New Build with Antec 1200 case - I have questiions?

[Gauron]

Hi Guys,

I just spent the weekend building my 1st ever rig and all I can say is OMG how much fun it was!

Anyway, it's mainly not a new build. I juts replaced the old Soparno case with my new Antec 1200 and all those lovely blue fans.

First question:

Should my Core I7 920 Bloomfield Processor be running at the following:

Core 1: 43 (Low) 46 (High)
Core 2: 41 (Low) 46 (High)
Core 3: 41 (Low) 45 (High)
Core 4: 40 (Low) 47 (High)

Stats taken with core temp while typing this up

Second, I know my bog standard 850w PSU, I had to loop the power cable next to the rear fans, if I buy the Antec 1200 Case PSU, will the cables on this be long enough to loop round the back of the case for better airflow.

3rd, I have a 4890 HD Card which I know is still a very good card but I'm told it eats power like megatron eats energon? Is there a newer 58 series card is is as good is not better which isn't going to cause me to pass out from the price tag.

4th, I need a new CPU coolant Fan and I'm temped by the Corsair H50, But Im not sure about having to take one of the back fans out while I could buy a cooler master fan. Any Ideas on great fans?

And finally, is there anyway I check the fan speeds on the case as the top back fan doesnt seem to be spinning as fast and all are set to the same speed?

Hope someone can help and thanks to you all for the recommending of the Antec 1200 case

 

[Tealc]

1. Depends if you are overclocked and what cooler you have on the i7 920.

2. You can buy extensions for that cable to allow you to route behind motherboard. Can't find the basic one on ocuk but they have prebraided ones http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=cm-011-pb

3. any power savings will be nullified by the additional cost of the upgrade. you'd need to go to at least 5830 (£160+) just to get the same performance. you can achieve some power savings by underclocking the 4890 in 2d mode. use msi afterburner profiles. i have mine at 240/788 in 2d and 915/1065 in 3d mode. still the 4890 only used something like 50 watts in 2d http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd4890_6.html#sect0

4. Antec Tri-cools will have a switch to adjust the speed setting of the fans. L M H will be the marking for obvious speed settings. Anything above Low in my opinion is too loud, but that's me.

If you are on a stock cooler then any aftermarket cooler will provide you with improvements. Go for anything with at least 1 120mm fan in a tower arrangement.

Top end would be Prolimatech Megahalems http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-005-PL

Noctua D14 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-011-NC

Corsair H50 is outperformed by these air coolers but will run quieter. Do some research on each to help decide.

Cheaper options would be the Titan Fenrir perhaps.

 

[Gauron]

Thanks for the help here,

No I've not overclocked it at all, far too scared to step out and try that yet lol!

Should I be worried by these temps and if so what should I do??

 

[Tealc]

I run at 3.6Ghz with 600 rpm fan speed on my Noctua U12 and my temps are similar to yours. The stock cooler is only designed for stock speeds and is small and noisy.

Should you be concerned? Not really.

What are the load temperatures like?

You will not get much of an overclock with the stock cooler.

The i7 920 is massively overclockable but it does get quite warm.

 

[Gauron]

awesome to hear, I was starting to get worried my CPU was on it's way out. I'm about to order the http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=HS-011-NC now. It may be a little bit of a dull colour but if it reduces heat then I'm all for it.

Once all this has been sorted I will attempt to overclock the system. I hope this cooler with fit in the Antec 1200 with a side fan added on the case lol!

 

[Tealc]

If it interferes with the side fan then you could always mount the side fan externally to the case's side panel if you really feel you need to.

I do wish Noctua would change their colour scheme too, they are distinctive but look so bad.