Cali's new computer

[cichlidfan]

Are you saying don't get the Zalman cooler? That's what I have in my cart now.

 

Do get it, I went with Noctua for my game machine but I am quite happy with the Zalman.

 

The only issue I had with it was the mounting. The Zalman I have (forget which model) has a clip that secures it to the mobo/chip and I found it a little bit of a tight squeeze on my board. That is something that you really can't predict from drawings and pictures.

 

The Noctua bolted straight down which worked better on the game machine.

 

EDIT: When I said 'change the cooler' I meant from the stock one. Sorry about that, just realized what you 'read'.

[Cali]

Changed my 128GB SSD for a 256GB SDD.

[Pilotasso]

bringing in the big guns heh? :D

 

If you can afford it its well worth. You might want to put the movies on the HDD still.

[Cali]

I do have some movies on my external HDD and now I'll have more then enough space for lots of stuff. 500GB + 500GB + 256GB = 1256GB of goodness!

 

I also have about 3-4 other HDD ranging from 80GB-250GB that I could throw in there also. Can't wait to see how this compares to what I have now.

[cichlidfan]

Can't wait to see how this compares to what I have now.

 

I suspect you will be fairly well stunned. This is a major upgrade, it has been a while but I have been there. :thumbup:

[Cali]

If this is true that would be awesome! http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-670-review,3200-15.html

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-670-review,3200-5.html

[Cali]

It's here.........can't wait til it's all put together, grinning from ear to ear!

[EtherealN]

Hey, make sure to set up an FPS test run - if you have a FRAPS license (or if the freeware version supports it, I can't remember), collect some data to quantify exactly how much of a difference it'll make. I'm curious since, well, that's a pretty huge upgrade you're doing. :D

[Cali]

Will do, but I'll be going off memory from my last computer, since it wouldn't start up for me.

[EtherealN]

Ah, that's a bit of a shame. :(

 

Still, I think you're in for a pleasant time. Just try to not be so impressed you get stuck at the simulators so much your wife leaves you or something. :P Getting new computers can be dangerous for family life. :D

[cichlidfan]

I am reminded of Bill Cosby's description of the spedometer in the "200 Mile Per Hour Car". After 200 it just says 'Oh Wow!' :D

[Cali]

Ah, that's a bit of a shame. :(

 

Still, I think you're in for a pleasant time. Just try to not be so impressed you get stuck at the simulators so much your wife leaves you or something. :P Getting new computers can be dangerous for family life. :D

 

I know that sucks, but I do remember what kind of FPS is was getting with FC2, BMS and BS2, so it shouldn't be a problem seeing the improvement. Also, I won't be getting stuck in playing to much cause I just started another college class that ends mid-July, work is work as always and I love my wife more then playing computer games.

[Cali]

Didn't realize how small SSD's are! W7 is up and running, should be installing games over the next few days. Not looking forward to trying to figure out what axis my HOTAS is in FC2 and BS2. The rating on my computer in the control panel is a 7.9......highest it can get, the lowest rating is 7.5 which was the cpu, not O/C'ed yet.

 

The 670 is a big card! There is no way this card would have fit in my other case. The fan speed was only set at 30% and that kept it cool at about 34c, but with no load on it. The card only goes up to 80% in the EVGA software. I ran it at 80% for a quick minute and the temp dropped to 29c. Got 2 monitors running on the card, gonna see how it does with 3 hooked up. Another thing is the Mobo has video card connections on it also. Haven't looked into it, but I wonder if I can hook at monitor up to it. Happy so far with this mobo, it has a lot of bells and whistles!

 

The Antec 900 is a BEAST of a case. The airflow in it is great and I only have 4 fans running total! 1 in the front, 1 in the back, the CPU (Zalman) and the PSU fan. I need to get a adapter for the big fan on top and need to figure out why the other front fan isn't working.

 

This time I labeled all the cords;

4 CH USB

1 TrackIR5

2 mice

2 G-15 KB

2 USB HUBs

2 Cougar MFD's

1 Ext HDD

1 External monitor adapter, so I can add another monitor, had this before I bought this system

 

15 total USB devices total

 

My Ram is showing 1600, which it should be running at 1866. I'll have to check on that once I get everything up and running. The O/Cing tool seems very easy.

[EtherealN]

Another thing is the Mobo has video card connections on it also. Haven't looked into it, but I wonder if I can hook at monitor up to it.

 

If it's a Z-series mobo, then yes. That monitor would then run off of the Intel GPU component that's inside the CPU. :)

 

So if it is the Gigabyte Ga-Z77X you mentioned earlier, then yup. :)

 

My Ram is showing 1600, which it should be running at 1866. I'll have to check on that once I get everything up and running. The O/Cing tool seems very easy.

 

That's probably just Intel doing it's thing. If I remember right they upped the "standards" with the Ivy systems, making 1600MHz the highest "standard" instead of 1333 as it was in Sandy Bridge, so any sticks that are meant to go faster would have to be set manually to their profile in BIOS/UEFI. Intel considers it overclocking, I consider it "following component specification"...

