new pc for xmas, due for release late Q4 2007 :)

[VMFA-Blaze]

I have 2 systems that I'm presently running Vista on... My gaming rig has Vista Business 32, while my older rig that I use for everything else has Vista Business 64..

 

I was running 64 bit on my gaming rig but had problems installing some of my games and peripherals.

 

I mean its hard enough getting things to run in Vista 32, so you really don't need the extra headaches that comes with the 64 bit O/S...

 

As a matter of fact I'm planning on dumping Business and installing Ultimate on the gaming rig..

 

Blaze

[G3]

Have now put in 2x2GB DDR 2 PC-8000 G.Skill Ram and the E6850 runs at a MB FSB of 1780Mhz now with 2x4Ghz and max. 50° (1,4V). :)

 

thats music to my ears, nice one, didn't know you could get that high.

 

yes i have also read the 4 gig has some parts taken already in xp but its no big deal, 3 out of 4 is better than 2 out of 2, in this case anyway.

 

i just this minute put the 430w antec psu in with the 20-24pin adapter.

 

booted up and no problems so far, it has bios version 1002 (p5n32e-sli)

so its fairly recent, i will be trying the 4gig and running memtest for a few cycles to check stability.

 

looks like i can boot from the usb ( for memtest and bios flashing)

so hopefully unless i am doing raid its no floppy drive

 

very happy it booted up ok, always a nervous period in a system build.:thumbup:

 

now to set the memory timings and try the other 2 gig.

it defaulted to 800 x 5-5-5-18, but the sticks are 800 x 4-4-4-12.

apparently i may have to reduce this to 667 x 4-4-4-12,

as its 4x1gig not 2x2, i can upgrade this later if need be,

but it was so dam cheap, corsair xms2 ddr2 2gig pair for $121 Aus.

 

on a sad note:

a bit unfortunate, our new car (ve-sv6) just got

smashed bad by the biggest hail storm i have ever seen :cry:, spewing a bit.

oh well the new pc booted up :D, haha.

[Weta43]

ve-sv6

 

You'll have to give them a photo - they won't know what you're talking about :-)

 

[grandsurf]

4GB isn't too much for now? Your system can't get use more than 3GB IMO. Anyway good spec. What's your gcard?

 

Sorry Poko, i work with Autodesk 3dsmax9 64bit and PHS CS3 under Vista Ult. 64. Faith to me, there sometimes needs I of every MB in memory ;). In XP 32 Gaming System i can use 3,5GB of the Ram.

 

Steffen

[G3]

weta43: yes thats the one but the model with all the golf ball marks :)

not overly concerned as i have just run a successful pass or 3 of memtest86+ v165.

now in the middle of testing all 4 gig together (so far so good)

 

still admittedly at default detected timings of 5-5-5-18

and should be able to run @ timings of 4-4-4-12

but little steps before running :)

 

still slow on getting into vista anything.

 

edit:

multiple passes of memtest v165+ with all 4 gig @ 5-5-5-18

now to tighten the strings a little

 

good news:

also found a handy little app called pendrivelinux

which let me boot from the usb stick and run memtest from the stick, NO FLOPPY REQUIRED

 

 

[G3]

so far so good, multiple passes with memtest @ 4-4-4-12-2t timings :)

[The_GOZR]

SLI with 88XX are for real high res above 1600x1200 if you will not go above this res spend your money of teh second card on something else.. my advice.

[G3]

agreed,

good advice too i must say, and i have been wrestling with myself over this exact thing.

 

for lockon and rfactor i play on the projector @ 1280x720, so no real need for the second card.

 

the thing is i have the triplehead2go and run that @ 3840x1024.

currently boxed up with the monitors as i was never really happy with the

results i got when it was powered by the 6800 ultra agp.

it was ok but required a lot of eye candy to be lost in order to make it playable.

 

if i didn't want the th2go resolution i would totally agree and get only a single card.

thanks for suggestion, i know i shouldn't but i know i probably will :)

[VMFA117_Poko]

SLI with 88XX are for real high res above 1600x1200 if you will not go above this res spend your money of teh second card on something else.. my advice.

Second that. It's really not economic since You don't double the speed of your gcard.

[G3]

and i though 2 cards was plenty:

read something about 780i chipset and triple sli.

 

currently i cannot even find ultras locally, but they do have cheap 889+ calibres

its an oc gtx @ 630/1960 and performs slightly under a stock ultra.

comes with some fancy cooler, tec or something, i'll try to get better info.

also note the hsf heatpipe blocks access to one of the bridge connections.

the one nearer to the output end of the card, is this an issue.

think you just run a single link but not completely sure.

 

other current option is leadtek 8800gtx 575/1800

 

the cooler on the sparkle card does look better than the reference design.

cards called calibre 889+

any members had experience with the sparkle brand?

[G3]

oh well a bit late for xmas although better late than never.

the last of the parts arrived today.

so my world stopped and a computer was born:

 

e6850 c2d

p5n32-e-sli

4gig ddr2 6400 c4 xms2

2x msi 8800 ultra oc

antec quattro 1000w

antec 1080 amg tower

sata hdd

sata dvdrw

 

had to modify the fan shroud on the lower card as it interfered with my case to motherboard connectors not allowing the second card to seat.

it also blocks my extra usb and firewire connections but i can live with that.

so off with the fan cover and out with the hack saw, drill and file :)

it worked out nicely and now it all fits in, if only just.

 

after some nervous moments modding one of the cards today and some basic tests tonight i have to say its rather impressive,

then i found how to turn the sli on :D

[G3]

after getting familiar with the new pc, i got to the point where the temptation to overclock stuff was too much.

so today with the help of other users recommendations for bios settings for voltages etc, i went for it.

 

i had the system up to 400 fsb = 1600

and the cpu was running @ 9x = 3.6 Ghz

am yet to get it gaming stable at these setting but booting and general windows was fine etc.

 

think i need to get some active chipset cooling, its just passive heatsinks with pipes running hot,this makes me think its heat related due to the fact it fell over shortly after the first test in 3dmark06, makes me think heat.

 

back to stock for now, as after a few non posting reboots etc, the nerves got the better of me and i don't know about you but i'd rather a pretty good stock machine than a dead one :), will revisit the danger zone after i do some more homework on the subject, and my motherboard in particular.

 

ps: thanks to all for the reps of late, don't go in the user cp much.