USB headers / fans / kraken / Grid+ / Hue+ / NZXT H440 New Edition questions

[Shadowsteppa]

I have a few questions about a future build I'm planning.

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Shadowsteppa/saved/fHsYrH
+ NZXT Grid+ V2 Digital Fan Controller
+ NZXT HUE+ White advanced PC lighting
(will be buying a 4k monitor with it, still deciding which one)

Some questions:
- Does everything fit, is everything compatible? Is there something I'm not seeing?
- Will I have enough USB headers/fan connectors on the mobo to connect the Hue+, the kraken cooler, the Grid+ and the case usb ports (+anything else I'm forgetting?)
- Do I front mount or top mount my Kraken, and do I let it blow air outside or inside?
- How does that work, do I put the radiator with the fans against the fans in my case, or just the radiator, or...?

Thanks in advance

 

[chemmajorp53]

Yes everything will fit and it should all be compatible. You will have enough connectors on the mobo, if by some off chance you don't then you can just get Y-connectors for the fans super cheap. As far as top vs. front mounting for the radiator, watch this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNAMxZgvves

Whether the slight inconvenience of front mounting and (IMO) worse aesthetics are worth it is up to you.

For what it's worth, if I were you I'd get a less powerful PSU and spend the money you saved on a 500GB SSD. Also IDK why but the RAM you selected was $30 more than what looks to me like the same thing.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9jcQ4C

You could also save ~$40 on the motherboard if you want to but it looks like you're going for a matching theme.

 

[Shadowsteppa]

Yes everything will fit and it should all be compatible. You will have enough connectors on the mobo, if by some off chance you don't then you can just get Y-connectors for the fans super cheap. As far as top vs. front mounting for the radiator, watch this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNAMxZgvves

Whether the slight inconvenience of front mounting and (IMO) worse aesthetics are worth it is up to you.

For what it's worth, if I were you I'd get a less powerful PSU and spend the money you saved on a 500GB SSD. Also IDK why but the RAM you selected was $30 more than what looks to me like the same thing.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9jcQ4C

You could also save ~$40 on the motherboard if you want to but it looks like you're going for a matching theme.

Thank you for your comment
- Well I was planning on front mounting it, because the radiator is black and it's a white build, and with this case the radiator would be hidden behind when front mounted (yes I would lose some HDD brackets but still).
- Are you sure about the PSU? The power usage (according to pcpartpicker) is about 505w, not counting the Grid+, Hue+, some stuff in the usb ports and probably overclocking my CPU as well.
- Was still reading up on RAM speeds and latency, is the extra bit I was planning to get not worth the money vs performance?
- Yep, going for a white RGB build indeed, so I'll probably keep the motherboard

 

[chemmajorp53]

Lower CAS latency doesn't really do anything for gaming, I'd bet money on someone not being able to tell the difference for any task. The better CAS latency RAM would be more likely to hit 3200 or 3600MHz though if you loosened the timings, which might help your FPS a tad (1-3%) in CPU limited scenarios. Yeah 650W should be perfectly fine for that build. 505W would be a worst case scenario that's not that realistic (both HDDs spinning up, all case fans at max, GPU at max with 100% fan speed, etc.) and even then it's well within the PSU's safe range. Otherwise, I have one of these and it's great. Powering a build similar to what you're doing as far as GPU power, hard drives, and case fans go.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438060&cm_re=evga_750-_-17-438-060-_-Product

All the accessories use almost no power, not really worth worrying about.

 

[chemmajorp53]

These are also very high quality and just came out.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151186&cm_re=seasonic_focus-_-17-151-186-_-Product

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151187&cm_re=seasonic_focus-_-17-151-187-_-Product

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151188&cm_re=seasonic_focus-_-17-151-188-_-Product

Even if you want to get up to an 850W the RM line is just overpriced.

 

[Shadowsteppa]

Lower CAS latency doesn't really do anything for gaming, I'd bet money on someone not being able to tell the difference for any task. The better CAS latency RAM would be more likely to hit 3200 or 3600MHz though if you loosened the timings, which might help your FPS a tad (1-3%) in CPU limited scenarios. Yeah 650W should be perfectly fine for that build. 505W would be a worst case scenario that's not that realistic (both HDDs spinning up, all case fans at max, GPU at max with 100% fan speed, etc.) and even then it's well within the PSU's safe range. Otherwise, I have one of these and it's great. Powering a build similar to what you're doing as far as GPU power, hard drives, and case fans go.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438060&cm_re=evga_750-_-17-438-060-_-Product

All the accessories use almost no power, not really worth worrying about.

Thanks again for the reply.
- So I should go with the slowest latency 3000Mhz RAM according to you?
- The websites I'm ordering my stuff from (alternate.be/coolblue.be in Belgium) don't offer EVGA PSU's , would the Corsair RM750i be a good replacement for what you're suggesting?

 

[chemmajorp53]

Ah, didn't know you weren't in the US. Just go here and look up the PSUs that are available to you, they have high quality standardized reviews for pretty much every high quality PSU. Just compare and decide for yourself what the best price to performance is for you. If it gets less than a 9 I personally wouldn't power a $1500 computer with it.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Review_Cat&recatnum=13

As for the RAM, I'd personally get the slower latency because I don't think the tiny performance gains are worth $30, but at the end of the day it's up to you. If you think you'll subconsciously regret it later then you might as well get what you want the first time.

EDIT: Keep in mind that his "value" score might be old (newer stuff just as good might be cheaper) or not apply to the store you're shopping in

 

[chemmajorp53]

What kind of games are you playing? You might also want to look into a 1440p 144hz monitor. I have a 4k Dell and an AOC 144hz 1080p, whenever I want to play counter strike, BF1, PUBG, etc. I can use the 144hz and whenever I play something more casual like Far Cry or Tomb Raider I can use the 4k. If I could only have 1 monitor I'd rather have a 1440p 144hz than a 4k60, but it all comes down to your preferences.

 

[Shadowsteppa]

What kind of games are you playing? You might also want to look into a 1440p 144hz monitor. I have a 4k Dell and an AOC 144hz 1080p, whenever I want to play counter strike, BF1, PUBG, etc. I can use the 144hz and whenever I play something more casual like Far Cry or Tomb Raider I can use the 4k. If I could only have 1 monitor I'd rather have a 1440p 144hz than a 4k60, but it all comes down to your preferences.

Al kinds of games really: World of Warcraft, Titanfall 2, Far Cry franchise, Assassin's Creed Franchise, Tomb Raider, Space Engineers, Ark, Rust,...
Don't really play shooters on a pro level.
At the moment I have a BenQ 24" 144Hz 1ms 1080p monitor, but I was planning on trying to sell it (if I get a decent price) when I get me a 30-32" 4k monitor

 

[Shadowsteppa]

These are also very high quality and just came out.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151186&cm_re=seasonic_focus-_-17-151-186-_-Product

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151187&cm_re=seasonic_focus-_-17-151-187-_-Product

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151188&cm_re=seasonic_focus-_-17-151-188-_-Product

Even if you want to get up to an 850W the RM line is just overpriced.

They DO have these ones where I live
And at the moment, it's only a € 5 price difference between the 750 and the 850, so I'll go with the 850.
Still saves me € 35 when comparing to the Corsair RM750i, thanks for the advice.