I know, i know. I just built a new comp in February but i'm already tired of the ridiculously annoying and bright all acrylic case. I'm just looking for some opinions from the guys who know their shit...what do you think about the hardware i selected?

Case: Here
Cooling Kit: Here
Juice: Here
VGA Block: Here
CPU Block: Here
3/8 Tubing: Here
iConnect adapters: Here
3/8 Splitter: Here


The only hardware aside from all the cooling and case changes, that I'm changing is the CPU. I'm going from an AMD athlon 5000+ 64 x2 AM2 socket, to a AMD Phenom 9600 2.3GHz Quad-core AM2+ socket. I'm also throwing another stick of Kingston 2GB 1066Mhz HyperX Ram.

And for anyone who bought 1066Mhz ram on an AMD system that has anything less than a phenom wasted their money. For some reason one can only get the most out of their RAM with the Phenom which is most of the reason I'm upgrading.

I don't know too much about water cooling, I find it unnecessary at the moment...

but I have heard that this case is a real nice choice if you do go the water cooling route
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119150

I don't really like that case to be honest. For the money, I really like the one I chose.

that's not a problem, I mean you will be the one paying for it and looking at it everyday, I had just heard that it was a very quiet case to begin with and water cooling it is just about completely silent

If you get a case with the power supply on the bottom, make sure the connectors are long enough to reach. My power connector originally wasn't long enough to reach my mobo since normally the psu is above the board (I guess). I ended up getting a case with a right window that completely flips the motherboard around.

Water cooling = headache.

I have a self contained liquid-cooling unit that I never have to mess with from CoolIt Systems. It works great and keeps my E6600 at or below 23C and 21C while I'm just web surfing.

I havent OC'd just cuz I forgot how to do everything and I dont want to mess up but it's been a couple years since I built it so I'll be OC'ing it soon.

is it the black one with the readout in the side panel window?

Mine is a version of this one

http://www.coolitsystems.com/index.php? ... 6&Itemid=5

Looks the same except instead of 6 TECs mine has 3 TECs

I've had it since building my PC (2 years). I had to RMA the original one but service was good and I haven't had any problems since.

Damn that cuts down on the airflow.

I recommend this if you can find it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... _-35108076

also these forums are a great resource for beginning watercooling: http://www.ocforums.com

Perk of liquidcooling, minimum airflow required.

True but your graphic cards are still air cooled so you still need air moving.

I was looking at that one, but I want one that has multiple pieces to it. For some reason that just seems more reliable

Not true in my case, I'm watercooling my GPU as well.

I'll still need to keep a little airflow for the northbridge, ram and harddrives but I'll prolly just have the 120mm on the radiator and a 120mm in the front for intake

The most important airflow for your vid card is the actual cooler on the vid card.

I have an 8800GTS and it runs hot with a stock cooler 60C idle and up to 80C playing CSS.

I bought an aftermarket cooler for it and it now runs at 45-50C idle and 60C while playing CSS.

Well if you only have one then thats true but if you have sli or crossfire you need air moving between your cards Hence the reason why i put to spaces between my hdd's so the air could pass but still cool them and modded my case and put a 80 mm fan on the side. Plus i put two pci slot coolers under each card. They never get above 50 playing anything.

Yea my CoolIt system did block my 250mm side fan and I was pissed but then I messed with it and screwed the fan on the outside of the case instead of the inside and it looks pimp!!

Haha. See you never said you have a big fan on the side of your case.

And you didn't mention you had SLI :P

In that case I have the following setup of fans:

Front intake: 4 - 60mm ; 1 - 120mm

Side Intake: 250mm

Back Outtake: 120mm; 80mm (Connected to my CoolIt)

Vid Card: 3 - 40mm

Yea I think I got some airflow going on.