Build Log: Matte Black NZXT Switch

[Joni Nitro]

It is finally time for me to build a newer system. I wont have the latest and greatest hardware, but it will more than suit my needs.

Hardware:

NZXT Switch Matte Black

Corsair AX750

Intel i7 930

EVGA X58 FTW3

12GB Corsair Dominator

XFX 7850

128GB Crucial M4

300GB WD VR


Cooling:

1 MCR320 (looking to add a second)
1 MCR240 if I can get the second 320 to fit
1 MCR120

I will either be using Medium Yate Loons, but I would rather use the white NZXT 120mm if I feel like spending the cash.

Heatkiller 3.0 LT

MCW60 on the 7850 unless there is a full coverage option soon

655 in a XSPC Dual Bay Res

Here are some teaser pics for now. I need to place hardware to see how things are going to fit.

I really like this case, and I think the matte black is nice looking. I am not into glossy even though I am sure they look nice as well.

That is all for now......stay tuned for more.

 

[EQWoody]

Not the latest and greatest, but still better than most will ever need. Great camera shots can't wait to see more. Any mods planned?

 

[Joni Nitro]

Any mods planned?

Maybe some minor ones. I have been through some all out mods, but this is the first case I have had that could fit everything I want without modding. I am looking more for a well built, nice case to look at.

 

[Joni Nitro]

I wanted to make sure everything was working so I threw everything on my homemade test bench. So far so good. That 7850 is much quieter than my 4870. Those six yate loons are bar far the noisiest components, but they will be controlled once installed in the rig.

I also think I have come up with a good way to install one of the MCR320s in the front of the case. Once I am sure that my hardware is good I can pull my radiators from the test bench and start fitting everything.

 

[TehYoyo]

Interesting - are you going to be going w/ gold/blue color scheme?

 

[Joni Nitro]

No, everything will be matte black or white.

 

[TehYoyo]

Huh. Were you using a filter in the first pics?

 

[Joni Nitro]

No, I was using a make shift light box and was to lazy to paint the inside black. It is light bouncing off the cardboard.

 

[Joni Nitro]

I am waiting on more parts to arrive, but I thought I would give a small update. I played around with mounting the radiators and I think I have decided against the 360 in the front. I was going to mount it as angle that match the side window. It looked pretty cool with the side panel on, but looks a little goofy with it off. I was going to fab up a custom bracket to support the top to the remaining drive bays. Then there was the issue of mounting the pump somewhere. I went ahead and ordered a 240 for the front to see if it works better.

I also debating on going with push/pull. I have a lot of cooling surface with an overall 6x120mm radiator. So if it isnt going to lower my temps much I would rather not have the extra noise.

 

[TehYoyo]

So you're just going to throw out the 360 in the pic? Seems like a waste - mount it to the top or back? Or isn't there space for 3 120mm fans in the top?

 

[Joni Nitro]

Oh, there is definitely a MCR320 going on top, I wanted to run two 320s abd the single 120. Now I will orobably just do a 320,240, and a 120. The goal is max cooling, low noise and good looks. I am just nit sure if that 320 in the front looks too ghetto.

 

[dougp]

Why not pull out the HDD cage and just stand it up against the front of the case? Sure, you might have to figure out how/where to mount the HDDs, but there's plenty of other options out there for that as well. What kind of HDDs are you dropping in? What #?

 

[TehYoyo]

That's what I would do - although it might look kinda weird in front and there isn't a lot of airflow in the front w/ the front panel on,

 

[Joni Nitro]

I kind of like the angle as it matched the side window angle, but its not that important. There is an insane amount if room in there. I could mount it straight up with all the drive bays in place. Mounting in the front is also an option.

What about push/pull fans, is it worth it? I will be using medium YLs.

I am only using 1 SSD and 1 300 VR.

 

[dougp]

I kind of like the angle as it matched the side window angle, but its not that important. There is an insane amount if room in there. I could mount it straight up with all the drive bays in place. Mounting in the front is also an option.

What about push/pull fans, is it worth it? I will be using medium YLs.

I am only using 1 SSD and 1 300 VR.

You could easily mount the HDDs in the spare 5.25" bay, keeping the HDD bays out and removing clutter. I'm not sure how push/pull would work with the front cover on.

 

[centex99]

Watching this with interest... I'm planning a similar build but with a 420 (top) and 240 (bottom)....
How do you like the quality of the matte black? I've seen the white in person, and it wasn't bad but I'm not a big white fan. I'm thinking of going matte with white tubing... cabling will likely be black unless at some point I decide to individually wrap cables in white sleeving...

 

[Joni Nitro]

I love the matte black. I am not a fan up super glossy finishes. Overall this is the best quality case I have owned. I will be using white tubing as well and I got in on a sale for the white sleeved cables from from Corsiar. For 60 bucks there was no way I was going to spend the extra time to diy them. I will be updating the thread tomorrow.

 

[centex99]

$60 for the white cables isn't bad... may cost that much to DIY anyway... I need a >850W power supply... so not sure what to get that I could potentially convert to white...

 

[Joni Nitro]

AX850 and then order white cables.

 

[centex99]

That is on my consideration list... I really didn't want to spend more than ~$150 on a PS though... and I'm not 100% sure the 850 would allow me to overclock dual GTX 480s...