@harikt: CM Elite 430 has good ventilation and you can install a total of 5 fans for good airflow. So it should handle the temps of a 6950 & 2500k. But I have a suspicion the 212+ will block the topmost fan.
And yes, the Z68 is not mentioned because its newer, that's it.
So what do I replace the 212+ with, to get better cooling than just using the 430, since I intend to OC? Or should I leave a CPU cooler for a later purchase and just stuff the 430 full of fans? Thanks about that compatibility chart again.
Just found this
The Z68 is looking less and less interesting... Unless Virtu gets a better whitelist, I might just flog my 2500k/discrete GPU to do all the encoding.
A different question, if I get an NVidia card, the only way I can improve performance later without getting rid of the card is to SLI, But SLI will only work on NVidia's chipsets, that correct? So isn't CFX a way better option?
If you install 212+, let go the top exhaust fan, or get a better cabinet. AFAIK, all the current Intel motherboards which support CFX support also support SLI. Next generation AMD chipsets like 990FX also support both, so you really don't need to worry about that. But CFX are supported by all modern mobos with 2 or more graphics slot, eyes closed.
vwad
In the zone
You said the exact things which I were thinking for last few days. Z68 is not currently the best way to go due to limited supported softwares. May be we can wait for more additions to the whitelists and also this can have dual benefit of price cuts in the near future if at all Intel decides so after the arrival of bulldozer series.
But THIS... wow.
*images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph4083/35055.png
just wow.
*hothardware.com/articleimages/Item1644/VirtuTranscode.png
The consensus seems to be that there's this quality and speed gap that quicksync has over competition, now if only we had a few more apps supported. I've narrowed down my choices :
1. IF a)Z68+Virtu supports a good list of transcoding apps, and b)SLI isn't supported, I'll take a Z68 board with a 6850/6870.
2. IF it doesn't I'll go for a P67 board and a GTX560Ti.
Sound greedy enough?
Also..
*images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph4083/35055.png
just wow.
*hothardware.com/articleimages/Item1644/VirtuTranscode.png
The consensus seems to be that there's this quality and speed gap that quicksync has over competition, now if only we had a few more apps supported. I've narrowed down my choices :
1. IF a)Z68+Virtu supports a good list of transcoding apps, and b)SLI isn't supported, I'll take a Z68 board with a 6850/6870.
2. IF it doesn't I'll go for a P67 board and a GTX560Ti.
Sound greedy enough?
Also..
What about the NZXT GAMMA? Its priced between the 310 and the 430. I know zilch about cabinets.
You said the exact things which I were thinking for last few days. Z68 is not currently the best way to go due to limited supported softwares. May be we can wait for more additions to the whitelists and also this can have dual benefit of price cuts in the near future if at all Intel decides so after the arrival of bulldozer series.
[rant]I really I wish I could be 'prudent' and wait. But June is the end of the wait. Any more and I'd need GPU life support. For someone who used to keep up with the latest gaming releases 5 years back, I'm still stuck in 2007 thanks to my C2D and its IGP. No AA at all, and runs nothing on even medium settings thats released post 2007. Not to mention that its a laptop that hits 75 degrees playing FIFA 08.(Okay not FIFA, but yeah it does that with some others) [/rant]
Whats a <=2K airflow/cablemanaged cab that can use the 212+, or has fans that can compensate?
Get the gamma if you are not sold on the transparent side panel. You can add fans to your case later.
Jaskanwar Singh
Aspiring Novelist
@skud
u saw cable management with my 430 in the elite 430 thread in hardware q&a section? It was pretty neat with ample room left.
Plus u get feature of putting long cards and tallest coolers.
So hows gamma better choice?
@all
i dont understand why u all are recommending p67 when z68 is priced same.
U get cheapest p67 here for 9.5k and a gigabyte z68 model mentioned before is also 9.5k. Plus it gives cfx/sli option!!
topgear is using 430 with 212+.
Ask him if he is using top fans.
u saw cable management with my 430 in the elite 430 thread in hardware q&a section? It was pretty neat with ample room left.
Plus u get feature of putting long cards and tallest coolers.
So hows gamma better choice?
@all
i dont understand why u all are recommending p67 when z68 is priced same.
U get cheapest p67 here for 9.5k and a gigabyte z68 model mentioned before is also 9.5k. Plus it gives cfx/sli option!!
topgear is using 430 with 212+.
Ask him if he is using top fans.
