Want to change PC case, have questions.

[Importz2k1]

I built my gaming pc, it was the first I've ever done. So far so good 2 years later but I'm thinking it's time to upgrade to a full tower instead of my mid for better ventilation. Here's my question, if I unplug everything to install in the new case, once everything is put back together nice and snug will I have to re format the HD's again or will everything work like it is now?

[Zayphod]

I built my gaming pc, it was the first I've ever done. So far so good 2 years later but I'm thinking it's time to upgrade to a full tower instead of my mid for better ventilation. Here's my question, if I unplug everything to install in the new case, once everything is put back together nice and snug will I have to re format the HD's again or will everything work like it is now?

If you're only changing the case, then no. Once powered up again, your components will never know the difference (other than a possibly nicer breeze since they'll be in a bigger house). The only one that'll know the difference is the person that pushed that "on" button.

[Importz2k1]

Awesome! I was affraid I was going to have to do all kinds of reformatting and stuff. This is good news.
Thanks!

[Ericmopar]

Yep. Zayphod is correct.

Just be really careful about the new pin-outs for the new case's power switch and any other connections from case to board. Double check those.

BTW. I have a Cooler Master HAF XM. I love it. It's on the very large side of "mid tower". It can take extended ATX or just about any kind of board or drive and includes a huge selection of hardware.

Also; most newer cases have a bottom mount Power Supply, so if you are not familiar with that, make sure the bottom of the case sits on a hard surface, not directly on carpet.

[arizonachris]

I swear by my Cooler Master HAF 922: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119197 It's nice and big inside, very wide with lots of cable management features, and lots of cooling. Huge front intake and top exhaust fans, as well as a rear exhaust, and places for more fans in the side. Bottom mount for the power supply as Eric said, don't set this on carpet. (Front intake has a filter but it's not all that easy to get to)

Also as Eric pointed out, either have the motherboard manual handy or go online for a pin drawing for the front panel and jacks wiring to the new case. I do like having all these nice USB ports in front, headphones, mic, all that, but it can be a challenge with some boards. (if you don't need all that, just go for power and reset switches, and power and hard drive LED's)

Oh, and while you are changing stuff over, take a while and use some canned air and a cheap "chip brush" and do a general cleaning of the CPU heat sink and fan, and maybe the video card's fan and heat sink. Check the PSU's fan(s) as well. It'll be like a new PC!

[Importz2k1]

I have a Cooler Master Storm and loved it, but it seems to run a little hot even with the 5 fans I have in it. I decided to go with the Cooler Master Trooper http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005P7XSV6/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1, this thing is huge and should provide plenty ventilation.

[buzz456]

Think water cooled. Runs very cool and quiet.

[arizonachris]

Think water cooled. Runs very cool and quiet.

Hmmm, yeah, but not cheap, and water and electronics don't mix well. Besides, I like the sound of all those fans.

[Importz2k1]

Think water cooled. Runs very cool and quiet.

Hmmm, yeah, but not cheap, and water and electronics don't mix well. Besides, I like the sound of all those fans.

I think I'm gonna have to side with arizonachris on this one, water next to my expensive equipment................no thanks! lol
Besides, I'm not ready for anything like that yet. Next up is a better card than my Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR and a bigger and badder cpu than my Phenom II X4 980 3.70 GHz.

[Ericmopar]

My setup is very quiet, because my MSI Z77A GD65 Mobo controls the three fans in my case according to the temps. So unless things start to warm up, they only turn about 450rpm. The CPU cooler runs quiet too albeit a bit faster.

[peterhayes]

I'm always get slightly amused when simmers get worried by water cooling in a PC.
How many people drive air cooled as opposed to water cooled cars?
Most cars on the market are water cooled and yes the water is next to some very expensive electronics - much more expensive than your average PC.
Sure there are accidents, but modern sealed cpu water coolers are usually not prone to failure.
I've had one running for 2 years no issues and I had an "open" system that I have just changed after a year+ of fault free use - because I was fed up with having to refill it every 3 months or so.
Water is much more efficient in cooling than air.
Water cooled systems do not attract dust to the cpu area as air cooled ones (fins) do.
There is less weight/torque effect on the mobo (many are very thin these days) in a water cooled system than an air-cooled one.
(Some manufacturers even recommend you remove the cpu cooler (air) before you move the PC due this weight/torque effect even with stabilisers.

We need to put the risks in perspective and IMHO the risk of a water cooled system failing and spraying the inside of your PC with water is probably in the same order as the cpu, PSU, RAM, mobo, or gpu failing.

pH

[buzz456]

Or a lightening strike.

[buzz456]

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7867&p=86702&hilit=cpu+temp#p86702

[arizonachris]

Yeah, my temps at idle would be about like that, Buzz. But my two PC's never idle. I run Folding @ Home, 24/7. All four cores on both Phenom II CPU's at 100% runs them at about 56c with Cooler Master Hyper 212 heat sink/ fans. The video cards, a GTX670 and GTX560Ti, run about 65c with their fans at 80% and 100% respectively, and again at 100% load. Yeah, I push it, but Folding is for a great cause (plus it keeps me warm on a cold night)

Guess I never got into water cooling because it looks like a pain to set up then maintain. GPU waterblocks are really not cheap, but you simple gamers probably don;t use those, just a CPU block. The new, small, closed systems look OK, but I'd want to cool the whole shebang, not just the CPU.

Yes, I agree, pH, if I had to ship a PC that big heat sink/ fan on the CPU would have to come off. I would probably uninstall the video card as well, but it does have two screws to the back plate. But I ain't gonna ship my PC's anywhere. In fact, I'm building a third just for Folding.

[peterhayes]

Buzz

Or a lightening strike

or Twice in the same place
pH
Chris
If you buy the right full size tower with oodles of space and which has several fans -with balanced airflow ie some blowing air in and some exhausting it out - then the gpu temperature stays pretty constant (I don't oc gpu's as its usually counterproductive and not needed for TS2014.
Water cooling is very easy to install these days and they come with TP pre-installed and no maintenance except to vacuum the radiator once a year.
I use water cooling because when I am in one of my manic moods I occasionally overclock my Sandy Bridge (2 cores only) to 5.2GHz and you need serious cooling for that.
Regards
pH