WARMACHINE 1.5 - Design Phase!

[Skippman]

Ok, I'm being a post whore here lately and I appologize for starting so many new threads in one week. After careful consideration I've been convinced that my case no longer meets my requirements. If thats true, it's time to reconsider a few things.

I'd been very aprehensive about getting into water cooling. I've been using my love of my case as justification, but if I want to be back on the edge I'm going to have to get over it and just make the leap. To that end I'm going to have to start putting together a parts list to migrate Warmachine 1.0 into a new case and liquid cool it.

Heres my current parts list:

Board: Asus P5W DH Delux
Chip: Core 2 Duo E6600
RAM: 2GB GSkill DDR2-800Mhz
PSU: OCZ GamerXStream 600W
GPU: ColorPower Radeon 4870
HD: 2 SATA HD's
DVD: 16X IDE DVD-R


I'm currently running the CPU and RAM at stock specs and I know theres tremendous overclocking potential. So I'm hoping watercooling well let me unlock some of that power or maybe upgrade to a faster proc early next year.

So to that end I'm starting my plans for my first water cooled system. This thing is going have to be stationary and not taken to LAN parties. I think I've given up on those for a while as I just don't have the free time anymore.

Here's my starting point. I think I've narrowed it down to one of two case choices. Both have advantages and disadvantages and are in the same price range.

The Antec 1200

As reviewed it appears to have a TON of room for water cooling radiators and other components. It has a black interior (which I love). Clean, simple look. Has a window, and has tons of 120mm fans.

or

The Thermaltake Armour

Also has tons of room and many large (120mm+) fans. Lacks the black interior of the Antec. Can come with a built in water cooling solution although I know Thermaltake water cooling isn't popular here. Also has the simple, clean look to it.

So there's my case choices. Once we decide that, then we'll look at the liquid cooling system which will likely be a Swiftech based on numerous recommendations.

[martini161]

i love my armor, but you cant really fit a big radiator into it without mods, unless you want to mount it upfront (for that you have to buy adapters) its also a very expandable and easily modded case. take mine for example: http://forums.legitreviews.com/about129 ... ml#p121593 good luck!

[Sporg]

I'm a big fan of my armor as well. I ended up mounting my rad on top of the case, but I know a lot of people mount on the back.

http://forums.legitreviews.com/about17269.html

From looking at the 1200 it appears to be a very solid case and a lot of room inside. Good luck with your choice, as both are very solid cases.

[martini161]

I'm a big fan of my armor as well. I ended up mounting my rad on top of the case, but I know a lot of people mount on the back.

http://forums.legitreviews.com/about17269.html

From looking at the 1200 it appears to be a very solid case and a lot of room inside. Good luck with your choice, as both are very solid cases.

my armour can beat up your armour

[Sporg]

LOL

[Skippman]

Both of you guys have very nice looking rigs!

It looks like the Armor has been done before. And as much as I think it's a fantastic looking case those metal fins on the front look like they'd just get in the way of the optical drives. The 1200 is probably going to be my platform for several reasons.

1.) Black Interior (why have a window into drab grey).

2.) Looks to be easier to install the radiator internally.

3.) Fan controller built in.

I wish I could see both of these cases in person to get an idea of thier size and construction quality. I'm a pretty tactile person. The window on the 1200 looks like it was pop rivited to the case which kind of gives it a cheap apperance right there.

[Sporg]

Those fin/doors on the front are kinda funky and take a bit of getting used to. I like the look they give the case, and they do help protect it from my 10 month old. They don't get in the way of the optical drives as much as you would think. The drives can easily push them open. I do sometimes get a vibration on one of the doors though. I initially put my rig together at the end of '06, but didn't add water cooling until a few months ago.

Honestly if I were to do it again it would be between the armor and the 1200. If I were to build a new one right now I'd strongly consider the 1200.

