![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
My new build is complete at least for now.
For the old hands here, you probably will be bored by this post, it is more for somebody considering a Qpack/Chenming, but I would like to thank all the members of the forum for some great info that helped with my research for the build.
I picked the Chenming case over the Aspire because I liked the silver and black. I also liked the side window but not the top window. Sure wish either one had the option to have two side windows but no top window. You can get no windows, 3 windows, or one window Hello!, how about 2 (sides)? The issue of having a side window on the HDD side wasnt as big of a deal until I finished it. Now I think the Zalman 7000 and the Vantec iceberq HDD cooler are worthy of their own window:
Oh well, looks like a window mod is in my future.
A couple of lessons learned that might help others:
Not all LiteOn opticals are the shorty version (170mm). I had an older LiteOn CD-ROM only (2 other burners in the house so didnt really need another). Took it for granted that it would fit in the case after a PSU swap. Wrong. It was 195mm. Oh well, now I have a new LiteOn CD-RW/DVD-ROM that is 170mm. Read the specs or measure
Several members here post accolades for the Yate Loon 120mm case fan in the Chenming. Mine came with a Sam Lung (???). I have no idea of the quality I didnt like it because it wasnt mobo monitorable. Out it came and in went a 120mm Antec SmartCool. It draws straight from the PSU with a 4-pin pass-through molex, but does have the mobo 3-pin. It throttles up or down itself with its own thermistor. Mostly it stays way down because this case seems to stay pretty cool. Waaay quieter than the Sam Lung.
I chucked the Chenming PSU right away. I replaced it with a CoolMax EZ-Wire CU-400T http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817159047 I know, before you say it CoolMax PSUs are listed elsewhere in this forum as an Avoid. I liked the looks and features, and the eggs were good for the people that bought it. I am very happy with it. It feels very solid and the looks/finish are outstanding. It has been rock-steady in all the monitoring I have done on it. I peeled the spec sticker off the side and put it on the top, so the nice satin-mirror finish on it looks great thru the window.
I really like the sleeved, modular cables. Really helps to keep the case organized. I actually like the CoolMax cables better than the ones with the Enermax Liberty 500 we just put in my sons rig. The Coolmax has separate cables for standard 4-pin and SATA and they are sleeved from plug to plug. The PSU end plug is standard molex sized also. The Enermax cables are combo 4-pin and SATA plug, and they are not sleeved all the way. The Enermax PSU plugs are not standard either. I dont doubt the quality of the Enermax, it better be good since we paid almost double what I paid for the CoolMax, I am just very happy with the CoolMax.
The stock CPU heat sink stayed in the box also, way too many recommendations here for the Zalman 7000.
The thing is a beast, works well and looks cool. No problems on the fit. I lusted after the 7700 but didnt want to deal with quite that close of a fit. As heavy and large as the 7000 is I cant imagine holding the 7700.
I had read some concerns here about SouthBridge heating. I yanked the Zalman 47 out of my old dead Shuttle and put it on the NB, and then the stock HS went on the SB with just a little grinding. It actually fit but was right up against the GPU and I didnt like that. I beveled one edge of it with a grinder and some wet-dry sandpaper and it looks and fits very well.
Altogether happy with the whole deal. After reading tons about the mobo choices I stuck with the ASUS because of past experience. Lots more room than my Shuttle for futzing around inside, while still being a nice compact little package. With the extra drive bay being handy for hiding cables, the quality and looks of the PSU cables, and a little extra work with all the other wires I think cable management is easy in this case.
Again, the window on the left is cool
I do believe that a right side window mod is not too far down the road
For the old hands here, you probably will be bored by this post, it is more for somebody considering a Qpack/Chenming, but I would like to thank all the members of the forum for some great info that helped with my research for the build.
I picked the Chenming case over the Aspire because I liked the silver and black. I also liked the side window but not the top window. Sure wish either one had the option to have two side windows but no top window. You can get no windows, 3 windows, or one window Hello!, how about 2 (sides)? The issue of having a side window on the HDD side wasnt as big of a deal until I finished it. Now I think the Zalman 7000 and the Vantec iceberq HDD cooler are worthy of their own window:
Oh well, looks like a window mod is in my future.
A couple of lessons learned that might help others:
Not all LiteOn opticals are the shorty version (170mm). I had an older LiteOn CD-ROM only (2 other burners in the house so didnt really need another). Took it for granted that it would fit in the case after a PSU swap. Wrong. It was 195mm. Oh well, now I have a new LiteOn CD-RW/DVD-ROM that is 170mm. Read the specs or measure
Several members here post accolades for the Yate Loon 120mm case fan in the Chenming. Mine came with a Sam Lung (???). I have no idea of the quality I didnt like it because it wasnt mobo monitorable. Out it came and in went a 120mm Antec SmartCool. It draws straight from the PSU with a 4-pin pass-through molex, but does have the mobo 3-pin. It throttles up or down itself with its own thermistor. Mostly it stays way down because this case seems to stay pretty cool. Waaay quieter than the Sam Lung.
I chucked the Chenming PSU right away. I replaced it with a CoolMax EZ-Wire CU-400T http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817159047 I know, before you say it CoolMax PSUs are listed elsewhere in this forum as an Avoid. I liked the looks and features, and the eggs were good for the people that bought it. I am very happy with it. It feels very solid and the looks/finish are outstanding. It has been rock-steady in all the monitoring I have done on it. I peeled the spec sticker off the side and put it on the top, so the nice satin-mirror finish on it looks great thru the window.
I really like the sleeved, modular cables. Really helps to keep the case organized. I actually like the CoolMax cables better than the ones with the Enermax Liberty 500 we just put in my sons rig. The Coolmax has separate cables for standard 4-pin and SATA and they are sleeved from plug to plug. The PSU end plug is standard molex sized also. The Enermax cables are combo 4-pin and SATA plug, and they are not sleeved all the way. The Enermax PSU plugs are not standard either. I dont doubt the quality of the Enermax, it better be good since we paid almost double what I paid for the CoolMax, I am just very happy with the CoolMax.
The stock CPU heat sink stayed in the box also, way too many recommendations here for the Zalman 7000.
The thing is a beast, works well and looks cool. No problems on the fit. I lusted after the 7700 but didnt want to deal with quite that close of a fit. As heavy and large as the 7000 is I cant imagine holding the 7700.
I had read some concerns here about SouthBridge heating. I yanked the Zalman 47 out of my old dead Shuttle and put it on the NB, and then the stock HS went on the SB with just a little grinding. It actually fit but was right up against the GPU and I didnt like that. I beveled one edge of it with a grinder and some wet-dry sandpaper and it looks and fits very well.
Altogether happy with the whole deal. After reading tons about the mobo choices I stuck with the ASUS because of past experience. Lots more room than my Shuttle for futzing around inside, while still being a nice compact little package. With the extra drive bay being handy for hiding cables, the quality and looks of the PSU cables, and a little extra work with all the other wires I think cable management is easy in this case.
Again, the window on the left is cool
I do believe that a right side window mod is not too far down the road
, just recognized from this zoomed picture, that u've mounted ur hd cooler on the wrong side! Arrgh!