My Antec Solo gaming rig

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:45 pm

Overall The system has been performing well for what I need it to do. I am currently using it with an 22" TFT display. The system is very quiet not silent but definitely very quiet. the fans never goes above 800RPM. Originally I was planning on leaving out the fan and running the Orochi passively but after seeing how slowly the fan runs I decided to leave it in.

Power consumption:

Idle: 100W
Load: 260W (Games, Prime95, SuperPI and Orthos)
@260W the system peaks almost exactly at the CX400W highest efficiency level - around 85% or so ...

The system:

Case: Antec Solo (the only case I kind of like, despite its age)
CPU: Intel Q9650
CPU-cooler: Scythe Orochi (450 RPM, 140mm fan)
MB: Asus P5Q SE2
RAM: 8GB (4x2GB), 1066+
HDD: Samsung F3, 500GB
PSU: Corsair 400W (I will change the fan later on)
VGA: Gigabyte GTX 275
Fan: Noctua @800rpm
DVD: Some old DVD/RW Nec-unit

Temps idle:

Cores: 34Â°C
GPU: 58Â°C (@25% fan-speed)
HDD: 33Â°C

Temps stressed:

Cores: 55Â°C
GPU: 70Â°C (@50% fan-speed)
HDD: 33Â°C

To do:

New slower spinning fan in the PSU, update will follow...

bonestonne · Post by **bonestonne** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:52 pm

layout of the motherboard must have been a pain (location of ATX plug)

I've always wondered if you could safely bend the heatpipes so you could mount the orochi "correctly"

How did installing the board to the case go with that monster in the way? Do you think a removable motherboard tray would have helped? I can't say that's much of a popular feature anymore.

I have the same PSU, and i love it (but there are way more cables than i could ever use, and if it was modular it would be perfect).

little surprised about the GTX 275...i would expect cards all the way up to that kind of power would be all Dual DVI, HDMI or Displayport on the side, but obviously not.

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:05 pm

Mounting wasn't that hard, it just took some more time, and thinking. Correct tools helps too (long srewdriver)

Beeding the Orochi "right" isn't really needed, my CPU idle at 31Â°C and tops 49Â°C during heavy gaming. And the slow spinning Noctua effectively draws warm air away from the pipes before they enter the heatsink again.

rocketJeff · Post by **rocketJeff** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:27 pm

Nice! Incredibly sharp looking setup. Still boggles my mind how big the Orochi is.

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 6:29 am

Thanks. Yes, the Orochi is big. If not huge...

RoGuE · Post by **RoGuE** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:16 am

moar pics!

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:51 am

jtcb · Post by **jtcb** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:55 pm

How do you manage to hide all the cables in this case? This case doesn't have hole to tuck behind the motherboard. How is the airflow? I want to use this case for a i7 build but worry about heat and size.

Post by **CA_Steve** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:24 pm

jtcb wrote:How do you manage to hide all the cables in this case? This case doesn't have hole to tuck behind the motherboard. How is the airflow? I want to use this case for a i7 build but worry about heat and size.

The other side panel on the Solo unscrews to give access to cable hangers.

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:20 pm

jtcb wrote:How do you manage to hide all the cables in this case? This case doesn't have hole to tuck behind the motherboard. How is the airflow? I want to use this case for a i7 build but worry about heat and size.

This is how:

repel · Post by **repel** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:47 am

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:45 am Post subject: pc
hi, do you have two front fans in solo?
what is your opinion about noise whit antec solo and orochi ?
this noctua on 800rpm is enough?

Im looking to buy solo case and orochi for Athlon x4 620-2,6ghz, what is your opinion of this combination?

thanks

danimal · Post by **danimal** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:15 am

what were the cpu temp numbers when you were running prime95?

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:39 pm

@repel

No, zero front fans, just the Noctua at the back. The Orochi fan is very silent, my 800 rpm Noctua is louder. But... I didn't use the Orochi for ultra low temps, faster fans would lower them. But I really don't care, they are good enough. Anyway, my GTX 275 card and CX400W PSU are both louder... I try to run the GTX 275 fan @ 20% most of the time. (idles @70Â°C, bit high)

But, and this is a big BUT, the Orochi is huge, I would get the smaller Ninja if I was you.

@danimal

55Â°C I think.

repel · Post by **repel** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:19 pm

thanks

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:26 am

Update. The Orochi is just stupid.

Changing RAMs is now almost impossible.

Removing the graphic card isnt doable either. As I can't reach the small clip that holds it in place (PCI-Express slot). I've tried sushi pins, and toothpicks (wood) but no luck.

I many ways the tiny little Intel stock-cooler wasn't that bad after all, mostly silent (mine was), easy to mount, non-intrusive and free.

ghia · Post by **ghia** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:23 pm

Nice and clean !

But how did you squeeze that looong GTX 275 inside the solo ???

bonestonne · Post by **bonestonne** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:36 pm

lol, you could have gotten a ninja, or a TRUE, but you got an Orochi!

very clean though, did you have to chop up the drive cage to fit that 275?

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:32 am

I know, but the Orochi was only $20 (USD) new, so I couldn't resist it.

Yes, some cutting was made. About 1-2 cm of the HDD-case metal was removed.

danimal · Post by **danimal** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:01 pm

how about needlenose pliers?

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:07 am

danimal wrote:how about needlenose pliers?

Nah, I'll just use a crowbar.

gcwebbyuk · Post by **gcwebbyuk** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:02 am

Nice and clean build.

That cooler is huuuuge!

PhilW · Post by **PhilW** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:58 am

Question!! How did you mount your motherboard with that monster in the way?

Phil

average_joe · Post by **average_joe** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:09 pm

@gcwebbyuk

Thanks =)

@PhilW

I moved the PSU around so I could reach the screws, two of them. Long screwdriver is a big plus. Not easy, but I did it. Hurray!

walle · Post by **walle** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:49 pm

I actually miss my Solo now, seeing this build. Well done _joe, a very nice build for sure.

Fayd · Post by **Fayd** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:53 pm

walle wrote:I actually miss my Solo now, seeing this build. Well done _joe, a very nice build for sure.

i dont.

as nice as the solo was to look at, it was an absolute pain to work with if you have a decently capable system.

i LOVE my p182. i couldnt go back to a solo. ever.

to the OP: i wondered how long it'd be before you hated the orochi

it's a ridiculously huge exercise in stupidity. the heatsink need not be that large, having it that large doesnt grant any extra performance. it's just big.

(though, it does look really nice)

danimal · Post by **danimal** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:46 pm

average_joe wrote:
danimal wrote:how about needlenose pliers?
Nah, I'll just use a crowbar.

lol! glad you got it done without breaking out that heavy artillery.

you want the orochi for low-power passive cooling, no fan, it does a really good job for that.