[Leonardo]

Hey guys... this will be some type of work log with plenty of questions :p: and some pics

Last computer that I built from the ground up was a pentium 4 (back when HT didn't even exist)

Since then I have been conformed which whatever my company gave me, but now is time to build my own computer!

List of parts so far:

Intel Core i7 920
EVGA classified E760
CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3
ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
EVGA GTX 260
TJ07 (silver)

The idea is to Air Cool it on stage I and later water cool it (stage II)

I also, did some small modifictions while installing everything, like inverting the MB tray, and installing a custom bezel to match the case


THE BUILD:

Test fitting the mb tray upside down (without the rails)



and here with the rails on (there was no way I could fit the top rail)... The bottom rail (which used to be the top rail, had to be reconfigured to be a little taller)


checking the lian li bezel (to see how I was going to fit it)


some cuttings





Test fitting


And here is a quick photoshop of what I'm planning to do once I water cool it













checking the manual



Double checking the manual






Triple checking the manual!!


a couple of adjustment!




Some cable management












I was very unhappy with the lengths of the cables that came on my PSU (CORSAIR modular -1000W)

Does anyone know what would I need to create custom length cables? the 24 was fine, but the 6 pin ones for the video card were to short!!!

[Leonardo]

OVERCLOCKING:
(Warning, this is not a guide to overclock anything... you'll be safer following someone that actually knows what he/she is doing )

So far I have been reading a lot of guides, and I'm still pretty lost

The first thing I did was to install a series of programs:
EVGA E-LEET
Core Temp
Real Temp
p95v259
LinX
CPU-Z

Then I started to raise the QPI
I was able to go from 133 to 148 (turbo enable x21 = 3.1 Ghz ) without a problem
@ 148 10 passes on linX and 10 1/2 hours of p95v259 (overnight) = 0 errors


The Benchwell scene (maxwell) went from 11m. 13sec (956.79 benchmark) to 10.05m. 5sec. (1063.29) (Nice improvement in my book )



@ 150 (and everything else on auto) I got the BSOD

Then I tried
QPI = 160
VCORE = 1.275
CPU VTT = 1.35
DRAM voltage = 1.65



The computer was stable, I didn't get any errors and I was able to test maxwell again



9min. 33sec. @ 1122.31

Temperatures seemed fine @ mid 70s under load... but later that night core#0 reached 79, so I brought it back to my previous configuration (148). The whole room felt wayyy hotter than the rest of the house.
Did I used too much voltage?

I'm thinking of buying two of these 120mm (triple 5 1/2 bay) fans and maybe upgrading the all the fans on the case... any recommendation of what fans to buy?
I'm also planning to take the Plexiglas covering the top and coming back to use the grille

any other suggestions?

thanks guys!!

[ivox3]

Number one ... that video card could fill a hot air balloon, ... just put your hand on the exhaust and see..

Well, .. I think 79c is too hot .. something isn't right. If I clock up to 3.3Ghz (Scythe Mugen 2 air cooler, .. I'm at 59c under full load. By the way, my voltage is at 1.328 that's higher than yours -- and probably could be knocked down ... so no, I don't think it's your voltage. That said, initially, why don't just just drop your multiplier to 19x, set the BCLK @ 160 -- for now, ..let the voltages on AUTO. Also, ..leave turbo enabled, ..which will essentially take your 19x160 = 3ghz setting and move it up to 3.3ish Ghz under render load ... If you can eventually push up to 4Ghz .. then disable Turbo. And just to let you know, .. I was expending 477 total system watts @ 3.3ghz, .. which under idle would be around 260watts. I thought I'd just let you know what kind of power your consuming when your running a render versus not ..

As far as that heat goes, .. exactly how did you seat that processor ? ... one dab of paste in the middle or evenly covered ? Is this test with an open case ?

I did a ton of research on air coolers, .. and ultimately determined the best one hands down for the money was the Scythe Mugen 2. Cheaper than the others, .. and the same performance as the very expensive Thermalright, Monsson, coolermaster etc.. And especially this, .... dead-ass quiet. I think I paid $40 or something like that ... ridiculous.

Anyway, .. I know your not going to get another one, so that point is moot, cause I know you. lol..
So, .. you need more info to determine the cause of your heat issue ... solve that and then move on to better system fans.


ps. That is the sweetest motherboard ... also, .. and I have to say this, ... you overbought in the power supply department, ..not that it isn't very nice -- it is, ... but you simply don't need all that unless your going to be bringing in an SLI config ... All that extra headroom you paid for will never get used ... Remember, the whole idea about Nehalem was making things more efficient/green and Intel is great at it and getting better, but the video card people could care less, ..they're the ones who've become mad with an insatiable need for power. lol.. The only thing you ever hear from them is how your going to need an extra 6-pin connector to run that card .... lol..

