Moph
21/5/08 10:40:31 PM
Serf
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My old A64 3200+ / 8600GT combo is getting a bit slow and I'm sick of having to set up my Dell 9400 whenever I want to game, so I'm building a new rig :) Have most of the gear here now, still waiting on a few items in the mail, but should (fingers crossed!) have it all together this weekend and will post some pics.
SPECS:
|- Antec P182B case (slight mods - more info below)
|- Gigabyte EP35-DS4 mobo (passively cooled; not worried about futureproofing)
|- Intel Q6600 quad core (G0 stepping)
|- Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme CPU cooler w/ Scythe S-Flex 1200/1600RPM fan (will try both)
|- Leadtek 9800 GTX (bring on aftermarket cooling.....)
|- 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX C5 DDR2-800
|- 2 x WD 640GB (RAID 0) - partitioned into OS (C:), Multimedia (E:) and Backup (F:)
|- 2 x WD 250GB (RAID 0) - program files, page file and data (D:)
|- 2 x Asus Lightscribe DL SATA DVD burners
|- Zalman ZM850-HP PSU
|- DVICO Fusion HDTV
|- Soundblaster X-FI (maybe - depends on quality of onboard sound)
|- Zalman 6 channel fan controller with 4 Scythe S-Flex 1200RPM case fans
|- Huge quantities of silicon washers, screws and sheets to minimise case vibrations
ACCESSORIES:
|- Dell 30" LCD @ 2560x1600
|- Logitech Z5500 speakers
|- Logitech G15 keyboard
|- Logitech G7 mouse (gaming)
|- Logitech MX Revolution mouse (browsing / work)
|- Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick
|- Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 (now HD with quad core!)
|- Logitech Premium Notebook Headset (gaming comms)
|- Logitech shares (a not-so-funny joke!!)
MODS:
|- case stripped to chassis and all painted gloss black
|- fan in lower compartment relocated in front of HDD caddy
|- chunky fan grills removed to reduce airflow impedence
|- air filters replaced with fine black steel wire mesh
|- front intake grills modded to improve airflow (original plastic fins were "L" shaped, now just "_" shaped)
|- lowest 5.25" drive cover replaced with mesh to assist airflow to CPU
|- acoustic foam to side panels and possibly front door
|- all fans replaced with S-Flex 1200RPM
|- 2 x blue cold cathode lights that I *might* use hidden away somewhere in the case if I can get a gentle glow happening out of the air vents at the front
Backup is to existing PC (single 320GB HDD) and external 500GB WD MyBook that I keep at work for security.
Final items should arrive tomorrow if consignment tracking can be relied on :) Getting excited!
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TheFrunj
21/5/08 11:06:48 PM
Titan
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Wow, that's quite a rig you're putting together. I, for one, demand pictures of that case, since I have the same one :D
Though if you get that Creative card I shall fillet you. Do not waste your money on that crap. The absolute best card to get is the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude, I can recommend this from personal experience. It is hands down the best sound card you can get in a desktop computer.
You'll also have to use Vista x64 to use all those 4GB of RAM :)
That PSU is also a bit overkill, but meh.
Here's my setup, you have to get your cables as good as mine (which are admittedly pretty lazy), because airflow will benefit immensely:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd13/TheFrunj/eVGA%20FTW/CIMG2247.jpg -----
Minister of Technology
Q6600@3.6GHz,1.417V | Tuniq Tower | eVGA 750i FTW | 4GB 800MHz | Dual 8800GT SLI'd | Corsair 620HX | 320GB Seagate | P182 Gunmetal
Australia says NO to Velociraptors!
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Moph
21/5/08 11:29:37 PM
Serf
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Thanks Frunj ... nice cabling! I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I imagine mine'll look something similar.
My rig has sorta grown over the years. I've got all the accessories from my existing one, and am pillaging the DVICO Fusion and 2x250 WD HDD's from there too. So the new computer (plus a new 22" screen and Logitech keyboard/mouse for the old computer) has set me back just over $2k.
