Looking for some case/cooling opinions

[Continuity28]

Hey all, I'm planning a new build, and I was looking for some opinions on what case and CPU cooler I should get.

Here's what I'm already planning on getting:

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VI Formula
Memory: G.SKILL TridentX Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 2400 CAS-10
GPU1: ASUS GTX780TI-3GD5 GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB
GPU2: ASUS GTX780TI-3GD5 GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB
PSU: SeaSonic Platinum-1000 1000W
SSD1: SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB (OS+Programs)
SSD2: SAMSUNG 840 Evo Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 750GB (Games)
HDD1: WD Red WD20EFRX 2TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s (Storage)
Optical: ASUS Blu-ray Burner BW-16D1HT

Now, I really don't want to do water cooling. I haven't done it before, and I just don't want to take that risk. I've even heard that the closed systems like the H100 have (rarely) failed from time to time. This will be a 24/7 system.

I would like to stick to pure air cooling.

With that in mind, what are the best options for high performance air cooling, bearing in mind the SLI configuration for $200 or less?

CPU cooler is separate, any opinions are also welcome.

Thanks!

 

[Essence_of_War]

Busting open dat piggy bank, eh?

If you're overclocking, the top dog air cooler is probably the NH-D14, and if you really want top performance, BonzaiDuck has a little post (probably still on the front page of Cases/Cooling) about swapping the fans out for higher quality ones. Haswell's OC potential seems to be more limited by the TIM on the IHS lottery than the quality of one's HSF, though, so if you don't like the size/weight/cost of that one, the Arctic Cooling ACF is a great mid-range CPU cooler that probably out-does the CM 212 Evo for only a few bucks more.

With that in mind, what are the best options for high performance air cooling, bearing in mind the SLI configuration for $200 or less?

So you're looking for a good air cooling case for <~$200?

I have heard some good and some annoying things about the Corsair Air 540. The main compartment really does look like it can have fantastic air flow while also supporting radiators if you ever want to go that route.

Obsidian 750D is pretty nice too. Build quality is pretty high, lots of room for SLI GPUs, extra drives, cable management, space for SSD's behind the MoBo, and plenty of expansion points for extra fans.

The Raven RV04 does very well in anandtech's SLI GPU (search for "full fat") tests as well and seems to be designed with excellent airflow in mind.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Hey all, I'm planning a new build, and I was looking for some opinions on what case and CPU cooler I should get.

Here's what I'm already planning on getting:

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VI Formula
Memory: G.SKILL Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1866
GPU1: ASUS GTX780TI-3GD5 GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB
GPU2: ASUS GTX780TI-3GD5 GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB
PSU: SeaSonic Platinum SS-860XP2 860W
SSD1: SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB
SSD2: SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB
HDD1: WD Black WD1003FZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
HDD2: WD Red WD20EFRX 2TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
Optical: ASUS Blu-ray Burner BW-16D1HT

Now, I really don't want to do water cooling. I haven't done it before, and I just don't want to take that risk. I've even heard that the closed systems like the H100 have (rarely) failed from time to time. This will be a 24/7 system.

I would like to stick to pure air cooling.

With that in mind, what are the best options for high performance air cooling, bearing in mind the SLI configuration for $200 or less?

CPU cooler is separate, any opinions are also welcome.

Thanks!

There are "other coolers," like the NH-U14S. That's going to be the basis for the "twin-U14S" to be released (we think) in April. The reason I bring this up, is that people are put off by the volume consumed by the D14, and the U14S could appeal to them for that reason. And -- not just Noctua coolers, for that matter. But the reviews show the U14S besting the D14 by exactly the degrees-C of D14 improvement I had posted. If the U14S comes with a Noctua fan, what would you think is possible right away?

