Help me replace my Raven 2 with an HTPC (w/ cooler implications)

ricsimas

ricsimas

ricsimas

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21 May 2010
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Hi,

I'm currently using a Raven 2 in the living room, but I must admit the aesthetics are getting to me, as it simply doesn't match its surroundings.

I'd like to replace it with an HTPC/desktop case, but without sacrificing that much in terms of cooling performance.

The system that will just be migrated to it is:

i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
Geforce 670 (I'd like to be able to do SLI)
One SSD, one HDD and one BD drive

I'm currently using a Thermalright tower cooler, but I guess I'll have to replace that in any case. No need for screens, or remote controls - as a matter of fact, the more discreet, the better.

Any suggestions? Noise is a consideration.

Thanks!
 
Hmm...

Well you can get desktop HTPC case like the Silverstone Gandia series which sound like the case you want but won't let you keep your overclock or (really) go SLI..

This is because the cooling will be poor due to the lack of room for fans in a case this big..

ATX wise, you've not got many options for a good Overclock and SLI.. (while keeping it small..

You could go mATX, use one of the boards below and the case.

YOUR BASKET
1 x **B Grade** Gigabyte Z77-G1-Sniper M3 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £110
1 x Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £104.99
1 x Silverstone TemJin TJ08B-E Midi Tower Case - Black (SST-TJ08B-E USB 3.0) £83.99
Total : £313.08 (includes shipping : £11.75).



You can fit your big air cooler in and another GPU. :)
 
Thanks for your input.

I thought I'd be able to keep the OC by moving to something like one of those Corsair closed-loop watercoolers.

Is the problem with SLI one of cooling or space with the Grandia cases? Because this one looks plenty big for one of the bottom-up (as opposed to side-by-side) Noctua coolers, for example: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-215-SV

By the way, it doesn't have to be small: the advantage of a desktop case would be that I'd be able to place it in a rack next to the audio/TV gear, so it would blend in a lot more.
 
Swap your Raven 2 for a Fortress 2. Same case internally, much nicer aesthetics externally.

Or go down to a Micro ATX board and get a TJ08
 
The Fortress 2 was my original plan, but I wanted to build the system on a certain weekend and the only locally available option was the Raven.

This time I'd really like to stick with the desktop format to make it blend in.

The Lian Li PC-C60 is the leading option right now.
 
ricsimas said:
Thanks for your input.

I thought I'd be able to keep the OC by moving to something like one of those Corsair closed-loop watercoolers.

Is the problem with SLI one of cooling or space with the Grandia cases? Because this one looks plenty big for one of the bottom-up (as opposed to side-by-side) Noctua coolers, for example: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-215-SV

By the way, it doesn't have to be small: the advantage of a desktop case would be that I'd be able to place it in a rack next to the audio/TV gear, so it would blend in a lot more.
Click to expand...

it is mainly down to the airflow of the case. There isn't much airflow really due to the shape of the case..

It would handle a single card easy with a low over locked CPU..

If you want to go down that route that's the sacrifice you need to make.
 
The Corsair 350D looks slick as well. Also the Corsair Air 540. If you have space for it (It's more like a cube than a vertical tower case).

Just giving more options. TBH, if you like the Lian Li, you can go with it.
 
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There's also the Obsidian 550D but that's full tower. The front is not aluminium, but plastic imitation. It's also noise insulated and therefore quieter but warmer inside. Also the Fractal Define R4, which I prefer to the 550D. Nice, clean-looking standard ATX cases, but no match for the aluminim Lian Li's. I think there's a windowed panel available for the R4.
 
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The R4 is indeed very clean-looking. That could work.

It's hard to beat the desktop advantage arrangement-wise, as it would realy cut down on the footprint in my case (there's a slot in the hi-fi rack just asking to be filled by a PC).
 
I figures that - the side-to-side ones just don't fit. I was considering the H90, though, as the Lian-Li case does have a 140mm opening on the top close enough to the CPU, if I'm getting its design correctly.
 
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