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Topic: The 'Build Me A PC' Thread (Read 853978 times)
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March
Terracotta Army
Posts: 501
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Looking for a Laptop for College for one of my kids... would be bonus if it could serve as an extra gaming platform in a pinch (i.e. not willing to get a pimped out gaming rig, but min specs would be helpful). Dell has a new gaming Inspiron with a 7th Gen i5, 8GM RAM (upto 32), and the GTX1050 for $799 (the upper bound of what we'd consider spending). http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/inspiron-15-7567-laptopThe reviews suggest they've hit that price by gutting the display specs back to green-screens, but I'm assuming we can just HDMI to an external display if its that bad (they are internet reviews, after all). Other systems out there? Or should I just punt and go back to basic $$300-400 system with integrated graphics and forget about the gaming bottlenecks at home. Thoughts?
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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« Last Edit: February 04, 2017, 09:23:35 AM by Trippy »
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March
Terracotta Army
Posts: 501
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Both, but possibly only leave in dorm (depending on where he goes).
Edit: thanks. So quick compare shows, improved processor and display, better storage combo, and lighter weight vs. slighly downgraded GPU - am I overlooking anything else? Are you weighting any of those things in particular over the dell?
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« Last Edit: February 04, 2017, 10:40:18 AM by March »
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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On paper the 1050m is faster than the 960m if that matters. The 1050m has the same number of cores as the 960m (640) but it has a higher base clock speed (1354 MHz vs 1096 MHz) and slightly higher memory bandwidth (112 GB/s vs 80 GB/s).
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Abagadro
Terracotta Army
Posts: 12227
Possibly the only user with more posts in the Den than PC/Console Gaming.
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I'll throw in 2 cents that I bought my 9 year old an MSI gaming rig (not top of the line, but had maybe a third tier gaming card in it) and he has banged it around pretty good and it is still going strong 3.5 years later. I had to replace the fan because it clicked (40 bucks and 5 minutes) but other than that it has been rock solid even traveling around to his friends' houses 3-5 times a week. Been fairly impressed with its durability.
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"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
-H.L. Mencken
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MisterNoisy
Terracotta Army
Posts: 1892
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Dell had a sale going on earlier in the week, so I finally picked up a GSync monitor since the price was tolerable. They delivered it today (crazy, since I ordered it yesterday), and I'm definitely a fan.
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XBL GT: Mister Noisy PSN: MisterNoisy Steam UID: MisterNoisy
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Jimbo
Terracotta Army
Posts: 1478
still drives a stick shift
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Hey did you all know that you can deduct the price of the laptop in your taxes for kids you have in school? It goes in under school supplies and tuition, up to $4000 can be deducted for each 4 years the kids are in college.
I'm going to upgrade his laptop, been looking at Sager, MSI, and Eluktronics.
I like the idea of building a small or medium sized computer I can drag around, the MSI Nightblade sounds great, but expensive...
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Merusk
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Posts: 27449
Badge Whore
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So long as they're dependents, you mean. I'm considering offloading my kid so they can get more grants. My income hurts them pretty badly and I can't contribute what the regulations assume I should be able to.
Then again, they can subtract it, too, so good for them.
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The past cannot be changed. The future is yet within your power.
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MisterNoisy
Terracotta Army
Posts: 1892
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Hey did you all know that you can deduct the price of the laptop in your taxes for kids you have in school? It goes in under school supplies and tuition, up to $4000 can be deducted for each 4 years the kids are in college.
I'm going to upgrade his laptop, been looking at Sager, MSI, and Eluktronics.
I like the idea of building a small or medium sized computer I can drag around, the MSI Nightblade sounds great, but expensive...
If you're okay with SFX PSUs and mITX, this case looks like it'd be fantastic for a super portable SFF build.
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XBL GT: Mister Noisy PSN: MisterNoisy Steam UID: MisterNoisy
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MahrinSkel
Terracotta Army
Posts: 10857
When she crossed over, she was just a ship. But when she came back... she was bullshit!
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So, I am looking for something that may not exist: A flat form factor PC case roughly the same dimensions as a 17 inch "gaming laptop", but without the screen and capable of holding a full sized video card. Roughly 17 x 12 x 2.5. Does such a thing exist?
