The build:
Intel i5 2500K
Socket 1155 Gigabyte/Asus motherboard of high quality
Gigabyte/Sapphire Radeon HD6950
Kingston HyperX 1600MHz CL9 2x2 GB
Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB
Intel X-25-M G2 80GB (as a boot drive)
Seasonic X-560
As for the case:
I quite like the looks of the Antec P183 and the Silverstone Raven 2. They are both very sleek.
The Antec P183 is quite a slick looking case, fits on my desk and has in-built acoustic damping. However, it has a few issues: the graphics temperatures will be quite high, and the top fan makes quite a bit of noise due to the fan grill. The case also doens't come with many fans, and I assume I'll have to replace the loud Tricools.
The SS RV02 looks quite sexy (IMO of course), and it has the right angle rotation of the motherboard, which improves GPU cooling. It doesn't have much acoustic damping, but the fans are reasonably quiet (at least better than the P183). I won't be able to get the newer versions with the air-penetrator fans, as I live in NZ and the stores all have old stock. The SS RV02 won't fit on my desk as it is, but I'm mediocre at carpentry, and I can either extend a portion of my desk, or build a small table.
A suggestion of a better alternative would be appreciated. Any shared experiences would be appreciated also, especially from those who have both cases.
What about the heatsink?:
I almost certainly will be overclocking the chip to 4 GHz.
For the CPU heatsink, I have a dilemma: I don't know if I should spend a lot of money. The cheapest option would be going for the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus, and attaching some low RPM fans. Of course, I feel this is not decent enough, so I have come up with some more expensive options. Arranged in price (lower to higher): Noctua NH-P12 SE2, Prolimatech Megahalems + 2 Noctua P12's, or Noctua NH-D14 (only a bit more expensive than the Megahalems solution).
I want the GPU to run as cool as possible, because I may be overclocking it as well (depending on temperatures of course).
The most silent solution I have come up with is the Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 with a quiet fan, such as a silent Nexus.
The computer will be right next to me or beside the desk at desk level (e.g the top of the case will be level with the surface of the desk).
I will buy acoustic damping material if necessary.
All comments are welcome.
The build:
Intel i5 2500K
Socket 1155 Gigabyte/Asus motherboard of high quality
Gigabyte/Sapphire Radeon HD6950
Kingston HyperX 1600MHz CL9 2x2 GB
Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB
Intel X-25-M G2 80GB (as a boot drive)
Seasonic X-560
As for the case:
I quite like the looks of the Antec P183 and the Silverstone Raven 2. They are both very sleek.
The Antec P183 is quite a slick looking case, fits on my desk and has in-built acoustic damping. However, it has a few issues: the graphics temperatures will be quite high, and the top fan makes quite a bit of noise due to the fan grill. The case also doens't come with many fans, and I assume I'll have to replace the loud Tricools.
The SS RV02 looks quite sexy (IMO of course), and it has the right angle rotation of the motherboard, which improves GPU cooling. It doesn't have much acoustic damping, but the fans are reasonably quiet (at least better than the P183). I won't be able to get the newer versions with the air-penetrator fans, as I live in NZ and the stores all have old stock. The SS RV02 won't fit on my desk as it is, but I'm mediocre at carpentry, and I can either extend a portion of my desk, or build a small table.
A suggestion of a better alternative would be appreciated. Any shared experiences would be appreciated also, especially from those who have both cases.
What about the heatsink?:
I almost certainly will be overclocking the chip to 4 GHz.
For the CPU heatsink, I have a dilemma: I don't know if I should spend a lot of money. The cheapest option would be going for the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus, and attaching some low RPM fans. Of course, I feel this is not decent enough, so I have come up with some more expensive options. Arranged in price (lower to higher): Noctua NH-P12 SE2, Prolimatech Megahalems + 2 Noctua P12's, or Noctua NH-D14 (only a bit more expensive than the Megahalems solution).
I want the GPU to run as cool as possible, because I may be overclocking it as well (depending on temperatures of course).
The most silent solution I have come up with is the Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 with a quiet fan, such as a silent Nexus.
The computer will be right next to me or beside the desk at desk level (e.g the top of the case will be level with the surface of the desk).
I will buy acoustic damping material if necessary.
All comments are welcome.