• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Just bought a Wavemaster

Just ordered a black wavemaster to replace my aging(and breaking) Chieftec "dragon" knockoff.

My main question is for the people that have experience with these... how are the included fans? Should I invest in some new fans that are fluid dynamic bearing? I am going mainly for a quiet rig here, nothing will be overclocked and components are fairly mild(3200+, Radeon 9800 pro 1 gig ram..)

Secondly, did you guys use the top blowhole fan option or did you just stick with the front panel inputs...I would be afraid of spilling something into a hole in the top I think.

Thanks for all your help in advance.
 
I haven't built any systems around the WaveMaster but have used the PAC-T01 for several builds. Aside from the front bezel and the lack of a 2nd 80mm exhaust it is an identical case.

I can't comment on the stock fans since I always swap them out. Even if they were decent fans I doubt they would be adequate for a low noise system. For replacements I've used either Panaflo L1As; exhausts dynamically controlled via BIOS fan controls, while the intakes ran at 5v (12v is far too loud). I've also used these NMBs which are very, very quiet at 12v and tend to move a bit more air then a L1A at 5v. Since you won't be running excessively hot hardware you should be ok with the single 80mm exhaust.

It also helps to have a efficient PSU that won't be dumping wasted heat back into the case, a 120mm fan helps as well. For low noise applications I always go to Seasonic, specifically the S12.
 
Not sure of your case/fans specifically, but i run all my 80mm fans off the active fan controller molex leads from my Truepower PSU, and while they are nothing flash (just antec 80mm LED ones) they are almost totally silent even under load...if i run them off a normal molex they're in total pretty noisy (all three of them that is) tho...

 
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Shouldn`t you have asked this question before you bought it??

No, I am not asking if I should have bought it. I am asking how the fans are so I know if I should pick up some new fans or not before it comes in
 
Originally posted by: dug777
Not sure of your case/fans specifically, but i run all my 80mm fans off the active fan controller molex leads from my Truepower PSU, and while they are nothing flash (just antec 80mm LED ones) they are almost totally silent even under load...if i run them off a normal molex they're in total pretty noisy (all three of them that is) tho...

I think I will try this. I have a trueblue 480 W and it has those leads. Thanks Dug!
 
Nothing wrong with the stock fans. I have a silver WaveMaster and the front has 2* 26.8CFM sleeve bearing fans with a single clear one in the back. I do suggest drilling a 92mm hole in the rear of the side panel for a second exhaust fan b/c the stock setup is really bad in terms of exhaust airflow.
 
Originally posted by: 996GT2
Nothing wrong with the stock fans. I have a silver WaveMaster and the front has 2* 26.8CFM sleeve bearing fans with a single clear one in the back. I do suggest drilling a 92mm hole in the rear of the side panel for a second exhaust fan b/c the stock setup is really bad in terms of exhaust airflow.

Even with the blowhole fan?
 
Hi,

As you can see from "old" sig I had this exact case (very smart they are too), but I have just completed a new watercool rig within a CM810 Stacker as I had nothing but temperature problems with air-cool in the Wavemaster and the combination of SLI 7800GTX cards and the Asus A8N32 MOB.

(Will eventualy get arond to changing sig details).

Anyway just thought I would add that the coolermaster 80mm fans are nice and quiet, but when I was trying to increase airflow I found that to change the front mounted two fans was a real pig, as the aluminium frame they are attached to is riveted in place and whilst you can remove the fan guards OK on the back of them it is a major i love you to get to the fan mounting screws themsleves (and I ended up removing rivets and re-riveting).

The top fan was a bit pretty, but did little to help airflow, so I just had a nice looking Akasa LED one for show!

If your rig doesn't need huge airflow the case is dead gorgeous and the aluminium helps dissipate heat, but have fun if you want or need to change front fans!

PS: Coolermaster never did actually come back to my three emails on how you change these fans in the event of one giving up!

Ridesy
 
I had one and I too ran the front two fans off the "fan only" connectors of my Neopower power supply. I've since dumped the case since the temps were not very good with all the fans 5 volted, but that's just because I'm picky. Temps were "acceptable," meaning that I wasn't crashing due to heat, but they were nothing to brag about.

Just get a decent aftermarket heatsink for your proc and maybe one for your video card and you can run acceptable temps in near silence (and look damn good while doing it)

P.S.: almost forgot about the hard drives. If you're looking for quiet, I would recommend against hard-mounting your hard drives in the spaces provided. It transfers a lot of vibration and noise, especially while seeking. Keep a 5.25" bay free, and get a zalman hard drive silencer like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118215

It worked perfectly in my old wave master, even if it was a little hard to get into the bay itself. Once installed, however, the drive's noise will effectively be silenced.

Good luck!
 
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: 996GT2
Nothing wrong with the stock fans. I have a silver WaveMaster and the front has 2* 26.8CFM sleeve bearing fans with a single clear one in the back. I do suggest drilling a 92mm hole in the rear of the side panel for a second exhaust fan b/c the stock setup is really bad in terms of exhaust airflow.

Even with the blowhole fan?


Well, I kept my top IO ports, so you may not need it. And also I think a side fan is better b/c it is closer to 2 heat sources-HSF/Graphics Card
 
Very pretty case. Search this forum for WaveMaster. You might look in the archives too.
There are several VG threads on your case.


...Galvanized
 
Back
Top