Listen, .. since we run our machines A LOT, .. I'm just as concerned about power consumption as render speed and I'm always trying to configure things to be in that sweet spot. Multiply that if your running nodes ... It's ironic though, .. faster machine = higher power consumption = faster render = less render time = less power consumption. lol..

What I find funny is that people will let their machines run 24/7 consuming around 300-400 watts in an idle mode, ..yet if they knew they left 3 - 100 watt bulbs on in the living room after going to bed, ... they couldn't sleep til they got back up and turned 'em off. lol..

We could really use a chart that would allow you to figure out base facts(resolution, desired SL etc) and then factor in your local kw/h cost and actually determine what it will physically cost you to run that render or animation .. Now that would be useful.

[Leonardo]

Number one ... that video card could fill a hot air balloon, ... just put your hand on the exhaust and see..

Yes, the video card was pretty hot, I will definetely take the plexy out and put back the grille (most of the heat from the videocard should rise out of the case)

Well, .. I think 79c is too hot .. something isn't right. If I clock up to 3.3Ghz (Scythe Mugen 2 air cooler, .. I'm at 59c under full load. By the way, my voltage is at 1.328 that's higher than yours -- and probably could be knocked down ... so no, I don't think it's your voltage. That said, initially, why don't just just drop your multiplier to 19x, set the BCLK @ 160 -- for now, ..let the voltages on AUTO. Also, ..leave turbo enabled, ..which will essentially take your 19x160 = 3ghz setting and move it up to 3.3ish Ghz under render load ... If you can eventually push up to 4Ghz .. then disable Turbo. And just to let you know, .. I was expending 477 total system watts @ 3.3ghz, .. which under idle would be around 260watts. I thought I'd just let you know what kind of power your consuming when your running a render versus not ..

As far as that heat goes, .. exactly how did you seat that processor ? ... one dab of paste in the middle or evenly covered ? Is this test with an open case ?

an even distributed thin layer of thermal paste
The case was closed, as soon as I open it up the temps went down... right now, I have two stock fans blowing the air out of the case (no intake air coming in)

I did a ton of research on air coolers, .. and ultimately determined the best one hands down for the money was the Scythe Mugen 2. Cheaper than the others, .. and the same performance as the very expensive Thermalright, Monsson, coolermaster etc.. And especially this, .... dead-ass quiet. I think I paid $40 or something like that ... ridiculous.

Mine sounds like an airplane

Anyway, .. I know your not going to get another one, so that point is moot, cause I know you. lol..
So, .. you need more info to determine the cause of your heat issue ... solve that and then move on to better system fans.

If you look at the max temp, you'll see that it was working fine after 10min of linX and 10min of maxwell (until the room started to get hot too )

ps. That is the sweetest motherboard ...

Over kill...I know! what can I say...

[ivox3]

Yes .. overkill, ..but I would rather have you overkill on an Gen 2 Intel X25 SSD. Leo Leo .. <sigh> .lol..

[sandykoufax]

Hey handsome guy, looks very nice system setup.

[ivox3]

Pretty standard with 920's and a good air cooler. Now there are some OC freaks who are willing to put much more time into this than I am...

[ivox3]

Holger .. sorry, ..it did. It took me a minute to get to it and then another minute to put a reply together. Look for it shortly ...

[Polyxo]

Holger .. sorry, ..it did. It took me a minute to get to it and then another minute to put a reply together. Look for it shortly ...

Hi Christopher,
sorry I wanted to write this as a PM but I pressed the wrong button here...

[ivox3]

Please, ... it's Leo's thread ... We could start talking about action movies or the merits of good personal hygiene, ...it's fine. lol

[vandigital]

Pretty standard with 920's and a good air cooler. Now there are some OC freaks who are willing to put much more time into this than I am...

I wouldn't over clock my ram that high as it breaks the warranty lol and is not recommend but thats just me.

Heres my build can be run for days at 100% load and not fault








Runs at full load 63 c at 4.25ghz idle's around 25c

[ivox3]

Sloppy sloppy cable management !

Nice machine though ...

So, ... at 4.1Ghz I'm at 58C with air, .. your at 63C at 4.25Ghz with water. hmmmm... Like a proud father I am ...

[Micha]

The case was closed, as soon as I open it up the temps went down...

My experience - an open case give me the lowest temps for my overclocked, aircooled Q6600 and the system is very quiet, no big case fans are needed. Only a slow low speed fan is moving the air around the HDD.

[Leonardo]

so far... I have been able to get the PC at 3.46 Ghz stable

[ivox3]

Great ... let's get a benchwell out of you then ...

Should be in that 8:30ish range ...