PSU is overkill *buuuut* I've had a few friends who have copied my past systems but used cheaper components and, well, they've gone bang. Cheap PSU's = $$$ when they kill something. So as I'm going a quality PSU, thats $150+ minimum, so for $70 more I can be confident that the Zalman will eat anything I throw at it. It's around 85% efficient at 450-600W (from memory) and is reportedly quieter than some of the smaller Zalman PSUs in the range.
Don't forget as well that capacitors lose capacitance over time, so over 4-5 years of hard 24/7 usage a PSU could end up running at only 60-70% rated wattage. That's back to 600W which is about where I see my system running under full load.
Will be running 32 bit XP Pro for now; upgrade to 64 bit Vista Ultimate when it's worthwhile. I believe XP gives 3.2GB useable out of 4GB which is fine for anything I'm doing. I've yet never topped out my gaming laptop which has 2GB.
Photos of case will follow shortly tomorrow or Friday night :) -----
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Dasa
21/5/08 11:37:48 PM
Hero
Titan
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250g hdd are a fair bit slower than the 640g hdd due to lower platter density
aim for pioneer 215
9800gtx doesnt have a hope of powering a number of current games on that screens native res
new cards will be out in july and two of them in sli\cf should be able to hack most games so you may want to look at a 750i or x38 mb
if onboard isnt good enough look at auzentech sound cards -----
Storm G5 e6600@3.5 1.5v 2x1g 8800gt 1g 730c 2150m pcp&c 510w CM Stacker Dell 24" 2405fpw Z-680
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y83/dasa09/P1080547.jpg
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Moph
22/5/08 12:08:16 AM
Serf
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Yup 250's will be slower than the 640's, but the setup I'm proposing should still be measurably quicker than just running off 2x640's in RAID 0. Usually optimal to have OS on one RAID array (A), then program files and scratch disk / page file on second RAID array (B). That way many operations are Load A --> Page File B or Load A + Load B simultaneously.
In my existing system I have had at various times Pioneer 108, Pioneer 110, LG ????, Asus Lightscribe. For ripping movies quickest is Pioneer 110, then Asus, then LG. But for burning, Asus, Pioneer, LG. Varies a bit. I don't use them enough to be hassled too much one way oth the other but Lightscribe = cool :)
Am not hoping to run games at 2560x1600 LOL. Would be nice, but am happy with 1600x1200 or 1920x1200. Not looking to upgrade the system over time - like my last system, this is a 'one off build'. If more RAM or a new gfx card are worthwhile down the track then fine, but I've found the whole 'future-proofing' concept a bit of a joke. My existing Abit AX8 was a whopping $250 when I was fresh out of uni and on a tight budget ... it promised X2 compatability ... X2 released, chipset wasn't compatible. Seen it happen too many times. Now I just get what I need now, build it so it'll keep me happy for 2-3 years, and enjoy it!
Thanks for the suggestion re Auzentech - have heard of them, and it's all been good. Will look into it.
Edited by Moph: 22/5/2008 12:08:44 AM
Edited by Moph: 22/5/2008 12:09:06 AM -----
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tantryl
22/5/08 1:05:09 AM
SuperHero
Immortal
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Just so you know that system would draw down less than 250W if you left the component stock and likely less than 300W if you overclocked. -----
"They're not gay, they're hobbits."
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datafast69
22/5/08 1:06:17 AM
Guru
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The burner thing is interesting, as I think the Asus is a rebadged Pioneer.
Now I could be wrong ;) -----
E3110@3.4Ghz(stock cooler), EP35-DS3,2Gb Kingston Value Ram, WD500Gb, Crap Graphics Card.
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tantryl
22/5/08 1:09:07 AM
SuperHero
Immortal
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The Asus is a rebadged Liteon. The 16x and 18x Asus drives were rebadged Pioneer, the 20x is Liteon. -----
"They're not gay, they're hobbits."
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Moph
22/5/08 1:38:36 AM
Serf
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Quote by tantryl
Just so you know that system would draw down less than 250W if you left the component stock and likely less than 300W if you overclocked.
