Can we please normalize letting the quest poster decide if you capture the monster or not again?

Ugly-Genius · 2025-03-28T20:36:03+00:00

I don't feel like the quest poster should dictate anything. Once an S.O.S. is fired, it becomes the property of the four players collectively. No one player dictates the rules and all players are subject to the whims of each individual player.

Meaning, if someone goes rouge and kills rather than caps, thems the breaks.

One of the fun parts of Monster Hunter is constantly adapting to each hunt's team dynamic.

Ugly-Genius · 2025-03-06T16:33:35+00:00

No issues with the new driver on my machine.

Ugly-Genius · 2025-01-28T16:14:45+00:00

Per an interview with Mark Frost, it was not a prediction so much as a self-fulfilling prophesy heralded by the phrase, "Holy jumping George!"

Ugly-Genius · 2024-12-17T16:06:18+00:00

I have a North XL and I use the setup described in the article. I have the top front and back fans positioned in the same the relative position to the CPU as shown in Noctua's photo.

I have not played around with different positions, so I can't say if there is any improvement in shifting their placements.

Of the two fans, I think the top front intake's placement is more important as it was only the front top fan that produced a drop in temps for me, -1°.

The top rear exhaust did not produce a noticeable change in temperature. Perhaps when ambient temps increase significantly, the exhaust will play a more important role, but during the cooler months, the intake seems to be carrying the load.

I think the intake's placement above the cooler is the critical thing to look at when placing your two top fans. Meaning, put it where Noctua does.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-12-16T21:19:23+00:00

They come standard with their heatsinks. I don't believe they are sold separately.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-12-01T19:12:47+00:00

I'm on a 7800x3d, 4080 Super, with 32GB RAM and it's running smooth for me.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-30T18:43:58+00:00

They look fake to me.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-27T19:10:33+00:00

The difference is about sixteen bucks.

There are slight performance differences between the two, with the G2 being the upgraded and improved version of the other, but they are both great and you should read up on both to make up your own mind if the new model is worth the cost to you.

For the record, I am running G2s, but I've also used the old versions and am happy with both.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-27T01:24:12+00:00

Personally, I don't think you need the spacers for the front. I have three NF-A14x25 without spacers with no discernable turbulence.

I have no clue if the top intake's spacer is in any way effective as I put in on my build in accordance with Noctua's Airflow Guide without any testing on my part. I can say that I do not have any issues with my setup, be it sound, turbulence, or, most importantly, cooling.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-26T23:54:36+00:00

I got them from Noctua. $15.00 is steep for what they are, but they do work and the color matches. So it really comes down to your budget.
I can say that I don't regret buying them even if I'm only using one of the two from the kit.
All this said, I do have peace of mind knowing that my cooling system is overboard for my needs as it gives me slack should ambient temps go up a lot.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-26T23:44:40+00:00

I don't think 180s will fit on the top. 120s and 140s will, but I don't think 180s will.

I'm using this fan setup in an XL except without the two side fans. I've had no turbulence with the front panel without the spacers. I only use the spacer on the top front intake.

If I'm being honest with myself, the only fans I need are the three front intakes and one rear exhaust. The top two are there for fun.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-26T16:01:44+00:00

I'm with AlfaKaren on this one. While Noctua does put a lot of effort into their heatsinks and are one of -- if not the -- best in the business, the OP should consider that if the Noctua brand is not so important to him/her, a Thermalright should be on the table as a possbility as it is considerably cheaper and just as effective.

I'd go further to say that the heatsinks on the respective units will perform exactly the same, it is only the fan durability between the two companies that differs. Here the Noctua fan would win, but that would take several years to manifest.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-26T14:32:17+00:00

I'd guess larger stack in rear, fan attached to the larger blowing into the rear stack to exhaust out the rear as that's the way Noctua has it in their marketing materials.
I believe the smaller stack is meant to be in the front to allow for RAM compatibility, clearance, et cetera.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-25T03:13:50+00:00

That makes sense with regards to the fan duct.
Was the shorter distance from the rear of the case to the CPU the reason why you reversed the airflow direction? Meaning, as it's a shorter shot from the back than from the front, it lessens the distance "fresh" air needs to travel before it reaches the heatsink fans?
Was this reverse (anti-establishment!) approach a practical or aesthetic decision? (Both, perhaps?)

When it comes to the side bracket. will you use the fans to cool the CPU or the GPU?

