ROG Build check - fan controller & AIO help/advice!

Roady · 30 Oct 2013 at 10:09

I've been putting together a 2700K ROG build in a white case, full build log details and progress here.

Pic of 1st build (pre-braiding & no GFX card yet):

I've several mods in mind, first of which is powdercoating/spraying a fan controller (as not many come in white!). I'm really after one with knobs and no display as I'm not a fan of the 'touch' types... I'm planning leaving the knobs black (in keeping with my colour scheme) but not many are in stock...

The Lian Li PT-FN04 looks like the likely candidate... Thinking the knobs staying black with the LED's would look good? Although very expensive to immediately void the warranty by spraying it!

The Zalman ZM-MFC1 looks ok, but out of stock and I think would look quite plain painted white as it'd loose all the writing/dials etc (they all will anyway!).

The Akasa FC. SIX would be the cheaper option, it'll look very plain sprayed white, but I think better than the Zalman?! Cheaper than the others so I'd have less worries voiding the warranty too!

Thoughts?

Next is an AIO that I'll mount in the roof, the H60 you see in the pic is only temporary, as I've always intended going for the NZXT Kraken X60 to utilise the 2x140/120 space at the top...

The Silverstone Tundra TD02 looks good but I really need some benchmarks...

It would look ace with the CPU block powdercoated/sprayed white! White tubing, white & black radiator & fans... Although I have fans already (SP120's with white LED's) not many of the AIO's come without fans...

The Silverstone is priced a bit high so I'm still leaning towards the NZXT Kraken X60, as I know it's one of the best performers, looks good and colour fits into my build... Really like the idea of the white pipes on the TD02 though, might have to look at doing similar on the X60?

I'm not a fan of the CPU block & pump cover on most of the Corsair units... Any other 240mm/280mm AIO's I should be looking at?

Admiral Huddy · 30 Oct 2013 at 10:52

I wondered about changing the face panel of the Zalman but the radiator was bad enough.. Here's mine in the white 810 Switch to give you an idea.

although at the time of being taken I've not got the front panel on

I quite like the black trim on white

TooMuchCheese · 30 Oct 2013 at 11:59

No 27" screen then Huddy?

Make · 30 Oct 2013 at 12:10

The silverstone one seems good, but it is a bit of a weird one. The performance is nice with the stockfans, but the performance does not really change by adjusting fanspeeds at all (+1/-1). I would guess changing the fans to the AF120's will not do much either. (You said SP's, but those don't come with LED's..?)

But it seems to perform better than the H100i. Beware it's thickness though, it's a very thick rad.

murah · 30 Oct 2013 at 14:29

just get the kraken, not everything has to be white

I have the 600t white with white braids but plenty of black things and it all goes really well together

saying that the silverstone does look nice and has some nice features, notice the anti vibration+fan seals on it.. have not seen that in a while but I really detest that tubing it uses. its awful and cheap looking

hmm defo the X60 ^^

Roady · 30 Oct 2013 at 14:50

The Kraken looks great anyways! And the colour will fit in nicely!

Need to have a look around and make sure I can fit a thick rad in the roof... I think there's enough clearance from the motherboard anyways? Certainly not much space behind it!

Thanks for a look at the Zalman Huddy, do you have any closer pics and any with the case front/surround fitted?

murah · 30 Oct 2013 at 15:12

have you considered picking up a Lamptron FC ? really good quality, they do some without screens and some with (non touch versions)

the bitfenix recon comes in white but i'd give it a miss

Admiral Huddy · 30 Oct 2013 at 16:16

TooMuchCheese said:
No 27" screen then Huddy?

Workshop screen

Ill get some finished pictures as soon as I can. Been busy but def get some pics by weekend

Roady · 31 Oct 2013 at 11:43

murah said:
have you considered picking up a Lamptron FC ? really good quality, they do some without screens and some with (non touch versions)

the bitfenix recon comes in white but i'd give it a miss

Yeah I'd spotted and said no to the recon already - too cheap looking!

The Lamptron FC's are ok...

Lamptron FC2 is ok, the 'FAN' designations would survive painting, but I'm not a huge fan of the knobs, although they would look good against a white surround!

Lamptron FC6 looks good and I love the knobs more... Black backed screen would look good with a white surround, but only 4 controls... I need (probably) 5, 6 in future if I change cooling.

Admiral Huddy · 1 Nov 2013 at 09:12

My photography isn't that good I'm affraid. WB is all out but gives you some idea.

Roady · 22 Nov 2013 at 11:49

Thanks Huddy, sorry I missed your pics before (damn notifications!)

Very very sweet looking build! White tubing looks amazing even without any lighting!

I've picked up a Zalman ZM-MFC1 Plus on the MM without cables & brackets... If I can 'fabricate' some brackets or some other way to mount I'll spray it white and see what it looks like! For a £5 it was worth trying out!

I've also got a Scythe Kaze Master Flat Four which I had intended to paint white... Doesn't seem to be an option now (front cover is a solid piece, not a window mounted in a surround) so may stick to it being black (with the bluray also staying black)...

weirdGuy · 22 Nov 2013 at 12:32

Had any thoughts about maybe stealthing the fan controller in the front?

I hoped to paint mine, until I realised it'd easier to stealth it. Always worth considering!

Roady · 25 Nov 2013 at 10:42

weirdGuy said:
Had any thoughts about maybe stealthing the fan controller in the front?

I hoped to paint mine, until I realised it'd easier to stealth it. Always worth considering!

Not a bad idea actually... As the 5 1/4" bay is easy to remove from the front on the R4:

I guess I'll have to see what I can fabricate to mount it!