[FLANKERATOR]

Sounds great Cali ! Best of luck with running your new computer :)

[Kuky]

Cali, one advice with fans lots of airflow and DUST:

 

Set up your fans to blow inwards more than outwards so you have higher pressure in the case, buy good air filters for those fans that blow inwards and that will make the air going into the case be very clean and you'll have minimal dust buildup in case. I have my case like that and it's one of the better things I've done and I recommend to you (and everyone else) to do the same.

 

You don't have to be exact with figuring out how many fans to blow in and out etc, say if you have 6 fans in case, set 4 to blow inwards and 2 outwards, if you have 1 really big fan make sure you set that one to blow inwards.... trust me, you will like it (I personally hate dust inside our outsidee the PC, and PC with lot of dust is terrible :D)

 

One more thing I forgot... Windows Index on my PC is 7.9 on all components and CPU has 7.6 (overclocked to 4.2GHz) as you overclock yours it'll be even better :)

[Cali]

If it's a Z-series mobo, then yes. That monitor would then run off of the Intel GPU component that's inside the CPU. :)

 

So if it is the Gigabyte Ga-Z77X you mentioned earlier, then yup. :)

 

 

 

That's probably just Intel doing it's thing. If I remember right they upped the "standards" with the Ivy systems, making 1600MHz the highest "standard" instead of 1333 as it was in Sandy Bridge, so any sticks that are meant to go faster would have to be set manually to their profile in BIOS/UEFI. Intel considers it overclocking, I consider it "following component specification"...

 

I read somewhere that I might have to change it back to 1866 in the bios. I went with a Asus mobo and so far I like it a lot, lots of extra things that came with it.

 

Cali, one advice with fans lots of airflow and DUST:

 

Set up your fans to blow inwards more than outwards so you have higher pressure in the case, buy good air filters for those fans that blow inwards and that will make the air going into the case be very clean and you'll have minimal dust buildup in case. I have my case like that and it's one of the better things I've done and I recommend to you (and everyone else) to do the same.

 

You don't have to be exact with figuring out how many fans to blow in and out etc, say if you have 6 fans in case, set 4 to blow inwards and 2 outwards, if you have 1 really big fan make sure you set that one to blow inwards.... trust me, you will like it (I personally hate dust inside our outsidee the PC, and PC with lot of dust is terrible :D)

 

One more thing I forgot... Windows Index on my PC is 7.9 on all components and CPU has 7.6 (overclocked to 4.2GHz) as you overclock yours it'll be even better :)

 

Antec designed a very good case when they made the 900! I'll see how thing go when I get the other 2 fans working. I also normally clean my PC with compressed air when I see it getting dusty.

 

Might be getting a divorce if it runs games like I hope it will :D, well at least seperated!

[Kuky]

Don't clean PC with compressed air, it doesn't necessarily have to but CAN cause static discrarge and kill your PC, I know a guy that was doing exactly that (using compressor air to dust off his PC and his PC never booted again)

 

Like I said, have more fans to blow insude and have filters on them. Note that there are many little gaps in every case no matter how well is made and if you have more air being sucked out of the case (low pressure in the case) all those gaps will let dust in and your case will be full of dust.

[sobek]

Don't clean PC with compressed air, it doesn't necessarily have to but CAN cause static discrarge and kill your PC, I know a guy that was doing exactly that (using compressor air to dust off his PC and his PC never booted again)

 

Well, the most likely cause for that is not static discharge, but a fan being spun up and creating an overvoltage in the board. Or, if you use a stron compressor, physical damage to a component on the PCB. But if you are careful, it is very unlikely to kill anything.

[EtherealN]

Agreed with Sobek. I use our industrial compressor when cleaning mine, but always make sure to hold any fans in the airflow still with my free hand - and of course I don't blow at full strength. Just enough to get the dust out.

 

I've never used canned air, so not sure what the deal is there.

[Cali]

Meant canned air, bought from the store. I've never had a problem with it or dust.

[sobek]

Just be sure not to spin any fans, can cause some mighty headaches.

[Cali]

I spin'em all the time :D, been using air for a long time. I also use the vacuum.

[Kuky]

If you use vacuum and those fans spin, they create voltage that is oposite of what they are working on (unless those fans are blowing in same direction you are vacuuming from), meaning the motherboad connector that is suposed to be grounded will be under positive potential and the other one is oposite again... again this could damage the motherboard

[cichlidfan]

Don't clean PC with compressed air, it doesn't necessarily have to but CAN cause static discrarge and kill your PC, I know a guy that was doing exactly that (using compressor air to dust off his PC and his PC never booted again)

 

 

It may seem silly but I try to avoid working inside my PCs if the humidity is low (more static electricity). Instead of canned air I use this beast when it is needed.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1339774534&sr=1-1

 

EDIT: Holding the fans also makes it easier to clean in and around them too, especially on video cards.

Edited June 15, 2012 by cichlidfan