BoostinIX

So, upgraded my rig to the 1200 this weekend (from the 900). Got the case from Microcenter, can't beat 150 for a full tower, and Antec threw in the 2 extra fans. W00t. So, here's my dilema. I like the fact that the MB temps dropped 3degC just from the case swap, but the processor still is floating around the 40s-50s, even after turning down the OC to 5%, so I think it's definately time for the liquid conversion. For all you 1200 owners, am I better off mounting my rad to the rear like most do? I've got my hardware at the top bay so I've got plenty of room there for it in the front, and I'm concerned the tubing out the back holes would have a sharp angle heading up to the radiator. So, am I just overparanoid? Anyone put one inside the 1200? Searched but couldn't find much. Thanks all!

__________________
PFC Casey Norton
US Army, Fort Meade MD
"Momento Mori"

the_milk_man

One of my LAN party friends has an antec 1200 and he had the same problem as you but he bought the case originally for the air cooling superiority so he just decked the thing out with fans and then bought a stand-alone self contained CPU water cooler. It works wonders for him and was hundreds of dollars less than a complete water cooling system.

__________________
There is no 'Ctrl' button on Chuck Norris's computer keyboard, Chuck Norris is always in control.

BoostinIX

Yeah, it's nice with all the fans and the options and space. Only gripe I have is my idle cpu temp actually went way up, but more than likely I bumped the zalman. Time to redo the paste. So yeah, I was just thinking of putting the res in the 2nd bay and a 240 rad in the bottom 2, and even all that'd still leave space for a pump on the floor.

__________________
PFC Casey Norton
US Army, Fort Meade MD
"Momento Mori"

dr4gon

what's your budget for water cooling?

__________________
Project: Orange Box
Join the New OCN Flickr Group - My Flickr
>>> For Sale: <<<
Team Fortress 2 - Add OCN @ 8.9.16.94:27015 to your favorites.

Robilar

Zalman? As in a Zalman 9700 or 9500?

Don't get me wrong they are decent air coolers (I still have a 9700 in my kids rig) but you could get much better temps with a better air cooler at a fraction of the price of water cooling.

A thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme (of which I have 3) with a decent fan can actually beat low end cpu water cooling systems. It even beats the Cool IT Freezone tec/water cooling hybrid for about 1/6 of the the price.

BoostinIX

Budgets around 300(ish, nothing set), going to assemble over next few weeks. I wanna say the fan's a 95xx. Idle's in the 40's vs the normal 30's, so I must've bumped the Zalman when I swapped cases. I know with this case I could keep the air cooling setup, but been looking to swap to liquid for a while now.

__________________
PFC Casey Norton
US Army, Fort Meade MD
"Momento Mori"

ira-k

Something like this would make you a decent rig, you can look around and find used parts cheaper in the "For Sale" threads also...

..D-tek Fuzion V2

..D-5 Vario

..360 BIX..Use it with fans at least this size..86cfm Pana..These would be better..115cfm Pana..If you want to use a quieter fan look at a Black Ice Pro360 or Swiftec 320....

Shrouds will help on a BIX or other thicker higher per inch fin rad's also.

..How To: Make any Sized shroud in 2 minutes

..How To: Build A Performance Shroud

.. Poll: Push or pull configuration for Radiators

..Part-1-480 GTX-Temps W & W/O Shrouds

Res, or just use a t-line...5.25" Bay Res

..7/16x5/8"..You use this tubing on 1/2" barbs, it will flow about as well as the full size, its more compact and easier to route around in your case....

This for full size..1/2x3/4".

..Coolant.Pentosin..Biocide..PT Nuke.

Be sure to read all the stickies here, they have a lot of good info, I'll leave you my basic cleaning and set-up PDF...

Attached Files

WC Cleaning and Set-Up.pdf (929.6 KB, 22 views)

__________________
**Water Cooling Essential Threads**Relay Wiring **480 GTX-Temp's w/wo Shrouds **TEC Essential Threads

** E8600 @ 5.75Ghz 10x **E7200 @ 4.5Ghz 9x **5000BE @ 3.5Ghz 10x**150 Opty @ 3.2Ghz 12x**

Drakemoore

To OP: Bit off topic but was the case you got from micro center "Complete" And all? I was just slightly baffled that the case is $200 or so on newegg but micro center has it for $150 was wondering if it came with all fans / accessories. I've never bought from M-C before. Good luck with WCing though.

BoostinIX

Yeah, far as I can tell everything was there. Was still taped up from Antec, and had 2 extra fans from antec, "just in case 1 went bad". Really happy.

__________________
PFC Casey Norton
US Army, Fort Meade MD
"Momento Mori"

DerkaDerka

I can vouch for this statement as well. I recently bought a 1200 off of their website for $167 shipped and it comes with everything that any other e-tailer includes.