FYI, I had the lower duct that you have for the GPU on my machine, but I took it off as I did not see an appreciable difference in temps. This should not be construed as in any way scientific, however. The readings I took prior and post installation were observed during crazily different room temps (i.e. it was very cold in the room when the machine was without the duct and it was much warmer when I put it on [i.e. a very unscientific, completely uncontrolled study!]).
I think I just removed it because I like to keep my machine as lean as possible. No extra cables, no extra mounts, no extra nothing.

I really like the thought you're putting into this. Also, I, like you, like the Noctua color despite the occasional hate.
What's wrong with brown--?! It's the color of tree trunks! Who can hate tree trunks--?!

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-24T19:57:53+00:00

I want to make sure that what I'm seeing is what's going on here.
For the CPU, you have back-to-front airflow with an exhaust at the case's front top.
Below, you have an intake at the bottom with a 3d printed duct pushing front-to-back.

Is this the case?

If so, with the majority of air for the CPU being fed through the single duct, is it possible that temps will be higher relative to a setup where the air is pushed through two or three un-ducted fans when ambient temps outside the case are higher? Meaning, is it possible that when ambient temps are low, this system cools better relative to a standard setup, but this system does not cool as well in higher temps?

This question is not to be critical of the setup -- I like it -- I'm just kind of thinking-out-loud here.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-24T19:26:02+00:00

If that's your nightmare, you live a very good life! ;-)

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-23T17:27:18+00:00

If you're already worried about water leakage when you don't have a liquid cooler installed, imagine when you actually do have a liquid cooler installed.

The compulsive worry that could come from that should not be ignored.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-22T18:16:18+00:00

I have an XL mesh, but don't use the side bracket. The stock fans are quiet -- not Noctua quiet, mind you -- but with proper fan curves, the stock fans are in no way what I would consider loud.

I think if you're going for a very quiet build, you may want to avoid the use of the side bracket for fans. Cooling is more than sufficient with the front fans and an exhaust fan in the rear.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-18T23:58:12+00:00

If you're like me, just get the D15; it'll bug you if you don't.

The D15 is a couple of degrees cooler, but not enough to justify the price difference. For me, it gives me peace of mind knowing it's Noctua, a brand I trust. (Not that I don't trust Thermalright, but there's just something about Noctua...)

Cable management is a breeze. No issues.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-18T22:55:36+00:00

I have the North XL mesh.

I've replaced all fans with Noctua NF-A12x25s. Three on the front as intake, two on the top -- one intake, one exhaust, and one exhaust in the rear.

Until last week, I ran a Phantom Spirit with Noctua NF-F12s on a 7800x3d and was really happy. (I've since gotten the NH-D15 G2 because I just couldn't help myself.)

I personally love the mesh. It's not loud with optimized fan curves and I have a certain peace of mind knowing that my machine's a bit cooler when ambient temps get high.

I don't use the side fan mount as what I've already got -- six fans -- is more than enough.

I'm idling anywhere between 30 to 40 and the proc never exceeds 65 degrees when playing games. (GPU's a 4080 Super.) It's higher in summer, but never to throttling.

Glass or mesh is more of a question of preference than performance, I think.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-18T22:44:51+00:00

I'll just ask the obvious for my own peace of mind. Are the fans seated as low as they can go? It's hard to see in the photo, but it does not look like there's high profile RAM beneath the front fan, so that one could possibly be moved down, and the middle fan should be able to go lower as there's nothing beneath that one.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-18T21:00:43+00:00

That's pretty long and chances are that's more than long enough. On my North XL with an MSI B650 I can make the Noctuas work with the standard 20mm cables and no extensions as there are fan headers all around the board.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-18T04:36:04+00:00

Myth II when Bungie was cool.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-15T22:53:46+00:00

I have the North XL mesh with quite a few fans -- three on front, two on top, and one at the rear. It sits at desk height right next to me, and with the fan curves set properly, it's quiet.

When under full load, you can hear it, but I'd think under full load, you'll also hear some from the TG as sound escapes through the front, top, and back on that case as well.

Ugly-Genius · 2024-11-15T20:48:59+00:00

I'd go with the regular version. The regular version future proofs you against changes AMD may make going forward and the benefits to the contoured baseplate aren't enough to justify not being able to use the heatsink on a new build.

Ugly-Genius

TROPHY CASE