Any observations about Corsair "Obsidian" 900D?

[BonzaiDuck]

In other recent threads -- with consultation of AigoMorla and others -- I've explained that I plan to build a system next year which will be my first experience with custom-water (or any water!) cooling.

I'm trying to match a case to some radiators, trying to figure out how I can get the desired cooling capacity for an "E" processor and fit it inside the case.

In that warm, quiet place we visit daily, I keep my stack of Maximum PC magazines, and happened to pick up the issue featuring the 2013 Dream Machine. It used the subject case, and the authors briefly sung praises to it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-019-_-Product

There are folks in the Egg reviews who grumble about aspects which are "flimsy."

I'd be interested in hearing anyone who wishes to summarize or pontificate at length on this "Obsidian 900D."

 

[Aikouka]

I own a 900D, and back when I used water cooling, I built it in that case.

Some things that come to mind...

Keep in mind where you're going to put your pumps when you choose your components. One of the biggest problems with the 900D is that it lacks good surfaces to mount pumps. One of the best spots is at the bottom of the case, but that's also one of the main radiator mounting spots. I originally built a custom shelf that sat above the bottom portion, and it actually worked rather well (photo). Unfortunately, it did have one fatal flaw: it made it incredibly hard to get my hands down in the bottom portion to tinker with any water cooling fittings. I eventually removed the shelf and my 240mm radiator, and just put the 2 D5 pumps (with dual top) on the bottom where the 240mm radiator was. I still had more than enough room for my 480mm radiator on the other side.

Personally, I would highly recommend using something like a bay-mounted reservoir -- something like that dual-D5 Koolance unit.


The case had some defects. This was probably the one thing that bugged me the most. Honestly, I tend to spend more on my computer components, because I expect to pay for quality. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure as pain-free of a computing experience as possible. However, my 900D hasn't been as good as I would've expected for a $300 case. For example, the bottom flap on the window side refuses to close correctly. If you attempt to close it by simply pushing on it near the latch, it's like it gets stuck on something. The only way that I can close it is if I reach down under and pull out on the bottom of the flap. Another oddity is that my drive rails were rusted. Hopefully, you won't have any of these issues.


The case is really big. Now, this isn't a bad thing, but it can really be a bit of a hassle to move it around. I went to Harbor Freight and picked up a furniture dolly that I place the case on. That allows me to fairly easily move the case around when I need to tinker with it. Here's a photo from back when I was building it. Here's one while in use and post painting.

As for being flimsy, I guess the drive rails are a little flimsy compared to other cases.

Do you have any specific questions?

 

[Essence_of_War]

I'm trying to match a case to some radiators, trying to figure out how I can get the desired cooling capacity for an "E" processor and fit it inside the case.

How many radiators do you expect to use?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I own a 900D, and back when I used water cooling, I built it in that case.

Some things that come to mind...

Keep in mind where you're going to put your pumps when you choose your components. One of the biggest problems with the 900D is that it lacks good surfaces to mount pumps. One of the best spots is at the bottom of the case, but that's also one of the main radiator mounting spots. I originally built a custom shelf that sat above the bottom portion, and it actually worked rather well (photo). Unfortunately, it did have one fatal flaw: it made it incredibly hard to get my hands down in the bottom portion to tinker with any water cooling fittings. I eventually removed the shelf and my 240mm radiator, and just put the 2 D5 pumps (with dual top) on the bottom where the 240mm radiator was. I still had more than enough room for my 480mm radiator on the other side.

Personally, I would highly recommend using something like a bay-mounted reservoir -- something like that dual-D5 Koolance unit.


The case had some defects. This was probably the one thing that bugged me the most. Honestly, I tend to spend more on my computer components, because I expect to pay for quality. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure as pain-free of a computing experience as possible. However, my 900D hasn't been as good as I would've expected for a $300 case. For example, the bottom flap on the window side refuses to close correctly. If you attempt to close it by simply pushing on it near the latch, it's like it gets stuck on something. The only way that I can close it is if I reach down under and pull out on the bottom of the flap. Another oddity is that my drive rails were rusted. Hopefully, you won't have any of these issues.


