The Official PC building thread -3rd Edition

Ah, but we get what we pay for eh LOL! Totally teasing. That does seem steep for how long it's been, and since ati has cards that compete with it at lower prices...

 

I measured my Q9550 and HD4870X2 system, it totalled 445W a.c. full load. Applying a generous 88% efficiency, that's 392W d.c.
If you went easier on the volts than I did (I used 1.41V, which wasn't necessary it turns out) you could run a Q9550 at 3.8 with the 4870X2 off 400W. Whether you could do it off a 400W unit is another matter, due to the 12V current loading, but that sums up how much power 400 watts is.
The only reason the 550W unit is nice to have is the extra PCIe connector, rather than relying on low quality adapters.
As someone who needs 13 S-ATA power connectors in one of their systems, I've come to rely on adapters. They worked fine for using 9 drives with a 4-connector PSU (380W Earthwatts) and 13 off a 6-connector PSU (530W NX-5000)
My Athlon XP system had a 250W PSU, and that was a 90W CPU just like today's more efficient quad cores, the i5 included. It had a dedicated graphics card too, albeit a very basic one.

 

Well my day is just peachy. My friggin velociraptor just quit! I guess I knew this could happen. They basically run themselves to death. I guess that could explain my recent error. Hard saying. I find it interesting that error is followed by a massive failure. I was burning a disc today, and windows almost completely locked up. Couldn't even enter task manager. I let the burn complete, then shut it off. Post took substantially longer than normal, the bios could not see the veloci. So I gave it a new port. For what ever reason, that got the board to acknowledge the drive, but windows would still not boot. It froze on the loading screen. And the HDD clicking sound was slow, and more quiet than usual. Almost like it had trouble spinning up. At least I haven't had the drive that long. WD should honor the warranty. I'll not be buying any more of these drives. Unless they're substantially cheaper. I noticed that the 300Gb drive is under 200 now. But it better drop to 100 before I even consider it now...

 

That's the first velociraptor I've ever seen fail. I wouldn't call it rare, nor would I say raptors run themselves to death. Both of my original raptors are still working after several years' use.

 

Isn't it funny though, that this should happen right after my calling it a good drive LOL! This sorta thing happens to me entirely too often You must be pretty lucky then...

 

Not exactly, I've had my fair share of aggro with PC parts. I just tend to get more DOAs or DSAAs than stuff breaking a few months down the line.
If it's any consolation one of my friend's 7200.11s recently failed due to being operated at too low a temperature.

 

I'm gonna attempt to retrieve the (At least some) data here shortly. Rather than hook it directly to the board, I'm just gonna run a USB adapter to it. That way I can re-adjust it's connection at will.

Too LOW a temperature? LOL!

 

Works more often than you might think.

 

Well...It works yet again I was able to save the most critical so far(Text docs). EXTREMELY important. From now on, those also go to a flash drive! And I'm gonna strongly consider raid 1 arrays in the future LOL! Now for the rest of the files. Looks like it definitely has a problem though. It had some trouble starting up again, plus it would slow down during the transfer.

 

I had to be certain that the slowness wasn't related to the USB transfer device, so I attempted to reinstall windows 7 to the drive. I couldn't even make it to the setup screen. My guess is, the drive is intermittently losing connection. So the setup couldn't determine if the drive was there or not. So...it has been confirmed. Yet another dead raptor. That makes 2 now. I think I'll have WD send me the replacement, then sell it. Now I've probably been given just the reason I need to go SSD! Perhaps this was fate eh LOL!

 

Rob,
I didn't forget anything! The PSU comes with the case! I'm not putting a $90 PSU in a budget build! LOL!! The CoolerMaster 420w works very well and won't burn your house down in the process!

Russ

 

!

 

shaff,
The GPU is on board! ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics. This is a higher end budget build here, not for a hard core gamer. You can change that 955BE for a 620 Propus Quad, and it would only cost $459.14 to build. I chose the two Black Edition CPUs because of what you get for the price and performance, and easier overclocking. All the components I chose are better than average quality, so that's not an issue. What I tried to do was eliminate cheap junk and come up with a decent system for low bucks! I think I've succeeded in that!

Best Regards,
Russ

 

I think that's fair. The CM units are naff for noise and efficiency, but they seem to last, from what I've heard, though looking at the failure rates of cheap CM units lately, I'd still want to pop a Corsair in there. The graphics I totally agree though, OBG is fine if you don't game.

 

lets go cooler master,lets go cooler master.I'm cheerleading you see.lol. i have NO complaints about mine it's got enough juice to power this boy here.I have plugged into the UD3P to bad there rently unavailable now but there are some Similar Products.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161306
beleieve Robo the cm silent Pro would'nt disapoint you in any matter
of Power,But it's your choice and money best of luck

remember hit me up when you get the board. I got some setting for a good stable Oc for you,remember are Chips are twins out the box anyways batch# L846B715

L=plant code = Malaysia
8 = 2008
46 = week = 46th ( sometime in December)
5th - 8th digits lot number= B715


by the way Hey Sam what be a good setting to Crank this Baby up To have'en played with it yet

 

I wonder if its the 2.5-3.5 adapter chip causing the problem. I guess I'll never know. Rma is in the works though

Gonna run the 5000AAKS drive til I get my replacement. Not quite the same performance, but it's no slouch! Heck the WD1001FALS is a better performer. *Knocks on wood*

How much could I sell the replacement VelociRaptor for? What would a reasonable price be? Would they get the warranty?

I called into work because my computer is down. Now how hardcore is that!

 

Oman7,
I certainly hope you didn't use that as your excuse for not being at work? ROFLMSOAO!!

Russ

 

I was tempted. Only because work is slower than usual lately. I told them I had a stubborn headache. Since I RARELY call in, they never question me My computer is like my child

 

Sounds about right
Drop everything if one needs some attention...
If I built it, I see no reason why I shouldn't feel like that anyway. Funny thing is, I feel almost guilty wanting to put an i5 in my gaming system after the good service I still have from my Q9550, even though I suspect there's a fair few things that will benefit. I can only really appease that guilt by having the CPU up and running in another system.

 

2.5" to 3.5" adaprer Chip? Lolwut?