New Case + New PSU... Would appreciate the advice of the community!

[nleksan]

Okay, so I have been thinking about my build plans, and while I definitely have a Caselabs TH10 case in my future, I really don't want my entire build to have to wait until I have $700 for the TH10...

So I have been browsing the egg, and I have just fallen in love with the NZXT Switch 810! I have never seen a "traditional" style case that has such immense modularity for $169, with the only case coming close being the 800D at twice the price.
The fact that it holds 10 140mm fans when loaded up, and supports a 360/420/480mm radiator in the top with room for push-pull fans(!!!), and a 240/280 rad in the bottom, with a second 280 in front with very mild modification is incredible!
The case would appear to have fantastic cable management options as well, which is extremely important for my OCD-self.
The 6 3.5 drive bays + 1 3.5/2.5 hotswap bay, and the full complement of 5.25 bays means that I would run out of SATA ports before I run out of interior bays. Even if I have to remove the bottom 3.5 cage, I can easily get a 4x3.5-into-1x5.25 bay adapter, and still have 2 5.25 bays open for reservoir/pump...

The best part is that I can get it for $135 (and I have another $10 off), so $125 + free shipping for the case... I am really having a hard time not hitting "buy" right now, but I really would like to hear what you all have to say, your opinions and especially experience, and if you have the case I would really like to hear what you think!
I have until 11:59pm to decide, or the price is back to $170... Sorry for the frantic posting.


Secondly, I am looking at buying an NZXT power supply, as the same deal applies...
The two I am looking at the hardest are:
- NZXT HALE82 HALE82-850-M 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Power Supply
($109 after MIR, for a total of about $85)
- NZXT HALE90-750-M 750W ATX 12V v2.2, EPS 12V v2.91 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
($128 total)

The HALE90 only has 4 total PCI-E power connectors, while the HALE82 has 6. However the former is 80+ Gold, the other being bronze...

The third option is the 850W HALE90 which is 80+ Gold and has six PCI-E power connectors. It would be a total of $144 shipped.

I am also stuck with having to decide before midnight or losing the sale... Considering the savings are almost $100, I really don't want to pass this up.

Would that extra money for the 850W HALE90 be a good idea, considering the Gold rating and 2 more PCI-E connectors? Is there any way to figure out roughly how much I would save with gold vs bronze in energy costs?

I am really favoring the white case, as I think it looks classy with the black contrast, and I like the uniqueness. The HALE90 would obviously match that choice better, but I care more about the above than color-coding...

I really appreciate your feedback, and your help! I really want to pull the trigger, but I can't do it without hearing from you all first!

 

[BarbaricSoul]

we can't properly suggest the right PSU for you unless we know what it will be powering.

 

[MT Alex]

Why not the M8?

EDIT: I just watched the video on NewEgg for the Switch 810, and what a case it is. I always thought I'd never want or need another case after my 700D, except an M8. This NZXT has me a little twiterpated Sure, it's steel, not aluminum, and has a lot of plastic, but the features it has are stupendous. I don't think I'd hesitate for $125.

 

[nleksan]

"Why not the M8?"

I initially did have the M8 as my first choice, but I have come to find the TH10 to truly be the "ultimate case" in my opinion. I can honestly see that case be the last case I would ever need to buy, it simply has so much room, the build quality is beyond fantastic, the materials are the best possible (I am sure I could have my friend make me a case from Titanium and Carbon Fiber, but the cost would be many thousands of dollars), and I have seen/used some of their cases built for medical use and they are the best in that highly competitive and extremely demanding market...
Plus, I want ten expansion slots rather than 8, and I like the extra height of the TH10. I plan on getting it specced as follows: 85mm Extended Top - Vented, Motherboard Side XL Clear Window (maybe grey), Vented PSU Side Door, HexMesh Rear of MB Tray, 3x Standard Drive Bays, 4x Flex-Bays. I love that I can get the extended bottom should I ever need it, to hold another few dozen drives. Out of the box in the above configuration, I can stick 4x 480mm rads, 4x 280mm rads, all with push-pull fan configuration, and still have over 20 case fans blowing cool air over everything.
To me, that is worth waiting for!


REGARDING WHAT WILL BE IN THE CASE
I intend to use it to build my IVB/SBE rig in, so it will be holding (IVB on left, SB-E in parentheses):
- i7 3770K (i7 3930K)
- ASUS Maximus V Extreme when it comes out (Asus Rampage IV Extreme)
- G.Skill Ripjaws Z DDR3-2133 4x4GB or 4x8GB (" " 8x4GB or 8x8GB)
- GTX680 2GB, although I am hoping to be able to wait for the GTX685 4GB or whatever; it will be a pair in SLI, although not for a while
- Corsair ForceGT 3 120GB SSD, eventually 2 in RAID0
- WD Caviar Black 1TB 7200rpm SATA6Gbs HDD, initially 1 or 2
- 1x 160GB WD Caviar SE HDDs
- 1x Samsung Spinpoint 320GB HDD
- 2x 80GB HDDs (Samsung/WD)
- 1x 250GB Seagate HDD
- Fan Controller
- Blu-Ray Burner ODD
- 2x140mm Front Intake, 2x140mm Interior, 1x140mm Rear Exhaust Case Fans
- 360 or 420 radiator (6x 120/140 fans push pull)
- MCP35X2 Pump with Pump-Top Reservoir
- Apogee HD WaterBlock, Chipset block, GPU full-coverage block(s)
- 1/2"ID Tygon Tubing with Compression Fittings all-around

There will be more and more storage added, as it is going to be used for HD video and Uncompressed Audio editing as well as gaming.


