The wifey build

[chew*]

Had to make the wife happy, haven't been able to locate the super low power dualcores only avaialble to OEM's so the sempron 1250 LE will have to do for now.

Basic internet and school work is its usage etc MS office.

Will give it a go in a little bit to see if the FSB wall is a cpu limitation via bios for newer chips.

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey1.jpg

This was an interesting stepping so I grabbed it, couldn't find a batch that I wanted so interesting stepping will have to do.
Note I hand picked a N stamped PCB however ;)

Not worried about warranty so you can see whole stepping, however if someone chose to try to use my serial # for warranty.
I think all my chips are documented by you know who and get a big red X stamped on the paper before I even use it ;)

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey2.jpg

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey3.jpg

[LagunaX]

I am actually recycling my older 74gb and 150gb raptors (moved to velociraptors) for the girl/relative builds to make them seem faster than their processors would indicate - it really gives these builds a nicer, snappier feel.

[roofsniper]

4 sticks of ram? and wats the cpu cooler?

[charged3800z24]

Nice lil setup...My wife wouldn't take anything less then the 9950 :p:,. I don't know why your warranty request would be X'd ;) So i take it you will do some playing before you let her have the system?

I love building new setups. Always fun. :up: I finally am running on my x3 720 with 1800mhz DDR3...

[chew*]

Yah charged I will give the cpu a quick go, not gonna try to hard though. If it seems to scale I might toss it under a better cooler in my board that has no fsb wall.

Specs are
gigabyte ma790gp-ds4h
sempron 1250
4x1gig corsair xms ddrII 800 ( because it's collecting dust ) and the IGP chews up some ram.
antec 380 earthwatts
OCZ vindicator heatsink
80g WD JS
Thermaltake Soprano case (because its collecting dust)

The goal is quiet and low power consumption, If I can get my hands on one of those AMD UVC dualcore chips I will replace this one.

I will take pics once everything is assembled and the wiring job is nice and neat.

[chew*]

Here's a quick shot into windows. Preety sure the IGP is a limiting factor after that. Will toss my 2600 pro in and see If i cant get into the top 5 ;)
Almost there already without water or a tec :D real nice chip up to 2900 before it needed any volts.

http://valid.canardpc.com:80/show_oc.php?id=518028

http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/518028.png (http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=518028)

[charged3800z24]

Here's a quick shot into windows. Preety sure the IGP is a limiting factor after that. Will toss my 2600 pro in and see If i cant get into the top 5 ;)
Almost there already without water or a tec :D real nice chip up to 2900 before it needed any volts.

http://valid.canardpc.com:80/show_oc.php?id=518028

http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/518028.png (http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=518028)

Pretty nice result. I am only 100pts from my 940BE 3dmark06 score with this x3 720BE. I can't get past 3.8ghz with this Xigmatech cooler. I will have to put er' under my water setup i supose.:p:

[chew*]

IGP was an issue but then I hit a FSB wall, chips capable, mobo with this bios is not, I could back up to F2 but not gonna bother it's not meant to crack records just surf the inet.

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=518057
http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/518057.png (http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=518057)

[chew*]

This was a relaxing change of pace, sometimes its nice to get back to your roots and do a nice clean install and a little modding and get away from insane OC's.

So when a system lacks in raw power and insane benching prowess you do the next best thing. Make it bling.

Fully tricked out with thumb screws holding the mobo in place, and a concept flux capacitor serial ata cable, and modest I may be but a damn fine wiring job in a Thermaltake Soprano case.....

Introducing the wifey PC that would even make J LO jealous.

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey4.jpg

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey5.jpg

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey6.jpg

[soundood]

i gota say i love wifey / kid builds,

they just seem a pleasant break from the norm here at Xtreme, and allways good to know we do try to keep the other half /kids happy :up:

i myself have done a few little builds over the last year for family and friends, all media centre solutions with minimum costs.

and funny enough i had two of those Giga's you have there chew*, now i may be biased here, as i really dont like giga's.

but both boards that i had were a pain i the ass, they would post, then they wouldnt, they liked the ram, then they didnt (OCZ Golds 800 mhz) and other stuff. i suspect the bios was flaky/imature in both boards.

but that must be the 10th board ive had from Giga that has been flaky, comare that to zero flaky boards from Abit and ASUS, then you can see why i am biased. and yeah i know its probaly just luck, but never the less. giga just isnt for me.

i ended up going with a pair of ASUS boards for the couple of media centres i was doing for the home (clones) the M2NBP-VM CSM, its a business class board, that will do 720p from the igp.

both have 5000BE's in them, with 4 gig of ram, and they run a treat. both running at 3 gig with multi changes.

i look forward to the little build log, is there a new monitor in the works for it?

[chew*]

Yah we have a crt currently for it, hoping it breaks soon, we have a 10 year warranty on it with best buy, long story.

Looking at getting a little 15" acer for it.

Will take a pic of the whole setup in the morning when the lighting is better. We got a nice little desk for it and all.

I won't even bother ocing this trying to keep power consumption down, she doesn't need to use my 500 watt consuming rigs to surf the net, do her schoolwork etc etc.

