New PC build, advice & recommendations welcome!

[ponder]

just come sit on my back so I can reach

 

[HideInLight]

So I was asked nicely by a bastid to just update my build, as it's now complete... well, for now in any case.

MoBo - R 950 - ASRock Z97 Anniversary - Carbonite
CPU - R 2 200 - Intel Core i7 4790 - Carbonite
HSF - R 217 Hyper TX3 CPU Cooler - CoolerMaster - Takealot (because cpu doesn't come with one)
GPU - R 4 899 - Galax GTX 970 from Rebeltech
RAM - R 2 010 - Kingston HyperX Genesis, 16GB Kit, DDR3-1866, CL11, Black from Rebeltech
Case - R 681 - Takealot
PSU - R 0 - Already have this
SSD - R 1 400 - Crucial 256GB SSD - New from Carbonite
HDD - R 500 - 1TB Seagate 7200rpm - Carbonite

/glares @ponder

Good bargain on the mobo, also opens up GTX970 sli if you end up having too much cash to waste and make everyone around you even more jealous. That and your two front USB3 ports of your case would of gone to waste with the previous motherboard.

 

[ponder]

I got a CM Silencio 352 case but in retrospect I should have gone for the Corsair Carbide 200R, more space, better cable management. The CM get's a bit hot, an additional intake & exhaust fan would probably help/

Just an update, I solved the heat issue by simply rotating the PSU 180 degrees so it vents out the warmer case air.

Problem is the GPU dumps all it's hot air towards the base of the case, if you stick your hand in there you can feel the difference below & above the GPU. Heat rises so it just feeds back into the GPU. The PSU is now venting that heat at the bottom of the case and the heat coming out of there is warmish but not hot. Previously the GPU would go to above 70C with the side panel on, with the side panel off it was 60C and now it's about the same with the panel on again.

I'm also gonna move the rear case fan to the front so I have two intake fans and replace that one with another 120mm fan I have which is a bit noisy as it has higher rpm so I'm gonna figure out a resistor value for it and wire it up to get about 1500rpm or so to reduce the noise.

 

[HideInLight]

Just an update, I solved the heat issue by simply rotating the PSU 180 degrees so it vents out the warmer case air.

Problem is the GPU dumps all it's hot air towards the base of the case, if you stick your hand in there you can feel the difference below & above the GPU. Heat rises so it just feeds back into the GPU. The PSU is now venting that heat at the bottom of the case and the heat coming out of there is warmish but not hot. Previously the GPU would go to above 70C with the side panel on, with the side panel off it was 60C and now it's about the same with the panel on again.

I'm also gonna move the rear case fan to the front so I have two intake fans and replace that one with another 120mm fan I have which is a bit noisy as it has higher rpm so I'm gonna figure out a resistor value for it and wire it up to get about 1500rpm or so to reduce the noise.

Bottom seated PSU? Think I had the same problem + results.

 

[ponder]

Bottom seated PSU? Think I had the same problem + results.

Yes, bottom mounted PSU. Oh I forgot to mention that drawing in air from the bottom also sucks in a lot of dust, the filter was full of crap.

People say you should isolate heat sources but I don't give a crap, if you think about it a top mounted PSU will suck in a lot more heat due to hot air rising and they have been fine since yonks. PSU has a 5yr warranty so I'm not to concerned if it runs a wee bit hotter.

Only downside is if you should drop a screw in there while it's on but I always switch off before poking around.