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So Khross made me build a new PC...
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Author:  Midgen [ Tue Feb 28, 2012 3:16 pm ]
Post subject:  So Khross made me build a new PC...
I didn't want to do it, but he made me... :p

Motherboard: Intel® Desktop Board DZ68BC
I like stable. This board is stable. I haven't even installed the intel desktop software to look at overclocking. Probably won't bother.

Edit2: I can't believe I forgot the processor!
Processor: Intel 3.5GHz Core I7-2700k

RAM: 16G Kingston HyperX PNP DDR3
No serious regrets here, but I wish I had paid more attention to the motherboard being optimized for lower voltages. Anyway, it's in, it's working fine.

Video: Two nVidia GTX-560ti 448 Cores FTW in SLI

System Drive: Two 180G Corsair SSD's in Raid 0 using Intel's Performance Management System
Additional Drives: 20G SSD (originally intended to be used for SmartResponse) and an additional 64G SSD that I installed because I had it....

Power Supply: Seasonic 1000w Platinum
This is probablly overkill, but with two GTX 560's I didn't want to chance it. There are a lot of reviews complaining about coil whine or capacitor whine, but I haven't heard any of that. My biggest problem was the fact that it's an inch deeper than most of the power supplies I've used, and wouldn't fit in the case I had planned for it (an old Lian Li).

Needless to say, this thing is stupid fast. The Windows Experience test maxed out all 5 sub scores at 7.9 (for whatever that is worth). Most importantly, it seems stable. Even though the memory voltage wasn't ideal for this motherboard, it seems to be handling it just fine.

If I enable fast boot in the bios (disable all of the graphics/text displays and interrupt prompts during boot), goes from the power button to the desktop in about 12 seconds. Shutdown is equally fast.

It went together fast and easy. I had some trouble getting the SSD's mounted properly, but that was because I was using an old case with proprietary 3.5" shock mounts, and I couldn't find all of the hardware. I McGyvered something together for now, but I think I'm going to have to invest in another case. After connecting up the hardware, I booted into the bios, enabled RAID, then booted into the RAID firmware and configured the Raid 0 volume. Installed Windows 7, and the drivers for the Intel stuff (used the disk that came in the box), and installed the nVidia drivers and enabled SLI.... pretty simple and painless. Probably an hour total if you don't count the Windows Update crap (that took 45 minutes, and that was after installing from a disk with SP1 streamed :? )

I'm looking for case suggestions that this mammoth Seasonic will fit in. I'm trying to stay in the mid-tower size range to keep the footprint low. I don't need 73 drive bays. The biggest challenge seems to be getting the power supply to fit (it's pretty huge) and the graphics cards not butting up against the back of the drive bays. I had a P180B a while back, but it's too freakin big, I don't care for the door on the front, and don't like the front panel connectors being low on the front face (prefer on top front edge, or at the top on the front). I'd also prefer one that has a USB 3.0 front panel connector, although I may accomplish that via the aftermarket....

Suggestions?

Edit: Kudos to Khross for the hardware suggestions. I'm getting lazy in my old age, and if I hadn't been able to get a good set of suggestions I probably wouldn't have bothered doing this.
Author:  Killuas [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: So Khross made me build a new PC...
I know you said you wanted to stay mid tower but...

I just built a new rig a couple of weeks ago and I love the case I ended up with. Thermaltake Chaser MK-I, it has front USB 3.0 support and while I didn't think much of it at the time it has a top esata docking station. The first time I used it with an old velociraptor drive I had I just plugged it in and poof I can do a back up to the drive and then pop it back out and put it away. Very handy for back ups when you don't want to open the case and add another drive.

Edit: A couple of other points there is plenty of space for the PSU you just slide the retainer bracket to where you need it. Also I have a gtx 560TI in my case (just one for now) and there is still room at the end of the card and the bays. Plenty of room if I want to add another one later.
Author:  Micheal [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Were Doombots involved?
Author:  Diamondeye [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: So Khross made me build a new PC...
I agree that the thermaltake Chaser Mk-I is nice. I almost got it, but went with the Azza Hurrican 2000 full tower. It has no less than 8 fans and yet is not loud, it comes with it's own LEDs if you like that sort of thing, and has 6 hot-swappable HD bays. Only 2 of them are directly intended to accomodate 2.5" SSDs, but you could certainly get them into the other 4 with a little work if you're good at that sort of thing, which you seem to be. It's got front USB 3.0 as well, and 4 5.25" bays atop the other 6. It also bulges the big side fans out, so when the side panel is on they don't take up internal space or make it hard to get the panel on either.
Author:  Midgen [ Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:16 am ]
Post subject: 
I definitely want a mid-tower. The P180B's I have are too big, which is why I don't use them any more.

I have exactly three SSD's, no spinning platter disks, and just a single DVD reader, which I think I wish was plug and play, as I have no need for one except when I am installing the OS.