Jas, don't get me wrong, my point was not everybody knows how to manage cables properly nor everybody can devote time for that. So for them, Gamma is a quite a bit easier to work with. I personally prefer everything out of the sight, particularly in a case with transparent side panel, so that my hardware looks neat and clean but that's really is a personal preference. Someone might see it differently.
Regarding graphics card, except the dualGPU ones the rest should be OK in both the cases. And you really think someone will put a 6990 in a 430 or gamma for that matter?
NZXT cases are notorious with very little space between the mobo tray and the top fan. Even the pricier guardian 921 rb and lexa s suffer from this. I don't have any concrete info regarding 430, but from the looks of it, it looks a tight fit.. I will contact tg regarding the 430.
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Jaskanwar Singh
Aspiring Novelist
Jas, don't get me wrong, my point was not everybody knows how to manage cables properly nor everybody can devote time for that. So for them, Gamma is a quite a bit easier to work with. I personally prefer everything out of the sight, particularly in a case with transparent side panel, so that my hardware looks neat and clean but that's really is a personal preference. Someone might see it differently.
Regarding graphics card, except the dualGPU ones the rest should be OK in both the cases. And you really think someone will put a 6990 in a 430 or gamma for that matter?
NZXT cases are notorious with very little space between the mobo tray and the top fan. Even the pricier guardian 921 rb and lexa s suffer from this. I don't have any concrete info regarding 430, but from the looks of it, it looks a tight fit.. I will contact tg regarding the 430.
it took me 15 min~ to manage cables
NZXT :: Unique. Unprecendented. Inspired - Gamma Product Detail
see that gamma can fit cards upto 10".
and elite 430 can fit a 5970 which is approx 12".
now i am not saying that people going for huge cards will get elite 430.
my point is, this feature has 2 benefits for people on budget -
1. more space to work with
2. tension free to upgrade in future
it took me 15 min~ to manage cables
That's what I have said - you know how to do it, for those who don't gamma helps a bit, like modular SMPS helps.
my point is, this feature has 2 benefits for people on budget -
1. more space to work with
2. tension free to upgrade in future
More space in front while nothing at back. And totally agreed with the 2nd.
Jaskanwar Singh
Aspiring Novelist
that is compensated by space behind HDD cage for putting cables.
Jaskanwar Singh
Aspiring Novelist
got your point skud
Yeah, i know. That's why i have said more in front.
got your point skud
Uh, guys? Which one do I get? Cooling is the priority. I'll learn how to manage those cables if i have to, and honestly I don't care much for a transparent side panel.
MOAR fans!
vickybat
I am the night...I am...
I don't think 560's power consumption is anywhere near alarming either. Only the zotac card had higher power consumptions whereas the asus direct cu II was rock solid.
Power consumption won't be that much of a factor while choosing the 560. Its a very good card with exceptional performance. A worthy successor to gtx 460.
If priced around 11.5k it would be an interesting pick over 6870.
IS ebay's Global EasyBuy a reliable option? has anyone tried it or had any experiences with RMA-ing a part?
One more card to consider *groan* Thanks vicky
Right now the way i see it, I'm considering the following cards
1) HD 6850 - original recommendation, VFM, tends to remain hot at idle, around 9.5K---}
2) HD 6870 - improvement in both performance and heat, around 11.2K----------------} Give the best transcoding quality after QuickSync
3) HD 6950 1GB - major improvement in both performance and heat, can unlock to 6970, around 13.5K-----} & May work with P67
4) GTX 560 - placed between the 6850 and 6870, but closer to a 6850 (ref clock), price unknown.------------------} Worst transcoding quality in
5) GTX560Ti - beaten by 6950 in Crysis, Metro 2033, STALKER, but pulls ahead in Civ5, HAWX & DIRT2, around 13.5K} benchmarks, so will require Z68 and Virtu
Source Anandtech and a Virtu review.
One more card to consider *groan* Thanks vicky
Right now the way i see it, I'm considering the following cards
1) HD 6850 - original recommendation, VFM, tends to remain hot at idle, around 9.5K---}
2) HD 6870 - improvement in both performance and heat, around 11.2K----------------} Give the best transcoding quality after QuickSync
3) HD 6950 1GB - major improvement in both performance and heat, can unlock to 6970, around 13.5K-----} & May work with P67
4) GTX 560 - placed between the 6850 and 6870, but closer to a 6850 (ref clock), price unknown.------------------} Worst transcoding quality in
5) GTX560Ti - beaten by 6950 in Crysis, Metro 2033, STALKER, but pulls ahead in Civ5, HAWX & DIRT2, around 13.5K} benchmarks, so will require Z68 and Virtu
Source Anandtech and a Virtu review.
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