Morning!
Time for another Ryzen build log.
In case the title isn't a dead giveaway already, yes I'm excited!! I was getting ready to build a Broadwell-E system... And then Ryzen came along! Needless to say I ordered straight away.
I have a bit of a soft spot for AMD processors. I got into computer hardware back in the Athlon XP days, when everyone was raving about Pentium 4s just having been released and I used to get a lot of flak for owning an AMD... Until Athlon 64 came along. So in a way, that saved me from the 'computer bullies', so ever since then I've quite liked AMD processors moreso than Intel.
And of course, that they always seem to time their interesting releases with the death of my existing computers (and Intel too loves pricing things out of my budget), helps that I end up choosing their chips.
Yes, yes, Bulldozer. Rule #1 of this thread is we don't talk about Bulldozer. That out of the way? Cool let's move on.
»What this build log is and isn't
It is...
-A bunch of new parts and a bunch of old parts.
-A low profile computer, with no windows or flashy LEDs
-A bit of experimentation on my behalf with potentially mixed results.
-A positive pressure build, with no exhaust fans.
-An ever-evolving thing.
-Watercooled.
And it isn't...
-A 1800X with a Crosshair VI and 2 Titan XPs in SLI
-RGB ALL THE THINGS!!!1ONE!
-A computer that's been swallowed by a gigantic fridge-sized CaseLabs.
If you're into the things in the first bit, then you might like this. If you're into the second bit however... You're better off elsewhere, but still, you might fancy some of what I do, so feel free to stay. Not like I'll kick you out or anything.
The focus of this build is in the thermals. Pretty much all of my work is going to be focused around the case, its cooling performance and using the smallest amount of fans I can get away with. Expect detail in that department, not so much in putting things together. We all know how to put things together and plenty other build logs show off their fancy hardware and hard tubing and flashy lighting, so I won't bother.
»Parts list
Processor: Ryzen R7 1700
Motherboard: Gigabyte AX370-Gaming 5
Memory: KFA2 Hall Of Fame DDR4-3600 CL17
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD6950 2GB (yes, it counts as a museum exhibit piece, but it'll have to do)
PSU: Super Flower Leadex II 650W
Case: Lian Li PC-A05NB (those who have read something of mine before might recognise the case)
Sound: Xonar DX. I've had it for so long now, yet still is better than onboard.
Drives: An old Crucial MX100, a graciously donated Seagate 600 SSD, my old Samsung F3 and Seagate 7200.14 spinny-spinny drives.
»Cooling
As mentioned - This computer only has intake fans (except for the PSU, which for warranty purposes I won't convert to reverse-flow). What this means is, I build positive pressure inside the case and then let air out through where I want.
What does this allow me?
Well, it allows me to control from where dust gets into the computer.
It also allows me to choose where does air come out from, which means I can direct flow inside the case to cool better those bits that need it.
No exhaust fans also means more efficient flow, since there's no fans blowing onto other fans. This does not mean it will work better than a case with more fans, just more efficiently, as in, power invested to move air vs air moved, and noise generated to do so.
As a general rule though, air comes in through the front and the back and it comes out the top, the GPU and the PSU.
But - what cools what?
CPU: EK Supreme HF full copper - this'll need redrilling to fit AM4, but it's not a big deal.
GPU: XSPC Rasa GPU - it works, it was cheap, it looks alright. So it's staying.
Radiator: Thick-as-a-brick EK CoolStream XT360. Why not?
Pump: Oldie-but-goodie EK-DCP 4.0, it gets the job done.
Reservoir: Alphacool Coolplex LT 12cm acrylic tube reservoir.
...and a whole bunch of nylon 90degs, some recycled old Alphacool 3/8" section tube, along with a whole lot of nickel/brass 1/2" barbs.
»Overclocking...?
Most certainly!
...and that's that for today. I'll start working on the case this weekend.
Cheers for taking the time if you made it this far!
Build index:
The motherboard
Ghettoing the hard drive cages
Cobbling together the PSU stuff
New hardware goes in
Power consumption analysis + overclocking
Benchmarks index:
Benchmarks - pt.1 (DxO Optics Pro, Lightroom)
Benchmarks - pt.2 (Fallout 4)
Benchmarks - pt.3 (GTA V)
Benchmarks - pt.4 (3DMark Fire Strike)
Time for another Ryzen build log.
