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Advice on My Compy Build

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by LastMastr, Jul 10, 2007.

  1. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Are you sure?
     
  2. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    Yes I fairly sure if I am to read the lines that preceded his statement.

    Of course he could go back to his original specs and get an older much slower running system.;)
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2007
  3. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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  4. Lp531

    Lp531 Regular member

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    @LastMastr
    The FSB is-1066/800/533MHz on the Gigabyte Board...

    @Sophocles
    I just built a media server for my Mom with that case...I'm a fan of Cooler Master Cases...I picked the case up from SVC for $50 last Black Friday with a $35 rebate...total cost $15...

    However I was disappointed with the quality of mine...for the same reasons you listed as positives...

    I Did not like the tool less rear slot guards...found them to be noisy...I also did not like the tool less system used on the 5" 1/2 bays...I didn't feel that they held the drives securely...

    I also was not impressed with the airflow...I felt the 80mm intake was not adequate...I felt it needed a 120mm...I plan on installing one in the future...once I have time to Mod it...

    The one thing I have learned about cases is...What one person likes...The next person hates...The case is probably the most personal choice one makes in a build...

    Maybe the case I got was built on a Monday when all the workers were hung over...For me the case just did not seem to have the quality that I have grown to expect from Cooler Master...It wasn't the worst case I have ever used but it definitely was not one of the best either...

    If you have not used the Chakra case...You might consider giving one a try...I think it is the best mid range case I have ever used...the 250mm door fan is dead quiet...I use the 2 120mm fans as exhaust...It gives the case amazing air flow...I really like how the 250mm fan washes the whole Motherboard with air...No Hot Spots...
     
  5. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    perhaps, but like you say, personal taste. I find it very dull, and using all but the side fan as exhaust sounds a bit odd. Oh well, if it works for you!
    I have my side fan exhausting rather than as intake because of my fanless graphics card. However, this only saves a couple of degrees so when I get a quiet power supply (so a couple of degrees no longer matters) itll probably go the right way round again.
     
  6. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    At stock speeds, mine is running at 1504 FSB.


    Sorry yours didn't work out, mine all work perfectly. I've used that case for more builds than I can remember and all of them performed admirably. I've recommended it to others as an excellent budget case and have received only thanks for it.

    It is more than adequate because it is working in concert with the 120mm rear exhaust fan, they are actually reducing resistance on each other. A side fan would increase resistance on the front intake fan unless it is exhausting.

    There's a reason that tomshardware.com uses it in their budget build guides.

    http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/05/08/system_builder_marathon/

    Although the case that you chose looked nice I felt that the money spent on the Chakra would be better spent elsewhere, especially if it meant taking away from the other components. The CoolerMaster will perform admirably for a 3 GHz E4300 and it's not an unattractive case either.


    On this point I completely disagree with you. I will repeat what I stated in an earlier post.

    CoolerMaster has the best or as good a tool free design that I've used regardless of price.










     
  7. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    Some screen shots of my DS3 in action using air cooling.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2007
  8. Lp531

    Lp531 Regular member

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    @Sophocles
    Sorry...not trying to attack your choice of cases...I was just pointing out that what one person likes...the next person hates...that especially true with cases...

    The case works just fine...It just wasn't my personal favorite case for a build...

    My reasoning on the fans were...I have 2x120mm on Exhaust when you include P/S...with 1X80mm on Intake...thats why swapping the 80mm for a 120mm makes sense to me...I will still have almost twice as much Exhaust...as Intake...

    On the Tool less part...I am not a fan of tool less design in the first place...I have never used one that I cared for...I like the security of screws...with a screw I know how tight it is...and I know it will never develop any rattles...or broken tool less parts...

    On the rear panel...with the computer off...tap the rear guards...and tell me if yours are secure...tight...and don't make a rattle noise?..

    Just want to know if it was just an issue on my Moms case only...since it is the only time I have used this case...

