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Component pickle. . .

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  • Components
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October 15, 2014 8:48:42 AM

Hey all!

So my wallet expanded a little and I'm in a pickle whether to get a sound card, cpu fan, case fans or should I save (which is least favorable)

Appreciation
PhatLloyd

More about : component pickle

October 15, 2014 9:11:25 AM

Looking at your specifications, I would save a little more and get a reputable power supply. You have a nice system, be a shame if that PSU destroyed it by blowing up. This is worth watching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezk9OA7aKOE
and here's another:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/26/exploding_compu...

Check these lists, and purchase something from Tier1, 2, 2A, or even 2B:
https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1804779/power-supp...
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October 15, 2014 9:29:40 AM

The Raidmax is not a "no name'' or ''brand X''
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October 15, 2014 9:51:09 AM

You could go for a Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo it is cheap and it performs very well. Although need to check if your case can support a 159mm high tower heatsink.

Is it this case?

http://c1.neweggimages.com/BizIntell/item/11/156/11-156...

If so, it will fit. Trying to find some heigh specification for the case.
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October 15, 2014 10:08:25 AM

PhatLloyd said:
Okay lucky for me the psu is a week old I'll trade it in for some thing better, I was recommended this http://www.takealot.com/corsair-550w-vs-series-power-su...

So I'll trade the psu, but now you can answer the question again! :) 

Good choice for a new psu, should last you a long time.

PhatLloyd said:
The Raidmax is not a "no name'' or ''brand X''

True, it isn't a 'no name' or brand x. But if you reviewed the two links I gave you then you probably noticed that Raidmax psu's are in the last tier and it is recommended you replace them immediately. The experience here on Tom's and in the real world is that their psu's are not well constructed, generally. You can research at Hardocp.com, realhardtechx.com and possibly johnnyguru.com for tests of their psu's and they generally are not good.
One of our Senior Moderators was able to find out that those psu's in the Corsair video were Raidmax.
Trade up to the Corsair, wise choice.

The original question: Your mobo has decent sound capability, especially if you are using headphones or computer speakers. If you mainly game on the PC you might never hear a difference with a sound card; If you listen to music most of the time then there might be a difference depending upon the quality of your speakers or headphones.
Your case, however, could use some more airflow. It looks like a really nice case, very similar to the Cooler Master HAF X, but I would invest in a couple fans for the front of the case: Mounted as intake they will push cool air into the case and the rear fan and top vent will exhaust it. If you can afford 3 fans, put the third on the top vent as an exhaust.
The increased airflow will benefit everything but especially your CPU.

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October 15, 2014 10:16:12 AM

@tetsuya that is the case yes.

@nostall I'll take the advise on the psu and yes I do mostly game, sound is coupled with the Logitech g230 headsets. And I also have 2 fans, 1 120mm that came with the case mounted at the top for exhaust and another 120mm intake mounted at the front. But I'mlooking to fix up the fans and get name branded. not "brand X''
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October 15, 2014 10:26:07 AM

tetsuya23 said:
You could go for a Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo it is cheap and it performs very well. Although need to check if your case can support a 159mm high tower heatsink.

Is it this case?

http://c1.neweggimages.com/BizIntell/item/11/156/11-156...

If so, it will fit. Trying to find some heigh specification for the case.


It will fit but I only find this at my online store (South Africa) Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO CPU Cooler. Will it work?

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October 15, 2014 1:09:32 PM

Yes it is okay though won't be as good cooling as the 212 but it will do.
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October 15, 2014 2:40:09 PM

TheMagicalWallaby said:
PhatLloyd said:
Okay lucky for me the psu is a week old I'll trade it in for some thing better, I was recommended this http://www.takealot.com/corsair-550w-vs-series-power-su...

So I'll trade the psu, but now you can answer the question again! :) 


That is also a bad PSU.


I just did some research on that PSU, and Magical has a point. That VS is certainly better then your Raidmax, but if you can spare a little more on top of your refund, consider this one: It will be sufficient for your system.
http://www.takealot.com/corsair-cx430-watt-power-supply...
One of the results I found on the VS stated it was o.k. for standard use/office use; that generally doesn't include gaming. The Corsair CX is not a top--of-the line unit either, but it is a good unit and I think within your budget. And a lot of gamers use it.

Re. case fans; In my experience namebrand doesn't always matter. Decent airflow at relatively quiet RPM and a ball-bearings for the fan's bearing surface are the three things I look for. If your inexpensive ones meet that criteria you are probably fine, and adding another 1 or 2 is a good thing.
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October 15, 2014 10:55:36 PM

My gpu requires a 450 watt minimum psu. . . So would a 650 watt be overkill?
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October 17, 2014 12:31:10 PM

As long as it is a reputable brand that would be just fine. I am a true believer in having more then enough power and that would give you some headroom if you ever decide add parts etc.
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October 17, 2014 12:40:25 PM

Also Phat check this link nostall mentioned :http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1804779/power-su...

you should try check the brands in Tier2 Class A. Although not as good as Tier 1 (+ Tier 1 tend to have a price premium), Most of the Tier 2 one's specially from XFX (Core edition) have drop down in price, and they are also good PSU's.

This is the List:

Tier two class A - Excellent quality units, if not, as good as the Tier one class of units. For people who have a limited budget, but still want a reliable unit for the price


Antec
EDGE series.
High Current Gamer series
Truepower Classic 750w

Cooler Master VS series

Be Quiet
Power zone series
Straight power E9 (Greater than 400 Watts)
Straight Power 10

Corsair
GS series (GS600 / GS800)
HX / HX v2 series
RM 450 / 550 / 650w models (Made by Channel Well Technology)
TX / TXM series

Enermax Platimax series (under 1250 Watts)
EVGA Supernova B2 series (may even reach 80+ Silver, according to Jonnyguru)
Firepower ZX series
High Power / Sirtec Astro GD 1200w (This unit can get very hot, though the Jap caps are rated at 150°C, but at maximum load)
Lepa G500
NZXT Hale82 Modular (650 and 750 Watt models)

Rosewill
Capstone series
Lightning series
Silent Night 500 Watts
Tachyon series

Seasonic
G series
S / M12 II Bronze 430 / 520 / 620w (Includes EVO series and S12G models)

Sentey Golden Steel Power 850 Watts
Silverstone SX600-G SFX

Thermaltake -
Toughpower DPS G 1050w
Toughpower series (greater than 600 Watts)

Thortech Thunderbolt plus (800 Watts only)

XFX
Pro series
Core series <------------------
TS Series
XTR series

Xigmatek
HC Series
MC Series

You can also check the rest and see what you can/able to buy. Just make sure they are in the series.

For example if you check Xigmatek, HC series and MC series as listed > basically they are the series of PSU they have build that made it to the Tier 2 Class A. Same for XFX's Core series and other series.
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