I know I would have to use a 90 degree adapter for the PCIe port. Essentially, I want a luggable PC, but with upgradeable video, and not in the lunchbox or HTPC form factor but something that will fit in the bags I already have for my laptop. I never use my laptop's built in screen except from absolute necessity, I have a 25 inch ultrawide explicitly as the "travel version" (it fits in a standard carryon suitcase and the laptop's backpack, barely).
The alternative is to get a aluminum briefcase of the appropriate dimensions and go full DIY on it. But I am kind of hoping something like this can be found "off the shelf".
--Dave
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--Signature Unclear
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MisterNoisy
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Posts: 1892
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So, I am looking for something that may not exist: A flat form factor PC case roughly the same dimensions as a 17 inch "gaming laptop", but without the screen and capable of holding a full sized video card. Roughly 17 x 12 x 2.5. Does such a thing exist?
I know I would have to use a 90 degree adapter for the PCIe port. Essentially, I want a luggable PC, but with upgradeable video, and not in the lunchbox or HTPC form factor but something that will fit in the bags I already have for my laptop. I never use my laptop's built in screen except from absolute necessity, I have a 25 inch ultrawide explicitly as the "travel version" (it fits in a standard carryon suitcase and the laptop's backpack, barely).
The alternative is to get a aluminum briefcase of the appropriate dimensions and go full DIY on it. But I am kind of hoping something like this can be found "off the shelf".
--Dave
This case (mentioned earlier) is about as close to what you're looking for as I can find. You'll need a low-profile CPU cooler and a SFX PSU, but it'll take a long-ass GPU as long as you can stay away from 3.5" drives.
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« Last Edit: March 07, 2017, 04:27:22 PM by MisterNoisy »
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XBL GT: Mister Noisy PSN: MisterNoisy Steam UID: MisterNoisy
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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I've never seen a case as thin as a 17" laptop that can also fit a single-width slot video card.
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MahrinSkel
Terracotta Army
Posts: 10857
When she crossed over, she was just a ship. But when she came back... she was bullshit!
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I've never seen a case as thin as a 17" laptop that can also fit a single-width slot video card.
I can live with a little bit thicker (3") if it isn't any wider across the shortest dimension. Mostly I have been using the gaming laptop as a portable desktop anyway (moving it between locations that I have set up with ultrawide monitors), but being unable to upgrade the video is starting to suck. Moving a standard form factor PC between locations is a nonstarter. Being able to stuff it in a backpack and go in a couple of minutes is the critical factor. --Dave Edit: The obvious alternative is to give up on upgradeability and just get something like an Alpha, if I have to replace it every couple of years then keep the pain threshold under $1k. But I want to explore going full PC Master Race on it.
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« Last Edit: March 07, 2017, 04:40:49 PM by MahrinSkel »
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--Signature Unclear
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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schild
Administrator
Posts: 60345
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I want to build a computer dedicated solely to ripping and storing my CD collection.
Which means:
Small Case Optical Audio Built in Gigabit Ethernet (which I'm sure everything has now) Fast... cd reader Windows 10
I would rather buy something prefab than build it myself
I know nothing about buying small computers
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MahrinSkel
Terracotta Army
Posts: 10857
When she crossed over, she was just a ship. But when she came back... she was bullshit!
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Just about any HTPC will do that, or a NUC with a USB optical drive (most will have tos-link).
--Dave
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--Signature Unclear
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Sky
Terracotta Army
Posts: 32117
I love my TV an' hug my TV an' call it 'George'.
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Just use your computer and store it on your SAN.
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Rasix
Moderator
Posts: 15024
I am the harbinger of your doom!
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This isn't really computer related, but I can't think of a better place to put it. Anyone have recommendations on wireless headphones for use with a TV? Preferably over-ear. They don't have to be the best ever (I'm no audiophile), but I'd rather them not be cheap junk either.
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-Rasix
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MahrinSkel
Terracotta Army
Posts: 10857
When she crossed over, she was just a ship. But when she came back... she was bullshit!
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This isn't really computer related, but I can't think of a better place to put it. Anyone have recommendations on wireless headphones for use with a TV? Preferably over-ear. They don't have to be the best ever (I'm no audiophile), but I'd rather them not be cheap junk either.
