UFO-2 "Cube" vs CM Stacker 830?

[krille]

Hey! I'm looking into going WC this Christmas. My very first decision will be - what case?

I was thinking of either the MM UFO-2 (cube-like chassis) or the "upcoming" CM Stacker 830 (looks like a space shuttle to me). Which would be the ultimate for WC? I know the UFO-2 has native support for triple rads.

Cooler Master Stacker 830




Mountain Mods' UFO-2

Linky to big pic

0. Note: When I say Yx120mm, I mean Y 120mm on each side 2x120mm means a total of 2 120mm on each side = 4 120 mm. Not sure if this goes for the "monster rad though". Could anyone help me out here?


1a. However, the 830 should have native support (well, sort of) for a double heater-core, right?

1b. Perhaps it (830) would even have native support for that super mega rad (can't remember what it's called) with something like 4x120mm fans on a single rad (in 2x2 config). I think you know what I'm talking about, that monster rad (custom made by Weapon I think, the WC guru)?


2a. I want my WC setup to be quiet, what rad "type" should I look into? Triple Rad (what kind btw? 3x120mm? model? manufacturer?)? Double heater-core (2x120mm)? "Monster" rad (4x120mm)? Or something totally different?

2b. Any other thoughts on how to make a quiet, yet good, WC setup?


3. If you'd like to recommend a "3rd party" case or just some other case, just shoot. Or if there's anything else I should know.

Thanks very much!

PS. I will probably ask some more questions when I can think of them (maybe in new threads), but, I'd love if you could help me out on these first. Thanks!

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

UFO hands down in my opinion. if you want quiet, you want a PA120.3, which natively fits on the UFO.

[wildc4rd]

The UFO certainly makes RAD placement easy.

[krille]

4a. You think the UFO then?

4b. So, triple rads are the quietest options hands down? Much quieter than Double Heatercore and that Weapon's "Monster", or?

4c. AFAIK there are many different triple rads out there, such as Black Ice Xtreme and Black Ice Pro. Which one am I looking for? Perhaps different brand completely?

Thanks!

[moonlightcheese]

4a. You think the UFO then?

4b. So, triple rads are the quietest options hands down? Much quieter than Double Heatercore and that Weapon's "Monster", or?

4c. AFAIK there are many different triple rads out there, such as Black Ice Xtreme and Black Ice Pro. Which one am I looking for? Perhaps different brand completely?

Thanks!

4a. i like the Stacker 830 for the fact that it's much more portable than the MM case, in the event that you should ever need to take the computer somewhere you know you can but... rad mounting on the MM is MUCH better (obviously) and for that reason, i'd choose the MM case since the surface area you can get on the rads in that case is daym good.

4b. "quietest"? the rad doesn't produce noise... the fans on the rads produce that noise. depends on the fans you want. if you have one panaflo on a single BIX then you'll be incredibly loud but 3 Nexus silent fans on a triple BIP will be near silent.

4c. they are referring to the Thermochill PA120.3 which is easily the best performing radiator, especially for silent setups (i just ordered a 120.1 myself). if you are going for silence you will see a great benefit to using the PA series radiator than any other. with high flow fans the performance gap closes but the PA series still performs better.

HTH

[krille]

4a. I don't think I'd ever bring a WC setup to lan parties anyway... So another for the Cube then?

4b. Of course, I chose my words poorly. This is what I really meant:
Anyway, first of all, I was thinking if you go, say, triple rad, you want three fans front and three fans back (in a push-n-pull config). Correct?
Now, there are certain RADs which require really "noisy" fans (high-speed, high-flow, or something... anyway they produce lots of noise) to be of any good at all, while other are moderately efficient all the way. So, I was thinking, I want low-noise fans (probably six in a push-pull, so they'll have to be low-speed and low-cfm) so which rad type would be best for this config?

4c. moonlightcheese you seem to suggest the Thermalchill PA120.3, I've heard lots of good stuff before about the 120.3. So this is the one I want for my quiet purposes?

Excellent job so far everyone on the exquisite answers!

[moonlightcheese]

4b. a push-pull on the PA series rads isn't really necessary and will yeild very little benefit. you'd be better off using only three fans and enjoying the silence. here's sort of a quick and dirty list for rads that perform well with low CFM silent fans:

1)PA series
2)Black Ice Pro (or any single pass rad)
3)2-302 Heatercore (with shroud - more surface area than BIX)
4)Black Ice Xtreme

this is just some crap i made up off the top of my head but afaik it should hold true. there's no testing to back it up but you get the general idea. basically if you can't afford the PA series then the BIP is your next best bet for silence. and again, push pull will only produce more noise and little to no tangible benefit. 3 fans is sufficient. HTH.

[krille]

I'm not really on a budget, so don't worry.

4b) Good list! If the PA120.3 is the best, money won't be an issue. Just need to know where I can get it.

4d) So, if a six fan push-pull config is just unnecessarily loud, then would a 3xPull or 3xPush be favorable? Also, aren't there supposed to be some special, extra good fan shrouds for the Thermochills?

[b|gf|sh]

U2-UFO any day...

