I need cooling/case help.. please

[Gynthazi]

Hey guys,

I am beating myself up needlessly over something that I know I shouldn't need to. What seems that should be the easiest decision over a computer has been my hardest.

I am looking to get a new case for my computer.. here's the specs:

opty 175
DFI sli-dr expert
OCZ powerstream 520
2 X evga 7800gtx's
1 hitachi 250gig sataII hd
X-FI extrememusic sound card
Mushkin ddr500 extreme performance 2X1gig (3-4-3-8)

I'm lost.. absolutely lost as to what case I should get.. every time I pick one and am about to buy it I hear from someone else not to....

I'm interested in a few of them.. The coolermaster Wavemaster and stacker 830 I Love Lian-Li's as well... I hear great things about the p180 (lot of fanboi's for them..reluctant about the PS being at the bottom..dunno)....

Here's one big question: Should I go watercooling? I do like to take my computer to various places now and then and wondering how portable watercooling is ( I know NOTHING about watercooling..nothing)..

Yes, I plan to O/C heavily

Please god, someone lead me in the right direction here.. I know this should not be so difficult, but this has been my hardest part of the selection process.. i'm literally beating myself up over this...

Silence is important, but not most important...
Keeping things cool is very important...

HEre's some extra dilemas for me on this...

I live in the mountains at about 10k feet.. air is very thin here, so things run hot.. also, major dust problem living up at this altitude...

PLEASE EXPERTS!!! Give me your insight!

 

[Cook1]

I've had a few cases, but since I bought my first Lian Li case a year or so ago, I've stuck with their products. If you're sticking with air cooling they are really easy to mod by yourself (or you can go to places like frozencpu.com and they have premod'd side panels that have holes drilled for fans and etc).

I recently made the switch to a very inexpensive watercooling setup. I had been using air for years and using the XP-90s, XP-120s and so forth because I'm an OC'er as well. What I have found is that the watercooling setup I found for about $100 shipped gives me better results then my XP-120, MUCH quieter and since the coolent is UV reactive, it gives some color in my case. The kit I picked was the TT Bigwater, found it before the holidays for $80 + shipping. Best investment I've made thus far.

 

[Gynthazi]

So watercooling sounds like it makes a difference...

How portable is watercooling though?

Love to hear more about this option, or is there a beginners guide somewhere..


And how about cases...good god...cases.. anyone?

A lot of people say just get what you think looks best, but then you hear people say oh that one has bad air flow, or that one doesn't have a good fit on the psu or hdd's...

love some more help!

 

[AzNPinkTuv]

it all depends what kinda kid uw ant.,.. some kits fit in a normal dvd drive slot... others are like the size of a shuttle. should be fine for portability if u get an internal one

 

[PacDwell06]

I have a NZXT Nemesis case, it supports 3x120mm fans (front, window, back), looks stylish. I've found it to be a very good case indeed.

 

[imported_fatal]

Here's what I got http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811233001

Excellent case, completely tool-less & comes with 3 120mm fans

 

[PacDwell06]

Nice case, I particularly liked the water cooling tube holes idea.

 

[zagood]

Always a bad idea to move around your case when it's filled with water.

If you're talking portability like moving home from college for the summer, you can always drain it to move.

Then again if you're going to lan parties every other week, might not be the best option.

If you do go with WC, the wavemaster looks really good. Check the boards, a guy just finished a setup for his son with a yellow one that looks sweet.

-z

 

[bdww00]

thermaltake soprano it has 120 in front and back and 92 over processor and it has filter on front 120

aklso have thermaltake soprano same case but looks better

 

[bjlowe66]

i use a lian li pc-75 wiht a tripple 120mm rad in the top requires verry little modding high quality case