Question (New Post) New PC Build Recommendations? / (Old Post)GPU Upgrade Recommendations?

[MajorPager]

Please tell me that the GeForce RTX 3070 is actually the right choice now.

 

[MajorPager]

Anyway, how would you guy's rate my case that I picked out? Ignore the parts already in it, I haven't gotten to taking them out. Also, I apologize for the bad picture quality, my phone isn't the greatest at taking good photos.

 

[Unolocogringo]

I have one of those in use. But modified.
The rear fan mount needs to be cut out, so air can move through it.
In the front I cut a 120mm hole under the grill area. so a slim 120 would fit there. The grill is press fit so it is removable to insert screws.
Removed lower three 51/4 covers and mounted a 140mm there with small modifications.
And I left off the PCI slot covers for exhaust air.
She now holds a prime x570,R5 3600, 3060ti, 16gig 3600 cas 16, 256g m.2, Superflower leadex 3 850w.

 

[Aeacus]

Well then, what graphics card should I get that's powerful enough and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Please tell me that the GeForce RTX 3070 is actually the right choice now.

RTX 3070 is good GPU. Can handle 1080p, 1440p (2K) and 4K.

Also, if I were to upgrade the CPU, how in the world would I do it? I've never done it before and I would feel really on edge if I were to do it.

Easiest is to watch video guide.

Found this, which is short, has nice background music, no talking and showcases installing LGA1700 CPU + it's CPU cooler and it also shows how to uninstall the bundled CPU cooler and taking out the CPU;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMf9oIDsGes


Do note that CPU coolers, some of them, come with pre-applied thermal paste. This is also showcased in the video. If CPU cooler doesn't come with pre-applied thermal paste, you need to squeeze small pea size in the middle of the CPU IHS. That too is showcased in the video. All-in-all, above video is great and very well made by MSI. (MSI is my personal preference regarding MoBos, GPUs and monitors.)

Anyway, how would you guy's rate my case that I picked out?

Are you trying to build sleeper PC? Meaning high-end hardware inside otherwise bland looking PC case. Or perhaps something along the retro vibes? By using PC case from late 90's, early 2000's.

Sleeper PC and retro vibes aside, the PC case is a terrible one. Since it has almost no fan mounts. Only front 92mm (120mm?) and rear 92mm (120mm?). Also, it has top mounted PSU, whereby all the hot air inside the PC case, is fed through the PSU as well, heating up the PSU even more. On top of that, cable management is non-existant, since there is 0 room behind MoBo tray, where to route the cables. You'd be seeing ratsnest of cables, which hinder the little airflow even more.

Regarding PC cases, i suggest getting modern PC case that at least has 4 case fan mounts. Preferably: front intake, bottom intake, top exhaust, rear exhaust. But PC cases with no bottom intake do as well, as long as you can install 2-3 top exhaust fans.

Here's a side image of a modern PC, well built with proper cable management and excellent airflow. Also with some enthusiast computing niche parts (e.g custom sleeved cables).
Thoughts about it?

 

[MajorPager]

Are you trying to build sleeper PC?

Not necessarily, its just the biggest case I have on hand.

Also, it has top mounted PSU, whereby all the hot air inside the PC case, is fed through the PSU as well, heating up the PSU even more.

All of the cases I have all have top mounted PSU's, is this a bad thing?

On top of that, cable management is non-existant, since there is 0 room behind MoBo tray, where to route the cables. You'd be seeing ratsnest of cables, which hinder the little airflow even more.

I usually don't have any cable management, I just throw everything in, push it aside, and call it good.

 

[MajorPager]

Also, I just figured out that the new GPU won't even fit in the case. Very sad. Would you guys recommend the XPS 400 case? It's got 2 front fan slots and a rear grill that I could potentially fit 2 other fans on.

 

[Aeacus]

Would you guys recommend the XPS 400 case?

Choosing a PC case is personal choice and how it looks can't be suggested by anyone. All what we can suggest, is based on the practical part of it.

...*sigh*...

I suggest that you use PCPartPicker to assemble your new build. Since it has several compatibility filters on it and once you've put in MoBo, CPU cooler, GPU and PSU, the PCPP will only show you the PC cases that can fit all the hardware inside it.
Link: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/

All of the cases I have all have top mounted PSU's, is this a bad thing?

Older PC cases had top mounted PSUs. On practical aspect, it has 2 downsides;
1. Hot air inside the PC will pass through PSU, heating up the PSU even more.
2. All power cables are visible, catching dust and hindering airflow.

Modern PC cases have bottom mounted PSU, where PSU's fan is facing downwards. It has several pros:
* PSU has it's own airflow path, completely separate from the rest of the PC.
* PSU cables are at the bottom of the PC, without getting in the way of the airflow (no dangling cables).
* Many newer PC cases also have PSU shroud, to completely cover the PSU and it's cables from the view, to give more clean look. (I, personally, don't like PSU shroud.)

All-in-all, for proper airflow, best to get a PC case that has front grille/mesh, so that front intake airflow is good. Also, plenty of fan mounts also helps, since PC components need active cooling.

E.g the modern PC build image i linked above is using Corsair Graphite 760T V2 Black PC case,
PC case specs: https://www.corsair.com/eu/en/p/pc-...s-760t-full-tower-windowed-case-cc-9011073-ww

Stunning looking and very practical PC case IMO. It is also full-tower ATX with plenty of space inside and 3x 5.25" external bays (seeing 5.25" bays on PC case are rare nowadays).

 

[Unolocogringo]

Also, I just figured out that the new GPU won't even fit in the case. Very sad. Would you guys recommend the XPS 400 case? It's got 2 front fan slots and a rear grill that I could potentially fit 2 other fans on.

I had a EVGA GTX 1070 SC in that case on a Asus Prime Z170.
It now holds a Prime x570,3600 and a 3060TI FE.
I put the Z170 system in a Antec Sonata( original with purple drive rails and CD mounts.) with a EVGA GTX 960 FTW for a friend a few weeks ago.
He needed something after his divorce and wanted to do some retro gaming also.
My HAF912(original) is still kicking inside my desk today, still cools and I see it about every three months for cleaning.

The XPS 400 is a BTX case. Dell proprietary motherboard. No modern motherboards will fit without major modifications.