Why is there an F117 pic on this slide show?
Please allow me to introduce to you the reason why this full tower computer case exists.
This PC case was developed by Silverstone Raven to model after the F117(fighter plane), now retired in a plane Museum somewhere in Arizona or Nevada(whichever). This full tower case is the only one on the market I know thus far in design, that turns the motherboard at a 90degree angle to improve cooling. Since heat rises, it makes perfect sense to turn all components side up to allow heat to escape from the top instead of the rear like most PC cases do. This design was indeed a big improvement and a break through in traditional thinking.
Please allow me to introduce to you the reason why this full tower computer case exists.
This PC case was developed by Silverstone Raven to model after the F117(fighter plane), now retired in a plane Museum somewhere in Arizona or Nevada(whichever). This full tower case is the only one on the market I know thus far in design, that turns the motherboard at a 90degree angle to improve cooling. Since heat rises, it makes perfect sense to turn all components side up to allow heat to escape from the top instead of the rear like most PC cases do. This design was indeed a big improvement and a break through in traditional thinking.
MOtherboard and playing dress up
Choosing the board for this project was quite tricky.
There exist an endless supply of choices a builder can go with, depending on one's goal. When I decided on liquid cooling, I had no choice but to find what would be one of the best board out there to accomodate my vision. Post researching through multiple forums, I thought at that time EVGA should provide the right board and yes, that was money well spent; although a bit expensive, but it's worth every penny.
There were other choices like Rampage EXTreme and few others, but one of the main issues that concerned me back then was the volume of complaints about those boards with RAM slots issues and Graphic card slots not able to support large graphics cards. Fortunately in the process of deciding which board to take a chance with, EVGA came out with slim water colling graphic cards that solved the space problem. Those cards working with fans can be so thick, would only leave space measured in micro milimiters in between then when mounting multiple cards on the same borad. In addition, heat dissipation was also a concern.
This EVGA board will pretrty much handle anything you throw at it. The BIOS feature is easy to manage with Vdroop control, making overclocking simple and safe. In addition, dummy overclocking keeps beginers in check. I though that was an interesting feature to keep inexeprienced ones from frying the RAM channels from the CPU when twicking voltage. The board 3 way SLI is indeed a gamers's dream and hopefully soon, a pair of GTI 600's cards will make their way to this board for benchmarking and gaming. We'll see how they turn out.
EVGA
upgradable up to 24 G of RAM - Now using only 6G
ATX - 3way SLI
Fits my I7- 980X like a glove, 1366pins
3.3GHz - nice data path size for that time (2yrs ago).
2 yrs later (2012)- I7 3960X - 2011pins
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0376492
Back to subject!!!!
Nonetheless, no need for me to say how vital it is to map out the specs. That way, money will be spent wisely for what's needed instead of just putting parts together.
Choosing the board for this project was quite tricky.
There exist an endless supply of choices a builder can go with, depending on one's goal. When I decided on liquid cooling, I had no choice but to find what would be one of the best board out there to accomodate my vision. Post researching through multiple forums, I thought at that time EVGA should provide the right board and yes, that was money well spent; although a bit expensive, but it's worth every penny.
There were other choices like Rampage EXTreme and few others, but one of the main issues that concerned me back then was the volume of complaints about those boards with RAM slots issues and Graphic card slots not able to support large graphics cards. Fortunately in the process of deciding which board to take a chance with, EVGA came out with slim water colling graphic cards that solved the space problem. Those cards working with fans can be so thick, would only leave space measured in micro milimiters in between then when mounting multiple cards on the same borad. In addition, heat dissipation was also a concern.
This EVGA board will pretrty much handle anything you throw at it. The BIOS feature is easy to manage with Vdroop control, making overclocking simple and safe. In addition, dummy overclocking keeps beginers in check. I though that was an interesting feature to keep inexeprienced ones from frying the RAM channels from the CPU when twicking voltage. The board 3 way SLI is indeed a gamers's dream and hopefully soon, a pair of GTI 600's cards will make their way to this board for benchmarking and gaming. We'll see how they turn out.
EVGA
upgradable up to 24 G of RAM - Now using only 6G
ATX - 3way SLI
Fits my I7- 980X like a glove, 1366pins
3.3GHz - nice data path size for that time (2yrs ago).
2 yrs later (2012)- I7 3960X - 2011pins
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0376492
Back to subject!!!!
Nonetheless, no need for me to say how vital it is to map out the specs. That way, money will be spent wisely for what's needed instead of just putting parts together.
North & South Bridge water Block
This ATX EVGA board comes with its own North &
South bridge Heat sinks. One of the exiting aspect of this project was to
install the full board block (from EK water
blocks). This company cuts this particular board
block only for that EVGA mother board model, Fully nickel plated....NICE !!!!!!!
- again, money well spent.
South bridge Heat sinks. One of the exiting aspect of this project was to
install the full board block (from EK water
blocks). This company cuts this particular board
block only for that EVGA mother board model, Fully nickel plated....NICE !!!!!!!
- again, money well spent.
THERMAL PASTE...
Does it really matter??
Arctic Silver 5
http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm
This paste contains over 88% thermally conductive
filler by weight. In addition to micronized silver, it also
contains sub-micron zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and boron nitride particles.
These thermally-enhanced ceramic particles improve the compound's performance
and long-term stability. Although inexpensive to me, yet most would agree, money well spent!
What I love about this particular thermal paste is that it bonds the designated surfaces in order
efficiently diispate heat. With my personal experience with it, application is reasonably easy
as long as you have a definite technique.
filler by weight. In addition to micronized silver, it also
contains sub-micron zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and boron nitride particles.
These thermally-enhanced ceramic particles improve the compound's performance
and long-term stability. Although inexpensive to me, yet most would agree, money well spent!
What I love about this particular thermal paste is that it bonds the designated surfaces in order
efficiently diispate heat. With my personal experience with it, application is reasonably easy
as long as you have a definite technique.
Arctic MX-4
http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/cooling/thermal-compound/30/arctic-mx-4-4g-und-20g.html
The ARCTIC MX-4 is a metal-free and non-electrically conductive
compound that eliminates the risks of short circuit and provides protection to
your computer. Application is very easy as the consistency is just ideal for
application on chips.
Instead of using the silver5 on the board water block, I decided to use the MX-4 instead. In my opinion,
they both equally do the job and do not conduct electricity. The CPU socket only sits one chip where as
this full board block for this particular motherboard moidel cools off the North, south bridge and voltage
regulator all at the same time. Thertefore when this project started, a big concern with conducting electricity
came into play. Knowing the ingredients in those compounds was extremely important to me as this can short circuit
the board and possibly get electrocuted.
compound that eliminates the risks of short circuit and provides protection to
your computer. Application is very easy as the consistency is just ideal for
application on chips.
Instead of using the silver5 on the board water block, I decided to use the MX-4 instead. In my opinion,
they both equally do the job and do not conduct electricity. The CPU socket only sits one chip where as
this full board block for this particular motherboard moidel cools off the North, south bridge and voltage
regulator all at the same time. Thertefore when this project started, a big concern with conducting electricity
came into play. Knowing the ingredients in those compounds was extremely important to me as this can short circuit
the board and possibly get electrocuted.