So it’s been awhile since I’ve last updated my computer specs. It has actually been quite a while since I’ve updated, but I’ve also been so busy I didn’t get to update on my last build.
Last time I updated my rig was rocking a Q9650 Intel Quad Core running at just over 4Ghz. About a year and a half ago I updated to the new (at the time) Core i7 2600K, new motherboard, and bumped up to 16GB of RAM. I swapped out the Prolimatech Megahalems for a Corsair H100 water cooler. The rest of the rig stayed the same at that time. Then, as is my habit, I tweaked a little here and there by adding SSDs to the system over the past year.
Read on to see the pics :)
To start, I choose to go with a water cooling system instead of air cooling this time. Nothing against the Prolimatech Megahalems -at all- it really is a monster of a cooler. I have wanted to try water cooling for a long time and the Corsair Hydro Series H100 CPU Cooler (CWCH100) is a nice, easy, all-in-one kit which made the learning curve practically zero. The only downside is that I had to mod the case a little to allow the water loop hoses of the Corsair H100 to pass through. I ended up removing the fan grilles and cutting into the case a little. It was easy to do with a dremel and took maybe about 15mins total.
![Case mod with dremel](https://harvsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2011-09-18-09.04.04-1024x576.jpg)
Below is a pic of the empty case. You can see the missing fan grilles, and right below the bottom fan “hole” are the two slots I cut into the case to allow the hoses to pass through.
![Antec 1200 case mod](https://harvsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_5313-1024x986.jpg)
The H100 was easy to install. It plugs in just like the stock Intel cooler. You can orient the hoses to exit out in any of four directions and have a right-angle junction so it should have no problems fitting into any motherboard layout. There are a few more pics in the slideshow below.
The finished product. I spent a fair bit of time with cable management and finally got it the way I like. Airflow is excellent and it has a nice tidy look. The accent lights from the H100 and the motherboard light up the case interior nicely when the room is dark and the computer is powered on.
![Interior of the Antec 1200 with all components installed and cables nicely tucked away.](https://harvsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_6667-682x1024.jpg)
Here is the final parts list:
- CPU: Intel Core i7 2600k
- CPU Cooler: Corsair H100
- Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-V Pro
- RAM: 16GB DDR3 1600 G.Skill RipJaws F3-12800CL9Q-16GBRL
- Blu-Ray: Sony Blu-Ray Burner BD-5300S-0B
- Video Card: Powercolor AX6850 ATI Radeon 6850 w/1GB VRAM
- HDD1: Samsung 830 256GB SSD (OS/Programs)
- HDD2: Samsung 830 128GB SSD (Games/Scratch)
- HDD3: Western Digital Black 1TB WD1001FALS (Storage)
- HDD4: Western Digital Black 1.5TB WD1502FAEX (Storage)
- Power Supply: Corsair TX650W
- Case: Antec 1200
Below is a slideshow with more pics, I hope you enjoy!
[foogallery id=”4749″]