whole new shabang

[dbilz]

Ive had the P160W for about 2 months now and I really havent liked how it performs. So I thought Id take my new paycheck and buy a whole new case/fans/chipset cooler/vga cooler. (Im not on a spending spree either, this has been on my to-do list for a while) I figured Id might as well get the best and here is what I came up with.

Antec P180B,

3x Silverstone FM121's to replace the stock fans,

Vantec CCB-A1C to replace ultra-d chipset,

Zalman VF-700 to put on my 7600gt co,

and Arctic silver ceramique to put on the chipset.

Im also looking for a good fan controler for my FM121's, preferably from newegg and that fits in the cd-rom bay.

Any corrections/recommendations/comments to my list would be nice.

 

Also, will AS5 suffice for my video card when putting on the VF700

[Coors]

The link goes to the logon page.

[Angry_Games]

I have to say I am not pleased with the VF700-Cu at all on my ATI X850XT PE nor my 7800GT. I would not purchase one again. I would stick to Arctic Silencer and Accelero X1 or X2 coolers (I have 2 of each on 7800GT/X800 Pro and Acceleros on two X1900XT's and I am quite satisfied with noise/cooling on all 4)

 

Fan controller...Sunbeam ones at SVC.com (which is where I would buy my gpu coolers also...all my cooling/modding supplies are usually purchased at SVC.com because they have better prices than Newegg usually on that stuff, plus it helps DFI-Street when you use our SVC partner links)

 

I don't know that they even make them for the 7600 series yet but I do know that Sunbeam fan controllers are in stock at SVC:

 

Sunbeam 4-channel black fan controller

 

 

Sunbeam 4-channel silver fan controller

 

as for cases...everyone's choice of case is going to be different. I don't like the Antec cases...but I do love the CM Stacker cases as they might be heavy, but they are nearly unbreakable and they have the best airflow, and they are instantly ready for almost any type of watercooling you might want...and you will never run out of space in one of these things...

 

Coolermaster Stacker (silver)

 

Coolermaster Stacker (silver)

 

they were going for $99 after rebates but back to $129 looks like now.

 

still my favorite cases.

 

 

 

I also still prefer the Evercool VC-RE to the Iceberq. I'm just not satisfied with the Iceberq like I am with the Evercool.

[dbilz]

Sorry it skipped my mind, links fixed.

[Coors]

I don't know that they even make them for the 7600 series yet

I started a thread to try and find out but I can't seem to find a for sure answer. So far it seems like the vf900 might be the best option.

 

EDIT: I don't think the vf700 will fit on a 7600gt it only has two mounting points, whereas my 7600 gt's have four mounting points. I would think yours are the same as mine.

[dbilz]

Wow thanks happy, more or less exactly what I wanted to hear.

 

Though I do know of the CM stackers amazing abilities im still leaning towards the P180 side, I still need to know a few more things to bring me over. Mainly how is the cable managment, I know cables wont matter since the stacker's have such amazing air flow but I like to keep my things neat.

 

On the topic of my GPU, they havent 'offically' released a third party hsf for the 7600gt so anything I get ill have to mod. First thing that came to mind was the VF700, but as you said it didnt perform well but yet I havent heard good things from the NV silencer either :. So ill have to see what I can find on the accelero X1.

 

Also ill be buying from SVC now, <3 DFI-street.

[Angry_Games]

Wow thanks happy, more or less exactly what I wanted to hear.

 

Though I do know of the CM stackers amazing abilities im still leaning towards the P180 side, I still need to know a few more things to bring me over. Mainly how is the cable managment, I know cables wont matter since the stacker's have such amazing air flow but I like to keep my things neat.

 

http://www.angrygames.com/pics/cases/

 

check out the pics of stackers there

 

and

 

http://www.angrygames.com/pics/cases/kameron/

 

(there might be more...my angrygames.com website is growing like a mutant mushroom farm in a dark, humid cave...)

 

Cabling is a snap and there's so many options of how you can do it...you'll spend hours just mixing and matching how each particular cable, from your psu to your fan to possibly your lights and watercooling tubes etc will go...do I go over or under this other IDE cable? Do I lock the cable through the back with a zip-tie here and here? Or over here and there?

 

PS: you ALWAYS want a Cross-Flow Stacker fan with your CM Stacker. Always.

