Antec Solo II Gamer

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ck8-04
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:58 pm
Location: Malden, MA

Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by ck8-04 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:27 pm

Let me first say that I was using the original Antec Solo in my previous build and the Solo II is a major improvement over the original for me.

Case: Antec Solo II
PSU: Corsair AX650
CPU: Intel Core i7 980
CPU cooler: Noctua NH-U12P SE2
Fans: Noctua NF-P12 (exhaust), Noctua NF-P12 PWM (CPU), Scythe Slipstream PWM (GPU)
MoBo: Intel DX58SO revision 705 (final revision)
RAM: 12GB (3 x 4GB) Crucial DDR3-1333
GPU: eVGA Geforce GTX660
GPU cooler: Prolimatech MK-13
Storage: Intel 320 160GB SSD
Optical drive: Sony/NEC Optiarc AD-7280S
Add-in Cards: Happauge HVR-1250 TV tuner, Koutech TI-based USB 3.0 card
Monitor: HP ZR24W
Peripherals: Logitech Illuminated Keyboard, Logitech G3 mouse, and Logitech Z-906 5.1 speakers

I ran into two major issues with this build. The first is that I went through 3 Seasonic-built power supplies before I found one that was inaudible from a sitting distance: Platinum 520, X-560, and Corsair AX760. The Platinum 520 emitted an audible buzzing that I could hear from the next room over and both the X-560 and AX760 produced an irritating, high-pitched whine that was clearly audible from 2 meters. Luckily, my local Micro Center had one AX650 in stock and I decided that I would try that out before I gave up and reused a 5-year-old HX520 from my previous build. While the AX650 is a major improvement in terms of electrical noise over the previous 3 PSUs, there is still some faint buzzing and whining coming from it but it's audible only if I put my ears next to it and my ears are very sensitive. The next major issue I faced was the IOH temperature would rise to 83C if I let the system manage fan speeds. By default, the rear exhaust fan speed would rise according to the IOH temperature and the CPU fan would stay at a constant 270 RPM until the CPU hit 70C. Since the IOH heatsink sits right in front of the CPU fan, its temperature is directly affected by the CPU fan speed so I manually set the CPU and rear exhaust fan speeds to 700 and 800 RPM, respectively. The IOH temperature now sits between 65C and 70C, regardless of load.

Other than those two issues, everything fit together beautifully. I wasn't certain at first if the Prolimatech MK-13 would fit on the GTX660 because Prolimatech never updated the MK-13's compatibility list since the release of the 500 series and I only saw one person (on Youtube) who successfully mounted it on a Geforce 600 series card (GTX670). The heatsink fit but with only about a millimeter to spare. Its heat pipes barely cleared the stacked DVI ports. The Scythe Slipstream is mounted to the chassis using hardware that Prolimatech provides with the MK-13 and is connected to and controlled by the video card. When idling, it rotates at about 330 RPM and increases to about 800 RPM under load.

Temperatures:
CPU (idle): 32C
CPU (load): 58C
GPU (idle): 34C
GPU (load): 75C

WEI scores:
Processor: 7.8
Memory (RAM): 7.8
Graphics: 7.9
Gaming graphics: 7.9
Primary hard disk: 7.7
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Zenphic
Friend of SPCR
Posts: 107
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:54 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by Zenphic » Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:28 am

A professionally-built and well-thought out build. Good job!

ck8-04
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:58 pm
Location: Malden, MA

Re: Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by ck8-04 » Sat Dec 27, 2014 3:50 pm

Time for an update. Upgrades are in italics:

Case: Antec Solo II
PSU: Corsair AX650
CPU: Intel Core i7 980
CPU cooler: Noctua NH-U12P SE2
Fans: Noctua NF-P12 (exhaust), Noctua NF-P12 PWM (CPU)
MoBo: Intel DX58SO revision 705 (final revision)
RAM: 12GB (3 x 4GB) Crucial DDR3-1333
GPU: eVGA Geforce GTX980 ACX2.0
Storage: Intel 320 300GB SSD
Optical drive: Sony/NEC Optiarc AD-7280S
Add-in Cards: Happauge HVR-1250 TV tuner, Koutech TI-based USB 3.0 card
Monitor: HP ZR24W
Peripherals: Logitech Illuminated Keyboard, Logitech G3 mouse, and Logitech Z-906 5.1 speakers

For the first time since the Radeon 9800 Pro, I am using my video card's stock cooler, thanks to eVGA's Precision X software and the new ACX 2.0 cooler. I created a fan profile that is inaudible at idle and very tolerable at 100% load. The video card fan profile is set to begin ramping up to full speed beginning at 70C and it usually never exceeds about 73C.

The other mod I made was the addition of a duct to the CPU fan so that the X58 IOH could take advantage of the CPU airflow. This resulted in a ~15C drop in the IOH temperature at 700RPM, but I opted to resume PWM control of the fan, where it stays at about ~280RPM until the CPU hits 70C. The X58 IOH now runs at around 66C under normal usage. The duct was created by cutting thick paper to shape using a precision cutter and then folding it. It's held on to the fan using push pins and some black electrical tape.
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CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by CA_Steve » Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:07 pm

cool

khaakon
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:29 am
Location: Oslo, Norway

Re: Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by khaakon » Sun Dec 28, 2014 5:40 am

Excellent work, it seems, with very good pictures. I'm impressed by the idea with the tabs and the push pins - thanks for sharing this.
Congrats on the new gfx card (envy.. my GTX670 died (again..) and i cannot yet afford even a 970), and ofc the improvement in chipset cooling. I guess its gaming holidays, eh?

Zenphic
Friend of SPCR
Posts: 107
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:54 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by Zenphic » Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:18 am

I must say that you've made an excellent bit of work with the Solo II!

flemeister
Posts: 346
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:42 am
Location: Australia

Re: Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by flemeister » Sun Dec 28, 2014 9:38 pm

Zenphic wrote:I must say that you've made an excellent bit of work with the Solo II!
Agreed! I like the choice of components as well. All good brands, reliable, tried and tested, no nonsense, form follows function. :)

ck8-04
Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:58 pm
Location: Malden, MA

Re: Antec Solo II Gamer

Post by ck8-04 » Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:55 pm

Thanks, guys! When I designed the machine, my priorities were, starting with the most important, reliability, manufacturer support, acoustics, serviceability, performance and aesthetics. Because manufacturer support was the second most important criteria for me, most of the components I've selected come from reputable American companies.

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