Hi all,
I'm going with the
Cooler Master Elite 130 as a case for my gaming build. I plan to install either a GTX 770 or 780, and I'll be cooling the CPU with an H80i water cooler. Heat will be exhausted through the back.
What I hear from everyone is that a reference-style blower cooler is required in a case like this, such as these:
EVGA GTX 780
MSI GTX 770
As opposed to the open-air, multiple-fan design such as these:
MSI GAMING GTX 770 Twin Frozr
Gigabyte GTX 780 Windforce
So what it comes down to is looks, volume, and cooling. Apparently, it breaks down like this:
Blower-style reference
Louder
Blows hot air out the back of the case, not INTO the case
Slightly higher GPU temps
Looks kind of boring?
Open-air custom cooler
Quieter
Blows hot air INTO the case, raising all temps
Slightly lower GPU temps
Pretty colors?
I'll admit it, I really want an open-air card for the worst reason; I want a pretty red MSI Twin Frozr with the dragon on it when I open the case. The Titan-esque blower designs are simply boring, especially the
MSI GTX 770 with the sticker that looks straight out of the 2000's. I'm also worried about the "louder" blowers as the rumors say.
I understand the problems, though, in venting hot air back into a case that is already strained by other components and my have limited airflow.
So I'm here to ask it down to one simple question: how important is it REALLY that I have a blower-style cooler for the GPU in my small form factor case?
Thank you!