An external SATA dock isn't a bad idea, as long as no compromises are made to include it.

I've always liked Lian Li's products. Simple, clean and good quality. I don't feel like I'm paying for a bunch of crap I don't need, but am paying a bit of a premium for quality.

I have everything working in my old Lian Li for the moment (I had to move the 120mm fan on the top to the outside though, so I think I want something new.

I was looking at some of the CM HAF series, which should work, but are a bit too frilly for me. I'll probably end up settling for the Cooler Master CM690, or something along those lines.

And Micheal, I haven't seen any evidence of doombots yet. I assume that I appeased Lord Doom, and thus was spared the wrath of those little monsters.
Author:  Vladimirr [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: So Khross made me build a new PC...
Midgen wrote:
System Drive: Two 180G Corsair SSD's in Raid 0 using Intel's Performance Management System


Yum.

As far as cases go, I can vouch for the awesomeness of the HAF's. I would buy another one if I had the cash.

I only have two minor issues so far with the 922 - the red model comes with a mesh sidepanel, and the blue comes with a window. The 2x 200mm's and 1x 120mm (plus the additional 140mm I stuck in there) keep it darn cool inside already, but I would have preferred the mesh so I could mount another intake fan on the side. Honestly come summer we'll probably switch over to liquid cooling anyway and the temps will drop enough that it won't be a problem. (And the case already has predrilled holes and grommets for liquid cooling)

Oh and the other issue is the LED switch on the case comes wired for one fan, you have to solder an additional wire to control any additional lighting you may install. (This one ranks in the "really don't care" category but it is what it is)

http://www.overclock.net/lists/display/ ... on/4070074
Author:  NephyrS [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
So I ran across the Corsair Graphite 600T today, and thought it might fit your bill. Mid-sized case, but good airflow and lots of room.
Author:  Midgen [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, I'll check it out...


Edit:
Definitely looks nice. Excellent reviews, and lots of great features. Unfortunately, it's too big for my applications...

here is a youtube video if anyone else is interested
Author:  Jauspiced [ Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: So Khross made me build a new PC...
All that and you settled for 16G RAM: ?

need more
Author:  Midgen [ Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:55 am ]
Post subject: 
I hope you aren't being serious?

8G would have been plenty, but I was going with the 'overkill' theme since RAM is by far the cheapest component.
Author:  Midgen [ Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think I'm going to go with this case (Antec Three Hundred Two).

The pictures in this review of the SLI video cards kind of sealed it (I was concerned about having enough room at the end of the cards).

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4583/a ... ndex1.html

This still isn't ideal. Someone needs to design a case that will fit a full size motherboard with two high end graphics cards, along with the appropriately large power supply, but doesn't have space set aside for 15 hard drives. I don't need 20 Terabytes of hard drive space in a gaming system. All I need space for is an SSD or two. I'm not even permanently installing a DVD reader in favor of using virtual drives or USB for installs, so I have zero need for 5.25" bays.
Author:  Diamondeye [ Thu Mar 08, 2012 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: So Khross made me build a new PC...
That's a pretty nice case.

I understand the frusteration with cases that have room for a zillion drives (I wish mine was designed specifically to take more SSDs down the road rather than HDDs) but I think most people with a gaming system would still want a HDD and a DVD or Blue Ray at least simply because even gaming systems get used for other stuff. I bought mine as a gaming system, but my wife and I use it for movies in our bedroom, and she stores her pictures on it. It sounds like a case with just room for a few SSDs would be a bit to "niche" to be viable, but there might be a case down the road with a reduced number of drive bays.. or what would be nice would be the ability to configure the drive bays for 5.25", 3.5", 2.5" or not as a drive bay at all!

You don't even want to know what would have happened if I'd gotten it without the ability to watch movies or her to store pictures....
Author:  Midgen [ Fri Mar 09, 2012 4:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm reconsidering that Corsair Graphite 600T that NephyrS mentioned. The more I read about it, the more I think I could convince myself it's worth dealing with the size....
http://www.corsair.com/pc-cases/graphit ... -600t.html

/still pondering
Author:  Kaffis Mark V [ Fri Mar 09, 2012 5:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
I like quirky cases. Ones that try new things to squeeze better airflow or accessibility in.

My SilverStone Raven 2 Evolution is not a small case by any means. But it's a joy to work in, and it's not particularly heavy. And it's goofy, with a rotated motherboard (so all the cabling is done out the top behind a snap-out faceplate).

But it's whisper-quiet and moves a truckload of air when you want it to. It does a bottom-to-top airflow that coordinates nicely with convection tendencies as the air heats, and does so while maintaining the airflow that motherboards are designed to assume (since, you know, they rotated the motherboard mounting).

Which reminds me, I never did post the pictorial of my system build last August. I wonder if I can find the photos...
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