Hows Antec's P150/Solo for Overclocking?

[khenderson]

I'm looking to follow Jarred Walton's recent (and very helpful) Anandtech "upper midrange intel" buying guide article. This system is built around a E6400 OCed to around 3 Ghz with a X1900 GT 256mb, although I plan to substitue something like the X1900XT 256MB.
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=2839&p=5

From what I've read Antec's P150 and Solo are eseentially the same case with different paint. I like the design and the case gets decent marks for noise, but there's only room for one 120mm rear fan and two 92mm front fans. My intention is to use only the stock intel CPU fan, 2 hard drives and an offboard sound card. The Solo comes without a PSU so I can get whatever power I want, but I'm concerned primarily about cooling and secondly about noise. I only want to do some mild overclocking and would be happy with hitting around 2.9 with the E6400. That said, I'm worried about cooling.

Antec Solo Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129018

Has anyone used this case for a midgrange overclocked system? How's the cooling? How many fans did you use? Did noise levels remain reasonable using the additional fans? Does a lack of a 3rd (side or top) fan really hurt this case's cooling ability?


Thanks. Ken

PS: Antec's P-160 is similar in design using a 120mm front fan instead of the two 92mms. Seems to me the single 120mm would be quieter but any real world insight is appreciated.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129173

 

[Operandi]

The case is irrelevant (unless it?s complete junk) for mild to moderate overclocking.

 

[Zepper]

The Solo is a nice case. Another fellow here that bought one is quite happy with it. If you want at least as good for less money, check my post in timxpx's thread, "recommend some...", which is right nearby.

.bh.

 

[khenderson]

I certainly hope you're right as that would open up my options and save me some cash. However, I'd really like to hear some examples of this case in use. The P150 comes stocked only with one rear 120mm fan so it's hard to believe that would be enough to keep things cool. I just don't have much to go on for this information and I don't have any way to do any personal experimenting with hardware.

 

[modestninja]

You can slap two 92mm fans on the front as well (or a 100mm Scythe fan and a 92mm) to get more air flowing and to cool the HDs. I've got one for my HTPC which has a mildly OC'd A64 and it runs quiet and cool.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: khenderson
I certainly hope you're right as that would open up my options and save me some cash. However, I'd really like to hear some examples of this case in use. The P150 comes stocked only with one rear 120mm fan so it's hard to believe that would be enough to keep things cool. I just don't have much to go on for this information and I don't have any way to do any personal experimenting with hardware.

120mm is a very big for a fan; one 120mm exhaust is plenty for 95% of the systems out there.

Also intake fans have no impact on system temps. Their sole purpose is to control where the air enters the case and to cool hard drives.

 

[sanitydc]

that's a solo- my system temps rarely exceed 40 and I've got everything that can be overclocked, overclocked. check sig for that but here;'s my solo set up


entire system
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/xdiaboLix/604small.jpg

upper section
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/xdiaboLix/DSC00607.jpg
PATA-SATA conversion for my lower DVD-burner
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/xdiaboLix/606small.jpg

cable management
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/xdiaboLix/DSC00617.jpg


my computer in action
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/xdiaboLix/DSC00621.jpg

 

[sanitydc]

and as far as the fans I can't hear the 92 02 mm fans at all the 120 in the back is next to silent two (i keep mine on med settings) my cpu makes the most noise lol.




I highyly highly highly recommend the 2 92's they worked wonders for me cooling wise I was able to remove 6 arctic cooling fans I had in there before and replace them with those 2 and I have lower temps now. lol

 

[sanitydc]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: khenderson
I certainly hope you're right as that would open up my options and save me some cash. However, I'd really like to hear some examples of this case in use. The P150 comes stocked only with one rear 120mm fan so it's hard to believe that would be enough to keep things cool. I just don't have much to go on for this information and I don't have any way to do any personal experimenting with hardware.

120mm is a very big for a fan; one 120mm exhaust is plenty for 95% of the systems out there.

Also intake fans have no impact on system temps. Their sole purpose is to control where the air enters the case and to cool hard drives.

I disagree, based on my systems temps big time.

 

[khenderson]

Zepper,

I found the thread you were talking about and have been investigaging the cases you suggested. So far I don't think I've seen any with quite as much reputation for quiet as the P150, but your links were a good resource I'm still exploring. I might have to go with something with more reviews just because I'll be buying it online without much of a local community of users or venders to fall back on. Thanks.

 

[khenderson]

Thanks Sanitydc, that's exactly the kind of real world data I was looking for. In fact your setup is almost exactly what I'm looking to get.

I don't want to get involved with the extra expense and noise of agressive overclocking so I'll avoid the CPU cooler. (As you said the CPU makes the most noise) Even so, if you OC the graphics card and get an agressive 3.44 with the BigTyphoon and keep temps under control then I'm very optimistic about this case keeping cool pursuing milde OCing with a stock CPU cooler. I really appreciate your post!