I use these from Sennheiser, there's another model (the 135) for about twice the price that is digital, but as long as I make sure there's nothing electronic between me and the transmitter, I have no problems (sometimes some static if I am walking around). Digital wouldn't have the static interference issues (they'd just go dead if it wasn't getting through), but as I said, it hasn't been a problem at living room ranges for me. The charging cradle is a definite improvement on what I was using before. --Dave
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--Signature Unclear
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Cyrrex
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Posts: 10603
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I am not an audiophile...at least in the sense that I don't pretend to imagine sounds that probably aren't there and act all snobby about it. That said, I have an unhealthy addiction to all things audio/electronics related. The pound for pound most amazing headphones in the world are right here: https://www.amazon.com/August-Bluetooth-Headphones-Multipoint-Microphone/dp/B00F54Y6GU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491712521&sr=8-1&keywords=august+ep650+headphonesCons: They look a bit cheap The build quality itself is probably not top shelf If you are looking for subtle, nuanced, audiophile level stuff, look elsewhere The sound will bleed out a bit. A lot if you crank them up. You will have to buy two pairs once you discover how awesome they are, hence doubling the price They will ruin you for all other headphones of all types. Everything else I listen to sounds like shit. Pros: Despite cheapish build, I have had zero problems with them The bluetooth is both very reliable and has a great range You can fold them! OMG they are loud, and the sound stays clean at pain inducing levels The bass response is stupidly good. They will literally vibrate your skull if you crank them up. Super comfy Really long battery life An insane value I am sure you can get "better" headphones, depending on what's important to you, but these things are CRAZY.
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« Last Edit: April 08, 2017, 09:59:55 PM by Cyrrex »
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"...maybe if you cleaned the piss out of the sunny d bottles under your desks and returned em, you could upgrade you vid cards, fucken lusers.." - Grunk
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schild
Administrator
Posts: 60345
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And for $300 Bang & Olufsen just released the Beoplay H4.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Lucas
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3298
Further proof that Italians have suspect taste in games.
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So, decided to gift myself a little GTX 1080 Ti (probably the MSI Gaming X) . Along with it: - I'll switch my current 500w PSU for a Corsair 850w ; - Change the case: from my current CM Elite 130 to a midi tower, the Enermax Ostrog Lite Grey ; - Add a SSD (Samsung EVO 850 500GB) beside my current 1TB SSHD . Rest of the configuration is unchanged (might switch for an i7 in 2018): MSI Z97I Gaming 3 i5-4690k (cooled with a CM Seidon 120V) 16GB RAM (Corsair Vengeance pro 1866) Monitor is a 1440p, 144hz G-Sync Dell (TN panel). --- My GF will finally experience her intense Candy Crush sessions like never before, I can assure you that.
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« Last Edit: April 11, 2017, 01:59:22 PM by Lucas »
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" He's so impatient, it's like watching a teenager fuck a glorious older woman." - Ironwood on J.J. Abrams
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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So, decided to gift myself a little GTX 1080 Ti (probably the MSI Gaming X) . I got an MSI Gaming X GTX 1080* for myself recently -- very nice card. Nice and cool and mine, at least, doesn't have any coil whine* that I can hear. * Not Ti -- I still run at 1080p and don't plan on doing any VR anytime soon so didn't want to spend the extra for a Ti
** Your mileage may vary. Subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited by law
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Sky
Terracotta Army
Posts: 32117
I love my TV an' hug my TV an' call it 'George'.
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Getting a new macbook pro for work. Tired of running up and down 3 flights of stairs between the server room and my desk
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Shannow
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3703
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Is it worthwhile just upgrading my video card? My build is approaching 4 years old. Runs most things just fine but loads / frame rates are starting to suffer on newish games (the Division for example). Has the interface for vid cards changed? This was a PCI express 3.0 x 16.
Thinking this was maybe a good way to get some extra performance on the cheap. Feel free to tell me it won't make much of a difference without a ram/cpu upgrade. If it would what's a good card in the $120 range.
edit: Old card is a geforce GTX 650 Ti
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« Last Edit: April 13, 2017, 07:50:36 AM by Shannow »
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Someone liked something? Who the fuzzy fuck was this heretic? You don't come to this website and enjoy something. Fuck that. ~ The Walrus
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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What's your CPU?
