iBuyPower: Any Good?Follow

Ibuypower is decent, but they tend to use mid to low end components wherever they can get away with it recently except on their top end builds. You'll end up paying about $150 for labor which is fair, make sure you watch the power supply and motherboard choice, as recently thats been the area they have edged a bit lower than you want. The ibuypower motherboards are actually gigabit or asus boards usually, though again they tend to use a lower end board than I would generally pick for a build, but again that really varies by whatever tier you are looking at purchasing. They do still use the good stuff on their higher end builds.

If you are familiar with building your own computers though, and your only concern is cooling, I'd say build your own. If you buy a case such as the Cooler Master Haf X (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225) with it's very large 230mm fans, you will never ever have a cooling problem (or a noise problem since bigger fans are quieter) unless you decide to overclock substantially, and even then you could always add a water cooling kit.

I'd rather spend the extra $100 on a better video card than pay someone I don't trust to build my PC for me, but thats just me

Yeah, that one is one of the more pricy cases out there, but it's also one of the best ones. The way I look at it, is the case is the 1 piece of your computer that you will have the longest even if you regularly upgrade the internals, so you'll probably get at least 6 years of use out of it, and it's the first thing anyone sees, so it's probably worth spending a bit more if you plan on continually upgrading. The best case in existence in my opinion is the Cooler Master ATCS, which they discontinued, which is basically that, with a slide out removable motherboard tray.

There are plenty of other case options out there. The budget case would be a cooler master CM690 III once they are released for sale here in a week or two. That's got a 200mm intake, 2 120mm mounts on the top and a 120mm rear, plus space on the side panel and floor, and will run around $80. Thermaltake also makes decent cases, though some of them are more um, flashy than others. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133194 the overseer for example has good airflow and is only $120ish when it's in stock, or the Antec 1200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100

If you want a really good overview of all the current cases out there, go here: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=103&zenid=c6e8f56a606ffad4f86d2849f2f5bade they also offer case line sleeving services, which cost a bit but are worth it if internal looks are important in your computer builds.

If you can find one, a LIAN LI PC-A05NB would work. The pci express slots end up on top and upside down in that configuration though, so long term you might theoretically have trouble with video card fans, as most of them are designed with bearings optimized for a fan that is right side up. Not a huge issue as fans are replaceable, but one to watch for. Here's some pictures of one of them. http://www.overclock.net/t/709953/lian-li-pc-a05nb-water-cooling-need-advice

There are a couple other Lian Li cases that fit the bill, but they are rare and i'm not sure they are currently manufacturing one. The old crappy AeroCool Coolview SLVR also could accomodate a left hand motherboard, but that case was a pain in the *** to work with.

Another option would be something like the Silverstone Raven II or fortress II where the motherboard actually mounts 90 degrees up so the "back" ports are actually at the top of the case. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163213

or you could move your desk.

Hmmm.

I tried looking at those cases too, but they are incredibly rare/hard to find and even then, fairly pricey.

The problem is that I simply cannot move my desk; it is in the corner, with the wall being in front of me and on the left of me (we actually have two desks like this at my house).

I wonder though -- could a sort of duct be jury-rigged and attached to the case so that even a normal case could be put up somewhat close against the wall (maybe about 4-6 inches clearance)?

If the side-fan were an intake fan like that very first case you linked in this thread, you'd still get plenty of air, surely, especially if you rigged a case fan up on the other end of the duct?

Hmmm. Okay. I was a little worried about putting that side duct too close to the wall. So as long as it is 3-4 inches away from the wall, it'd be good, then. Well, that's good to know.

I know I sound like a newbie with all of these questions... I know how to put a computer together, but yet the last couple computers I've made run a little warmer than I'd like so I'm looking at better cases/cooling/etc.

We'll see how this new one goes, even when placed at the left side. Worst-case scenario I'll have to put it behind the monitor again or something, or think of something else.

Thanks for the advice and such, maybe I'll do some pics or some such when its all done.

Edited, Aug 15th 2013 1:30am by Lyrailis

Okay, I snapped a pic of what my setup looks like, right now:

http://i.imgur.com/Fkb3l4F.jpg

The side port on the current case (an Antec 300) does not have a fan installed. I meant to get one, but never got around to actually doing that. It has, I think a 120mm on top (or it might be 140, not sure), and two smaller ones in the front, and one in the back as you can see from the pic.

It is hard to see, but there is a wall along the left side; I've got surge protector and a 4-port switch right next to a DSL modem that is hanging on the wall (which you can't see from that angle).

To the right is my bed (which you can see) and along that wall is the room's only window (the room itself is 9x9 foot roughly, with a 2-foot square indent for a furnace directly behind the PoV).

During the summer, I usually have a room air conditioner in that window, though I take it out for fall/winter months so I can open the window some.

I was actually standing in the doorway to my room when I took the pic.

What'd be the best way to set the new computer up to get the best circulation/airflow with this setup?

I can move nearly anything on the desk to anywhere, except for the alarm clock (you can't see it, but it is directly behind the box of tissues) and I obviously want the monitor/keyboard where they are now.

EDIT: I measured it with a tape measure, if I were to allow for a 4-inch clearance and put the computer along the left side... the monitor would be an inch or so away from the computer roughly.

Edited, Aug 15th 2013 2:46pm by Lyrailis

Well, my room averages about 75-80F if I'm not running the AC, assuming it is about 70F outside. This is probably because with the AC in the window, there's nowhere for the air to go other than out the door (and, past me while I'm sweating; I can feel the heat coming off the electronics).

Anything hotter than that, I turn the AC on.

The AC is more than large enough for the room (in fact it is too strong; its a 5500BTU for a 9x9 foot room. I run it on Low and sometimes it gets uncomfortably cold in the room, but yet turning it off means the room gets too hot because of the computer and monitor putting out heat). Just using the fan (without running the compressor) setting doesn't seem to make any noticeable difference whatsoever.

I don't think this is an early Antec300; I can slide the HDDs out the back of the cage without messing with the faceplate, but yeah that'd sound annoying. I do want a whole 'nuther case -- I was looking into maybe selling this computer that I'm using now about a month or so after I've ran the new one enough to verify that everything works properly.

I don't really have a need for something like that, though.

Unless you mean that's what someone would buy this machine for.

Kinda overkill for something like that; the computer I'm using now while old is still rigged up as a gaming rig.

I'd go for a stronger power supply.

Hmm, didn't catch that, thanks!

The SSD thing isn't really a huge priority, and I can always add one of those later (especially when prices come down some lol).

I did, however, swap the 650 for a 660 and swapped the old PSU for a 600W Power Supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153166
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121660

As for the fan controller, we'll see how loud the fan is when running it off a molex; I could always add that later too. It helps that I use USB Headphones as my sound device; they are noise-cancelling and when I'm wearing them I can barely hear my current computer running, and not at all when I'm in a game. I don't even hear the Window AC when I'm playing a game lol.

A little pricey at $908 total, but still do-able.


Edited, Aug 19th 2013 7:14am by Lyrailis

Yeah, newegg is great! If only I could get them to ditch thier stupid item order quantity limits. If you get your order in before noon pacific standard time, they usually are able to ship it out same day except around holliday times.

Magic box teleporter?