Advice on a new rig

[Yegolev]

I don't know what modular cabling is but that 620W looks very nice.  Didn't want to drop $109 on it, so I will have to think.

[NiX]

Modular cabling = removable cables. Depending on who you talk to, this can be great or absolutely terrible.

[Yegolev]

I was hoping it was mis-named because I don't see the value in detaching power cables.

[Engels]

The inherent value is to have a neat case inside, without extra cables stuffed up inside some hole in your case since you don't need them. This is valuable if you run high-heat GPUs, multiple hard drives, etc, which bring up the internal heat in your box.

[Yegolev]

Spoilered, for the children.

[SnakeCharmer]

What the hell is THAT?

[schild]

Spaghetti Monster.

[Segoris]

run high-heat GPUs

Such as the ATI 4870.

Edit: Inserting spoiler picture of modular cabling in use, using the 620w Corsair PSU to compare to that pic of a pile of wires and some metal surrounding it earlier

[SnakeCharmer]

That's nice and clean looking.  I was quite pleased with my Antec 900 case set up, although I'd like a bit more room.  And I could do without the blue LED's, but meh, what are ya gonna do?

[Engels]

Mine uses a modular too:

[Sky]

Mine's not modular, but with the p180 there's plenty of room to stash them along the side (no case windows).

[NiX]

You all overclocking or really don't trust OEM fans?

[rattran]

Oem fans tend to be weak and loud. And some people really hate Intel's current retention mechanism.

I overclock my game machine, and run the server close to silent, so both use alternate heatsink fans.

[SnakeCharmer]

Mine's not modular, but with the p180 there's plenty of room to stash them along the side (no case windows).

That is one massive heatsink.  Brand/model? 

I'm still in need of a better fan/hs and have finally convinced myself to not be so damn lazy and pull my case apart to put it in.

[Evil Elvis]

It kinda looks like a Scythe Ninja or Scythe Ninja Mini.  Hard to tell from that angle.

[Lantyssa]

Am I going to have to break out my fanfic again?  That case still scares me.

[Engels]

You all overclocking or really don't trust OEM fans?

I don't OC, but during the summer months, since I don't have AC, the temp in there gets kinda hot without good circulation and the CPU inches towards the 50s with a OEM heatsink. The heatsinks with the 120mm fans strapped to a side also help shove the air our as much as keep the CPU cool. Its a twofer for me. The rest of the year, keeping the room temp ~70 isn't problematic, so the heatsink isn't strictly necessary.

[Sky]

It kinda looks like a Scythe Ninja

A winnar is yuo!

Nix, OEM CPUs don't come with stock fans.

[Yegolev]

Engels, which case do you have?  I like your internal drive cage.

[Yegolev]

Am I going to have to break out my fanfic again?  That case still scares me.

Do what you want. I can upload a pic of the other side, which features the rest of the power cables and includes the short which allows the second PSU to run without being plugged to a mobo.  Say what you will, it works great and I can reach all of the organs with minimal effort.  Example: note the SATA cable hanging out the side, which is for Guest Disks.  They sit on the floor while being used.

[Engels]

Engels, which case do you have?  I like your internal drive cage.

Its this Lian Li PC-B25B case. Its pretty, but the real reason I got it was that it had a bunch of features that are hard to get in any one particular case. Low noise, 3 120mm fans, ease of access (although that turned out to be only marginally true for this model), high capacity drive bay, and some other stuff that I can't remember right now.

[Salamok]

not a modular power supply but zip ties are pretty cheap.

[Yegolev]

I have a fistful of zip ties but I am saving them for when civilization implodes.

ease of access (although that turned out to be only marginally true for this model)

I was looking at that thinking "man, you can get to most everything", so what are your particular gripes?  A case, to me, is something that has to be just right and I don't want to buy one without trying it first... which naturally keeps me from buying one even though I need one.  I also really like having two PSU and that sort of thing is hard to find.

[Engels]

Ya, I'm not sure about the dual PSU. The case is actually a mid-sized tower rather than a full, so I don't think that'll work. The ease of access issue is that although you can remove the back panel and can then put many wires on the back part of the motherboard tray, the space is rather tight, and I had to do some serious wrestling getting the back panel back ON after I had placed the cables where I needed them to go. Now, that said, the case is clearly designed so you CAN do that; the back of the motherboard tray even has a handy clip for you to slip the PSU/drive cables under so that you don't have to do some wierd 'hold them in place while slamming the back panel back on' manouver, but that's the intent. Getting your PSU cables, your hard drive cables, your IDE cables and your godknowswhatelse cables to all glide seamlessly across the back of the motherboard isn't gonna happen without some seriously planning, which I have little patience for.

[rattran]

The coolermaster HAF has spots for 2 psu, so you could mount one above and one below the mobo.

[Engels]

That is a seriously awsomage case. Here's a pretty informative review

[Yegolev]

Ya, I'm not sure about the dual PSU. The case is actually a mid-sized tower rather than a full, so I don't think that'll work. The ease of access issue is that although you can remove the back panel and can then put many wires on the back part of the motherboard tray, the space is rather tight, and I had to do some serious wrestling getting the back panel back ON after I had placed the cables where I needed them to go. Now, that said, the case is clearly designed so you CAN do that; the back of the motherboard tray even has a handy clip for you to slip the PSU/drive cables under so that you don't have to do some wierd 'hold them in place while slamming the back panel back on' manouver, but that's the intent. Getting your PSU cables, your hard drive cables, your IDE cables and your godknowswhatelse cables to all glide seamlessly across the back of the motherboard isn't gonna happen without some seriously planning, which I have little patience for.

Good lord!  That actually seems awesome because I can dig an easy-to-remove mobo.  I would not tuck wires back there, that's dumb.  Or maybe I am dumb, but there you are.  It's easy enough to keep the terminators out of the fan blades.

Your Lian Li looks good, and I like how the HAF 932 makes the mobo look like a postage stamp.  Can't decide.  Fortunately, I cannot afford one at this time.

Now that I have set up a machine with two PSU, I don't have quite the same nerd-on for doing it again.  My main is a 700W jobber, after all.

[rattran]

I really like my HAF, it has enough space behind the motherboard to fit even thick cables. But it is huge. And heavy.  Not quite as big as the Cosmos 1000 it replaced, but close.
My only complaint is that having the power button on top means it sometimes get trodden by a cat, and switches the system off.

[NiX]

My only complaint is that having the power button on top means it sometimes get trodden by a cat, and switches the system off.

Problem solved!

[Xerapis]

Give the cat new toys to play with that it will inevitably end up hiding in your shoes or bed?

[Mrbloodworth]

My only complaint is that having the power button on top means it sometimes get trodden by a cat, and switches the system off.

Problem solved!

You don't have cats do you............

[Sky]

There are some cheapass swords on that site.

Also, those caltrops would definitely end up in your bed. My bed always surprises me with squeaky mice when I get in it. And then Bart comes flying out of nowhere to "protect" me. Or gnaw on my foot.

[NiX]

You don't have cats do you............

I have a cat, but he doesn't walk on anything he isn't supposed to.

[Trippy]

You don't have cats do you............

I have a cat, but he doesn't walk on anything he isn't supposed to.

Or so he lets you believe.

[Yegolev]

I have a cat, but he doesn't walk on anything he isn't supposed to.

A cat has you.