On the matter of weight. Without the fans (probably totally 12oz @ 6oz each -- or 3/4 lb), you can trim that weight -- first -- by doing as I did. But in fact, you can go further than that. You don't have to hang fans on the cooler if you can hang them on the case so that they mate up fairly close to the cooler fins. Or -- simply get a good thermally-controllable exhaust fan with some "CFM potential" that runs at lower speeds with little noise. Find some old fans you can cut up to get the shrouds to build a "duct extension" for the exhaust fan so that it comes fairly close to the cooler fins. Without the fans on the cooler, the weight isn't all that much. There is a way with the tedium of playing with foam-art-board that you could improve on the single-exhaust idea, but I won't pontificate about it -- just to say it's also fairly simple.

That's why the "out-of-the-box" U14S may also be a preferred solution. I could still see myself wringing extra potential out of the U14S with my traditionally low-tech, tedious play-time efforts with Xacto knife and art-board.

Increased air-intake may do wonders, so some of the case-makers (like CoolerMaster) had designed cases sporting 200mm fans. It looks to me as though the Air 540 Essence mentioned does just as well with 140mm units -- especially if you don't like the CM "HAF" cases.

With all the components you're putting into the case, water-cooling would indeed add a challenge and require a thoughtful review of case choices. I have stood in your shoes before on that one.

Ultimately, "de-lidding" the i7-4770K has [as one poster put it] "mixed results." You can improve cooling by more than just a margin, but at some risk, tedium and trouble. It may not yield much in OC'ing headroom for the chip.

I also suspect you want to "RAID0" your two Samsung drives, and that's your choice -- certainly. But with the throughput spec on just one 840 pro or Evo, it just seems like overkill to me. Personally, I'd do it with just one, larger 840 pro or EVO.

With your parts list, I can guess you wouldn't care about scrimping over cooler choices if they're mostly all within $100 or less.

 

[Continuity28]

Thanks for all the input!

Right now I'm leaning towards the Noctua NH-U14S for the CPU HSF, and Silverstone FT04 for the case. It's only slightly out of the $200 range I mentioned, but compared to the RV04 it just seems much better built. I have to admit, I like the idea behind those cases, but I really did not like the aesthetic and apparent build quality of the RV04.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Thanks for all the input!

Right now I'm leaning towards the Noctua NH-U14S for the CPU HSF, and Silverstone FT04 for the case. It's only slightly out of the $200 range I mentioned, but compared to the RV04 it just seems much better built. I have to admit, I like the idea behind those cases, but I really did not like the aesthetic and apparent build quality of the RV04.

Silverstone has made a string of good cases. You should be OK with that combination. I'm still pleased to see this about the RV04:

"2x 180mm intake fan . . ."

I've been using the CM HAF cases. Some people are put off by the HAFs, if only for aesthetic reasons. And I sometimes had questioned my enthusiasm for quiet, 200mm (approx.) fans. But if the case accommodates them especially as the RV04 does, it seems darn good.

Also -- if those fans seem "limp," you can find replacements -- probably from Bit-Fenix or NZXT. But that's just an option you have if you like to tinker.

Oh. . . My mistake -- you chose the FT04. But it also has the 2x180mm in the front panel, so . . . .

 

[Essence_of_War]

Right now I'm leaning towards the Noctua NH-U14S for the CPU HSF, and Silverstone FT04 for the case. It's only slightly out of the $200 range I mentioned, but compared to the RV04 it just seems much better built. I have to admit, I like the idea behind those cases, but I really did not like the aesthetic and apparent build quality of the RV04.

Funnily enough I mentioned the RV04 over the FT04 exactly because of budget constraints.

It looks like a great case too, though

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Funnily enough I mentioned the RV04 over the FT04 exactly because of budget constraints.

It looks like a great case too, though

Well, it looks like the 200mm fan idea is becoming more widespread for intake fans. You can't find them in a PWM flavor, though. One of our longtime veterans, speaking of water-cooling, noted that certain radiators would not fit in my HAF. But there are apparently some good 200mm square rads available, if water cooling floats your boat and you wanted to stick with a case like mine. . . .

 

[Continuity28]

Availability seems to be an issue with the FT04.