On the topic of my GPU, they havent 'offically' released a third party hsf for the 7600gt so anything I get ill have to mod. First thing that came to mind was the VF700, but as you said it didnt perform well but yet I havent heard good things from the NV silencer either :. So ill have to see what I can find on the accelero X1.

 

Also ill be buying from SVC now, <3 DFI-street.

the NV Silencer on my 7800GT is supa fantastical. So is the Accelero. Take your pick...but...I don't know how hot a 7600GT gpu might run...so the VF700-Cu might be good for your card.

 

Just because I and another friend don't think they are all that great doesn't mean that they are crappy either...

 

And sometimes you go with the bang-for-the-buck

 

the 700-Cu might not be the best cooler for overclocking your card, but it will probably allow a decent amount...the temps might not be as low as some other coolers, but the compatibility might be better, the install easier, and the noise slightly lower (though you won't find anything quieter for aircooling than the Accelero).

 

Sometimes I choose something that allows a little less performance so that I can enjoy a little easier install and a little more quiet....you got to kinda have a little bit of 'play' money to have this kind of hobby as it really requires buying a bunch of little $10-$40 items for all kinds of different needs/wants to see which ones you like the best.

 

Cpu coolers you'll try a lot of to see what you really like.

 

GPU coolers you will do the same.

 

hard drive brands...memory...dvd-rw drives...psu's...(well now we are getting expensive except for dvd-rw drives)

 

It isn't a cheap hobby, and like any good hobby, it does take a little snobbery and a little bit of cash to really do it right.

 

If you go into a quality hobby like RC cars/planes or overclocked gaming machines, etc, you know that you can maybe get by with a bit of cheapness, but it will never be the same experience and trying many different things of at least good quality.

 

You don't ever have to have the absolute best. Face it, absolute best is only in your mind's eye, and the instant you bought the fastest, meanest, bestest whatever, the newer, faster, meaner, bester (bestier! heh) model is already hitting the shelves so you just payed a premium to have an already-has-been heh.

 

But

 

Knowing the best bang for your buck is how you keep your wife from invading the finances with a tank battallion and air support and ruining your money-spending fascist ways, and it is also the best way to learn what YOU think is the best.

 

here's some wise advice that I myself made up just for you guys in the forum (my ego is sometimes quite large, but of this particular nugget of sage advice is maybe the absolute pinnacle of my rapid transcendance to master-of-total-bs hehe):

 

THERE IS NO BEST

 

There is only BEST FOR YOU

 

 

You got to be vigilant and read and learn, then experiment for yourself.

 

If some know-it-all jerkoff like Happy_Games who thinks he knows more than all of you and gets real annoying with that snooty little attitude (and you can just hear that Q#@$@!# nasal-jew voice of his getting on your nerves while reading this) comes in here claiming that the XP-120 is the best bang for your buck and you can all kiss the moonshine depot's sewage valve if you don't agree...

 

then you got to bust out the disposable cash that the spouse won't miss too much (like $30 for a competing heatsink just to smash Happy's words right back down his useless geeky throat) and see if it is better because a couple others came into that same thread and told Happy just where to shove his garbage opinions...guys that you respect waaaay more and want to do some extra Happy bashing

 

ok well...you are all keeping me from finishing up my work...so take that and put it in your hard drive and smoke it.

[disturbed6dws]

thats wierd...i have a p160 and i am nothing but amazed with what this case offers just freakin awesome !~

[p0tter]

I loved my P160 and hated my P180.

[dbilz]

Thanks for in depth post happy, youre a great help.

 

The pictures helped alot with deciding so now im getting the stacker. You mentioned the cross-flow thingy, I saw that as an accessory and do you think its greater than getting 3 new vantec fans to replace the stock ones? If so then that ruins (for me) the whole point of the fan controler too, since I dont mind that much about the noise.

 

Also Ive choosen not to get a third party hsf since my 7600gt co doesnt allow me to overclock AT ALL (sadface), becuase there is no PCI-e connector to draw the needed power from.

[Angry_Games]

crossflow fan = sends air right across your mobo at chipset + PWMIC height

 

3 120mm fans in front + 1 120mm fan in rear = excellent addition on top of the crossflow

 

 

also...just because there is no pci-e connector doesnt mean you cannot overclock it...

 

but I would go for something along the lines of X1800 or 7800GT or better

[dbilz]

I have found a volt mod for 7600GT but I have yet to use it. For now Im not going to upgrade my GPU hsf. Without the mod I cant go above my stock settings.

Thanks for the great help happy, ill post back when I get my stuff.