Fractal XL (first build)

fiveub's Slave
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Hey

Just keeping a log here of my new build. Will be my first build. :)

New Components:
Fractal Design Define XL
2600k
8gb XMS3
Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3
OCZ Agility 3 60GB SSD

From old rig:
Corsair HX520
Radeon HD5770
Western Digital 500gb


Boxes
first_boxes.jpg

boxes.jpg


Heres my old case, very small, very messy.
old_case.jpg


Here is my new case with a DVD drive in, my SSD and my old hard drive. Looking forward to filling it up making all the cables neat!
case.jpg


I now cant do much as I have stupidly ordered the wrong motherboard... :mad::mad: Incoming phone calls tommorow....
 
Well after researching more after I bought it (probably a bad idea) I realised I wanted a bigger board really. I have a big case with a Micro ATX board.. seemed a bit stupid especially when it only had 3 pci-e slots with no apprent pci slots.

I'm now torn between the Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 and the Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3-B3

Also thanks, have blurred.
 
The Fractal XL is brilliant mate, have one myself and the cable management is wonderful. You'll have fun fitting all your hardware in.

Good luck.
 
Cheers! The case does feel so much nicer than my old one.

Found a couple of hard drives in my hard drive which i forgot about so I installed these today! Also had a card reader come in the post.

2ndday_case.jpg

2ndday_frontcase.jpg
 
Looking good mate, Im surprised you kept that middle hdd bay there, you had the option to remove it and allow more airflow, you could have installed an additional 140mm fan to cool the bottom hdd rack if you had done this method.

However, if you end up getting good temps then theres no issue really.

BTW mate, are you gonna be using an 8-pin extension cable? I would certainly recommend it, this case is a beast in size.
 
Looking good mate, Im surprised you kept that middle hdd bay there, you had the option to remove it and allow more airflow, you could have installed an additional 140mm fan to cool the bottom hdd rack if you had done this method.

However, if you end up getting good temps then theres no issue really.

BTW mate, are you gonna be using an 8-pin extension cable? I would certainly recommend it, this case is a beast in size.

Hmm, I'm a bit unsure on what you mean. Where my HDD's are there is already a fan there.

Are you saying to get better temps I may be better putting the hard drives at the bottom and also add another fan at the bottom (front)? Main reason why I put the hard drives where they are is me being worried it wont reach the motherboard when it finally comes.

Also, i was going to get some 8 pin extention cables but it appears ocuk have not got any in stock atm? I had a link to the shop which had a 8 pin cable but it no longer exist.

You found hard drives within your hard drives!?!? I wish i could do that.. save me a ton of money!;)
:D Meant to say I found a load of hard drives in my wardrobe! Must have had hard drives on my mind too much at the time of posting! I only have so many because when I reinstall windows I have too much stuff to backup so I just buy a new hard drive. :o (might also be because im slightly lazy :D)

I guess when its all working I should sort it all out properly and make use of the hard drives correctly!
 
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Well it's here but I've not had a chance to unbox it yet :p It was either this or the Corsair 650D which costs more but I was willing to pay the extra. I have 7 days with this XL though so if it doesn't match up to what I require then I will get the 650D.
 
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