I may end up going with either the HAF-X or HAF-XM. They seem pretty well built for the price, with plenty of cooling options.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Availability seems to be an issue with the FT04.

I may end up going with either the HAF-X or HAF-XM. They seem pretty well built for the price, with plenty of cooling options.

I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the Noctua cooler and any of those cases. I wouldn't tell you to wait for Noctua's release of the "double-U14S," but that's what I'm doing.

On that angle, we don't know for sure that it would appear in April. Right now, what you chose is probably best in many ways, there's plenty of reason to pick the NH-U14S over just about anything else if you don't want to use any type of water-cooling.

For me, since I have a spare CM Hyper 212+ to test the motherboard I have yet to order, there's no hurry or worry.

 

[Tweakin]

Hey all, I'm planning a new build, and I was looking for some opinions on what case and CPU cooler I should get.

Here's what I'm already planning on getting:

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VI Formula
Memory: G.SKILL Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1866
GPU1: ASUS GTX780TI-3GD5 GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB
GPU2: ASUS GTX780TI-3GD5 GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB
PSU: SeaSonic Platinum SS-860XP2 860W
SSD1: SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB
SSD2: SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD256BW 2.5" 256GB
HDD1: WD Black WD1003FZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
HDD2: WD Red WD20EFRX 2TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
Optical: ASUS Blu-ray Burner BW-16D1HT

Now, I really don't want to do water cooling. I haven't done it before, and I just don't want to take that risk. I've even heard that the closed systems like the H100 have (rarely) failed from time to time. This will be a 24/7 system.

I would like to stick to pure air cooling.

With that in mind, what are the best options for high performance air cooling, bearing in mind the SLI configuration for $200 or less?

CPU cooler is separate, any opinions are also welcome.

Thanks!

This system just "begs" to be under water with all the thermals and noise it's going to be producing when it's rockin! Regardless, I understand you concerns.

I know nothing of cpu sinks as I left that world several years ago.

As for cases, I'm a big fan of Lian Li cases as they are simple, efficient and open. With your system, I would assume you are looking at a full tower vice a mid. A Lian Li PC-A75 might be right up your alley, 3 140's in the front, dual 120's over the GPU's, duel 120"s on top and a 120 for the rear. They can be found for around $200.

For case fans I would lean towards mid-high flow units. I just picked up a couple of the Corsair AF-120's (2000rpm) to play with and they move a ton of air, loud but what isn't at that speed. They throttle down nicely to 950rpms if you want to keep it quiet. They also look nice and the build is superb.

One thing though, I think you are going to working the living hell out of that PSU. Nice System and post some pic's when your done!!!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

This system just "begs" to be under water with all the thermals and noise it's going to be producing when it's rockin! Regardless, I understand you concerns.

I know nothing of cpu sinks as I left that world several years ago.

As for cases, I'm a big fan of Lian Li cases as they are simple, efficient and open. With your system, I would assume you are looking at a full tower vice a mid. A Lian Li PC-A75 might be right up your alley, 3 140's in the front, dual 120's over the GPU's, duel 120"s on top and a 120 for the rear. They can be found for around $200.

For case fans I would lean towards mid-high flow units. I just picked up a couple of the Corsair AF-120's (2000rpm) to play with and they move a ton of air, loud but what isn't at that speed. They throttle down nicely to 950rpms if you want to keep it quiet. They also look nice and the build is superb.

One thing though, I think you are going to working the living hell out of that PSU. Nice System and post some pic's when your done!!!

He'd have to run it through the online power-calculator (forgot what it's called, but it should still be available.) I'm pretty sure a Seasonic 860 Platinum will handle it. It's just the double 780-Ti's that make you wonder.

But he said he didn't want to "do water," so . . . .