Q6600 burn - 95W
9800 GTX burn - 155W
HDD's - 4x9W = 36W
Motherboard - 25W
Fans - 10W
Extra bits 'n pieces - 20W
TOTAL - 350W; allow 30% drop in efficiency over 5 years --> 500W
LOL you're correct. 850W is complete and utter overkill. I'd relied on that current draw estimator link posted up somewhere around here rather than googling the numbers for myself. Ah well, should still be quieter than the 500W Zalman as the 850 has dual heatpipes/radiators and 140mm fan (vs single heatpipe/radiator and 120mm fan for 500W/600W/750W).
SilentPCReview found the Zalman ZM1000 dual heatpipe w/ 140mm fan was quieter than the Zalman ZM600 by a fair margin. Up to 16dB between 300-400W. Zalman ZM1000 @ 20db; Zalman ZM600 at 31-36dB. And efficiency for ZM1000 was over 86% in 200-400W range. So still happy with my choice.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article834-page5.html
Well pointed out though tantryl (chuckles).
Edited by Moph: 22/5/2008 1:38:54 AM -----
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tantryl
22/5/08 1:58:14 AM
SuperHero
Immortal
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It's also highly improbable that at any one time you'd get the absolute maximum draw out of every single component at once.
Also the 9800GTX is closer to the ~100W mark. See http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/geforce9800gtx_7.html -----
"They're not gay, they're hobbits."
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datafast69
22/5/08 2:31:13 AM
Guru
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Quote by tantryl
The Asus is a rebadged Liteon. The 16x and 18x Asus drives were rebadged Pioneer, the 20x is Liteon.
Learn something new each day :)
I would get the Pioneer in that case ;)
Edit:Eeek! I got the wrong vcore in my tag line,should be a 1 in front of that 6 :(
Edited by datafast69: 22/5/2008 02:39:10 AM -----
E3110@3.6Ghz(1.625v stock cooler), EP35-DS3,2Gb Kingston Value Ram, WD500Gb, Crap Graphics Card.
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Moph
22/5/08 10:38:16 AM
Serf
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22/05/2008 0827 ADELAIDE Item with local courier for delivery
:) Parts should arrive today :)
Noticed that the Asus Lightscribe I was going to pinch from my old machine is IDE. Want to go all SATA so there's my explanation for the missus as to why I need to buy a Pioneer 215 ;) Have already bought the other Lightscribe SATA.
Did a quick google on the Pioneer 215 and couldn't find any absolutely glowing reviews that would make it stand out from the pack. Would you mind briefly letting me know what its advantages are? -----
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TheFrunj
22/5/08 10:51:12 AM
Titan
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Quote by Moph
Would you mind briefly letting me know what its advantages are?
Cheap, reliable burner.
Quite fast too.
I've not had mine go wrong, nor skip a beat, for about two years now* :)
*I have the older model of this same drive, the 212. -----
Minister of Technology
Q6600@3.6GHz,1.417V | Tuniq Tower | eVGA 750i FTW | 4GB 800MHz | Dual 8800GT SLI'd | Corsair 620HX | 320GB Seagate | P182 Gunmetal
Australia says NO to Velociraptors!
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Fat_Bodybuilder
22/5/08 10:51:14 AM
Titan
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http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=29&t=1 -----
Q6600 @ 4.050GHz, 1.7v | GA-X38-DS4 | Silverstone ST50EF | 8800GT @ 730\1800\2060 | HR03-GT | TR Ultra 120 | 2GB OCZ S.O.E | CM aMMo 533
I once had my E6420 @ 1.8v on air. How did I do that, you ask? Coz I'm fuckin' insane, bitch, that's how!
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tantryl
22/5/08 10:52:24 AM
SuperHero
Immortal
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Top notch review of the 115 and 215: http://www.speedlabs.org/index.php?page=the_pioneer_dvr-115d_215_review -----
"They're not gay, they're hobbits."
