Legit Reviews

The proposed rig (purchase price if purchased) [proposed price]:

i-7 930 (199.00)
Gigabyte X58 A-UD3R rev 2.0 (199.00)
Corsair H50 (59.99) with Artic Silver 5
Crucial Ballistix 6GB Kit DDR3 1600 CAS 8-8-8-24 1.65v (199.00)
Case: either a HAF-X [199.00], Obsidian 700D [177.99], CM 690 II Advanced [89.00], or Silverstone Fortress FT02 [210.99] - I want the case to last me till I die
PS: Sparkle GW-EPS1000DA [249.99], Seasonic 850w [139.99], Seasonic X750 [179.99], Corsair 850HX [169.99] - I am leaning toward to Sparkle or Seasonic 850w and want the PS to supply power for future builds
Optical: LG BH10LS30 [154.99]
HIS ATI 5770 for now (149.99)
1 TB HDD (89.99) for now

It has been a long while since my last build so my questions are this.

1. Regarding the H50 (based on legit review), since I plan to use two 120mm fans in push/pull config, how do I get the fans to synch and be controlled by the CPU fan power/controller. I figured I needed a male to female y-splitter but can not find it. From your pictures in the review it looks like you plugged one fan into the CPU fan power/controller and the other into a power - would this not effect the ability of the two fans to spin at the same speed at all times?

2. If possible I will mount the rad/fans in the bottom to pull cooler air across the rad and then into the case where it will get ported out through to top - thoughts on this?

3. Anyone recommend either of the cases based on experience? I like the idea of the Silverstone Fortress FT02 for moving the air.

4. I do plan to overclock and am researching on how to do this now. Any recommendations for settings or best process for doing this?

5. What is the best way to test the PS prior to installing it? I will do an open air test build and run before putting everything in the case to be sure it all works

6. Any other help or recommendations welcome.

Thanks

DJ

1) It's my understanding that using a splitter on two fans screws with the header and makes it non-functional. Run one fan on the CPU header and the other fan on a different header.
2) Either mount the radiator on the rear exhaust fan or on a top exhaust port. You will want the hot air being drawn out of the warm radiator to be expelled from your case. Like you mentioned you would be injecting warm air into your system.
3) Sorry they're all too rich for my blood. Can't help you there.
4) Not really a science here more like luck of the draw. Hit the Intel Processor sub forum to look for a guide.
5) Not necessary. Either it works or it doesn't. So you might as well hook everything up in the case before you try it.
6) I'd meet you halfway on your PSU and get the Corsair. They are all 80 Plus certified and come with a 5 year warranty. On top of that just looking at your proposed build I'd ballpark your peak usage at 450-500W with an overclock. So you still have plenty of power supply for down the road.

Thanks Major_A.

1. I had heard the same regarding the fans but read an article where a builder did it. Unfortunately I can not find that article now.

2. On LR's review of the H50 he recommended drawing the air out using push/pull method. I am wondering how it would work drawing in from the bottom. I will probably try different configs to find out which works best.

3. Normally I would agree with you regarding the case but since I plan to use this one till it turns to dust or I die, I figured it made since to spend the money of a top notch case and never worry about it again. My old case is a Antec Sonata which I love but have out grown.

4.Thanks - I'll check the overclocking forum(s)

5. I figured with the open air test build I would be able to check everything first. I really hate having to take things apart because something is DOA. I prefer to measure twice and cut once so to speak.

6. I do like the Corsair, just wish it had at least two rails.

djfarmer wrote: I do like the Corsair, just wish it had at least two rails.

with one rail you dont have to worry about how the power is divided between components, i always prefer solo rail

Major_A wrote:1) It's my understanding that using a splitter on two fans screws with the header and makes it non-functional. Run one fan on the CPU header and the other fan on a different header.
2) Either mount the radiator on the rear exhaust fan or on a top exhaust port. You will want the hot air being drawn out of the warm radiator to be expelled from your case. Like you mentioned you would be injecting warm air into your system.
3) Sorry they're all too rich for my blood. Can't help you there.
4) Not really a science here more like luck of the draw. Hit the Intel Processor sub forum to look for a guide.
5) Not necessary. Either it works or it doesn't. So you might as well hook everything up in the case before you try it.
6) I'd meet you halfway on your PSU and get the Corsair. They are all 80 Plus certified and come with a 5 year warranty. On top of that just looking at your proposed build I'd ballpark your peak usage at 450-500W with an overclock. So you still have plenty of power supply for down the road.

skier wrote:

djfarmer wrote: I do like the Corsair, just wish it had at least two rails.

with one rail you dont have to worry about how the power is divided between components, i always prefer solo rail

I agree with Major..I would go with the Corsair..There proven to be great power supplies plus they have a nice warranty...
I agree with Skier, I would rather Have 1 rail than multiple rails,as I believe the 1 rail units are more effecient powering your hardware..


Scott......

What are everyones thoughts on the case? The special price on the Obsidian ends Sunday at 00:00 hours so I need to decide if I want it by then.

Regarding number of rails. A lot of what I have read indicates that using at least two rails should be done if possible as it provides an extra layer of safety to your components by reducing the chance of all the components taking a hit as with one rail.

ooops - should have read 11:59 hours Sunday

Cases are like a pair of shoes. What I like you might hate and vice versa. It boils down to what you want to spend and what you think you will like the most.

djfarmer wrote:Regarding number of rails. A lot of what I have read indicates that using at least two rails should be done if possible as it provides an extra layer of safety to your components by reducing the chance of all the components taking a hit as with one rail.

i dont know if you've noticed this, but cheap units all have multiple rails, and a decent amount of high end units have a single rail(high end meaning reliable, dependable, indestructible, i wouldnt expect a solo rail system dying unless you're pulling more watts at the wall than your unit is rated for(a 5770 in a system won't pull 350W at the wall, no matter what CPU/board/ram/HDDs are used, it pulls 260w with a 3GHz Core2Quad at full system load-the better the unit the more efficient it is, crappy units can double power consumption at the wall compared to a nice corsair))

if youre still considering a power supply, grab the corsair HX850

Update:

All parts have been acquired.

i-7 930 (199.00)
Gigabyte X58 A-UD3R rev 2.0 (199.00)
Corsair H50 (59.99) with Artic Silver 5 (4.99) and 2 Noctua NF-P12 (21.32 each with a three pack) for push/pull on the radiator
Crucial Ballistix 6GB Kit DDR3 1600 CAS 8-8-8-24 1.65v (199.00)
HAF-X (199.00)
Corsair 850HX (149.99)
LG WH10LS30 (144.00)
HIS ATI 5770 f(149.99)
1 TB HDD (89.99)

Plan to add a second 5770 and SSD at a later date.

Will post pics and other info on the build later.

djfarmer wrote:Update:

All parts have been acquired.

i-7 930 (199.00)
Gigabyte X58 A-UD3R rev 2.0 (199.00)
Corsair H50 (59.99) with Artic Silver 5 (4.99) and 2 Noctua NF-P12 (21.32 each with a three pack) for push/pull on the radiator
Crucial Ballistix 6GB Kit DDR3 1600 CAS 8-8-8-24 1.65v (199.00)
HAF-X (199.00)
Corsair 850HX (149.99)
LG WH10LS30 (144.00)
HIS ATI 5770 f(149.99)
1 TB HDD (89.99)

Plan to add a second 5770 and SSD at a later date.

Will post pics and other info on the build later.

Thats a nice setup you have there ....Have fun with it..Excellent choice going with the Corsair 850HX...I'm looking into buying

that myself......



Scott