shokwaav

Distinguished
May 19, 2010
12
0
18,510
Hi, I'm wanting to build a new portable gaming PC with the new NZXT Vulcan case http://nzxt.com/new/products/crafted_series/vulcan .. however since it's m-ATX I'm not sure what X58 motherboards are good. I've seen reviews of the Asus Rampage II Gene but it doesn't have USB 3.0 and is a bit expensive so I'm open to other suggestions. :)

I'm looking to get these components
Intel Core i7 930
ATi Radeon HD5870
6GB DDR3 1333MHz Cosair(?)
40GB Intel (?) SSD
500GB Hard Drive
700W PSU
DVD Drive

I'm also looking for a cooling solution, perhaps the Cosair H50. However, I'm wondering whether I should take the extra step and get a fully fledged watercooling solution. On the other hand, the NZXT Vulcan might not fit a large watercooling solution, so I think that the H50 would be better. Any ideas on this? :sol:

EDIT: I would also like some cold cathode lighting.. but I have no idea what I need for it (e.g. connectors). Any tips?
 

cmcghee358

Distinguished
From the specs portion of your link: Motherboard: MICRO-ATX, ITX

So as long as the motherboard meets that form factor, as shown in the motherboard specs, it will fit.
 

cmcghee358

Distinguished
Ive used some Gigabyte 785G and ASUS 785G micro ATX motherboards. But as far as 790, or 870, 880 or 890, no sorry I dont have any experience with them. But from what I've seen Gigabyte and ASUS are pretty bad ass.
 

Crazy V

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2009
115
0
18,690
At the moment there are no X58 M/B that support USB 3 or SATA 6. I would suggest the EVGA X58 Micro SLI/Crossfire M/B $189.99 with Rebate.( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188051&cm_re=X58-_-13-188-051-_-Product ) There is also the MSI X58M LGA 1366 Intel X58 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard for $169.99 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130227&cm_re=X58-_-13-130-227-_-Product )

I own an EVGA Micro M/B and have no problems. I love this M/B!!!

The H50 should fit and work well in the Vulcan. You could also try the CoolIT SYSTEMS ECO-R120 Water Cooler ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835227006&cm_re=coolit_system-_-35-227-006-_-Product )

I would use these coolers in a push/pull setup with a set of Scythe GentleTyphoon for the fans( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185092&cm_re=gentletyphoon_120mm-_-35-185-092-_-Product ) to get the most out of them.

Also just for a suggestion 2X 5770's in crossfirer would equal a 5870.

Ram you could try this if you want Corsair: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145250 ) And if you are going to OC: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145242 )

SSD i would go with a OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227394 )

For the lighting try the LED's instead any of these will do: Logisys 12” -18 LED Super Bright Sunlight Stick ( http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=72_107 ) Less trouble keeping them working, they have external box's to mount and hook to a extra Molex connector right off your PSU.

Here is a photo of the Vulcan with an H50 installed:

7f96e48d.jpg


What PSU are you using?
XFX has a good warranty for the GPU(5870) My suggestion: XFX HD-587A-ZND9 Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB XXX Edition
( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150456&cm_re=5870-_-14-150-456-_-Product )

PSU: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012 ) Or CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 )

This is going by what you have posted. There are other options in other brand parts for you setup but i think this would be one sold build.

Good Luck with your build!!!
 

shokwaav

Distinguished
May 19, 2010
12
0
18,510
hi thx for the advice. i was just wondering tho wouldn't a 5870 be better than 2x 5770 because crossfire doesn't work so well in that many games. and should i save some money and get a 5850 instead?

and with the new rampage 3 gene announced maybe i should get that one instead? it has usb3 and sata6
 
G

Guest

Guest
The CPU cooler in that picture is not the H50. I just got the Vulcan case thinking the Corsair H50 would fit, and it does not. The H50 is 120mm and the Vulcan case only has room for a 90mm fan on the back vent. I'm going to try mounting the H50 radiator on one of the top fans wich are 120mm. The motherboard will decide how that plays out. I would like to know what the cooler in the photo is.
 

Crazy V

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2009
115
0
18,690

tazdirector

Distinguished
Jul 25, 2006
29
0
18,530
FYI,
I can confirm that the Corsair H50 DOES fit within the NZXT Vulcan case IF you remove the lower HDD drive cage and place the Radiator+Fan in the front 120mm slot.

It's a comfortable stretch to my i5-750 processor on my Gigabyte P55-UD4 motherboard.

Also, I'm running with 2x 5770s in Xfire, so longer cards may present an issue with the tubing pathway.

Pictures to come once I finish burning in the system.
 
