Upgrading Antec 900 build and cooling optimization

Corbula

Corbula

Corbula

Associate
Joined
10 Mar 2008
Posts
195
I've currently got an Antec 900 build which i'm considering upgrading key components rather than buying or building a whole new system. Taking the opportunity to optimizing cooling as well. This is primarily a gaming upgrade looking ahead but a good allrounder.

The parts I'm changing:
Motherboard
CPU
Graphics Card
RAM

The parts I'm considering:
Motherboard
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-437-GI

CPU
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-479-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=567
or
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-475-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=567
if it is worth the extra £45?

Graphics card:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-116-GI&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1830

RAM:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-132-CR


What would you suggest for a CPU cooler? I've currently got the Arctic Freezer Pro 7

This has been suggested to me
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-035-CM

I've also been looking at this one
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-000-EN

Or I'm also considering taking advantage of the offer Overclockers have on the Corsair hydro range or would any of the conventional air fans be better?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-022-CS

Using the corsair H80 i would have to remove the exit fan at the top back of the case.

I have the Antec 900 case with two intake fans at the front, the big exit fan on the top and another exit fan at the top back. Do you think any other fans would help or do you think what i have is sufficient in keeping it cool? For example i could have another on the side panel either intake or outtake, or more behind the hard drive bays at the front behind the two intake fans.

I'm open to suggestions about other components if you feel they are just better or worth a little extra cost.

Thanks
 
Motherboard & CPU (4670) are great choices. Would recommend THIS RAM however as Haswell preferes faster RAM. It also makes the system more efficient and responsive.

The H80 is great for the price if you are willing to wait for it and use the stock cooler in the mean time.

If you want better performing fans, look here
 
Thanks for the suggestions snips86x.

I can certainly wait as i'm not doing anything yet until late august.

I want the best performing CPU cooler the reason i was looking at the H80 was because of the price, but i don't know if it's actually any better than some of the air coolers.

I wasn't looking at replacing the stock case fans, only adding to it as i don't think replacing them would help? I just want to try and keep things as cool as possible without spending stupid money. I'm also looking to add fan filters inbetween the mesh and the intake fans at the front to keep it as dust free as possible.

Anybody else want to chime in?
 
It's silly to get an overclocking mobo (Z series) and not get the K CPU which is multiplier unlocked.

August is a way off so prices will change. Right now I could suggest....

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III Boost Edition 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card **NEW REVISION** £239.99
1 x Intel Core i5-4670K 3.40GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £194.99
1 x Gigabyte Z87-HD3 Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £99.95
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-19200C10 2400MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (PV38G240C0K) £64.00
1 x Xigmatek Dark Knight SD-1283 Night Hawk Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £34.99
Total : £633.91 (includes shipping : FREE).



This GPU comes with a shed load of games, the 7870LEs are also Tahiti cores and worth a mention as they are much cheaper. The i5K CPU is for overclocking, faster RAM too. Decent value cooler which ties in nicely with the looks of the kit. The refurb'd H80 and H100s are a special pre-order price, if you want one order it now with your free P&P if you qualify. The K2 Mount Doom is also a BEAST of an air cooler if you want the best performing kit, providing it fits your chassis
 
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Corbula said:
Thanks for the suggestions snips86x.

I can certainly wait as i'm not doing anything yet until late august.

I want the best performing CPU cooler the reason i was looking at the H80 was because of the price, but i don't know if it's actually any better than some of the air coolers.

I wasn't looking at replacing the stock case fans, only adding to it as i don't think replacing them would help? I just want to try and keep things as cool as possible without spending stupid money. I'm also looking to add fan filters inbetween the mesh and the intake fans at the front to keep it as dust free as possible.

Anybody else want to chime in?
Click to expand...

Look at DemciFlex! - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produ...atid=2331&sortby=priceAsc&subid=795&mfrid=624

A new innovative dust removal solution that actually works.

honosuseri said:
It's silly to get an overclocking mobo (Z series) and not get the K CPU which is multiplier unlocked.

August is a way off so prices will change. Right now I could suggest....

This GPU comes with a shed load of games, the 7870LEs are also Tahiti cores and worth a mention as they are much cheaper. The i5K CPU is for overclocking, faster RAM too. Decent value cooler which ties in nicely with the looks of the kit. The refurb'd H80 and H100s are a special pre-order price, if you want one order it now with your free P&P if you qualify. The K2 Mount Doom is also a BEAST of an air cooler if you want the best performing kit, providing it fits your chassis
Click to expand...

