TLDR Questions (Silence and Baby Proof required):
Case: Baby proof, something to stop the baby turning it off aswell as it needs to have no holes for crayons to go in.
Monitors: Anyway I can baby proof these? A gaurd behind them perhaps as the back of the desk is out in the open as opposed to being against a wall
Location/Temps: Case under the desk, airflow issues?
CPU Cooler: Closed watercooling, is this a quiet option? Will this be a good idea for under the desk
GPU: 7970 worth the extra over a 7950 or is there an nVidia rival in the same price band? Just need a general idea on what to upgrade to from my current (5870)
Budget: £400 - Open to change if its worth it!
Long Version for substance!
So I've decided to move my PC downstairs into the living room.
I'd like as baby proof a case as possible.. him turning the PC off when playing will likely not be an issue as it'll be to my right and the only entrance to my new area will be to the left so I should see him coming but something that maybe stops him getting to the buttons would be good for when I'm not actually at my rig, I.E when I'm reading him a book on the sofa and he decides he's had enough and legs it to the new shiny thing with buttons in the corner! Or if I'm not actually there.. cant trust the woman to guard my rig!
Imagine the case is going to be at my feet, under a desk. Currently this desk has an open back, I have some wood (teehee) that I'm going to attach to the back so he can't crawl under. I think this is the best thing to do to avoid cable pulling, out of sight also and then I only have to worry about the monitors.
Naturally I'm now concerned about temperatures. What I can do for some airflow, is maybe have the wooden panel at the bottom a few inches off the ground.. enough he cant crawl under essentially, wise? At the moment I'm running it ontop of the desk, my case as 12 120mm fans with mesh covers that are any childs dream along with the right size slots for crayons to go in so this case needs to be changed asap.. I cant be 30point checking my case everytime I know hes been near it lol.
So I thought perhaps going for a closed water cooling kit for the CPU to eliminate noise. I know the radiator fans will make noise but thats where you people come in on speccing me a quiet one! Currently using a freezer pro rev2 so its long overdue
As its going to be in the living room I thought I'd be nice and go for quiet components, I dont think the current noise of my rig will be a problem for the gf but I've been wanting to go for a quieter one for a while now anyway.
Upgrading the graphics card from a 5870 so was thinking along the lines of the 7950/7970 would be where I'd want to go to give myself some longevity.
Really not sure of budget so I'd like to see what I'm looking at for this.
Possible for £400 do you think? Is the 7970 worth the increase in price over the 7950?
What can be done about the monitors? Maybe a guard behind them I guess? Am I going to have to get the saw out and make something?
Case: Baby proof, something to stop the baby turning it off aswell as it needs to have no holes for crayons to go in.
Monitors: Anyway I can baby proof these? A gaurd behind them perhaps as the back of the desk is out in the open as opposed to being against a wall
Location/Temps: Case under the desk, airflow issues?
CPU Cooler: Closed watercooling, is this a quiet option? Will this be a good idea for under the desk
GPU: 7970 worth the extra over a 7950 or is there an nVidia rival in the same price band? Just need a general idea on what to upgrade to from my current (5870)
Budget: £400 - Open to change if its worth it!
Long Version for substance!
So I've decided to move my PC downstairs into the living room.
I'd like as baby proof a case as possible.. him turning the PC off when playing will likely not be an issue as it'll be to my right and the only entrance to my new area will be to the left so I should see him coming but something that maybe stops him getting to the buttons would be good for when I'm not actually at my rig, I.E when I'm reading him a book on the sofa and he decides he's had enough and legs it to the new shiny thing with buttons in the corner! Or if I'm not actually there.. cant trust the woman to guard my rig!
Imagine the case is going to be at my feet, under a desk. Currently this desk has an open back, I have some wood (teehee) that I'm going to attach to the back so he can't crawl under. I think this is the best thing to do to avoid cable pulling, out of sight also and then I only have to worry about the monitors.
Naturally I'm now concerned about temperatures. What I can do for some airflow, is maybe have the wooden panel at the bottom a few inches off the ground.. enough he cant crawl under essentially, wise? At the moment I'm running it ontop of the desk, my case as 12 120mm fans with mesh covers that are any childs dream along with the right size slots for crayons to go in so this case needs to be changed asap.. I cant be 30point checking my case everytime I know hes been near it lol.
So I thought perhaps going for a closed water cooling kit for the CPU to eliminate noise. I know the radiator fans will make noise but thats where you people come in on speccing me a quiet one! Currently using a freezer pro rev2 so its long overdue
As its going to be in the living room I thought I'd be nice and go for quiet components, I dont think the current noise of my rig will be a problem for the gf but I've been wanting to go for a quieter one for a while now anyway.
Upgrading the graphics card from a 5870 so was thinking along the lines of the 7950/7970 would be where I'd want to go to give myself some longevity.
Really not sure of budget so I'd like to see what I'm looking at for this.
Possible for £400 do you think? Is the 7970 worth the increase in price over the 7950?
What can be done about the monitors? Maybe a guard behind them I guess? Am I going to have to get the saw out and make something?
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