Tower & Heatsink+Fan Advice Needed

[techfuzz]

I need some advice on replacing some major components in my system.

I'm leaning towards the Zalman VF900 to replace a stock heatsink+fan on a 7900GT. I also want to get a full tower case, in silver, with at least space for 4 hard drives, and preferably the top of the case is flat (no fans, no ports, just flat-top). Lastly, I need a high-end heatsink+fan for an X2 4600+. Suggestions?

techfuzz

 

[smopoim86]

lian li v1000

 

[krotchy]

if he wants full tower, that would be the lian-li v2000, although the V1000 would be more than enough for the OP's needs IMO


Other quality options

Lian Li PC-7077

Silverstone TJ07

Lian-Li PC-S80

 

[techfuzz]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards a full tower. All the mid-towers I have don't have enough room and I want better cooling than they seem to offer.

Any suggestions on a replacement for the X2 heatsink+fan?

techfuzz

 

[RallyMaster]

Scythe Ninja!!!!!!!!!!

Thermalright Si-120, Si-128, Ultra-120....

Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro...

 

[smopoim86]

sorry, i thought it said mid tower, I have a v2100b and love it, there is room for everthing.

I really like the pc-201 It is almost the same case with a few extra options

 

[techfuzz]

The AC Freezer 64 Pro seems to be pretty popular. I'm wary of the Scythe because of the height.

Why does everyone immediately recommend the Lian Li's whenever anyone wants a full tower case?
(Although the Lian Li PC-V2100APlus II does look pretty sweet!)

techfuzz

 

[smopoim86]

Because they're freakin awesome cases, of the highest quality. (If u can take the hit on cash)

 

[techfuzz]

I pulled the trigger on the Zalman VF900 and AC Freezer 64 Pro. I'm going to have to mull over the case for a while. Although the 2000+ series looks nice, I'm not sure I would really have a need for all that space plus they're huge. Maybe the V1000 is a better fit for me...

techfuzz

 

[Skott]

Does your mobo got a heatpipe cooler for the chipset? If so the Lian Li 1000 series wont be advisable. Mobos with heatpipes wont work properly upside down. Not sure if the 2000 series inverts the mobo or not.

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: Skott
Does your mobo got a heatpipe cooler for the chipset? If so the Lian Li 1000 series wont be advisable. Mobos with heatpipes wont work properly upside down. Not sure if the 2000 series inverts the mobo or not.

Nope, straight up heatsink and maybe a small fan... but definitely no heatpipe on the chipset.

techfuzz

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: Skott
Does your mobo got a heatpipe cooler for the chipset? If so the Lian Li 1000 series wont be advisable. Mobos with heatpipes wont work properly upside down. Not sure if the 2000 series inverts the mobo or not.

Ive put 3 A8N32-SLI motherboards in inverted ATX cases (2 PC-101's and a PC-767). None of the boards are overheating. In fact the board in the PC-767 is cooler now that its inverted than it was in my old Centurion 532, despite the centurion having it right side up. This has alot more to do with the extra air flow in my PC-767 due to it being larger and having less clutter. The amount of fluid in heat pipes is so minor, than orientation doesnt matter, because the flow in them is based alot more on the wick inside than gravity.

 

[grit621]

I called Asus tech support today and they told me if I flipped my P5B mobo in the Lian-Li V1000 that I would "burn the board up". The concept makes sense. The heatpipe has some gravety working in its favor in either a horizontal (traditional desktop case) mounting or typical vertical mounting. However, when flipped, the heat would make its way UP to the chipset.

Logically, that seems bad. Perhaps the heatsink and simple transference of heat via the copper is enough to cool the chipset regardless?

 

[techfuzz]

grit621, don't believe everything tech support tells you!

Heat pipes don't utilize gravity to work. Gaseous pressure created due the phase change of the liquid forces the closed system to continuously cycle. Google it for some pictures if you need visual aids.

With the Lian Li V1000, your motherboard is just rotated 180 degrees. It makes no difference if your CPU is at the top or the bottom if the motherboard is in a vertical orientation. Now if you flipped your motherboard over so that the CPU was facing down towards the floor (with the motherboard parallel to the floor), then you would have an issue if you didn't have a heatsink & fan mounted to it, but you do. Think about it, you have had video cards in your system for years now that are mounted upside down and they get A LOT hotter than CPU's. All they have is a small heatsink and fan usually.

In short, Asus tech support is wrong. You're safe doing whatever you want to do as long as you have heatsinks and fans moving the air around.

techfuzz