[krille]

U2-UFO any day...

lol ... you're right, my spelling sux

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

4d) 3x push for PA series rads according to cathar.

[k0nsl]

Just need to know where I can get it.

You can get the PA120.3 directly from www.thermochill.com or from www.vcore.dk

-k0nsl

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

dangerden has them now i believe

[krille]

Sounds excellent, all above mentioned places has it, just excellent!

4e) Any suggestions on fans while we're at it? About what CFM would be recommended for the PA120.3 with 3 120mm (25mm thick I assume? don't need 36mm for the PA120.3 I hope?) in push config?
I was wondering, is it good to order one of them fan bundles from MountainMods while ordering the UFO-2? Such as the CM UV Blue fan kit (42.73 CFM, 22 dba)? Or should I get fans some place else? What fan is the most efficient per noise-level so to speak (best for quiet setup)?
Btw, I read in one of Maxxxracer's formidable WC stickies, that Papst (25mm thick) fans were supposed to be good? Are those the best?
Anything else about fans, the PA120.3 rad and watercooling?

Thanks!

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

probably the best fans for airflow to noise are the aluminum ones that nikhsub uses, but i know very little about those.
but yeah, you only need 25mm thick fans for PA rads

[moonlightcheese]

for a noiseless setup i like Nexus fans (available at "jab-tech). jabtech has a huge selection of fans and you'll find one that suits your needs. personally i have 2 Nexus 120mm, 1 Nexus 80mm and one CM Silenx 120mm in the case. almost noiseless. 30dBa is about all i like in a fan but it's up to you.

[wildc4rd]

I have the Akasa Blue LED fans in front of mine, running at 7 volts, they are just about inaudible (The LED's are wired to a 12 volt molex seperately).

[krille]

I have the Akasa Blue LED fans in front of mine, running at 7 volts, they are just about inaudible (The LED's are wired to a 12 volt molex seperately).

Is that a Mountain Mods cube you've got there? With WC? What do you think of it yourself?

Blue sure looks good in a cube. Green would probably be sweet too. Hmm... Tell me, in the long run, don't you get tired of the flashy leds and stuff? Wishing for a dull, black, boring borg cube? Or are the LEDs really that fun?

[wildc4rd]

If I am honest, the fans are all off at home most of the time, a breeze over the HDD's, the RAM, and the NB/Mosfet sink is all it needs, the PA's run my CPU and GPU with decent enough temps when passive. Looks great for Lans though, lol.

[krille]

If I am honest, the fans are all off at home most of the time, a breeze over the HDD's, the RAM, and the NB/Mosfet sink is all it needs, the PA's run my CPU and GPU with decent enough temps when passive. Looks great for Lans though, lol.

lol? You running the system passive? How many PAs do you have? I was thinking of a single PA120.3, but if more of them can make my system passive... wow. Please, tell me more.

[wildc4rd]

Running Passive, a PA120.3 on the CPU (X2 @ 2750) keeps it 18 degrees or so over ambient under load, and a PA120.1 keeps both GPU's (7800GTX's @ 610 core in SLi with Maze4's) at 30 or so over ambient. I do tend to start the fans on the 120.1 when gaming though, as its not a huge rad for the 2 cards.

[krille]

There is no fitting a second PA120.3 or a PA120.2 in the case, instead of the PA120.1? So you're running two different loops btw?

[wildc4rd]

Yes, running 2 seperate loops. I could probably fit a larger second rad somewhere, but the 120.3 and 120.1 fit perfectly in the front of the case with no modification. The 120.1 copes fine with the 2 cards under load anyway once the fans are spining, and runs passive unless I am gaming/benching.

[krille]

On second thought, would I be able to bring the cube (MM U2-UFO) to lan parties?

Why would the Stacker 830 be much more portable and the U2-UFO be much less portable? I mean, currently I have the Stacker 800, which weighs a ton with its all steel design, namely some 14.7 kgs. True, the 810 weighs much less, actually only 10 kgs with its aluminium design, but the 830, despite an aluminium design here too, weighs 14.19 kgs (this data wasn't on CM's site, so click for source), which is just slightly less than what I have now.

Now, the U2-UFO (with its aluminium design) weighs in at "only" 15 lbs. (~6.8 kg, less than 7 kg which is less than half of the 830's weight!). So why would it be less portable, when it actually weighs less? I agree, 18"^3 is big, but it ain't THAT big (or is it?).

A U2-UFO would look really cool on a lan party too.

Btw, how much weighs WC equipment? And would you drain it for a lan party and then fill it again when you're there? Or how is transporting a WC system usually done?

Thanks a ton (pun!)

4a. i like the Stacker 830 for the fact that it's much more portable than the MM case, in the event that you should ever need to take the computer somewhere you know you can but... rad mounting on the MM is MUCH better (obviously) and for that reason, i'd choose the MM case since the surface area you can get on the rads in that case is daym good.

[Jupiler]

If I take my rig at a LAN party, I never drain the system before leaving.
I always make sure the case is put straight and firmly in my car, so it can't move or fall on it's side.


I don't like the 830 at all, I find it fugly. I'd go for the UFO.