shazza's Work Log: No. 2: Lian-Li 343B Air cooled Build

Hey guys. Will start my actual build sometime in the next week or so, but thought I'd share what the plan is:

Case: Lian-Li 343B ... overkill for air cooling, but I wanted the flexibility to go to water cooling down the road

Motherboard: EVGA 780i

CPU: QX 9650

PSU: Ultra X3 1000W

GPU: 8800 GTX x 2 (with a 3rd one available to try out TRI-SLI, if I so choose)

Memory: 4 x 1 GB OCZ PC 6400 (800 MHz) RAM

Hard Drives: Samsung SATA 7,200 RPM 750GB x 2

Optical Drives: LG Blu Ray / HD-DVD SATA Drive & LG DVD/RW w/ Lightscribe SATA Drive

HSF ... to be determined

Monitor: Dell 3008 WFP-HC


Well, them's the parts. Let me know if you want pics as I go along, and I'll post some up.

The H2O build is doing fine, but it is staying in our house in Florida ... had to relocate for work, so need something for the new house.

Will do pics ... the case and monitor arrive next week, everything else is here ready to go.

Still working on sound solution ... I'll be sharing an office with my husband, so I'm thinking the headphones will be getting a workout.

Did okay on my deals ... got the EVGA 780i ... it should do for my needs.

A little update / diversion here. The Lian-Li arrives next week, but in the meantime, I'd ordered the Silverstone TJ 10 case. Was going to send it back because it was a bit tall for my needs, but then we decided to use it for my husband's system. So, I did a quick build today to check it out:

Pros:

1) GREAT airflow with the right fans. Using Scythe "E" series at 1200 RPM ... love 'em.

2) Best removable motherboard tray I've seen (okay, I've only done a few builds, but this has been commented on by others much more knowledgeable than I am). Absolutely fantastic.

3) Extremely good airflow from what I've seen so far. Able to run the Zerotherm Nirvana HSF with the fan off (it's a noisy sucker), with the top fans set for intake, and it stays plenty cool ... and VERY QUIET.

4) Removable Hard Drive Bays are extremely nice, compared to my Mountain Mods case ... but not as nice as tool less options.


CONS:

Only one, really ... and that's cable management. The Reset Switch lead DOES NOT even reach to my motherboard connector. And, the other leads are so short, you can't hide them well. BUT ... this is easily solved by ordering extensions or redoing the wiring (just a disappointment, because the leads for USB / Audio / Firewire are VERY long.

In the end, I'd now highly recommend this case to anyone looking for a good air cooling solution. Don't be picky about your cable management, cause they are gonna show ... but they don't impede airflow.

Here's a quick pic. Sorry ... I'm on my Verizon wireless USB modem, so it takes too long to download pics. This one just shows the overall setup:

Hey, Boyd ... didn't mean to ignore the "jabs." Just having internet connect problems. Hope to be hooked up in the next week or so on a sat link.

The TV came with the house ... my intention is to take it down, probably ... but will wait a bit. Got the 30" monitor in this week, so don't really need the Plasma in this room.

My 343B case was apparently damanged in shipment (they sent it back before delivering). Performance-PCs is out of stock on the case now, so don't know how long I'll be waiting. No problem, though, as I still have a "few" boxes to unpack and lots of stuff to organize!

Nothing much new. Got the Dell 3008WFP monitor and it's sweet. Will try to post some pics this weekend if I can get my internet sorted.

Still no word on when I'll actually get the 343B case, since they are out of stock at Performance-PCs. I could just cancel and order from elsewhere, but Perf PCs has been very good to me and it's not their fault UPS damaged the first one.

Have also decided to go ahead and water cool the CPU. Just not happy with air cooling solutions (primarily noise). Have a thermalchill PA120.2 radiator, but may go with the Swiftech MCR-220 to save a bit of room ... still thinking it through.