Random Hardware topics

[Colif]

So I was bored and I was looking at some details for the case I am going to buy, and one thing led to another and I looked up problems people have with case

1. Some found the pwm/argb cables for the fan hub too short but I don't expect to have same problem, their headers were at opposite ends of the motherboard whereas on mine they almost right next to one another... that and I don't have any argb fans so not really fussed about connecting it yet
2. Some found their motherboard didn't recognise the USB 2 connection for the Display on side of case, that sounds more like a BIOS problem really
3. Some found fans rattled... erm, I don't need that again

So if number 3 happens again, I did some research on fans (getting to be an expert) and it was a short search as I had brands to ignore:

1. Arctic - P12 fans seem to die too fast (I do have 4 spare P12 ARGB fans I could put in if necessary... shame i don't have the passthrough cable anymore.)
2. Lian li - fans died within 3 months, also need to use their hub to control
3. Corsair - I don't want more fan hubs and most of their fans won't work without one.
4. Thermaltake Swafan - only available in a 3 pack and needs its own hub
5. and when you are looking for white fans, Noctua as well. I thought about them but you would see them through front of case.

So after a short search I came to
Bequiet Silent Wings Pro 4
The 120mm fans are actually quieter, have higher static pressure and are better performing than their 140mm versions. Which is strange, as 140mm generall are able to push out more air at a lower speed. The 120mm fans do have more fan blades though.
White reverse blade 120mm fans are even rarer and I might just have to use

1. a Silent wings pro 4 there too.
2. Or just two Noctuas as its harder to see fan blades on bottom of the case.

Choosing a white case can have its disadvantages I guess

But I see if I have any problems. Not rushing into replacing them before I get the case.
After last year I don't want to think about fans, took me months to get a silent PC
I didn't want to have to replace fans that came with the case. Shame no reviewers mention anything about noisy fans
Shame there is no fan free version of case. I have to hope the fan problem is limited.

 

[ZedClampet]

I am currently planning on talking to Thermaltake tomorrow and then returning/refunding the desktop I just bought. Among other things:

No documentation came with the PC
The fans weren't connected
The PSU is upside down, which I understand, but it isn't optimal to intake hot air right next to the GPU
The motherboard, which wasn't listed, is hot garbage, and I still haven't even figured out what it is.
There is a part of the case missing, and a cable is sticking out of it. I have no idea what is going on there.
The advertising for the PC said there were 14 USB ports. There are 3.

Grand finale!​

None of the GPU ports are accessible--at all. They are completely enclosed in the case.

Now, I admit that it's been many years since I had a desktop. Also, I'm a blathering idiot. It is very possible that my last three points are a misunderstanding on my part that could possibly have been avoided if documentation had been provided. However, as of now, I'm not impressed

Edit: It's just occurred to me, in bed, that maybe one of the corners of the modular case is actually supposed to be removed somehow, and I might find all the missing ports there. It was just included installed for shipping purposes. I mean, who would completely enclose the GPU ports? I guess I'll see in the morning.

Geez, can you imagine how disastrous it would be if I had succeeded in getting the parts to build my own? Note to self: don't ever do that, stupid. You can't even figure out a pre-assembled (mostly) desktop.

 

[Colif]

Fans is a problem. Perhaps not enough if you can simply attach them. Just shows lack of attention to detail.

PSU upside down... does case have a vent underneath that would let it intake air? If not, would explain why its facing inside. Its got a fan inside so realistically its not going to hurt it that much, it would exhaust it out the back anyway.
My last PC had its PSU facing inside mainly as the vent it was meant to push air out of didn't line up with the fan inside the PSU. PSU was too short I guess. Didn't bother the case at all as the 3 x 180mm fans intaking air overpowered it.

Documentation:
Unless its a pre made model from someone like Dell or HP, then a lot of the time all you would get are just the manuals for each piece of hardware and tbh you not missing a lot.

Some have quick start guides but very little else.

Reminds me of an old story... guy gets PC home, turns it one and says Entertain me... its not a TV after all.

Its not like a laptop where you get a booklet, but you should be able to figure out what motherboard you have.

The motherboard, which wasn't listed, is hot garbage, and I still haven't even figured out what it is.

Use search on desktop to find System Information, the motherboard model should show in the top area next to system model

Tell me the maker and the model name and I should find the manual.

There is a part of the case missing, and a cable is sticking out of it. I have no idea what is going on there.

Edit: It's just occurred to me, in bed, that maybe one of the corners of the modular case is actually supposed to be removed somehow, and I might find all the missing ports there. It was just included installed for shipping purposes. I mean, who would completely enclose the GPU ports? I guess I'll see in the morning.

Case,... so I have to go from memory?

I think its a Thermaltake Tower case but I am not sure of its size, as they make small, medium and large, but they all seem to have same internals

It has a 90 degree rotation on the motherboard, so it should look exactly the same as mine above, all your connections are on the top of the case, is the gpu standing up in a corner?

The Tower 300 Micro Tower Chassis

The Tower 300 Micro Tower Chassis The Tower 300 is an m-ATX case with a classic vertical case design and comes in an octagonal prism shape. It supports up to a 420mm AIO radiator on the right side and can accommodate up to eight 120mm/140mm fans. With a s

thermaltake.com.au

it would appear you just need to take the top of the case off to access the cables.... notices a fan there... um, what a dumb case...

To access the backplate for both motherboard and the GPU, you need to:

1. take top of case off
2. remove the 2 thumbscrews holding the fan bracket in place and flip it up to reveal the motherboards back panel and GPU outs.

You will find the missing USB slots on the hiding backplate of the motherboard.

Dear Thermaltake, how do I connect my Wifi antenna? where am I supposed to run all the cables?
At least Thermaltake realised you need to connect Power... but how do you get a picture?


My case at least came with a simple cover that was easy to remove to access its backplate, and had a place for all the cables to get out.

old photo, hasn't been plugged in for almost 5 years now.

Building own PC with someone who knows what they are doing is a better idea. You also control what parts go in, you wouldn't be wondering what motherboard you had. Or potentially other questions. Like where were the USB ports hiding

 

[ZedClampet]

Okay, I have verified that all the issues listed above are accurate and identified the problem. The problem is that the GPU doesn't fit in the case the way it was designed to fit. The motherboard should have been turned 90 degrees. In that position, the extra USB ports, HDMI and Display ports would have been...surprise!...accessible through the part of the case that is "missing".

@Colif the reason I don't know what the motherboard is is because the monitor I bought requires an HDMI connection, and I can't get to it without taking out the GPU, which makes getting to it pointless.

So tomorrow morning, I'm calling Amazon, then I'm packing this crap up and sending it home. And this will be the last desktop I ever own.

 

[Colif]

Love to see photos of what they did.

I worked out the case was 90 degree rotated, how did they install it?

Shame gamers nexus hasn't bought that model to test.

I edited my last post after I remembered what your case looked like. Then i sat there wondering how you meant to even get GPU cables out of it. Even if it did have the part you missing.
And gl using WIFI antenna... there must be somewhere to route them through. Build guides just gloss over the details.

Not all desktops are bad but its your choice. Pre builts are more likely to be bad though... you don't have the control over parts.

I was wondering, why put a GPU in that doesn't fit... then I remembered pre builts not all built with care, profit is more important to some. Shove it in, who cares if it dies fast.