Cases and airflow for gaming

[hackdroot]

UT3 is not going to be a kill my PC game, if it is, then they have done something seriously wrong. Recommended is a 7800GT - 2Ghz+ CPU, and it has been stated that a QUAD core and DUAL video is just overkill.

I fail to see the logic in such an extreme PC just for UT3, this is a waste of good hardware.

But if you have the money, then by all means spend away.

Here's the logic...

Please re-read my last post, I have spent nothing on most of the hardware. This is my primary PC upgrade. It's been over three years since I've upgraded and this machine is not simply for UT. Since UT is the only FPS I have the time and interest for, it's just as good a reason as any to upgrade.

Besides, even if I did have to lay out cash for all of this, I'm perfectly fine with it. I work hard for my money and have spent much more in the past on much less entertainment. After considering the amount of time I've spent on past UT releases, I'd have to say something like this would be money well spent.

[ProjectUT]

Like many of you, I plan on upgrading my PC to support UT 3.
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800
Antec Quattro 1000 True Power
Dual 8800 GTX OC 640Mb cards
4 SATA drives (Raid 10)

UT3 is not going to be a kill my PC game, if it is, then they have done something seriously wrong. Recommended is a 7800GT - 2Ghz+ CPU, and it has been stated that a QUAD core and DUAL video is just overkill.

I fail to see the logic in such an extreme PC just for UT3, this is a waste of good hardware.

But if you have the money, then by all means spend away.

[hackdroot]

Hackdroot!!! If your not going to OC get the E6750, its faster, and has the 1333 FSB, the Extreem processors are 3 times the cost because enthusiasts are willing to pay that much more for the ability to overclock the CPUS core.. The E6750 is better a 1/3rd the price.. I sure hope you read this before you waste $500 extra for nothing.

Note you need a MB thats supports the 1333FSB or the 680i chipset

Actually, I do already have the processor. But I didn't really pay for most of my parts. I do consulting and application development, so it was basically a trade for services. The case is the only thing I have to buy on my own. The only reason I didn't plan on overclocking, is in the hopes that I wouldn't really have to, in order to get good performance from UT3. Hopefully, I'll be wrapped up enough in the gameplay, to not notice the extra notch I'm missing on settings. I suppose it's always an option though if I feel the need to see those extra blades of grass

[bazzwano]

Hackdroot!!! If your not going to OC get the E6750, its faster, and has the 1333 FSB, the Extreem processors are 3 times the cost because enthusiasts are willing to pay that much more for the ability to overclock the CPUS core.. The E6750 is better a 1/3rd the price.. I sure hope you read this before you waste $500 extra for nothing.

Note you need a MB thats supports the 1333FSB or the 680i chipset

[Kronos]

oh yeah i forgot the mention why the antec = ultimate gamer case theres a grove with a not slip rubber mat on top to put something now they may say its for a device or something but from what i can see it looks like a Coffee or soda cup or can holder.

Now while im sure that wasnt the intention, it really works well lemme tell you. Since the little rubber mat in there can be cleaned in water you never have to worry about cup rings on your desk. lol

Thats the last place I'd put a cup or a drink lol. That just spells doom, especially since theres a great big fan right on top right next to it...

I use it for my keys and wallet.

[karmatized]

oh yeah i forgot the mention why the antec = ultimate gamer case theres a grove with a not slip rubber mat on top to put something now they may say its for a device or something but from what i can see it looks like a Coffee or soda cup or can holder.

Now while im sure that wasnt the intention, it really works well lemme tell you. Since the little rubber mat in there can be cleaned in water you never have to worry about cup rings on your desk. lol

[TWD]

I really like the Antec cases the best. I haven't had any experience with the 900. However I have tried their professional P180/182 series, and I think it would work well for what you are doing. It's very similar to the 900, but it was designed to be more of a server case (hence the locking front, and padded case for dampen noise). One main difference is it has a place in the bottom of the case where you can mount 4 hard drives with silicon grommets. The bottom part of the case is like a wind tunnel. It's sealed off from the rest of the case. There's a fan in the front to suck air in and the proper antec power supply will suck it out the back.

It also has all the nice fan features of the 900 case. There's a fan on the top and on the towards the top that keeps your processor cool, and I've seen a special fan designed to blow onto all of your pci cards.

I'm running my server in one of these. With no overclocking the server tells me it's 39 degrees C, but I'm not sure how correct the number lm_sensors gives me is.

[hackdroot]

Thanks for all the input guys. Think I'll go with the antec 900. It's cheaper than the one I was considering and seems to have better airflow setup.

[steak]

i highly recommend that case.

tested it out myself and i loved it. however, i fell inlove with the NZXT Apollo instead. just because it looked better :P

either way, its a really effective case, and with BLUE LED fans replacing the stock ones, people's heads will be turning.

i too have an Apollo case, the black one, yea it looks better thats y i got it lol but i havent run into any problems with it.

[intentsly]

RE:Antec 900

Thats the exact case I have, although I added even extra fans.

I have thought about that case as well and I didn't realize it was so inexpensive?!? I thought it was $100 more, for some reason. Kewl!

The Antec 900's power supply location is good and I like the hinged doors. My power supply can be mounted either above, below or both locations. In the July 07 Maximum PC mag, they did an article on hotspots inside cases. They used a Fluke Thermal Imager and the pic's showed that most of the heat was from the Graphic's cards, CPU, Motherboard power regulators and hard drives. The power supply did not seem very hot at all! So, mounting it low (if you can) may be a good idea!

Oh man, I almost forgot about the Cooler Master Cosmos! Check out this sick chunk of metal!
http://www.coolermaster.com/products...detail&id=2684

Intentsly

[Kronos]

if you want a really really good airflow case check out the antec 900 series case.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%2b900

Thats the exact case I have, although I added even extra fans.

[NitrousOxide]

1KW (1000W) Power Supply!

ZOMG, some one think of the global warming!

[intentsly]

I have a CM Stacker STC-T01-UW. I love it for its airflow and expandability!
Its big, but comes with lockable wheels as well to make it easy to move around. I haven't looked into the later editions, but, they might even be better.
This page lists the other Cooler Master Stackers. One of them has a deal to get a free 1KW (1000W) Power Supply!

Intentsly

[TensorWM]

i highly recommend that case.

tested it out myself and i loved it. however, i fell inlove with the NZXT Apollo instead. just because it looked better :P

either way, its a really effective case, and with BLUE LED fans replacing the stock ones, people's heads will be turning.

[karmatized]

if you want a really really good airflow case check out the antec 900 series case.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%2b900

people always forget that the harddrives generate huge ammounts of heat now adays. The antec has in my opinion a better airflow design, sucks air in from the front and vents through the hardrives passing the air to the back of the gpu's then gets sucked upwards to the top exsaust fan, as for the side panel that side 120m fan is just for the gpu's and the back fan takes care of that.

My rig = 680i mobo intel core 2 dou 6700, 2 geforce 8800gtx, sli'd, 5 harddrives, 1 cdburner and 2 dvd burners. 4 gigs of ram, and agis phyx physics card..

Never has the computer reboot due to overheating once.