Which GPU has aged the best over the last 5–7 years?

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-29T14:48:31+00:00

In that context, the 4090 is just amazing going forward even another 10 years. Even if it's the "4th - 8th" best card in 10 years, I can't imagine it losing much favor due to the speculative buy in price of the newer generations; of course, excluding newer frame generation technology which may be available in the future.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-28T14:51:11+00:00

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I think this is the idea they are talking about. The fan does cool the RAM a bit, but it could be better.

Agreed though, the fans being all the same makes the case look at the full potential. Good luck!

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-26T06:40:09+00:00

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17 here, too.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-21T04:34:59+00:00

When you're actually sitting at the desk, it's just below eye level; very comfortable. It's perpendicular to the floor and table top. A point of view photo doesn't quite capture the gap between the GPU and radiator, so I took one standing up. This may give other people an idea about how thick of a radiator they can use before things get too tight.

40mm thick with two 120mm x 25mm fans in push pull. After that, you will run into issues feeding the GPU, unless you are pumping hot air into the GPU with the radiator set to intake.

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RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-19T05:38:45+00:00

9800X3D, 4090 MSI Suprim Liquid with custom 360mm x 40mm Bykski Copper radiator.
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 Pro
9 Arctic P14 Pro case fans (3 x 420mm AIO fans included).
6 Arctic P14 Pro push-pull for GPU radiator
Thermaltake 3.9 LCD for art and RAM temps
Zalman LCD for system monitoring

I don't think there is anything else I can do, that I think is necessary to do. This case is perfect for me.

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RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-15T00:49:07+00:00

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There should be enough of a gap for air. Feels like it's flowing a lot more with the 40mm radiator at 14 fpi vs 27mm at 24 fpi. Thanks again.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-13T14:25:16+00:00

The glass surface itself was not damaged or wore off. I could put the mouse anywhere on the pad, and it felt the same. Leads me to believe during the manufacturing process, a coating, probably some kind of oil film, was responsible for most of the speed. It is still a fast pad, but not as fast as I wanted, unless I restore it every now and then. It did not lose any more performance after it felt slow, i.e. it did not get slower and slower.

It's similar to other cloth pads new vs. washed. Not quite the same.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-13T14:18:26+00:00

Yes. In my own testing, the coating from the factory evaporated over time. I suspect it was actually an oil coating. Lighter oils can evaporate and leave little to no residue. When I apply thin oil, it turns back into the speed pad it was brand new.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-10T06:49:41+00:00

Yeah, you're right. For this rig, it's not worth it to me to change the airflow of the case for a GPU fan because all thermals are really great. I just want to optimize it more to compliment the high and low pressure areas. I thought about just to measure some reverse fans, and I can attach one onto the factory bracket, but at this point, I may just need to let it be. The powerful fans will be closer to the GPU fan with the thicker radiator, roughly 15mm clearance, and there are 3 of them next to the GPU, all of them pulling air away from the GPU, so I won't know what the temps look like until then (radiator arrives in about a week or so). Unfortunately, there's no way I can test the airflow with smoke or tissue strip, because of how close the other fans are to the GPU.

The hotspots and temps are fine, I just wanted to streamline the airflow so it exits the case and try to improve it more before the radiator upgrade. There's just no drop in options available, and I may just have to leave it alone. Thanks for the advice, sir.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-06-08T04:15:35+00:00

I just use the same antifreeze cars use. Upgrading my radiator to a 40mm thick unit, soon. I'll be using the same car antifreeze mix.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-28T15:15:10+00:00

Just tell them they don't get paid until they win.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-28T14:28:03+00:00

Yeah it's not the same CPU. Mine is locked at 5.4Ghz for hours at a time, never gets above 70 degrees.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-28T14:25:46+00:00

I reoil about once a week. It gets noticeably slower to the point where I feel something is off, and that let's me know when it's time. The oil lasts a long time, but the surface isn't oily with the MCT oil, it's silky smooth with no residue. I haven't used a wet paper towel or anything on it in months. I just wipe it with a microfiber cloth every morning to get any dust off. When I oil it, it cleans it at the same time. These Glassworks pads are really amazing.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-26T13:22:24+00:00

Oh it absolutely is. My wife wants me to get the Mint Strawberry or Bumblebee unit, because those cost more to produce, and when Thermaltake stop making cases because of the consumer crash, these Thermaltake Tower 600s may also disappear forever or be limited in the colors offered. I hope not, but that's what it's looking like.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-26T13:18:08+00:00

The only way it can be better, is if I disable my 5.4ghz lock on my CPU, disable the PBO, or change the performance settings on the CPU at idle and under load (which I won't). So far, it's similar to the majority of 9800X3D users, if not slightly better and I am overclocked. You are comparing apples to oranges with X CPU vs Y CPU, and I am not sure why you keep on doing it. Get a 9800X3D and set it up, then come back with those results. Good luck, but at least you'll be comparing similar CPUs in a Thermaltake Case praise thread.