 

[-slash-]

Case: Rosewill Thor V2

Cooler: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo

Combined under $200 and plenty of room/cooling for all that. 230mm front, side, and top fan and 140mm rear fan. Lots of quiet airflow. Plenty of room for the biggest CPU cooler. Room for fan upgrades. My 2500k at 4.6ghz idles at 33* average and sees 66* as a high under full load in intel burn test. GPU sits at 40* idle and 55* under load.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Case: Rosewill Thor V2

Cooler: Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo

Combined under $200 and plenty of room/cooling for all that. 230mm front, side, and top fan and 140mm rear fan. Lots of quiet airflow. Plenty of room for the biggest CPU cooler. Room for fan upgrades. My 2500k at 4.6ghz idles at 33* average and sees 66* as a high under full load in intel burn test. GPU sits at 40* idle and 55* under load.

That, too, should work . . . Somebody may have already mentioned the Hyper 212. The 212+ should be "adequate" to test my components-order for an i7-4930K system. Certainly would be more than adequate to cool an i7-4770K with its 84W TDP.

But with his parts list, top-end air-cooling is not a lot extra. I can't remember if he had overclocking in mind. Some of us here may think it's a foregone conclusion, but it's not. And the Hyper 212 would be more than enough for that processor, too . . .

 

[Tweakin]

But he said he didn't want to "do water," so . . . .

Not sure what you mean by this in regards to the PSU...regardless, I still think that is a small PSU for all that equipment while trying to run within 50-75% of the max output...JMHO.

op, still want to see some pics!!!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Not sure what you mean by this in regards to the PSU...regardless, I still think that is a small PSU for all that equipment while trying to run within 50-75% of the max output...JMHO.

op, still want to see some pics!!!

I think you have a point there. It's the two NVidia 780's. The SSDs count for nothing or little in wattage. Nor will the two HDDs bring down the power-grid.

I'd advise anyone to use an online PSU calculator Hah! That popped up right away -- now I remember -- it was "Outer Vision:"

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

For my own hardware requirements, I've never purchased bigger than a Seasonic 750. If I were to build even a dual SLI with cards like those, I'd increase the size of the PSU.

And certainly, if OP bought the K processor version and the Maximus Formula, he's going to tweak, and he can punch the expected wattage into the calculator . . .

 

[Tweakin]

...I'd advise anyone to use an online PSU calculator Hah! That popped up right away -- now I remember -- it was "Outer Vision:"

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp/QUOTE]

Thanks for finding that site...I've been going through all my old links looking for it!!!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

...I'd advise anyone to use an online PSU calculator Hah! That popped up right away -- now I remember -- it was "Outer Vision:"

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp /QUOTE]

Thanks for finding that site...I've been going through all my old links looking for it!!!

[I won't insert that bracket; not sure what it will do! Nested quotes?? ]

I always use that link when I plan a new system. I may even get a bigger PSU than I need. These days, I'm trying to limit power consumption and still get the performance I desire. But like I said . . . SLI, dual 780's . . I'm pretty sure the Outer Vision would drive me toward a 1000W unit. Then I'd have to review my UPS inventory . . .

I maybe became lazy picking my PSUs. But is there any PSU out there by another maker that matches the Tech Report or other lab tests for "Sea Sonic?" I became a committed customer since reading a TR comparison review back in '07. Did you happen to come across any good comparison reviews including a Seasonic unit recently?

 

[Continuity28]

That's a handy calculator.

So, I crunched the numbers, assuming 1.3 max vcore (just in case), and added 30% to capacitor aging, as I intend to use this system 24/7 for 3+ years.

I decided to switch the PSU to the SeaSonic Platinum-1000.

I'm also strongly leaning towards the Cooler Master HAF-X case now.

I have nothing against the Hyper 212-Plus/EVO, I'm currently using one myself in my 2600K system. It just seems like the Noctua is somewhat more capable, and I'm fine with the price.

 

[Continuity28]

I changed the components in the OP.

Upgraded the PSU to 1000W
Upgraded the memory from 1866 CAS9 to 2400 CAS10
Changed the games drive setup to a larger SSD instead of smaller SSD + HDD