Priorities when building a rig

[Flex]

So I am sure as many of you know, I build and change rigs more often than I change my socks!

There are a few things that I usually set as priority:

-Performance
-Cooling capability
-And probably most important, a sleek clean look with good cable management

When you build a rig, what is most important to you?

Here are just a few of my build over the years:

 

[Flex]

 

[Flex]

 

[czc]

I think a future priority will be to stop dust getting into the case as much as possible. Currently my heat sink is caked up with dust.

 

[Flex]

I think a future priority will be to stop dust getting into the case as much as possible. Currently my heat sink is caked up with dust.

What case do you have? And currently fan configuration and airflow?

 

[czc]

What case do you have? And currently fan configuration and airflow?

The default fans in the front and back and one on the heatsink a hyper 212+

I used to have one on the bottom side grill and one underneath the front drive bay.

 

[Flex]

View attachment 24916

The default fans in the front and back and one on the heatsink a hyper 212+

I used to have one on the bottom side grill and one underneath the front drive bay.

No Fans on top I presume? You can perhaps try adding some fans on low rpm on the side. Is it standing on the desk or floor?
Also has no dust filter in front, so will make it tricky.

I think the intake is much higher as the exhaust, so dust and air gets whirled around and then trapped. So only option you can try that I can see without hacking and slashing is the adding 2 side fans on low rpm

 

[B1nary]

you could also try buying a filter something like this for instance

https://www.wootware.co.za/lian-li-pt-af12-3b-120mm-black-washable-dust-filter.html

I try balance aesthetics and cooling, some of those builds are awful purdy btw

 

[HavocXphere]

Don't care about looks at all, so I optimise for a mix of performance and budget sweat spot. Where that lies is very much subjective.

Always wanted to build a case from scratch though. Like from sheet metal type thing (or plexi). That would be optimised for airflow rather than looks though.

 

[Flex]

you could also try buying a filter something like this for instance

https://www.wootware.co.za/lian-li-pt-af12-3b-120mm-black-washable-dust-filter.html

I try balance aesthetics and cooling, some of those builds are awful purdy btw

Yeah those filters might actually help quite a bit. But when a case is also as open as it is in the front, dust will still be a big factor unless the entire front has a filter as most cases have these days. But good idea yes!

Thank you very much

Don't care about looks at all, so I optimise for a mix of performance and budget sweat spot. Where that lies is very much subjective.

Always wanted to build a case from scratch though. Like from sheet metal type thing (or plexi). That would be optimised for airflow rather than looks though.

Yeah!! Or strip a case down to the bare frame and build around that! I have never worked with metal like that before, so not even sure where to start!

 

[Blazzok]

Like havoc said, the primary restriction is always budget. You start with a budget of whatever and then build around that. I usually end up going a bit over budget rather than under budget though.

So performance is the second thing I go for. I obviously also want my stuff to look pretty, so that's also a consideration I suppose.

My cable management is up to shit. I've tried to make it better but I fail horribly. I should perhaps, one day, just take everything apart and start over with the cable management attempt. /shrug
Luckily I have a HAF-X, so cooling, airflow and space is not a problem at all.

 

[Flex]

Like havoc said, the primary restriction is always budget. You start with a budget of whatever and then build around that. I usually end up going a bit over budget rather than under budget though.

So performance is the second thing I go for. I obviously also want my stuff to look pretty, so that's also a consideration I suppose.

My cable management is up to shit. I've tried to make it better but I fail horribly. I should perhaps, one day, just take everything apart and start over with the cable management attempt. /shrug
Luckily I have a HAF-X, so cooling, airflow and space is not a problem at all.

I also had a HAF and they were amazing yeah.
I am just so used to a PSU shroud. It makes everything so much easier and neater!

 

[czc]

Ok, so here is my PC.





You can see the dust.

 

[HavocXphere]

Yeah!! Or strip a case down to the bare frame and build around that! I have never worked with metal like that before, so not even sure where to start!

No idea either tbh. Joker had some really cool DIY threads.

The concept that fascinates me is:

-->Entire front of case is intake with large low RPM fans, ideally with filters.
-->Entire back is exit vents
-->All components aligned to obstruct that straight through airflow minimally. i.e. horizontally aligned
-->No pockets/odd shapes inside

Basically a wind tunnel.

As I understand it you can basically dump as much heat as you want in the case then since it gets flushed out immediately.

 

[HavocXphere]

Like havoc said, the primary restriction is always budget. You start with a budget of whatever and then build around that. I usually end up going a bit over budget rather than under budget though.

Yup. One caveat though - "budget" is a fluid concept.

When I was a student I had 12k to build a PC. That was the budget. (For the record 12k was a wicked machine back then)

No longer a student so now budget is essentially "whatever it takes to hit the bang/buck sweet-spot" rather than a number per se.

 

[CyberDemon]

For my new project, the case must meet all of these requirements(The components itself can be interchanged as needed):
- EATX
- Build quality(not flimsy stuff)
- Dust filters(not too restrictive). And easy access to dust filters.
- Front and top radiator support (at least 360 and 240)
- Easy cable management
- PSU shroud (preference and support for longer PSUs)
- Configurable drive cage
- Aesthetics (prefer the clean look like the NZXT S340 Eilte)
- Window (Of course )


For this particular build, budget is high

 

[Flex]

For my new project, the case must meet all of these requirements(The components itself can be interchanged as needed):
- EATX
- Build quality(not flimsy stuff)
- Dust filters(not too restrictive). And easy access to dust filters.
- Front and top radiator support (at least 360 and 240)
- Easy cable management
- PSU shroud (preference and support for longer PSUs)
- Configurable drive cage
- Aesthetics (prefer the clean look like the NZXT S340 Eilte)
- Window (Of course )


For this particular build, budget is high

Phanteks Evolv Entoo Tempered Glass sounds lots like what you are looking for

 

[CyberDemon]

Phanteks Evolv Entoo Tempered Glass sounds lots like what you are looking for

Ah, thanks

 

[Flex]

Ah, thanks

What are you planning to cool with all the rads btw?
In the pics in this psot, there is a buildd with Blue watercooling, that is the case I am talking about

 

[CyberDemon]

What are you planning to cool with all the rads btw?
In the pics in this psot, there is a buildd with Blue watercooling, that is the case I am talking about

Ah, cool. Not too sure about the graphics.But for now below.

Threadripper = https://smile.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Triple-Pressure-Cooling-CL-W108-PL12SW/dp/B0196LP24M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504527868&sr=8-1&keywords=thermaltake+360

Gfx = https://smile.amazon.com/EVGA-Hybrid-Waterblock-Cooler-400-HY-5188-B1/dp/B01IPVQUSG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504527911&sr=8-4&keywords=gtx+1080+hybrid