I'm not afraid to install some 92mm's but if it comes down to it, I'll sacrifce some overclocking for less noise. (What brand of 92mm fand did you go with?) I've got some homework to do to learn what temps to expect and what fans are best. That said, because your system is really what I'm aiming at, if you have any links or other advice please let me know.

Finally, I haven't looked into OCing the X1900 and I probably wouldn't want to push my luck too hard. Even so, do you have any links or adivce about it?

Thanks again.

Ken

 

[khenderson]

Modestninja,

I'm not sure how the A64 temps compares to my target system, but it's nice to have the feedback. What brand of fan did you use and hows the noise? Did you actually get the 100mm Scythe to fit? I've heard there was some trouble with this size fan being used in 92mm mounts in some cases.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: sanitydc

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: khenderson
I certainly hope you're right as that would open up my options and save me some cash. However, I'd really like to hear some examples of this case in use. The P150 comes stocked only with one rear 120mm fan so it's hard to believe that would be enough to keep things cool. I just don't have much to go on for this information and I don't have any way to do any personal experimenting with hardware.

120mm is a very big for a fan; one 120mm exhaust is plenty for 95% of the systems out there.

Also intake fans have no impact on system temps. Their sole purpose is to control where the air enters the case and to cool hard drives.

I disagree, based on my systems temps big time.

Disagree if you want but case cooling is all about removing hot air, intake fans don't help you here; its universal and it applies to all cases. All intakes can do is dictate where the air enters the case and provide cooling to hard drives and perhaps the chipset if it resides near the bottom of the case.

Intake fans are important but they do not impact system temps (the internal temperature of the case).

 

[sanitydc]

Oh that cpu cooler itself is silent, it's the sound of the information being processed that's loud . My gf has a stock no OC no nothing AMD Athlon 3000+ set up that she says runs louder than mine even at its loudest moments, so I'm not sure.

As far as fan's I just have that 1 80 mm within the case and 1 exhaust and 2 intake, the exhaust is arguably the loudest, with a OC of 2.8ghz the temps really dont jump much at all so you could probably run the fans all at low while maintaining an even air pressure inside.

I bought my fans(92mm) at a local fry's they are the antec tri cool I believe, I threw away the packaging so I'd have to open the case up to be sure. They work wonders for the HDD's (my seagates are supposed to run hot) and I personally think by regulating your air intake to the lower section of your case your allowing the coolest air in your room to flow in. Thus keeping it nice and cool inside rather than intaking from the exhaust of your PSU. then again thats all my opinion.


as far as overclocking, as long as your airflow is good you can get a good OC out of both GPU and memory no sweat.

 

[sanitydc]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: sanitydc

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: khenderson
I certainly hope you're right as that would open up my options and save me some cash. However, I'd really like to hear some examples of this case in use. The P150 comes stocked only with one rear 120mm fan so it's hard to believe that would be enough to keep things cool. I just don't have much to go on for this information and I don't have any way to do any personal experimenting with hardware.

120mm is a very big for a fan; one 120mm exhaust is plenty for 95% of the systems out there.

Also intake fans have no impact on system temps. Their sole purpose is to control where the air enters the case and to cool hard drives.

I disagree, based on my systems temps big time.

Disagree if you want but case cooling is all about removing hot air, intake fans don't help you here; its universal and it applies to all cases. All intakes can do is dictate where the air enters the case and provide cooling to hard drives and perhaps the chipset if it resides near the bottom of the case.

Intake fans are important but they do not impact system temps (the internal temperature of the case).

If your case is sucking in hot air at a faster rate than its letting them out than your going to have a dusty hot mess, its simple science. In regulating where and how much air comes in your creating and adjustable pressure within your case which makes it so you can vary the cases overall temp by the flip of a switch. If your suckin in air from your rooms floor rather than evenly everywhere your getting to get a stable temp while keeping your hdd temps down which in turn makes for no heat pockets or spread of heat from the hot parts that arent getting any airflow because now they are.
sorry if im jumping from point to point randomly

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: sanitydc
If your case is sucking in hot air at a faster rate than its letting them out than your going to have a dusty hot mess, its simple science. In regulating where and how much air comes in your creating and adjustable pressure within your case which makes it so you can vary the cases overall temp by the flip of a switch. If your suckin in air from your rooms floor rather than evenly everywhere your getting to get a stable temp while keeping your hdd temps down which in turn makes for no heat pockets or spread of heat from the hot parts that arent getting any airflow because now they are.
sorry if im jumping from point to point randomly

1) Air in = Air out (once system has been operational for a minute +).

2) Positive vs negative pressure makes negligable temperature difference in practical tests.

Intake fans will help direct airflow over the HDs but they generally do sweet FA for the CPU and GPU, which are the bits you're going to have issues with when overclocking if any.

They are good to have because they do keep the HDs nice and cool, but they aren't essential.

PS. P150 here, single 120mm fan on lowest setting, HD noise can be noticed at times but normal system noise is lower than the fans in my monitor.