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Moph
22/5/08 2:49:07 PM
Serf
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Bits arrived :)
Just want to give creds to http://www.pccasegear.com.au who I got this delivery of gear from. Good range, competitive pricing, great online interface and phone support, fast delivery and brilliant packaging.
I've never had any other delivery packaged so well. Individual items were bound together into several roughly cubic packages, bubble wrapped and securely taped. These cubic bundles were then securely packed into a large cardboard box filled with styrofoam pieces. I think the package would have happily survived being dropped from carrying height no probs.
Delivery was good too - ordered Monday avo, delivered Thursday morning (Melb --> Adel).
Awesome to receive such good customer service :)
Will head back to MSY tonight and pick up a Pioneer 215. Will try my luck at returning the unopened Asus and buying a second Pioneer 215 but am not at all hopeful.
Big build night coming up! Plenty of coke 'n rum in the fridge so will take my time, get it right and post up some piccies as I go :)
Edited by Moph: 22/5/2008 02:49:27 PM -----
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SceptreCore
22/5/08 5:10:24 PM
Guru
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Just keep that coke 'n rum far away from the build! Put it in the next room or something... just to be on the safe side :P
But seriously, even the Zalman 750W PSU would have been more than enough, your system wouldn't draw that much power, for it to increase fan speed! -----
Marxland, Minister Of The Treasury, Minister Of Uber Coolness and Brother Number Two
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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Moph
22/5/08 5:56:48 PM
Serf
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Hmmm ... coke n' rum ... computer ... good point.
Reminds me of my current PC. Pulled it apart to vaccuum it and gloat over it a couple of months after I'd put it together. Lying on its side, case door open, on the floor next to the desk. Loving wife brings me a glass of apple juice, doesn't tell me she's put it on the desk - this is all her fault of course! ;) - and in moving the vaccuum cleaner a few minutes later the cord dragged the glass off the desk straight into my case!!!
Several cans of electronics cleaner and a half-hour hairdryer session later I plugged it all in and it worked!!!! Mobo is still awfully sticky though and I think the CPU is stuck in its socket LOL
You don't need to keep pushing the PSU thing BTW. I get it - it's totally overpowered. That was not intentional. I thought I had given myself a 25% overkill margin (850W capacity, 600W peak draw), not a 100% overkill margin as it turns out to be. But it's here now, it's quiet (hopefully!) and it doesn't use any more amps at 300W output than most 380/450W PSU's so it's staying.
MSY are happy to swap my unopened Asus Lightscribe for a Pioneer 215, so for all those who recommended 215's - I'll have two of them :)
Cheers for your suggestions / advice guys. Now time to get home and build!
Edited by Moph: 22/5/2008 5:58:16 PM -----
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SceptreCore
22/5/08 6:10:14 PM
Guru
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Please post pics... lots of pics! :) -----
Marxland, Minister Of The Treasury, Minister Of Uber Coolness and Brother Number Two
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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Moph
22/5/08 7:34:30 PM
Serf
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-= PICS START HERE =-
All set ready to go!!
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/tim_sarah_w/001Partsgalore.jpg
Scythe S-Flex 1200RPM fans installed using silicon mounts. Will trim ends of mounts off once I'm sure I don't have to move the fans again. Note the fan in front of the bottom HDD cage - I've cut out the metal trim that normall runs across the bottom of the case to allow the fan to sit hard up against the front grille. May need to fiddle with HDD caddy yet - not sure that it will clear - but am thinking of mounting the HDD caddy using an acoustic foam pad top and bottom, so existing guide rail positioning won't be an issue then anyway.
Sorry about the lighting and photos ... my lounge has 1 x 100W bulb :( Time for a new light fitting. Case paint job looks *far* nicer when not subjected to harsh light of camera flash.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/tim_sarah_w/002Blackchassiswithfansinstalled.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/tim_sarah_w/003FrontHDDcaddyfan.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/tim_sarah_w/004Sideviewoffrontfans.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/tim_sarah_w/005Rearfanandblowhole.jpg
Edited by Moph: 22/5/2008 09:10:06 PM -----
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