kenzie_01

My first full build and its all going well so far. hopfully it'll be up and running tonight, so i can move data after updating the bios and getting xp installed etc etc. then on to the all important benching and oc'ing.

just thought i'd start this as a diary, mainly so i have something to go back on if anything does go wrong, but also some comment's and advice wouldn't hurt.

ok first thing first the bit's.

Intel Core 2 Duo (E6600) 2.4GHz - £140.89 paid from ebuyer.com
Asus P5N32-E 680i - £150.40 paid from Novatech
Asus EN8800GTS 320MB DDR3 - £182.75 paid from Ebuyer.com
OCZ 2GB Kit PC2-6400 Platinum XTC - £74.99 paid from ebuyer.com
Western Digital WD2500KS 250GB SATAII/300 x2 - £80.00 paid from ebuyer.com

Coolermaster I Green 600W PSU, Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, Thermaltake Soprano Silver -
All Ordered together for an extra discount £117.28 from ebuyer.com

Total for build - £746.31

Anyway to data (one evening of having the stuff before work today) i've managed to get it all together and booted to the bios with no problems.

Plan for tonight is to update the bios to version 1103 and then install xp and try and get a raid0 set up for the two WD HDD's, i also have a 160GB drive in my old pc that i'll be adding to the rig soon once i finish backing up all my old data etc. as far as i know that should be a problem but if anyone has any advice or warnings as to how i should set up my hdd's then please let me know.

Just to recap the 2 WD 250GB HHD's i would like in RAID0 (for games and programs) and the 160GB drive as data storage (i take a lot of photo's). will this setup cause any problems?

ok off to do a little research on setting up RAID0 now.

back tomorrow with an update.

all looking good so far

gamer vc

looks good but i haven't seen a setup with ddr3 yet so give us info about how fast it is or explain y u choose ddr3

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saxahonker

He...um...didn't choose DDR3

Silviastud

Hmmm DDR3 huh? I think you are looking at the memory card.

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Dual Core - Single GPU - 16,083 3DMark06
E8400 @ 4.05GHz
9800GTX @ 850/1998/1225

kenzie_01

My guess is he was looking at the Graphics Card, RAM is DDR2, didn't think you could even get DDR3 RAM yet? anyway glad to see a few people interested in a random thread like this. if you want i can try and get some photos up for you soon too.

Looking forward to getting it all up and running tonight. fingers crossed for no problems during the Bios Flashing.

Silviastud

You can buy DDR3 now actually, not that I believe it's worth it just yet.

Looking forward to seeing pics. Looks like a great build btw.

__________________
Dual Core - Single GPU - 16,083 3DMark06
E8400 @ 4.05GHz
9800GTX @ 850/1998/1225

kenzie_01

Hi again,

ok a little progress made last night, and some very good luck too.

Bios Flashing went smoothly, but had i left it half an hour later i would have had problems! big power cut in my area for a good few minutes. luckily i was mid formatting the hdd when that happened so all i lost was about 20 minutes of hdd formatting.

anyway RAID0 setup was straight forward enough, so one nice big 500GB RAID0 HDD now picked up by my system.

Win xp went on quicker then ever and net protection etc got installed fine, still in the process of downloading a stupid 75 major security updates from microsoft update! (i only had a pre sp1 xp cd!) so all the updates will take a while. hopfully i'll be up to date with drivers and software updates by early this evening.

No problems to report just yet, but when the OC'ing starts (hopfully this evening after some pre OC Benching)

Anyway loads of work to crack on with today in the office! so i better get back to it. should have a more interesting update for everyone tomorrow, with some stats and numbers.

kenzie_01

Another day and some more slow progress!

Its crazy how many critical updates have been released for xp! but i'm finally up to date.

However i've run into my first problem which stopped my overclocking progress last night.

It would seem that the drivers for one of my TFT's isn't working crrectly with the latest NVIADA drivers for my 8800GTS. so i spent most of the evening trying to sort that out. basicly my TFT is self setting its self to a crazy resolution slightly lower then that capable of the 19" Widescreen which is set to 1400x900 via windows Display Settings and also the Nvidia Control Panel. This gives a slightly blurry out of focus effect which is really annoying.

I've tryed the TFT in both DVI sockets of the 8800 board, and also reinstalled the drivers for the screen from the CD and also from the manufacturers website (both version 1.0 no newer drivers available), also unistalled and reinstalled various versions of the nvidia drivers all with no luck.

The TFT in question is a "Samsung SyncMaster 940BW". The only thing i can think of to try now is use a RGB cable and DVI converter to see if the analog signel make's any difference! although that seem's unlikly. the TFT workd perfectly with my old pc running off an ATI 9550 via the DVI socket, so i'm stumped as to the cause of the problem.

anyone with any idea? i'm stumped.

anyway for now i'm using an old single 19" TFT instead of a dual setup i'd like to have up and running again. and i should be able to carry on with the oc'ing tonight after work. i'll run some 3dmark06 and super pi test's tonight before i start and post them here, so i've got a base to work off.

Oh and i still need to move my old HDD over from my old beast to the new one after finnishing a full backup! hopfully that wont take too long. might as well stick a Green LED fan in the new case while i've got it open again too.

Might even get round to taking some photos for you guys too.

kenzie_01

Everything finaly up and running (except the 19" wide screen!) with old 160GB HD installed in new system with old data included. everything nicely defraged and all drivers and updates installed.

just enough time to run super pi and 3dmark06

Super Pi 1M : 21.282 sec's

3DMark06 : 8619 Marks

so now i have a good base point for referance.

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Base System Stat's

Core (CPU-Z):

VCore : 1.248v
Core : 2400.0 MHz
Multi : x9
Bus : 266.7 MHz
Rated FSB : 1066.6 MHZ

RAM (CPU-Z):

Freq : 400.0 MHz
FSB/DRAM : 2/3
CAS# Latency : 5
RAS# to CAS# Delay : 5
RAS# Precharge : 5
Cycle Time (Tras) : 15
BankCycle Time (Trc) : 22
Command Rate : 2T

GPU (Ntune):

Core : 513.0 MHz
Mem : 792.0 MHz

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Next on the to do list is Core overclocking and RAM timing adjustments. I'd like to hit 3GHz withmy current set up, that should be possible with not too much hastle. then its RAM tuneing to speed thigs up a little more.

Finally its on to the GPU, research first to find how well others have done with the 8800GTS and to get a good idea how far i can push mine, then its down to business.

I should be in bed by now! oh and i'll try and get some photos up as soon as i get a chance. things are looking a bit better now i've replaced a few of the standard case fan's with some green LED versions.

If any one has any thought's on the TFT problem please let me know.

sladesurfer

nice, do you have any pics of the rig?