Based on my experience as a builder of LANparty/SFF rigs i would say: just stick to air cooling and research lower profile air coolers :p In any case the CM GeminiIIS is very decent and if ok with non i7 solution - perhaps a compromise HD 5770CF vs HD 5870 i.e a single HD 5850 with a view to smack in another one if u want to?
Untitled-140.jpg

If u want SSD hit the Vertex LE/Agility2 / Vertex2 : these are on Sandforce based controllers
 

cmcghee358

Distinguished
Ordinarily I would agree as liquid cooling systems are a complete hassle and a genuine risk when trying to transport to and from LAN parties. In the case of the H50, it's all self containted within the case, using steel braded tubing that requires no maintenance at all whatsoever.

So, in my opinion, the H50 falls more in line with air coolers when it comes to portability and maintenance. Meaning for LAN parties, I think it's perfectly fine.
 

GamerOnABudget

Distinguished
Jun 22, 2010
38
0
18,530
Has anyone been able to mount the H50 to one of the top 120 mm exhaust fans? I know that this would cause air inside the case to be used to cool the CPU, but from what I've read this doesn't seem too bad.
 

Crazy V

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2009
115
0
18,690


It will not fit due to not enough distance between the board and the top of the case. Maybe with some really slim fans but i don't suggest them as most fans of this size do not produce enough static pressure or even cfm for the closely spaced fins on the corsair unit. Your best bet would be this unit http://www.coolitsystems.com/index.php/en/eco-c92.html / http://shopping.coolitsystems.com/ [...] =A&id=2205 with a lower watt AMD or Intel CPU.

I have attached some pics of a build i just finished for reference:
(Please excuse the pic's they were taken from my phone)

27adeee1.jpg


606b2c06.jpg


689c9645.jpg


afdc02ca.jpg


e243ae70.jpg


a3c4e72d.jpg


f28d4bce.jpg


I'm currently checking on the ability of this 92mm Coolit unit cooling the OC'd AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Clocked at 3.8GHz.

To lock the current cooler on to the M/B i had to use a long screw driver to push the top latch into the lock position threw the front drive bays. NOT FUN!!!

If you want a better picture of the space let me know and i will take some.
 

GamerOnABudget

Distinguished
Jun 22, 2010
38
0
18,530
Crazy V, what is your current CPU fan? Does it block any of your ram slots? Also, are those the stock case fans or did you swap them out with different ones?
 

Crazy V

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2009
115
0
18,690


1. Scythe Big Shuriken SCBSK-1000 120mm CPU Cooler ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185129 )
w/Lighted stock NZXT case fan.

2. It is tight and it does block the closest ram slot. And as stated in the last post it is a tight fit and a pain to install the cooler because of the limited space between the top 120mm fans and the top of the board.

3. The case comes with one lighted 120mm that i used for the CPU cooler & 2 Non-lighted 120mm case fans.
I picked up 1 more 120mm NZXT case fan non-led, The rear 92mm NZXT fan & The 200mm NZXT door fan. (Note: Only the NZXT 200mm will fit the stock mounting points on this case other brands do not fit.)
 

GamerOnABudget

Distinguished
Jun 22, 2010
38
0
18,530


Thanks for the info. You don't happen to know any good CPU coolers that would fit, allow for medium OCing, and not be too much of a hassle? I have drawn up everything for a build in a Vulcan except for a non stock CPU cooler, and I'm having some real trouble finding something that will work well.
 

Crazy V

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2009
115
0
18,690
Depending on the cpu try the 92mm coolit unit posted above it is said to cool a i7 930 at a low over-clock. Otherwise stock sinks and if you want something better not much bigger then stock. What cpu are you going with?

This would fit or something around this size: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 92mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

In the end i think a 92mm Coolit unit would be your best bet with this case and still have room to move.
 

GamerOnABudget

Distinguished
Jun 22, 2010
38
0
18,530
I was thinking of going with the Phenom II X4 955. Originally I was thinking about i5 750 but thought that the 995's bargain price and the AM3 socket's potential were enough to jump to AMD.

Thanks for the suggested cooler. Do you happen to have any more?
 

Crazy V

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2009
115
0
18,690
You could go with any of the bigger coolers like the Thermalright true if you do not use the side 200mm fan i think. I would get the lower wattage 955 if possible. I will measure the distance tomorrow for the cpu coolers max size in height.
 

GamerOnABudget

Distinguished
Jun 22, 2010
38
0
18,530


I appreciate that you're going to get the measurements. I read online that with the fan/motherboard height factored in, the clearance is about 140mm but it will be good to know for sure.

By the lower wattage 955 do you mean the 945? What does this lower wattage buy me? I have not overclocked before and I have not yet begun research on how it works, I just know that I want to be able to do it with my build.