The case is really big. Now, this isn't a bad thing, but it can really be a bit of a hassle to move it around. I went to Harbor Freight and picked up a furniture dolly that I place the case on. That allows me to fairly easily move the case around when I need to tinker with it. Here's a photo from back when I was building it. Here's one while in use and post painting.

As for being flimsy, I guess the drive rails are a little flimsy compared to other cases.

Do you have any specific questions?

Not yet, and I'll have to think some more about your observations.

Someone else mentioned a bay reservoir to which two D5 pumps [I meant pumps -- not coolers] are affixed, and I was thinking about that angle.

Size presents a bigger problem to me than it used to, yet I wish I'd saved my extensive case-mod of a ProLiant '95 server box. The dolly is a good idea, but I've acquired the habit of putting double-wheeled/braked casters on the case bottom without modding the case itself to any significant degree. Of course -- that's more work. The dolly does what you want it do do.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

How many radiators do you expect to use?

Two. I was considering a selection of units that are wider than the ubiquitous 120mm fan, but the 900D appears to accept only the radiator of that width. I also wonder about the limits of the case for radiators of greater thickeness, like 45mm.

 

[aigomorla]

decide if your really going to commit for water, and it wont be a seasonal thing.

If its gonna be a real commitment, get a MountMods CYO - Horizontal motherboard Option.

It should run probably 100 more, but it will be WAY more flexable with watercooling.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Have you looked at the Phanteks Enthoo Primo?

At the $300 price point, I think it's a much better choice than the 900D unless you're quadfire/sli'ing AND you're planning on having a bajillion hard drives and optical bays.

It supports 4x120mm rad mount points on both the top and bottom, and the top and bottom can both be alternatively configured for 3x140mm rads. Additionally, the top has enough clearance to do push/pull without too much trouble.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Have you looked at the Phanteks Enthoo Primo?

At the $300 price point, I think it's a much better choice than the 900D unless you're quadfire/sli'ing AND you're planning on having a bajillion hard drives and optical bays.

It supports 4x120mm rad mount points on both the top and bottom, and the top and bottom can both be alternatively configured for 3x140mm rads. Additionally, the top has enough clearance to do push/pull without too much trouble.

That model had come up in discussion over the past year, and I only casually glanced at it to see what folks were talkin' about. So -- thanks. I'll take a much closer look.

Also, I'd mentioned I've got a longstanding Maximum PC subscription. They featured a review of a boutique computer system this month called the Velocity Micro Edge Z55. It features a thicker-than-average double-fan radiator on a hinged frame that swings out after opening the left side-panel.

http://www.velocitymicro.com/edgez55.php

I can see myself trying to build something like that -- I have all sorts of ideas about how to do it. But with that, I'm not going to buy a new $300 case: I'll use one of my three aging HAF 922's. Even so, that's just one radiator.

 

[Aikouka]

Two. I was considering a selection of units that are wider than the ubiquitous 120mm fan, but the 900D appears to accept only the radiator of that width. I also wonder about the limits of the case for radiators of greater thickeness, like 45mm.

I'm pretty sure the 900D supports 140mm on the bottom.

 

[Charlie98]

But with that, I'm not going to buy a new $300 case: I'll use one of my three aging HAF 922's. Even so, that's just one radiator.

Since you are familiar with the HAF series, spend half that $300 on the Stacker 935... and have plenty of room for rads.

The 922 isn't a bad case, my first build was in one. If you rip out the HDD/ODD cages maybe you can cob in a 2nd radiator up front.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

decide if your really going to commit for water, and it wont be a seasonal thing.

If its gonna be a real commitment, get a MountMods CYO - Horizontal motherboard Option.

It should run probably 100 more, but it will be WAY more flexable with watercooling.

Do you have a link for that? Is it "Mountain Mods?" I can go ahead and run a search . . .

On the "commit" and "seasonal" remarks. I'm planning on trying a hex-core E build. I cannot see any better way to do this than with water-cooling. I wasn't planning on becoming a WC obsessive, but it looks as though this is the only way to go with it.

See, when I finally get around to doing this, I can see ordering the parts all at once, but I need to be sure they're "the right parts." This is a small house with five PCs running, and the clutter in my room is looking like Bert Munro's single-room cottage in "The World's Fastest Indian."