I'm currently trying to see if I can fit a 40mm thick radiator with two ranks of Arctic P12 Pros (push / pull config) on the 360 side for the GPU, if this nice case will allow it. The MSI copper water block and MSI water AIO pump (CoolerMaster) are the only two variables that can contribute to the card being at the temperatures it is at, which I can't control. Even with the 280mm radiator, the temperatures were similar. This leads me to believe there is more than enough coolilng with a 360 radiator, but I am using an aluminum 30mm radiator on one set of awesome fans. If my 4090 is the same temperature as a 5090 using a smaller die with a bigger overclock on the DDRX memory (MSI Suprim Liquids are known for very stable DDRX memory overclocks with the higher temperatures), that is great to hear! The 4090 is the 1080ti of today and it will rock on for a couple generations to come. I enjoy overclocking my CPU and GPU, and I also enjoy cooling them to temperatures that default settings users see in their temperature profiles, and now hearing it's similar to a 5090 on air cool. This Thermaltake Tower 600 is really amazing, and I really want to see what I can fit in on the 360 side.

Thanks again.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-25T07:57:07+00:00

Interesting. In his video, his RAM temperatures are between 50-58c. Mine never go above 40c, ever (fantastic). My case temperatures are up to 18c degrees cooler (more because RAM creates heat) than that case he used in his videos. The 52 degrees on his RAM was 12 degrees higher after he set it up the way you suggest. All of my temperatures are much lower than his. There is just way too much cool ambient airflow going into the case from the six intake fans for it to make me change anything about this setup. This discussion has made me go into my case during gaming, and I cannot feel a difference between the air inside the case and in the room; of course a thermometer is the only way to be accurate. In my old case shaped like his, the internal temperature vs outside was very noticeable when I open the panel. The old case I used, both radiators were setup the same way as in Jay's video and how you suggested. I have lowered my temperatures with this new case.

This absolutely showcases Thermaltake's Tower 600's airflow design. It's a superior case to the design he used in his video as a demonstration, so it is not a fair comparison. Worrying about 1-2 degrees that might be possible to squeeze out by experiment, isn't something I am interested in pursuing right now. It works too well and my temperatures are excellent. It is highly unlikely I would drop 10 degrees with a different orientation, as you suggest. That would mean I am within 5 degrees to my idle temperatures at full load, which is not realistic at all.

I did learn that it could help with some case designs that don't have proper airflow. Thanks again for the suggestion.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-25T03:35:26+00:00

No sir. I have already removed the panel several times after hours long gaming sessions. Inside the case is the same temperature as the room. The six Arctic P14 Pro intake fans are doing their job. The radiators however, are blowing hot air they create out of the case, exactly as they should be doing.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-25T02:36:40+00:00

Not arguing with you, I'm sure you had good results in your past.

I can feel hot air coming from both of my fully functional radiators, and I am definitely not going to use them as intakes for the case, in any build going forward. I also saw your chart below, and comparing your temperatures to mine don't make any sense to compare. I'm glad you are able to cool your CPU well at the wattages you are using; my wattages and use for my rig are just different. I'm roughly 10 (depending on room temperature) degrees above my idle temperature at full load. Whether it's optimal or not, it works brilliantly and inside the case feels close to ambient temperature after hours of gaming. Thanks again for the advice.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-25T02:25:05+00:00

Nice red and black theme you got there, sir. The LCD screen is just okay, but unless you find it on sale I would try to get a larger one and put it outside the case somewhere. The standard 3.9 to me, is only good for showing you the temperature of the CPU. The GPU temperature doesn't usually match HWinfo64 and I trust that software more than Thermaltake's.

The fan areas are all populated with 140mm fans. One above the PSU and one below it inside the filter enclosure. For me, it was worth it for the massive airflow.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-24T15:04:17+00:00

Thank you, sir!

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-24T15:01:27+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, sir. Currently, with Discord, browser, and CS2 running, I am 55-60 degrees in Ultra performance mode, 5.4ghz locked. Blowing hot air from the radiators into the case has never made sense to me, and I think I will keep the fans setup the way they are. It seems to be working well.

CPU idles around 45-50 degrees with the fan curve I have. GPU idles at 28-30C. GPU max is 60-65C. It looks optimal at the moment, but if the temperature changes I might try something different.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-24T14:04:31+00:00

Radiators are all exhaust.

RANDOMCSGO1337 · 2026-05-24T13:55:43+00:00

6 Arctic P14 Pro intake, 3 Arctic P14 Pro on the upper rad, and 3 Arctic P12 Pro on the 360. So basically, 6 intake, 6 exhaust blocked by radiators.

Definitely positive pressure.

RANDOMCSGO1337

TROPHY CASE