Update! HH/Intel Core i For The Mainstream Guy/Gal Sweepstakes!

Looks good. Now i know why there a some many people supporting the forum :)

Wow nice case update, the video card change is ummm, Well it is still a good video card not like the 285 is any slouch for sure.

As I have posted a few times, I am currently planning to build a new system for a neighbor. For the CPU I have finally settled on an i7/860, is the i7/870 in this one is a very nice cpu. I settled on the 860 because he has a certain price point, and to get everything I wanted on his computer the 860 fits the bill. The case it was going to be in was nice but the Sniper is even better. Plus who could call adding a 22" monitor to the package is any kind of downgrade as well.

Wow I can really get updated, with a system like that.  I have little money and I am a gamer so this system is perfect for me.

Wow, looking good!  Can't go wrong with a complete rig.

I think the system just got better. The new flat screen is a really nice touch.

Again, whomever is the winner of this game-eater system will be blessed.

mentaldisorder:

Wow, looking good!  Can't go wrong with a complete rig.

Man that a very nice looking rig and a moniter too heck of an upgrade!!!!! Some one is gng to get lucky. Thats a killer case who ever wins will really enjoy it! I know this cause its the same one I have.Wish everyone good luck. Wont be long now.

Very nice rig.

Doesn't matter if the new card is a small downgrade, it's still much better than what I got.

Anyway, no way I win this in the timeframe without spamming.

This is a response generally to the new members who show up whenever one of the giveaways comes about. You should stick around this forum, as I must say it is one of the best out there. One of the many advantages especially for someone newer to computers or hardware within them, or even someone with a great deal of exp. that has just found HH. The discussions on this board in particular are generally more personal and direct to specific HW questions and needs. I have been around for several years now on this forum, and know the regulars here to generally be good people, helpful individuals when a need arises, and just great people in general.

I really like that case and the cable management is excellent! That system would deffinately entitle the owner to some braggin rights!!!

Good luck to all.

I like the cabling too - Very very clean. They do good work.

You're right! Didn't even see the cabling before it was mentioned. The airflow also looks great.

Thanks for the update. The GTX 285 is a powerful card and consumes less power so this is a very minor change, except that the monitor really sweetens the deal for those who don't have any kind of desktop setup.

Since I'm running off an older Toshiba laptop, this would be an awesome win!

oh an extra 22" monitor never hurts!

I win?

Oh wow, the monitor more than makes up for the 295 to 285 switch. That's a great deal of extra value. And 16,200 3DMarks still walks all over what most of us have so no complaints. I think I prefer this case to the original, but both are cool looking so who knows.

Good luck fellows. Hopefully the winner sticks around.

Monitor and case upgrade, Crisis Causer; that Sniper Storm is a mucho sweeto midtower!

And the GeForce 285 is miles better than the card I have now, an ATi Radeon 3850 in an AGP 8x slot; I don't think anyone is going to complain about getting it!

Thats a definite clem, I am running a 3870 myself in a PCI express 1 slot. As I have been talking about the system I am building for my neighbor, I wish I could build a new system for myself, but money is still to tight for that right now.

Looking good. Can't wait to see the victor. The 22" LCD is a really nice addition. No use in all that power on a old 15 CRT.

It's still a great prize! The monitor looks nice. If only it was open worldwide...

Not a bad 3d mark score...

I really like that case and the cable management is excellent! That system would deffinately entitle the owner to some braggin rights!!!

You folks have to get in on our new contest sponsored by Asus, Intel and a whole slew of manufacturers!   

Asus Xtreme Design Contest:

http://hothardware.com/cs/forums/60.aspx

There could be multiple winners from our forum, up to 20 total nation wide will win some sweet gear and a chance to show off your Xtreme System Build at CES 2010 in Vegas baby! 

You folks have to get in on our new contest sponsored by Asus, Intel and a whole slew of manufacturers!   

Asus Xtreme Design Contest:

http://hothardware.com/cs/forums/60.aspx

There could be multiple winners from our forum, up to 20 total nation wide will win some sweet gear and a chance to show off your Xtreme System Build at CES 2010 in Vegas baby! 

You guys are the bomb. Someone is gonna love this contest and the great gear that they get to build with.

wow if i don't win this i think i'll get a storm case for my next build ;-)

I know I'm not going to win, but I'll join anyways ;D

Wow! The system itself was good enough to get me to stop lurking and register, a monitor too? Very nice!

Wow the insides of that system is really cool, I didn't realize it was a liquid cooled cpu before these pics.

I don't think the video card downgrade will have that much effect when you put in a monitor and a upgraded case. All is forgiven, Hothardware :P

Yeah whoever wins this rig is getting a very nice setup. I always hope to win, but whoever does is very lucky as this complete package will pretty much do anything and everything you want it to, and more that's for sure.

