H440 Z97 build

[cwgk91]

Hey all,

Thought I'd do a project log for my new build. This time I'm going down the full MSI route (as I already had an MSI 290x gaming edition ) and so, surprise surprise, It'll have to be (yet another) red and black theme...

Today, I got my first delivery

Parts so far:
NZXT H440 Red and Black
MSI Gaming 7 Z97 Series Motherboard
2x MSI 290x Gaming Edition
Avexir Blitz 1.1 2133Mhz C9
Creative Sound Blaster ZxR
Superflower Leadex 850W
Samsung EVO 500Gb
Seagate SSHD

Will be assembling these pretties tomorrow, hopefully with pics if I can remember where Ive left my camera!

Now the only parts I am waiting for are a processor and cooler... Hurry up Intel with Devils Canyon! Otherwise I'll have to take the plunge with a 4770k...

 

[cwgk91]

Hey all, things have progressed!

First unpacking

The white MSI box is the 290x I have just got back from RMA. Fingers crossed its ok now... Haven't had a chance to try it yet

Pic of the two cards together. Cant wait to try them out!

Motherboard. Liking the heat sinks over the VRMs.

Case, without the panels. Really impressed by the quality of the case. Foam inside all of the panels, great finish and dust filters over all of the air intakes.

Other brilliant thing about it is the way the PSU sits in the case. Held in by quick release clips. Only thing which makes it a bit of a pain is the length of cables once they're all attached... Means you can't add cables easily as the PSU can't come all the way out!

Motherboard in place

Graphics cards in place

Of course I put those in place before putting in any of the USB header cables, etc which all goes in the bottom of the board... time to take them out again - back to the step above

If anyone is looking at this case/mobo combo, a couple of things you need to know:

• You can't physically fit the USB3 header into the socket on the motherboard as the steel plate the cables get routed through is at a 45degree angle, which doesnt give enough space
• If you connect all the PSU cables up to the motherboard and try to take the PSU out.. you cant. Unless you have seriously long cables
• The superflower PSU only comes with three 8 pin adapters so have had to use the 2x molex to 6 pin adapter for the second graphics card

Loving the look of two graphics cards in situ

Everything in place (excluding CPU and cooler...)

Irritatingly, I have had to put my sound card above the first graphics card in the PCI-E lane up there as it would have covered the fan of either the first or second card. Didn't realise exactly how much space the graphics cards would take up!

One more thing: with this case, you can't really use the bottom PCI-E lane unless you have a single slot solution.

Now just waiting for intel to hurry up with DC (or tell me that its not coming out till september so I can get a 4770k - or locked 4790 - instead!)

 

[cwgk91]

Just a bit worried about it blocking air coming out of the card. I will definitely try it out down at the bottom at some point. Had some problems with my current xonar phoebus by the PSU though, gave some buzzing on line in.

Also, really need to get some extension wiring to make it all a nice colour. Or learn how to sleeve cables...

Also (lots of these ) know if anyone sells superflower cables? OcUK doesn't seem to. I just don't trust the molex to 6 pin adapter...

 

[cwgk91]

Thankee, ill take a look

 

[cwgk91]

I will do once it is all in place Currently no processor as waiting for Intel's DC release so can't boot it up Was wondering about putting some extra LED strips in there as well, mainly because its so easy due to the fan/LED hub

Was also wondering about putting some higher air flow fans in there to cool the beasts that are 290xs..

 

[cwgk91]

Great case, really easy to work with. And makes builds look great when they're a mess

 

[cwgk91]

Update: Have ordered myself a 4790k for arrival (hopefully before) 23rd June, so excited

I think I will be using the OcUK fathom with the 240mm rad off my current AMD build for the time being and see what temps are like with that. May switch to an h100i depending on how it looks in the case...

 

[cwgk91]

Update 2: Have just now realised that the rev 2.0 of the EK water blocks now fit the 290x gaming edition. Now sorely tempted to go full water loop as Im terrified of the heat that these 290xs are going to dump into the case...

Will probably have to wait and see what temps are like in a couple of weeks time. Needless to say, I double Ill need the heating on!

 

[cwgk91]

Hey all!

Sorry its been so long, have been rather busy! I received my 4790k a while back when OcUK had their first stock. I used my old OcUK fathom cooler off my old AMD build as cooler and also added another 8gb of avexir ram.. because... why not! Want this to be future proof for a while.

CPU:

Altogether:

CPU in situ:

Unfortunately I was so excited at having everything installed I managed to forget to take a picture of everything in place! Have since clocked the CPU to 4.6Ghz at 1.28v and its running so much better than my old AMD build. I have to say, I am surprised by how much smoother everything runs. Case in point is War Thunder, where there was always a fair amount of lag every time I start/end a game and every time I check scores - this has now completely disappeared!

However, I have had some problems. With two 290xs in the case, things do get rather hot. The top card after about half an hour is straight up to 94C and starting to throttle, while the bottom card is at mid 80s (when in a game using crossfire). In addition I had my CPU cooler as an exhaust, meaning that I was trying to cool with 80C air... leading to 80C CPU temps! Changed it to an intake and temps instantly dropped to 60C!

Still not happy with GPU temps so there was only one possible solution... My stuff arrived today. I leave you with a teaser below

 

[cwgk91]

really like the case wish this had been released before the 540

If you're air cooling I think the air540 is probably a better bet from my (limited) experience!

Great setup spec is great a real power house! Love the black and red colour scheme.
How is it building with the case?

Thanks! From my experience today of putting radiators etc in its really easy to put together, and really easy to make a relatively untidy build look good! So many places to hide unsightly cables. Couple of slight problems => USB3.0 header doesn't quite fit because of where the cable inlet holes are and the bottom PCI-E slot on your mobo is pretty much useless unless you have a single slot solution due to the PSU shroud