UPGRADE: Graphics Card, Case & Cooling

gee3000

gee3000

gee3000

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I'm currently replacing my Lian Li PC-P60 case (for sale) and 8800GT graphics card, and the stock cooler on my E8400. Main purpose for upgrade is performance boost and silence. Current system has loads of loud LED fans which need to go. Just need some advice please..

Lian Li PC-P60
 Replacing this case with a Fractal Design R2 which comes with 2 x 120mm fans, and I'll be adding another 120mm at rear and 140mm on roof.


PNY 8800GT (512MB)
Have been recommended to replace this with a XFX ATI Radeon HD 4890 1024MB.

  • Is this card a worthy upgrade? (for Modern Warfare 2 @ 1920x1200 on 24")
  • Is this card noisy?
  • If so, how can I eliminate/reduce the noise?
Corsair H50-1
  • Can someone please explain how this fits?? What would I need? fans, etc..
Thanks.
 
Ah, a silence upgrade - I tip my hat to you sir.

The fractal design case looks great, as do their fans. This case would be my choice if I were doing such an upgrade. I'd love to hear how you find it.

The 8800GT is a great card, but obviously the 4890 is faster. However, it is much louder - so that is something to bear in mind. Maybe a 3rd party cooler is in order. I installed this cooler on that exact same 4890 a few months back. i had to re-use the vrm cooler (hacksaw required) but otherwise went well - nice and quiet.

however, is modern warfare 2 the main focus of your gaming? if so, i wouldn't upgrade just yet. have a look at this review. At 1920x1200 (no AA/AF) the FPS with a 9800GT (the same card as the 8800GT) runs at a respectable 63 FPS. With AA set to 4x this drops to a perfectly acceptable 46 FPS. If you want to further silence the 8800GT I suggest getting this cooler + this fan. I used this on the very similar 9800GTX and it worked a treat. Everything was much cooler and now whisper quiet.

If this performance is acceptable to you in the short/medium term - then you can wait for the price/availability of the fast, quiet, cool ATI 5850 to improve.

As for the CPU cooler - the H50 radiator/fan fits by attaching it to the rear 120mm exhaust fan on the case (look you get an extra fractal design fan to play with). Meanwhile, you attach the cooler bracket (with backplate) loosly to the motherboard. When the mobo is in the case you pull the CPU block/pump through the bracket until it contacts the CPU. You then twist the block until it is locked - then you tighten the screws on the bracket until it is all secure. You then connect the pump directly to the power supply (via a 3pin to molex connector) and the radiator fan to the CPU fan header.

You replace the stock corsair fan with two high-end Nocua P12 or Akasa Apache fans for improved cooling/quietness.

However, if you are striving towards silence - I suggest not getting the H50. Its not loud - but the pump does make a noise. Instead, I would suggest a Prolimatech Megahalems and a Noctua P12 fan. As for mounting the Megahalems - it is an absolute piece-of-cake. Seriosly, you will laugh at how easy it is to mount this 900g beast to your motherboard.

Hope that helps.
 
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You do not replace the stock Corsair branded Akasa fan for improved cooling. Akasa makes that fan and the Apache and their own specs say the fan they gave Corsair is much better than the Apache. Primarily because it spins faster.

The Apache and the Noctuas are quieter and have weaker specs. Neither are silent when run on 12V either, almost all fans need to be spun down unless they're already quite slow to be "silent".

Apart from that, yes the H50 buzzes quietly. Can't actually hear it at the moment because I have 6 x 40mm fans on 12V cooling my hard drives and sounding like a dam server - I need to get a highish wattage resistor to lower their speed. But with everything else trying to be quiet you can hear a little buzz. Not a hum, it's much slower than that, definite little buzz from the pump. Depends how noisy the rest of your kit is and how sound muffling your case is.
 
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Sorry, I should have been more clear - the single corsair does push more air than a single Apache or Noctua - but when two are used together in push/pull they provide a cooling solution that performs better and is quieter than the single stock fan.

Here is a review showing what I mean (bottom of page).
 
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Well dual vs single...

Any fan paired with the one already there would help. I use one of my Enermax Magmas and the stock fan personally.

Mind you I saw a review which showed that the Scythe Mugen 2 didn't actually care if it had one fan or two. Which was surprising.


It would be interesting if you could mount the H50 on the roof instead. The fan spaces are available, just a question of how space is sorted to allow it.
 
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