I can even see myself testing the entire water rig by itself with a PSU before I add the essential electronics.

Do I want to do it "right now?" For sure -- no. Sometime after New Years. And I'll have to manage the clutter . . . :\

ADDENDUM: OK . . . I found the link to their storefront. 18"x18"x24" -- there must be a lot of "radiator possibilities" with that! I'm trying to wrap my brain around the size and shape. They even give you caster wheels!! Hmmm . . . .

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Since you are familiar with the HAF series, spend half that $300 on the Stacker 935... and have plenty of room for rads.

The 922 isn't a bad case, my first build was in one. If you rip out the HDD/ODD cages maybe you can cob in a 2nd radiator up front.

That's an option, and I'd looked at the 932 and HAF X. Really big, for sure. For the 922, I was thinking of something like the Velocity Micro midtower as a design concept. The way the mobo installs, I'm not sure I could get a radiator/fan assembly in the top, even though the vent holes are there. My guess: I'd be limited again to the standard 120mm-wide radiator.

I really need to decommission one of the machines here -- an old Wolfdale. Then I can do some "measuring" exercises and get a better idea of the possibilities.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

decide if your really going to commit for water, and it wont be a seasonal thing.

If its gonna be a real commitment, get a MountMods CYO - Horizontal motherboard Option.

It should run probably 100 more, but it will be WAY more flexable with watercooling.

Lissen. Tell me. I have another idea, as an alternative "plan" to the whole-system-building project.

Did you build an SB-K system? I know you had a socket-1366 "gen 1" rig, or am mistaken. Actually -- more similarity than difference there.

If you did -- or can remember -- did you ever record the voltages needed for a high, stable overclock at different temperatures like 70C and 50C? What would a 20C reduction of temperature yield in the way of a sustainable voltage decrease? I think IDontCare put it around 0.02V with the i7-3770 or i5- K IB models, give or take?

 

[nitromullet]

That model had come up in discussion over the past year, and I only casually glanced at it to see what folks were talkin' about. So -- thanks. I'll take a much closer look.

Also, I'd mentioned I've got a longstanding Maximum PC subscription. They featured a review of a boutique computer system this month called the Velocity Micro Edge Z55. It features a thicker-than-average double-fan radiator on a hinged frame that swings out after opening the left side-panel.

http://www.velocitymicro.com/edgez55.php

I can see myself trying to build something like that -- I have all sorts of ideas about how to do it. But with that, I'm not going to buy a new $300 case: I'll use one of my three aging HAF 922's. Even so, that's just one radiator.

That is a lian li pc v360 case. http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-v360/

 

[BonzaiDuck]

That is a lian li pc v360 case. http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-v360/

Is there much of a choice about radiator-size (and fan size) or radiator thickness?

Lian Li had always made some nice cases, even if aluminum is a low-priority in the PC-building budget . . .

 

[aigomorla]

Do you have a link for that? Is it "Mountain Mods?" I can go ahead and run a search . . .

On the "commit" and "seasonal" remarks. I'm planning on trying a hex-core E build. I cannot see any better way to do this than with water-cooling. I wasn't planning on becoming a WC obsessive, but it looks as though this is the only way to go with it.

http://www.mountainmods.com/extended-u2-ufo-cyo-c-21_97.html

click on details and configure it for a horizontal motherboard style.

The base price is about 369.00 with the added horizontal options it should run like 400... maybe a tad bit more... but u want it to look simular to this.

If you want it painted in powder coat, it will be extra.

 

[Satn]

900d is an amazing case u can do all what u want!

 

[nitromullet]

Is there much of a choice about radiator-size (and fan size) or radiator thickness?

no. It's a good looking case, but designed to use an AIO water cooler. I personally wouldn't recommend it for a custom water build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeChTQbtRrM

 

[BonzaiDuck]

no. It's a good looking case, but designed to use an AIO water cooler. I personally wouldn't recommend it for a custom water build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeChTQbtRrM

As I continue to review advice here (or wherever), I'm still looking at the CPU and motherboard hardware options. This could eventually shake out as a "HAF 922 mod" for two square radiators. If I have to buy a HAF 932 to do something similar, I might as well consider some of the other case options folks have advised here.