New Build Specs

[skd_mrk]

Since 47 was asking me here is what I settled on:

i7 - 920 Processor
12 GB Corsair Dominator DDR3 7-7-7-20 timing
ASUS P6x58D Premium 1366 motherboard
2x XFX HD-485x Radeon 4850 1GB DDR3 256bit
Thermal Take 850WT PS
Cooler Master HAF 932 High Air Flow ATX Full Tower
2x WD 750GB HDD 7200rpm (two old ones I had lying around)

Still need an optical drive and maybe a new sound card. Good in all other respects (that I can think of).

 

[47]

^^^^^^^^
plz ban !!!!
duration: perm
reason: jealousy

 

[Steve]

[quote1268705116=skd_mrk]
Since 47 was asking me here is what I settled on:

i7 - 920 Processor
12 GB Corsair Dominator DDR3 7-7-7-20 timing
ASUS P6x58D Premium 1366 motherboard
2x XFX HD-485x Radeon 4850 1GB DDR3 256bit
Thermal Take 850WT PS
Cooler Master HAF 932 High Air Flow ATX Full Tower
2x WD 750GB HDD 7200rpm (two old ones I had lying around)

Still need an optical drive and maybe a new sound card. Good in all other respects (that I can think of).
[/quote1268705116]


I wanna know what you think of the case as soon as you open it. My reaction was !amazed !amazed !amazed

 

[Leroy]

Quick question, I'm not sure, will your power supply be enough for all the hardware listed?

 

[dead mike]

u could run all that on a 450W

 

[Leroy]

two graphics cards, SLI?

 

[Propaganda]

[quote1268860609=dead mike]
u could run all that on a 450W
[/quote1268860609]

Ummm no....

 

[Spinny]

it should be enough, I would have gone with 1000W to be safe though...

Yeah that's an awesome build, wish I had it

I was thinking of buying that case when it was on for like $100 at TigerDirect, but don't really need it

 

[skd_mrk]

its rated for SLI/Crossfire. Additionally the newer processors pull less power than the older generations.

 

[LT_Clash]

thats becomeing the official TD case i have one too i spent a few hours on wire managment you just have so many options id go with a 1000W PSU but you could prolly get away with a 750

 

[skd_mrk]

Okay got the last items needed for the build today but slight wrinkle....the video cards occupy two slots with the cooling package.

This means PCIe slot 1 carries the card over the slot for PCIe slot 2. I can put it in PCIe slot 3, but the cooling tower will be resting on cable connection (external USB connections, power switch etc). Probably won't be an issue as the cooling unit is plastic as well. This also requires me to move the PSU from the bottom of the case to the top.

Another issue is the exhaust section of the card won't have a slot to vent through on the back of the case. It will have some ventillation, but it won't be perfect.

Final issue will the crossfire bridge run from PCIe slot #1 to PCIe slot #3?

I'm going to try and make it work by moving the PSU to the top of the case (warm air rises anyways) and letting the 2nd card hang over the lower PSU bay. Keep your fingers crossed.

I didn't cut myself on anything.

 

[skd_mrk]

Took a second look. Might be able to fit the card into the 2nd slot afterall...but it would leave just a sliver of room for the fan on card 1 to circulate. Worth the risk? Is it understood that these cards will be that close in a Crossfire configuration?

Opinions?

 

[OG buckshot jr]

Use only one graphic card for now. Save a bit of cash (~$50) and buy a graphic card cooler. They're MUCH slimmer and cool the card 10x more. This will enable adequate spacing while providing much better cooling.

Covering the fan/heatsink slot outlets (the lines overtop the heatsink) will cause the card to overheat incredibly quickly.

One card's enough for most shit anyway

 

[skd_mrk]

Actually I'm guessing I might be okay:
http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/MSI-Goes-All-Out-with-HD-4870-Quad-CrossFire-System-2.jpg

Those suckers are packed in pretty tight.

 

[surreal trip]

GO WITH COPPER HEAT SINKS.... I have a sick infatuation with how awesome they look hahah... as for power supply 850 is required gentlemen mostly cuz if it starts running too hot he may get energy bleed... usually nothing serious but i don't know that tower and it may affect enough to get cpu shutoffs... and thats a serious tight squeeze... I always worry about over heating... one of the first computers I built actually sagged with tower melt once...

 

[LT_Clash]

yes but skid thos are in a toruture rack its an open air case theres nowhere for the heat to sit. I would agree with BJ get aftermarket cooling for your GPU and only use 1 now.

 

[Leroy]

So, I'm a dummy, that looks like a 4 card configuration.. I thought we were limited to just 2 cards... do the games have to be written to take advantage of more than 2 cards?

 

[skd_mrk]

I ran it past the AMD forums consensus was it'll work fine so long as I ensure the case itself has good airflow. I spent several hours last night trying to get the cables ran just right.

Trying to overclock now.....

 

[TurboTaco]

Yo Skd man, with your current spec, there really is no reason for you to overclock any of your components unless you are doing it for fun and just want to pump out the most of your parts.

I wouldn't completely recommend this though as a majority of most overclocked rigs usually integrate very good cooling solutions with a good power supply. As far as I know, you don't have a liquid cooler running throughout your components. Even with good heatsinks + aftermarket thermal pastes + a spacey, well-vented case, you will still be putting your whole rig under due amount of stress and heat.

This normally is fine for testing and what not, but if you're leaving your system on OC 24/7 the durability of your components will drop dramatically over time. If you don't care too much about a gfx card breaking/overheating within a year or two or your CPU burning out within 3 yrs cuz u plan to upgrade/replace then its no biggy. If you want some reliable and consistant life out of your rig overall, I wouldn't recommending having your comp OC'd too high, just a bit maybe...but what you got is fairly top-notch and most apps and software ur gonna use likely won't need more than stock settings.

Just my opinion...my 9800GX2 fried within a year after having it on OC as well as a block of RAM that had their timings OC'd. Thank goodness for BFG lifetime warranty + OCZ lifetime warranty.

 

[dead mike]

heh a computer that nice, i wouldent overclock outside of turbo mode until i wanted a new computer....