Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Quick question, what is the quietest possible air cooler to be used in this case?
First: the Strix will not fit without modifying the case.Dammit. Why did Nvidia have to release the 970 which is trading blows with the R290x.
Build is on extreme hold. Again.
The GPU in my theory builds seem to set the tone of every other component.
I'm now looking at the Asus Strix GTX 970 which is $200.00 cheaper than the XFX Black Edition R290X for almost the same performance and better energy and thermal efficiency. It has semi passive cooling. Which is what the new theme of the build will be.
Broadwell desktop chips will come out next year and I'm hoping at least one of them is thermally efficient enough to run basic desktop tasks and light gaming with the heatsink attached and the fans off, only activating once it passes a preset threshold.
Given the better energy efficiency I'm wondering if I should switch from the SX-600g PSU to the larger but more thermally efficient SX-500LG.
What do you guys think? Am I crazy to attempt to go for 0% fan output on both CPU and GPU for Desktop apps and light gaming in an M1 v1 case?
I think a very slow quiet fan is better than no fan, but we really cannot tell until Broadwell comes out. Who knows, maybe they do have something in the works.Overview of GTX970 models
(V) Gigabyte = 312/298mm x 129mm x 43mm (Might be tricky. Guru3D says it is shorter) PCB
(X) Inno3D = 300mm x 115mm (3-slot design makes it too long)
(X) Asus = 280mm x 140mm x 40mm (Too wide, requires NCase modification) PCB
(V) MSI = 269mm x 141mm x 35 (Aircooler is officially too wide but people seem to be able to fit them) PCB
(V) Palit = 247mm x 126mm
(V) Gainward = 247mm x 112mm (The Phantom does seem to have a really short PCB. 3-slot cooler though) PCB
(V) Evga = 241.3mm x 111.15mm
(V) Zotac = 224mm x 111.15mm (Only the non-OC models though)
The MSI is starting to look like a mighty fine card for watercooling though.
Tony Ou chimed in at the SX500-LG thread saying they are targetting launch (Tony says "delivered") at late November/December this year, I expect it to be available around February/March 2015.Same goes for the SFX500-L. It has not even been announced yet so it could be a year until it becomes available. Personally I like the idea of this PSU though.
Ah thanks for clearing that up.Tony Ou chimed in at the SX500-LG thread saying they are targetting launch (Tony says "delivered") at late November/December this year, I expect it to be available around February/March 2015.
Nice list on the GPU's, BTW ! If possible, you should collect people's quotes or pictures on the cards fitting. To make sure no one misunderstands which model fits and doesn't.
Also domp I was wondering what Optical drive you used. Still trying to figure out what would be a good optical drive because there really isnt an eject button?
Notting has tried the Strix. It fits, but with some disclaimers.Hey JaccoW.
callumbolch confirmed on page 14 that the XFX R9 290 Double D fits just fine without modding the side panel. That card's width, according to XFX's website, is 5.63 inches.
The Asus Strix GTX 970 actually has a smaller width based on the manufacturer at 5.5 inches. Which is why I think it can still fit.
The truth is almost nobody has actually tried to fit any of these new cards yet. And manufacturers aren't always right with their spec sheet dimensions.
GPU Waterblock: EK-FC670 GTX Acetal + Nickel CSQ with Backplate
Notting has tried the Strix. It fits, but with some disclaimers.
Because of the extra wide PCB he had to remove some parts of the case and it stills slightly bends the side panel.
@Domp: Very nice build. Lovely colouring.
Added it to my list of inspirational builds.
Would dremeling a millimeter or so off of the heatpipe be such a bad idea?
I understand, still disappointed. I guess I'll have to wait until the Strix 980 drops in price then. Or if another company makes a semi passive 970 that is very minimalist in colour scheme. I can't stand the MSI branding.
I thought I should point out an alternative to the Noctua NH-C14: the Scythe Kabuto II. Like NH-C14, it reaches all the way to near the side bracket for better airflow.
I like this. Was dead set on making a NH-L12 work but this seems better.
How much room do you have to spare between the cooler and the top panel? I am currently waiting for an ASUS Z97I-plus which seem to have roughly the same socket placement as your P8Z77-I Deluxe (thank you spreadsheet). Didn't find proper measurements, but from pictures it might be a few millimeters higher on mine, which is why I ask.
Edit: Aah the decisions!! ..NH-C14 looks nice too. I'll never ever use the HDD bracket anyway. Twice the price though, but looks better on pictures.
I think it's ~6mm to the top panel. I padded it with the fan filter that came with M1 and 2x2mm fan silencers to make a closed tunnel to the side panel. I had to use longer fan screws + washers for that. Obviously there may be a minor height difference between units.
Thanks
6mm is cutting it close, but it should work. I'll do som intense googling to see if i can't work it out. Hadn't thought about the fan silencers. Been looking for some sort of ducting. Do you have any idea how much difference those actually make on temps?
I didn't test it but it may just be placebo. I love my placebo.
Hehe.
I just ordered the NH-C14 due to avalability. My other parts should be just around the corner and to get the scythe cooler i would have had to wait for about 3 weeks. C14 will arrive on friday so it was worth the extra 40$ not to die from inpatience.
Your "placebo" issue should be applicable anyway though. I plan on using a 120mm fan attached to the side bracket with a filter so that I can control dust in all intakes, so I'll make some sort of ghetto shroud to test the temps.
I just realized that you were asking for the distance to the "top" panel, not the side panel. I didn't really measure that yet, but the heatsink can be oriented in other ways. The C14 should cool better than the Scythe anyway because it has more metal mass.
Hi craftyhack, welcome to [H]
All looks fine I think, but I would recommend 3/8"-5/8" tubing and fittings because of the tighter bend radius than the thinner tubing.
I don't guess that an additional 1/8" OD will make a difference WRT to running out of space or not being able to route tubing,