[martini161]

the doors on the front of the armour help cooling, they create a venturi effect. i can tell you right now though that the armour is extremely well put together. its exterior is all steel and it doesnt bend at all. i have an antec 300 as well and its a very nice case, but i just like the way the thermaltake is made better.

[Skippman]

I guess if I did get the 1200 I'd probably want to invert my PSU so that the big 120mm fan on the "bottom" points up?

[DaIceMan]

I guess if I did get the 1200 I'd probably want to invert my PSU so that the big 120mm fan on the "bottom" points up?

A lot of the 900 and 1200 modders are cutting holes in the floor of the case so that the fan draws from the outside of the case (in the 120, out the rear).

http://img153.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... olelc3.jpg

As for more ideas on the 1200, tjharlow (youtube) has a ton of videos for builds he's done with the 1200. LOTS of good ideas, including an internal radiator mounting system that is very slick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whw1Di2Pc6Y

Start there and link back to his channel. Good work by an awesome guy very willing to answer questions if you have any.

[Skippman]

Thanks for the advice. I'll most-def look into that when I'm home from work tonight. I think I'm going to go with the 1200 because of the above listed reasons. I dunno that I'll cut the hole in the bottom though as my case sits on my carpeted floor.

[DaIceMan]

Thanks for the advice. I'll most-def look into that when I'm home from work tonight. I think I'm going to go with the 1200 because of the above listed reasons. I dunno that I'll cut the hole in the bottom though as my case sits on my carpeted floor.

could always take a piece of shelving material (1x8 or 1x12) from home depot and set the PC on it.

[Skippman]

You mean like melamine board? That's the particle board stuff you use for shelving. I might have some of that left over from building my walk in media closet for my home theater room.

[Bio-Hazard]

I use a scrap of old 2x10 with the edges routed over to set my extra on when its on the floor, works perfect and just the right width for a stable platform. ..................

[Skippman]

Ok, I'm pretty confident I'm going to go with the 1200.

I have a company rewards card that has about $200 on it. I plan to use that for my future water cooling system. Everyone here LOVES them some Swiftech. Should I just buy the dual 120mm kit and bold it to the front of the case? Should I part out the kit and get a tripple radiator version since I've got the room?

[Sporg]

What all do you plan on cooling with liquid?

[Skippman]

For now? Processor and GPU as there's not really any easy way to cool my chipset with it's built in heat sync's and pipes. When I upgrade my chip and board in the future? Probably my north bridge and another 4870.

[Skippman]

***UPDATE***

My new video card should arrive today and I'm going to be getting a Antec 1200 for my case after having seen that video series DaIceMan pointed me to. That guy has built himself a pretty fantastic looking rig. Here's my updated parts list.

Board: Asus P5W DH Delux
Chip: Core 2 Duo E6600
RAM: 2GB GSkill DDR2-800Mhz
PSU: OCZ GamerXStream 600W
GPU: ColorPower Radeon 4870
HD: 2 SATA HD's
DVD: LITE-ON LH-20A1S SATA Burner

I'm certain the increased airflow alone will help me get better temps than my current case. But I'm still interested in trying out water cooling. Here's where things get dicey for me as I'm unsure what all to get. I've seen from the video that there can be a 2 120mm radiator mounted up front. Should I try to fit a 3 fan in there or just go with the two? I see several people here are using Swiftech parts, but Dice is using a Black Ice radiator. I have an old Danger Den dual 80mm radiator, should I consider using that as part of the loop or not?

[DMB2000uk]

How much money do you have left to spend on the watercooling setup is the main question.

The dual 80mm isn't really going to help much as it has less surface area than an equivalent single 120mm rad.

A 240mm rad will suffice for the CPU and single VGA, but if you are planning on adding more things to the loop later on, you will need more cooling power down the line.

Dan

[Skippman]

Lets say my total buget is $250-$300 for the cooling kit.

Figure at some point I might add a second GPU and maybe a north bridge kit.