Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
Well I was thinking of waiting for Ivy Bridge honestly, if I do that I'd be able to save up and get all the stuff I'd need for the dual-loop water-cooling setup as well most likely... I'm actually debating if I should do a custom loop this build, changing out the water every few months sounds like a lot of effort that I wouldn't want to do.
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
If I were in your shoes, I would hold off for Ivy Bridge unless I was to build it right now. I hate buying something and then having it made obsolete one month later. Buy the best when it gets released, then coast while the mainstream catches up.
As for changing the water: why? If it's a closed loop, what is the need? You should run some alcohol/antibacterial fluid through the loop first to sterilize it and then use distilled water. Actually, I think there are additives you can mix into the water to prevent growth of bacteria.
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
Oh yeah, for an H70 or other closed loop system there's no maintenance required. I'm talking about when I go with a completely custom loop like below, this would require maintenance every 6 months to 1 year. Just draining the loop and cleaning components, then adding some more distilled water and PT Nuke or other additives.
This is the plan I've come up with for cooling the 800D:
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/665...opobsidian.jpg
Alternatively a dual-radiator configuration:
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/6...opobsidian.jpg
I know most of you here haven't water-cooler before but if you have any suggestions on a res/pump that would maintain decent flow rate through those rads I'd love to hear about it. I'm thinking of the XSPC X20 750 or the Koolance RP-452X2 which are 12.5L/min and 17.4L/min respectively. The neat thing about the RP-452X2 is that you can install two 17.4L/min pumps in series or even run a parallel loop since the res can function as two separate res's by itself... I like the clean look of the XSPC res a lot more though.
EDIT - So to clarify, the current list of water cooling components I'm looking at is as follows:
Radiator(s):
• XSPC RX480 or RX360 Radiators (depending on the space I have to work with/how hard modding would be to do cleanly).
• XSPC RX120 or RS120 Radiators (for the dual radiator setup, RX120 if I have the space, RS120 if not).
Pump/Reservoir:
• XSPC X20 750 (prefer the clean look to this res).
or
• Koolance RP-452X2 w/Koolance PMP-450S Pump (seems to be the better choice for performance, can use two pumps in series for awesome flow rate if needed).
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
I'm thinking about purchasing a joystick. I found this one to be pretty interesting, and it's made by the same company that made my RAT 5. I'm not looking for anything expensive, because i'm also going to buy a keyboard and 1tb HDD. I just want something that'll last, and fly helicopters in BC2 and such with.
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
Yeah Saitek makes pretty good joysticks, the one I have does the job.
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
I believe there was a fix for the ST90 on the EA forums. I guess that might help with your joystick if the throttle isn't picked up by default. I think the Cyborg V.1 should work properly though. My Cyborg 3D Gold USB's throttle won't be picked up at all. While I can do everything with the stick, I need to keep my hand on the keyboard for the throttle :ugh: My thinkpad had a trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard though and that works great as a joystick without yaw, but that's not a problem since the WASD keys are close to it. It feels better than using a mouse, but works better than using my joystick.
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
I bought the Saitek AV8R joystick for its styling, but it also has turned out to be a solid device. It works 100% in Bad Company 2. I would recommend the brand.
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
I got my Cyborg 3D Gold USB about a decade ago and it's worked great so far. I don't think I'll need to replace it in the next ten years either. I've had my Logitech Wingman Extreme Digital 3D even longer. I upgraded to the Cyborg 3D because it has a better throttle, more buttons, and a 3D spring. I want to buy the Cyborg X (otherwise known as the FLY 5) at $50 US, but I don't have any real reason to. My current joysticks work great (except with BC2). Damn you, Saitek, for making long lasting, quality products!
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
Updated plan:

Would allow me to stick a 240 or 360 radiator on the rear of the case using radiator standoffs if I wanted to. Will most likely use a 240 radiator back there if I decide the 480 radiator isn't enough to cool CPU + GPU + GPU or I decide to add a motherboard water block as well.
Something like this will go on the top of the case so the fans sitting above the top of the case aren't completely exposed most likely. However I'll need to use a radiator grill on the top of the 800D to allow for a 480 quad radiator, will use this one. If it causes the Koolance shroud to sit to high off the case and it's not flush then I'll sell the shroud probably and just let the fans sit 'naked' on the top of the case.
Re: Building a computer? Need advice/suggestions? Come here!
And then there's my cheap rig with $2,000~ worth of storage space in it:
Code:
Case:
Antec Nine Hundred II ----------------- $109.99
ThermalTake iCage --------------------- $29.99
1156:
Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz ------------- $99.99
Asus P7H55-M PRO ---------------------- $99.99
Kingston HyperX Genesis 4GB (2x2GB) --- $54.99
--------------------------------------- $254.97
1155:
Intel Core i3 2100 3.10GHz ------------ $119.99
Asus P8H67-M LX Rev 3.0 --------------- $96.99
Patriot PC3-10666 4GB (2x2GB) --------- $49.99
--------------------------------------- $239.97
RAID Card:
Areca 1220 ---------------------------- $525.61
Hard Drives:
Western Digital 500GB Caviar Black ---- $56.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
Western Digital 2TB Caviar Black ------ $179.99
--------------------------------------- $1,496.91
Optical Drive:
LG Super-Multi 22x -------------------- $22.99
Power Supply:
Corsair AX 750W ----------------------- $179.99
Totals:
1156 Total ---------------------------- $2,620.45
GST ----------------------------------- $131.02
Total --------------------------------- $2,751.47
1155 Total ---------------------------- $2,605.45
GST ----------------------------------- $130.27
Total --------------------------------- $2,735.72