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Shannow
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3703
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Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge Dual Core 3.3 Ghz
8 GB of ram
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Someone liked something? Who the fuzzy fuck was this heretic? You don't come to this website and enjoy something. Fuck that. ~ The Walrus
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SurfD
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4035
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In the same boat. Recently put together a new PC (few months ago or so) and have been running off of the Onboard Video, since i wanted to wait for new stuff hardware to come down the pipe (the latest batch of stuff from both camps was fresh off the presses at the time, and was going to wait for them to get a few iterations out before choosing one). Now i have reached the point where I can comfortably afford to get something, but I have no clue what the sweet spot is right now for hardware....
Pretty much everything seems to indicate I should probably go with a 1080 of some sort, but I have no clue what to get. Budget is prob 400 ish Canadian tops, hopefully looking for something I can get around 4 years out of, bonus points if it has 4k capability as I will likely be upgrading my monitor as my next item in the pipeline. (PC is an I5-6600k running 16 gig ram).
I am going to assume a 1080 TI is what I am looking for, but am open to other suggestions. Does the Radeon line have anything directly comparable, or are they warming the bench in this round of the GPU wars?
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Darwinism is the Gateway Science.
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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Still waiting on the new AMD Vega GPU cards. Release date is Q2 meaning end of June for limited availability.
For 4K gaming you will want a 1080 Ti but you still won't get a solid 60 FPS on most games at their highest settings so it's a tradeoff.
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Lucas
Terracotta Army
Posts: 3298
Further proof that Italians have suspect taste in games.
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So, yesterday I received my upgraded PC. Among other components (PSU, case and a 500gb Samsung EVO SSD) I got this baby: Still have to test it extensively, but yep, performance is as good as you can read everywhere and then some. Cranked Witcher 3 up to ultra settings: playing it smoothly at 2560x1440 with a 144hz G-Sync monitor is incredible. Same goes with DX:Mankind Divided (the in-game benchmark showed min FPS 56 - Average 90, max 113). I'm in love
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« Last Edit: May 20, 2017, 02:57:21 AM by Lucas »
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" He's so impatient, it's like watching a teenager fuck a glorious older woman." - Ironwood on J.J. Abrams
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Sky
Terracotta Army
Posts: 32117
I love my TV an' hug my TV an' call it 'George'.
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I bet you'd still get 10fps in my minecraft workshop.
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MahrinSkel
Terracotta Army
Posts: 10857
When she crossed over, she was just a ship. But when she came back... she was bullshit!
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So I am starting to get more serious about my 'luggable gaming rig' plan. I've settled on the Silverstone Raven 2 or Milo 8 cases (14x14x4 mini-ITX, Raven is prettier, Milo has a handle, otherwise identical), and I am leaning towards the Asrock Fatal1ty Z270 ITX board (7.1 audio, Thunderbolt, PCIe 3.0 x16, M.2 Ultra). I am torn between the 3.6GHz and 4.2GHz versions of an i7 7700 Kaby Lake (65 versus 95 watts, cooling fan space is...limited). I will probably put 32GB of ram (2x16) in it, and a Intel 600P 1TB M.2 SSD (1800 MB/sec reads). Drive it all with a Lian Li 750 PE modular SFX, and probably stick a 1060 GTX in it for starters. All in about $1500 for a gaming PC that would easily fit in a backpack, with a reasonable amount of future proofing. --Dave
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--Signature Unclear
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Trippy
Administrator
Posts: 23612
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The Raven case has an 120mm fan mount and explicitly says it supports liquid cooling (though it'll still be a tight fit apparently) in the product description and the manual.
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MahrinSkel
Terracotta Army
Posts: 10857
When she crossed over, she was just a ship. But when she came back... she was bullshit!
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The Raven case has an 120mm fan mount and explicitly says it supports liquid cooling (though it'll still be a tight fit apparently) in the product description and the manual.
I am a little worried about liquid cooling in a system that goes into a backpack for a long car ride every week or two. Maybe if I had any experience at all with water cooling, I could judge the risk a little better. Right now this all-copper Zalman is looking like the best low-profile air cooling option. --Dave
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--Signature Unclear
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