In case the title isn't a dead giveaway already, yes I'm excited!! I was getting ready to build a Broadwell-E system... And then Ryzen came along! Needless to say I ordered straight away.
I have a bit of a soft spot for AMD processors. I got into computer hardware back in the Athlon XP days, when everyone was raving about Pentium 4s just having been released and I used to get a lot of flak for owning an AMD... Until Athlon 64 came along. So in a way, that saved me from the 'computer bullies', so ever since then I've quite liked AMD processors moreso than Intel.
And of course, that they always seem to time their interesting releases with the death of my existing computers (and Intel too loves pricing things out of my budget), helps that I end up choosing their chips.
Yes, yes, Bulldozer. Rule #1 of this thread is we don't talk about Bulldozer. That out of the way? Cool let's move on.
»What this build log is and isn't
It is...
-A bunch of new parts and a bunch of old parts.
-A low profile computer, with no windows or flashy LEDs
-A bit of experimentation on my behalf with potentially mixed results.
-A positive pressure build, with no exhaust fans.
-An ever-evolving thing.
-Watercooled.
And it isn't...
-A 1800X with a Crosshair VI and 2 Titan XPs in SLI
-RGB ALL THE THINGS!!!1ONE!
-A computer that's been swallowed by a gigantic fridge-sized CaseLabs.
If you're into the things in the first bit, then you might like this. If you're into the second bit however... You're better off elsewhere, but still, you might fancy some of what I do, so feel free to stay. Not like I'll kick you out or anything.
The focus of this build is in the thermals. Pretty much all of my work is going to be focused around the case, its cooling performance and using the smallest amount of fans I can get away with. Expect detail in that department, not so much in putting things together. We all know how to put things together and plenty other build logs show off their fancy hardware and hard tubing and flashy lighting, so I won't bother.
»Parts list
Processor: Ryzen R7 1700
Motherboard: Gigabyte AX370-Gaming 5
Memory: KFA2 Hall Of Fame DDR4-3600 CL17
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD6950 2GB (yes, it counts as a museum exhibit piece, but it'll have to do)
PSU: Super Flower Leadex II 650W
Case: Lian Li PC-A05NB (those who have read something of mine before might recognise the case)
Sound: Xonar DX. I've had it for so long now, yet still is better than onboard.
Drives: An old Crucial MX100, a graciously donated Seagate 600 SSD, my old Samsung F3 and Seagate 7200.14 spinny-spinny drives.
»Cooling
As mentioned - This computer only has intake fans (except for the PSU, which for warranty purposes I won't convert to reverse-flow). What this means is, I build positive pressure inside the case and then let air out through where I want.
What does this allow me?
Well, it allows me to control from where dust gets into the computer.
It also allows me to choose where does air come out from, which means I can direct flow inside the case to cool better those bits that need it.
No exhaust fans also means more efficient flow, since there's no fans blowing onto other fans. This does not mean it will work better than a case with more fans, just more efficiently, as in, power invested to move air vs air moved, and noise generated to do so.
As a general rule though, air comes in through the front and the back and it comes out the top, the GPU and the PSU.
But - what cools what?
CPU: EK Supreme HF full copper - this'll need redrilling to fit AM4, but it's not a big deal.
GPU: XSPC Rasa GPU - it works, it was cheap, it looks alright. So it's staying.
Radiator: Thick-as-a-brick EK CoolStream XT360. Why not?
Pump: Oldie-but-goodie EK-DCP 4.0, it gets the job done.
Reservoir: Alphacool Coolplex LT 12cm acrylic tube reservoir.
...and a whole bunch of nylon 90degs, some recycled old Alphacool 3/8" section tube, along with a whole lot of nickel/brass 1/2" barbs.
»Overclocking...?
Most certainly!
...and that's that for today. I'll start working on the case this weekend.
Cheers for taking the time if you made it this far!
Build index:
The motherboard
Ghettoing the hard drive cages
Cobbling together the PSU stuff
New hardware goes in
Power consumption analysis + overclocking
Benchmarks index:
Benchmarks - pt.1 (DxO Optics Pro, Lightroom)
Benchmarks - pt.2 (Fallout 4)
Benchmarks - pt.3 (GTA V)
Benchmarks - pt.4 (3DMark Fire Strike)