I can tell you the K2 is a beast and is an amazing cooler. Efficient, quiet and huge!

I would recommend replacing both the stock fans with a single Thermalright TY-147 as it does the job of both and a little better.
 
honosuseri said:
It's silly to get an overclocking mobo (Z series) and not get the K CPU which is multiplier unlocked.

August is a way off so prices will change. Right now I could suggest....

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III Boost Edition 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card **NEW REVISION** £239.99
1 x Intel Core i5-4670K 3.40GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £194.99
1 x Gigabyte Z87-HD3 Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £99.95
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-19200C10 2400MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (PV38G240C0K) £64.00
1 x Xigmatek Dark Knight SD-1283 Night Hawk Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £34.99
Total : £633.91 (includes shipping : FREE).



This GPU comes with a shed load of games, the 7870LEs are also Tahiti cores and worth a mention as they are much cheaper. The i5K CPU is for overclocking, faster RAM too. Decent value cooler which ties in nicely with the looks of the kit. The refurb'd H80 and H100s are a special pre-order price, if you want one order it now with your free P&P if you qualify. The K2 Mount Doom is also a BEAST of an air cooler if you want the best performing kit, providing it fits your chassis
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I would prefer an Nvidia GPU but that's just personally preference (I haven't had chance to look at the one you've said yet)

I wasn't planning on overclocking the CPU but it might be good to have the option, so thanks for the suggestion about the K one.

I'm not 100% sure about the CPU cooler yet, how does that one compare to the likes of the H80?

I know August is a while off i'm just planning ahead, but if the H80 is better than reasonably priced air fans then i would get that early anyway.
 
snips86x said:
Look at DemciFlex! - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produ...atid=2331&sortby=priceAsc&subid=795&mfrid=624

A new innovative dust removal solution that actually works.



I can tell you the K2 is a beast and is an amazing cooler. Efficient, quiet and huge!

I would recommend replacing both the stock fans with a single Thermalright TY-147 as it does the job of both and a little better.
Click to expand...

Why is them Demciflex any better than other filters? My plan with the filters was to try and put them between the intake fans and the mesh at the front of the case, then when they get dusty just clean them up by putting a hover over the front.

That Thermalright you suggested is a 140mm fan, the two on the front of the Antec 900 are 120mm so it wouldn't fit right?

Also if you have a side fan as well would you have it as intake into the case or outtake out of the case?
 
OP, I was in your situation last year when upgrading my PC and keeping the Antec 900 case. A few of the things I found out along the way:

The case will fit a large air cooler such as the K2, I got a Phanteks PH-TC14PE (170mm tall) to fit in the case. But I had to chop off part of the side fan clip to get the side back onto the case.

I replaced the three front and back 120mm fans with Akasa Apaches, much quieter than the stock fans.

Those DemciFlex Dust filters work very well. I mounted two of them to the front of the case on the outside so they were very easy to remove and wipe clean. For the front of the case I found the 140mm squares worked best, although I had to cut the down slightly to make them fit.

Review for the K2 cooler. An H80 gives performance between an H50 and H100

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/alpenfoehn_k2_cpu_cooler_review,1.html

What everything looked like one it was all installed
img0296or.jpg

Yes, I know the cable management is awful

What I had to do to the side of the case to get the cooler to fit.
img0301bl.jpg

I ended up replacing the case around Christmas time for something newer, a Corsair C70.
 
Upgrade the case as well, for the love of god. :p

I built a system in one of these cases the other day, and it was like being in hell.
 
 
 
Corbula said:
Kind of familiar lol :P

There's only really one game in that bundle that would interest me really.
Click to expand...

Well you could donate some of them to helpful forum members ;)

In all seriousness though you can sell the codes off you don't want/need. If you know you'll get a bit of cash back then you might feel happier about getting a better mobo. Hell the codes could go a ways to paying for the heatsink when you decide what you want :)
 
i added a 3rd fan / hd cage to my antec 900 makes it look smarter and helps cooling.
also i have a coolermarster v8 fits just and removed the plastic fan holder bit from the side and glued on the mesh part.

also i striped it down and spray painted evey bit black
 
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Either the H80 or the K2.

Personally I would go with the H80 because I prefer watercooling over air cooling, but in the real world, the K2 is probably superior.
 
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