    I noticed it on my Moms build because she has hardwood floors...so there is no carpet to pad the case from the floor...I put my fingers on the guards...rattle was gone...put a piece of tape on the inside...the rattle noise disappeared...
     
  9. LastMastr

    LastMastr Regular member

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    Well thats fantastic... you guys have been helping me alot..

    As for that list of cases, i liked the first, second and fifth one alot. Especialy the first one for some odd reason.

    Ok..

    What would you guys build using a 1500...

    Remember only fast arse performance... cuz otherwise, why the heck would we want it XD

    Ima try and convince my uncle into purchasing a compy for me.

    Im too much of a cheap'o to buy my own.

    1500 is what they spend on my cousins tablet.. so im asking for just a tower build. LMK.

    But try and keep the costs minimal for the best performance.

    Saying i want a Mid Tower ATX

    Thanks you guys ;)
     
  10. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    The Antec 900? Yeah it's a cool case, very popular with LAN gamers.
     
  11. Lp531

    Lp531 Regular member

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    @LastMastr
    The Antec 900 is a wonderful case...I have built 2 of them...however I would take the Chakra case over the Antec any day...even if the price was reversed...

    The Chakra is quieter then the Antec 900...with equivalent cooling...

    With the new $1500 budget...I would only go up to a 680i SLI board...just for the 680i chip vs the P965 chip...I would not waste the money on a second card at this point...no real need...then spend the rest on a good monitor...keyboard...mouse & speakers...
     
  12. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    No problem, I was thinking largely in terms of dollars although I have some modest disagreements regarding a couple of your assessments.

    LastMastr

    I enjoy helping individuals spec systems because I have years of experience in experimentation to share. I do however prefer to work with a price range that isn't constantly shifting because it leaves no baseline to work from. $1500 is quite a leap from $700 to maybe a $1000 because everything that was discussed previously can now be put aside. What happens if we spec out a $1500 system and then you decide that all you have is $500?
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2007
  13. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    The Antec 900 is incredible for cooling when quiet, I doubt the Chakra is much better. Have you directly compared two PCs in the same environment with the two cases? Common sense about fans tells me the 900 should be better, with an even intake to output ratio.
     
  14. Lp531

    Lp531 Regular member

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    My buddy has a 900...and a Chakra in his living room...with basically the same set-ups...and the Chakra is noticeably quieter...and he says equally cool...and this is a guy who runs 8 duo cores in his back bedroom doing nothing but folding...so he knows his systems...

    The thing I like about the Chakra is the dead quiet 250mm on the door...blowing straight down on the Motherboard...with 3X120mm on exhaust it is extremely efficient at cooling all the components especially the components on the Motherboard...

    I attribute part of the db difference to the Plexiglas window on the 900 vs the solid door on the Chakra...anytime you add a window to a case you pay for it in db's...

    I am not saying its a better case for cooling...its just quieter in my opinion...and I think if you try one...you just might agree..:)
     
  15. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    Lp531

    I might be guessing a bit here but you have a Chakra case don't you?:) LOL

    BTW, I have five dual cores that were folding full time but I have since stopped. I am still an official folding Beta tester although I haven't been doing much testing lately, but I will resume bets testing in the fall.
     
  16. Lp531

    Lp531 Regular member

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    LOL..:)No...Just like the Chakra as a Budget Mid Tower Gaming Case...

    I have 2 Wavemaster...2 Antec 1035B...2 Antec 660AMG...and 1 $169 store bought Linux Box...each model has 1 AMD rig...1 Intel...each pair built around the same time...

    I'm always kid my buddy...You only think your Fighting Cancer with all those Machines running...your probably running some Russian Child Porn Ring and don't even know it..:)

    Just kidding...It's a good thing you guys are doing...He's running two separate DSL lines...plus the cost of all the rigs and a $300 power bill to boot...
    Hats Off...I guess I'm not that nice of a Guy...
     
  17. LastMastr

    LastMastr Regular member

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    Hey dude..

    Check this out... i spoke with my uncle earlier today.