However, before any of that goes in, I am going to use it to rebuild my FX51 rig as it is much more spacious than what I have now and also has like 3x the cooling just out of the box! Then, after I finish modding my old case, everything will get switched back and the new stuff put in.

That is why I am leaning towards the 850W PSUs, I just don't know if the one is worth the extra cost? I am perfectly fine with spending the money, but I don't want to WASTE my money...

 

[entropy13]

I guess you should have at least 850W, probably 1000W even (well, since 900W and 950W PSUs are rare lol).

 

[nleksan]

I'm sorry, the 80+ Gold PSU is 750W, it's $128... The 850W 80 + Gold is $144.

The 80 + BRONZE 850W is $81.

It seems like a 750W Gold would have similar power output to an 850W Bronze psu based on the difference in efficiency. The only other difference is 4x pcie for 750W vs 6x for 850W... (2x6pin + 2x6+2pin vs 3x/3x)... So, 2-way SLI vs 3-Way.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I guess you should have at least 850W, probably 1000W even (well, since 900W and 950W PSUs are rare lol).

Uh, my 750 watt silver PSU isn't having any problems with my crossfire set-up, but since he is going with water-cooling, I'd go with the 850 watt gold PSU if I could afford it.

 

[nleksan]

Alright, so I just ordered:

NZXT Switch 810 - CA-SW810-W1 White Steel / Plasti...

NZXT HALE90-850-M 850W ATX 12V v2.2, EPS 12V v2.91...

Total Price: $269 (Free 2-Day Shipping)

[/IMG]



I think I made the right decision I hope so, at least!

 

[MT Alex]

To be honest, that girl that does the 810 walk through video for NewEgg could sell me anything

 

[nleksan]

Haha, actually it was the video that sold me on the case... It just looks amazing, huge, and extremely modular. I do wonder how I will get my 20 pin connector to work with my SK8V (I am going to set up my first ever build in this, for nostalgia, until I have my IVB everything). I am pissed that I didn't order a cable extension!

 

[nleksan]

The case and PSU both just arrived! YAY

The (in)famous Newgg Shitting, err, shipping, was in full effect and the boxes are dinged up so I took about 2 dozen pictures to document in case anything inside is busted (haven't opened them yet.. trying to teach myself patience! lol). They didn't even put the case box inside another box, and the PSU box is just sliding around inside the brown shipping box! It has been awhile since I ordered anything BIG from them, but I have never seen a company ship things so poorly. I would be super-pissed if it weren't for the shipping having been free (although if I open them and something is busted, Newegg is going to be getting a lot of phone calls until they cross-ship me NON-BROKEN items at their expense; part of the reason I am waiting to open the boxes is because I want a witness!).


ANYWAY, I AM EXCITED!

Will post pics ASAP

 

[nleksan]

Some pics of delivery

The UPS Man Arrives (wondering why I am being a creeper and taking pictures, no doubt)

The rest are under the spoiler tag (I figure that some of you don't necessarily want to load a bunch of pics just because you clicked on the thread!)

PICTURES

Spoiler

The Glorious Switch810 (in my less-than-glorious garage)

Check out that Rear End!

Sophie, my dog, seems slightly less excited than myself :/

Sophie: "Okay, fine, whatever..."

The Interest Can No Longer Be Hidden

Sophie investigates, gives her approval

From the Side

Uh-Oh... What do We Have HERE???

Uh-Oh Number 2! Apparently UPS/Newegg decided to punt my case, although I'd really like to see who can drop-kick this behemoth

Case is Visible through the carry-handles...

...on Both Sides, it would Seem

Finally got the Box inside on my Kitchen Table

Now for the Other Side...

Check out those curves

Wait, what is THIS???

Here is the PSU's Shipping Box (note: no peanuts/packing-paper was used...)

Close-Up of HOLE in Bottom of Box

Another Small Tear in Top of Case

Time to Go make some Holes of My Own

I will have some pictures of everything being unboxed soon

 

[MT Alex]

Why would you put copyrights tags on your uploads? Weird.

 

[nleksan]

Oh, it's automatically put there when I convert from the RAW to JPEG, I just add the "nleksan for tpu" but the copyright part is there automatically *shrug*