xdcx

Hi guys,

Not a complete new build, but a major upgrade to my current system that I thought I would use as an opportunity to post my first build log

So, first of all, here is the details of my current system and what will be getting upgraded -

Case - Antec 902
CPU - Intel Q6600 G0 Stepping @ 3.1 GHz -> UPGRADING to i7 920 D0
HSF - Zalman CNPS9700 -> UPGRADING to Megahalen w/ Scythe S-FLEX 1600
Motherboard - Asus P5KC Ai Lifestyle -> UPGRADING to Asus P6T Deluxe v.2
GPU - XFX HD4870 X2
Sound - SoundBlaster Xfi Extreme Music
RAM - OCZ Reaper DDR3 1800Mhz (2x2GB) -> UPGRADING to Corsair Dominator 6GB DDR3 1600MHz
HDD - Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB
PSU - Corsair 1000W HX

I also purchased some OCZ Freeze Extreme purely because I read great things about it on here and because people were giving is superb reviews.

The HD4870X2 and the Corsair 1000WHX were upgrades I done last month. I had to buy things over 2 months due to costs, I wish I was super rich

The parts were ordered today from www.overclockers.co.uk. I have paid for next day delivery so they should arrive with me here at work tomorrow. I will take pictures and post updates as I do my upgrades. Hope you guys will enjoy, I know I'm going to

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JKBenchmarks

Gratz on the upgrade! Can't wait to see how this build will look like put together.

Also, I'm confused about something. Why did you buy new Dominators if you could have bought one more stick of DDR3 Reapers?

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xdcx

Dual channel kit will be used with my P5KC in which will be my second machine as I have now completely upgraded everything Might possibly become a dedicated folding machine. Plus, I heard some things about the reapers with the very large heat sinks not liking the over all size of the Megahalen hehe.

Update on parts - RAM was delivered to my work, we have many campuses across this county in Scotland, so I always get scared of where the courier will decide to deliver it. I checked online tracking and it was signed for by someone I have never heard of so I was getting worried. But luckily, I have found out who signed for it and I know where the RAM is, so I am about to go pick that up. Second delivery with CPU, mobo etc expected any time now, I'm super excited

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JKBenchmarks

Ah, that's where your RAM is going.

Good thing the RAM is in. Now all you need to do is wait for the CPU/
Mobo and put it all together. Your games are going to love the i7 920

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gothev

Nice stuff buddy. Good to see your using quality parts which is important in a rig. Hope to see it when its done.

Thanks, Gothev.

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.: ATI HD4800 series club :.

xdcx

Thanks for checking this out guys. I'll post plenty of pictures and I just registered on hwbot.org because I want to submit scores to the benchmark competition and also see how I compare to some of those super overclockers on hwbot. I'm REALLY getting into benchmarking, I dunno if it's a good or bad thing haha.

Update time though. I have the parts, all got delivered to my work fine and dandy, so now I am just desperate to get home and get to work!! Optimus Prime is so god damn huge! Asus board and the Corsair RAM packaging just oozes with class, everything looks great as it is in the packaging, never mind in my case! I'm glad I saved up and got myself some great kit.

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JKBenchmarks

Can't wait for the pics !

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xdcx

OK, so after a visit to the gym I got back home and got to work.

Let the fun begin -


Here's the board fresh out the box. Even the box it came in was great and well presented. Only downside was it did not come with any screws at all, so I am lucky this was an upgrade and I could just use the screws from the P5KC -


Lovely Corsair RAM mmmm -


Optimus! I knew this cooler would be big, but god damn, it's a beast. I was actually scared it wouldn't fit inside my 902 at all -


Optimus new best friend, S-Flex -


I remembered the "about the size of a grain of rice" recommendations in other threads, so that's what I aimed for with the OCZ Freeze. I think this was maybe a tiny bit too much but I went with it anyway -


Optimus is THE coolest dude I know, check him out -






Everything inside the case and ready for the big switch on -










Everything went well, I didn't run into any problems EXCEPT the Megahalems is so huge that I cannot get the side panel on with my 120mm fan The solutions I have are either to get rid of the 120mm fan, which I wouldn't be too happy with as it pushes alot of air into the case and helps keep the X2 cool. Other solution is to turn the Megahalems so the HSF faces the bottom of the case and it pushes the air through the cooler and up to the 200mm roof exhaust fan. I am pretty sure this would resolve the problem.

Does anyone see any problem of pushing the air out the 200mm exhaust rather than the 120mm rear exhaust? It actually seems a better option to me but maybe I am not considering something?

I never had much time to OC or bench, I had time to disable the junk in the BIOS and clock the i7 to 3ghz stable. So more fun will continue tonight with some benches and more OC'ing

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JKBenchmarks

Woot, looks great! I don't see a problem switching the cooler around so the HSF is facing down.

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xdcx

Argh, turned the cooler and I still cannot get the side panel on with the fan. So my case is now 120mm fan down

Is the world trying to tell me it's time for watercooling?

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