    He wants me to make him a real bad ass compy for him. He said if im succesful at making a real hardcore computer... hell hook me up with a more modern computer that he has.

    So that said. and i know you might not like this. lets make the limit 2000. Since its not for me.. its for him.

    The case has too look sick, but ellegant at the same time..

    The performance has to be fast as hell..

    And a great graphics card and a ton of ram.

    THANKS FOR THE HELP!! ;)

     
  18. LastMastr

    LastMastr Regular member

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  19. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    That should only be true if you're using a side fan, or if the solid side includes acoustic padding. Without a fan there, windowed panels generate no extra vibrations, at least mine doesn;t.
    The Enermax case may be different because the fans that come with the 900 are too high a speed on their 'low' setting. I've noticed that with most PCs, having the fans on high medium or low makes no difference to the temps, only noisier, so the Chakra may be better because it's pushing less air - you can get away with the same temps for lower speeds.

    Soph, I did fold but I got bored because it was impossible to get it to work peoperly on dual cores without repeating the same job over and over.

    Lastmastr:

    graphics card: Fast and quite good value, that's a good choice.
    Bay cooler: will be absolutely useless, I used one of those and it did absolutely nothing, and since it's thermaltake it'll be loud. Thermaltake think 'silence' is a pneumatic drill.
    DVD Burner looks good, although it seems a bit on the pricey side these days.
    CPU is reasonable, if you overclock it becomes really fast, it's standard fare if you don't
    Not seen many reviews of the Thermaltake heatsinks, but not that many of theirs have been good, I'd recommend something like a Zalman CNPS9700 or a Thermalright Ultra 120.
    Motherboard, Hard disk and RAM are good, but I don't like the case much. That's all down to personal preference, I think 'sleek' covers things such as the Antec P182, NZXT lexa or a Lian Li case. The Thermaltakes just seem too 'busy' for my liking, to many shapes curves and lights.


    The maximum you can achieve with that CPU is about 3.2Ghz, if you want 4Ghz you will HAVE to go with an expensive watercooling, and get at least an E6600, also to get lucky with the stepping. on Air cooling, 3.6 is about the maximum for a 6600, 3.2 for a 4300.
     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2007
  20. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    Let's just call it a minor annoyance. LOL

    It seems a bit pointless to jump all over the place with no end game in sight. A $1500 PC is quite a jump from $700 to maybe a $1000.

    I have heard of only a couple of E6600 every reaching 4 Ghz and that was using Phase Change cooling and they only got there long enough to bench but it is doubtful that anyone is using it at that speed.

    In fact I hear claims of all kinds of marvelous achievements from people but few of them show little more as evidence than a screen shot of CPU-Z and some fast Sisoft benches. It is highly doubtful that anyone is running an E6600 at 3.6 GHz on air. Although I can hit it, the heat is just too high for it to be practical. A couple of hours of folding would fry it. Even if someone manages to run an E6600 at those speeds for an extended period, Electromigration would end its life in a few weeks or months.


    I also have an E6700 that is in water cooled, in an air conditioned case, and an added fan to the chipset to keep it cool. I can run it solid at around 3.75 Ghz folding 24/7 but the chipset temps are just a little too high to keep beating it up. Common sense tells me to find a good operating speed and then to leave it at that so I backed it down to 3.6 GHz.

    Where a lot of overclockers go wrong is using the temp sofware that is included with their motherboards. For instance right now my CPU is idling at 31c and my Chipset at 39c using the included Asus software and both appear to be really good temps. That is a good reference when starting to overclock but if one wants to really know what is happening then they should take a Core temp measure using an application such as core temp. The core temp of the CPU is usually about 10c hotter than the outer measure of the CPU. My core temp for my CPU is 41c (exactly 10c hotter) and my chipset is 41c.

    In short be wary of wild overclock claims because many of those types of claims are very short term measures but not true operational measures.


    Here is a list of the average overlcock speeds and methods of cooling of some Conroes which is a compilation of hundreds if not thousands of attempts.

     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2007

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