max302

*Dued to the images per post limit, this log has been fragmented. You are on part 2.

• Part 1

Main event: LAPPING!

This is my first job, so be sure to leave plenty of suggestions, comments, whatever.

I followed this guy's guide on lapping, pretty complete although it lacks actual lapping pics. I didn't do anything fancy, just up to 1500 grit liquid. I think that's where I'll be stopping there too, unless I can get a grip on some 2000 somewhere local before my replacement PSU arrives.


First shot, 320 grit. Looks like I had a pretty convex chip.


Second, 600 grit. Already, it looks and feels better than stock.


After two passes of 1500 with liquid. Not quite a mirror yet, but close. A quick couple of passes on 2000 grit and some cutting compound rubbing and it should come out fine.

I'll be doing the same thing with the Scyth Ninja I ordered when it arrives. Lapping is fun !


I got my new Rosewill PSU just a while ago, works like a champ.

With every necessary piece in, I can finally start putting it to real use. I put my drives in and started to manage the cables. First attempt is pretty good for an IDE config.


I found some insulation too... I'm apply it right now, I'll update later tonight.


5 days later... lol. It's funny how unplanned downtime here on OCN always happens while I'm not doing anything special, and how I always work when I have a friggin stack of things to write on forums, blogs and the like.

Anyways, I put my foam down something like 4 days ago, check it out.


The said foam. It obvious isn't meant for soundproofing, but its still has decent properties for what I used it for. I think it's the kind of stuff you put under basement floors to trap the cold and or humidity from the concrete. I had a whole roll of it... probably something amongst the lines of 4 feet by 10 feet (40 sq feet), which is more than enough to cover like 10 PCs.


Mesured the stuff out, than took a blade the the foam, cuts super easy of course. I stuck it on with duct tape loops, holds like if I had used glue. Duct taped always is an assured win.


Here's what it looks like finished. It's pretty clean, although I wouldn't put anything this pink in a case with a window. But hey, this a function before form build, so anything goes if it works.

And it does work. Although it doesn't silence all my case, it does eliminate the entire scratching noise that the old WD HDD had, and also takes away some of the case rattle. What's cool about this foam too is that it isn't puffy enough to trap hot air, so my case and CPU temps stayed the same. 35 C on stock cooling stock volts, OC to 2 ghz. Not bad for stock cooling.

I can still hear the gale force winds coming from my thunderblades, but hopefully my custom fan controller will take care of that.

Speaking of which, I had nategr8ns PM me the other day asking me about how I came about to wiring a homebrew controller to my V1 on my main rig, he asked me to write up a how-to on controlling fans without using commercial controllers. I wrote about 3/4 of it up on paper during french class, I'm at four hand written graph paper sheets currently, so this how-to promises to be a good one.

I've got more to post, but because of a workplace accident involving a corner of a stainless steel table and my kidneys, I really feel like sleeping. I'll try to post tommorow.... if we aren't hit by any downtime again. lol.


I got my cooler a few days ago. I was surprise with the build quality on this thing... I wasn't expecting this for a 25$ cooler.


The cooler weighs in at some 800 grams with the LGA775 mounting clips and included fam, which is also very impressive for a budget cooler. The fan however is a little weak, so considering that I already have thunderblades as intake and exhaust fans, I decided not to use the included fan. Besides, those fan clips are a PITA to install.


Here is what it looks like installed. Dued to the cooler proximity to both the exhaust and PSU fan, not having a fan directly on the cooler isn't a problem. I get ~26 C on idle at 3 ghz 1.36 V (not sure for the voltage, don't take my word for it), and ~32 C at 50% FAH load. I'm pretty happy with this cooler, I'm considering buying another one for a friend.


I bought this at Rona to facilitate drilling of cable management holes. I mounted it on my dad's dremel, and after a couple of seconds the bit just broke in half, and a piece whizzed right past my face. Thank god I was wearing safety glasses.

What other bit do you recommend for cutting through cases?


I'm also working on a custom fan controller. This is what it looks like so far, but I still have to find 15 ohm pots. I've went to 4 places, Ratshack included, and nobody seems to carry 3/4 turn panel mountable 15 ohm rheostats. There were trim-pots, but that's not exactly what I'm looking for.


My dad and I also thought up a way to mount it in a downstairs closet using 3/4 inch MDF and threaded rods. It cost me some 40$ for the MDF, rods, and a 50 ft ethernet cable, and it looks pretty nice. The rods go straight through the ceiling structure, so it's pretty solid.


At this stage, the hardware part of this build it pretty much finished, except for the fan controller, so I'll be trying to post benchmarks and software info as soon as I can find a temporary OS drive.

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repo_man

Lap job looks good. I'm too afraid to do that to my cpu,lol. Some auto parts store might have some 2000 grit paper for you, fwiw.

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Current - Project: Sanguineus Cinis Cineris
Completed Build Log's

• Project: Phoenix
• Flip this Tower

max302

I hadn't given you guys any benchies since the beginning, so I figure I might as well do so now and take the time to stress test my new machine while I'm at it.



The temporary setup... Momma's not gonna be happy if this is still there by supper time lol.

Keep in mind that my goal here was to break the 3 ghz, and keep it stable at low volts. This server won't be serving up millions of web pages per day or running processor intensive game servers. On the other hand I want to fold with the said machine, so I'll try to tighten up my RAM latencies, maybe give it an extra mhz or two.

Here is what the initial OC looks like.


Stress testing went smoothly, which surprised me at with a Vcore that low. Yes I know, 1 hour and some isn't really impressive, specially on blend test, but keep in mind that this machine will never, EVER go over 60% load for over 10 minutes. Also, both my media disk and my dad's media disk are in this box, so going through extended downtime for ****s and giggles is out of the question. Temps peaked at 58, and kept closer to 55 most of the time at 100% load. With a FANLESS cooler. I'm really impressed with my Ninja. Currently idling at 27-28 with 21C ambient.



After setting new ram parameters. Testing went fine too.



SuperPI Mod time with my final overclock: for 1M.

Overall, not that bad considering I'm not trying to reach something insane. Heck, my low power (relatively) server box which cost me well under 500$ ends up folding faster than Fr0stbyte my sig rig.

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max302

Little update I didn't bump for.

http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-wo...ml#post3542239

Foam soundproofing gets posted tonight.

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max302

Bump for the foam soundproofing.

Refer to this post.

http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-wo...ml#post3542239

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max302

Bump, lots of stuff added.

Check out this post.

http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-wo...ml#post3542239

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pbpenguins412

Awesome work. I know you don't like these kinds of posts, but this is really well-done.

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max302

Well.... final bump for this sucker, I'm pretty much done. I wanted to benchmark and post some screenies, but I lost the screenies while installing windows on some random drive, and there's no way I going through more downtime just to conduct benches and stress test to which I already know the results.

I feel like this log was a tad useless, the carbon vinyl turned out to be made of pure epic fail. The only big highlight on this project I think is the suspension mod, but then again, it's most certainly not the mod of the year lol.

Oh well, if I can help anybody at all with what I posted, then I'm a happy man.

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Clinic

Lol, its pink!

*cough*

Looks good though. A good solid server for you. Have fun!

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Dar_T

I haven't seen any else mod an ultra grid. Some nice ideas you have there!