So I've read up a little on the The 'Corsair Cooling™ Hydro Series H50 CPU Cooler' that's installed on this system and I think it's bitchin'!

Here's a little video squawk to enjoy

It seems that it is good for overclocking CPU's. Maybe not as much as a home built unit, but perfect for reasonable home OC'ing. it's inexpensive compared to buying up parts and building your own as well. It does do better than Air Cooling according to Corsair and some other reviews I read.

So the more you delve into this system, the better it gets.

Nice vid... lol @ the end!

Another quality product from Corsair that I will deffinately consider for my next build.

I am currently running a Corsair H50 in my core2duo system, and it works allot  better than my previous Coolermaster V8. The temperatures at 3.7gh are between 35 and 40 degrees c, where as with the V8, they were 45 -55 if I could get it stable at those temperatures and clock speed.

The only problem I have with the corsair system is that you can't expand it to cool the graphics cards or northbridge.

Blazer,

Did you notice higher temps within the case using this cooler?

One review that I read complained that it drew air INTO the case instead of out of the case, making everything else hotter.

I would think that turning it's fan around would fix this problem though. The more I read about it the more I like it.

It is a very attractive and functional  looking cooler and I think I'm gonna have to get one of them.

Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling System in the contest rig is basically the OEM version of which Corsair's H50 is based on.  They offer 120mm and 240mm rads but it's basically the same cooler.

http://www.asetek.com/content/view/50/104/

You'll still be well prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse, heh heh...

"well prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse"

It wouldn't be a case of the computer keeping up,....it would probably be me slowing the system down!  LOL!

No, actually, the temps inside the care are the same if not 1 or 2 degrees cooler than with the cooler master cooler.

Thanks Blazer, some guy on Newegg reviews said that it jacked up his temps inside the case because it was drawing air through the radiator and into the case, leaving the heat inside. His solution was to turn the fan around.

I don't see airflow being a concern in the case, especially not with that great cabling job they've done.

One guy mentioned that the air intakes didn't have a filter and listed this as a con. I didn't know filters were standard on cases, would anyone else consider this a problem?

I have a case with foam inserts at all of the fan ports. I clean them every once in a while but they don't keep the inside of the case dust free by any means.

It's Here if you want to see it. It does have excellent air flow.

The end result is that you need to clean the fans, fins and inside of your cases every now and then for better cooling. Depends on where you live as to how often you should do it.

It's sorta like the Preventive Maintenance you do on your car if you're smart. Worth doing even though it takes a little of your time and a little energy.

realneil:

>>>

I have a case with foam inserts at all of the fan ports. I clean them every once in a while but they don't keep the inside of the case dust free by any means..<<<

Nice case, it has good reviews.

Got a terrific suggestion from 2Tired2Tango to duct tape some scotch bright pads on the inside of the air intakes. Seems like they would work really well if your case does no't come with filters.

That's a good idea. they're thicker than what's in my case now.

Thanks to you and 2Tired.

No problem man, any time.

On a side note (or more to the point), 4 hour countdown till it's Monday. And then I can stop obsessively refreshing this page!

Either way, great community here and I really like the article comment system. Makes it really easy to have a discussion. I believe we're moving further way from getting our news from major news networks and more from community and blog based websites such as these. By reading and sharing thoughts with other viewers, the news has become a conversation. rather than watching someone monotonously read a script from a teleprompter.

"And then I can stop obsessively refreshing this page!"

Crap, and I thought it was just me!   Oops! I did it again!

Yes, I like this little corner of the web myself. I'm here and on ARS Technica help forums too,.....trying to help people with hardware problems out.

I read my Google news feed three times a day. Mainly because it's everybody's news compiled by Google and is a lot of points of view. All of the new Techno-Baubles that we see here on this site are fun to look at and comment on. I can't afford most of it, or it doesn't work right in my under served area of the Virginia countryside. But I enjoy knowing about it even though some of these things make me laugh. (solid gold flash drives anyone?)

Hot Hardware is allot of fun and being retired, I can take the time to participate.

hmm scotch pads. Interesting idea. If they are denser then the filters though they may restrict airflow to much. The filters that come with the cases don't usually unless you let them get to full of dust. They don't stop dust completley from getting in your case but do help alot. I have noticed a huge difference using them in the past verses not using them.

It's the thickness of them that will make the difference I think.

The foam filters in my case are 1/8 thick maybe.

Scotch pads are easily twice that and would hold more dust maybe.

I'm gonna try them out and see.

Yeah I am running a big honking water cooling setup that I build myself, but if you don't wanna go through all that the Corsair H50 has become the only pre built water cooling system I have ever recommended. It performs amazingly well for the $80 asking price.

Thanks for the video realneil!

Nice case. Also that was very cool of them to throw in a 22" monitor. And the gtx 285 card is no slouch either.

I can live with these changes!

(...you know, as long as there's still a window...)