The giga is a real solid board at stock. Has a few quirks for installing drivers but I already know those tricks ;)
I already had 3 of the boards here, 1 mine 2 on loan.

Figured I'd put one to good use as I've yet to kill the one I'm testing with, its also the "DUD" of the 3 I have, has a fsb limit of 290.

Surprised you had issues with OCZ golds on it, I had them up to 1200+ on the board...

[Oese]

hehe love wifey builds too but as for me these are only little slower then my own and frequently updating due to the ever shorter stepup time of my main rig :D

she does not really care about the hardware but starts complaining if something does not work fluently :D its my fault i got her used to gaming during 10years of our relationship and to ever better hardware as well :rofl:

kids are still about to come *shiver* how many pc's will then eat that electricity i tried to save with new bulbs and a new fridge xD i'm scared.. :rofl:

[soundood]

dont get me started, i was at that board for 7 hrs, (right through the night, as you do) messing with bios timings for ram.......long story i would rather forget.

again batches, early bios's and other factors....its just i have really liked the look of the giga boards recently, i also had a 770 board before my AX78 from giga, that crapped on me too :rolleyes:

but anyway, nice to know you will get a little CRT for it, it allways finishes these builds off nicely if you ask me. hence why i asked :up:

also good job on that wiring :up:, but i wouldnt expect anything else from you lol. :clap:

[Daveburt714]

I'm really enveyous of the wiring job...

I've been building machines for a couple decades, and I still haven't made one look that clean... :p:

GJ Chew*.... I think I could do it, but I'm a little impatient... :D

[Oese]

impatience is the problem here too AND always the cheapo cases have to change it...

really good job there :D

[chew*]

Alot of modders slept on the ThermalTake Soprano/Tsunami cases, as you can see it has quite the potential for a clean install. Heres the finished product.

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey7.jpg

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey8.jpg

[charged3800z24]

Introducing the wifey PC that would even make J LO jealous.

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey4.jpg


Hey, is that the first wireless PSU? :p: nice job:up:

[chew*]

I just need to get some screw caps for that fan grill and some nuts and bolts to remove the fan shroud. I gutted the fan as its useless, its only purpose is to hold the grill in place for now.

[Oese]

Alot of modders slept on the ThermalTake Soprano/Tsunami cases, as you can see it has quite the potential for a clean install. Heres the finished product.


ye nice :D

[LagunaX]

IS that a CRT?!?

[chew*]

Yep, my samsung CRT broke under warranty, they gave this piece of crud and threw the extra $100 towards warranty....wouldn't let me get LCD.

I'll take this for hardcore league and clan matches anyday over an LCD though ;)

Believe me the wife tried to bamboozle me out of my 22.6 samsung LCD though, I wasn't having it. I offered her the 37" LCD panel though, she thinks it's to big :rolleyes:

[charged3800z24]

Yep, my samsung CRT broke under warranty, they gave this piece of crud and threw the extra $100 towards warranty....wouldn't let me get LCD.

I'll take this for hardcore league and clan matches anyday over an LCD though ;)

Believe me the wife tried to bamboozle me out of my 22.6 samsung LCD though, I wasn't having it. I offered her the 37" LCD panel though, she thinks it's to big :rolleyes:

I still own a 19in Flat Graphics series View Sonic CRT. I game on that beast, I just can't part with it LOL. I have had it forever.

[ecat]

IS that a CRT?!?

No.

This is a CRT...

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=952788

all 90+lbs of it. If only. If only it were 3 or 4 years younger. Sigh. I so nearly, nearly, nearly bought one last year as an advanced replacement for old, but still working, 22" CRT. My aching back was eventually saved by a HP 2475, LCD, hum, it's good, in some ways very good, but it just doesn't do black :(

Anyway. Such tidy build chew*, very nice. Every once in a while I get close to making things tidy, then sure as hell something happens and it all has to come out again :shrug:

[chew*]

Gotta run my DVE disc and correct a few things as I'm somewhat anal but its close.

Thx for the compliments guys, I try ;)

[Final8ty]

Still got may mint condition CRT viewsonic p227f in the cupboard.

[chew*]

SOoooooo

With all my hardware in texas and nothing at my disposal to torture I find myself at home twiddling my thumbs and having withdrawal symptoms.........

Hey wait a sec I can play with the wifey's rig.......

I sold some more competition car audio equipment and grabbed a cheap 19" acer LCD for her for $89 bucks.....what a steal for an unused monitor with a razor cut in the box.

Decided to clean up all the spyware she ammased in a short time :rolleyes:

Updated to win explorer 8, updated Power DVD 8 Ultra....... hmmm this thing is kinda slow, no wonder why she keeps going to use my rig sometimes......

Not bothering with ocing the 1250 sempy anymore.......I spent half a day unbeknowst to her with it on the mach 1 :D shhhhh don't tell her :wasntme:

Wicked bad coldbug, I could actually tell temp just by the fact that it would shut off exactly at 0C, I used aluminum foil to defeat it but for the life of me I could not get much more out of it over air :(

Maybe it's time to look at some of the new duals hitting the market, Of course I will have to "test" it for her first just to make sure it works OK :p:;)

[G0ldBr1ck]

Decided to clean up all the spyware she ammased in a short time :rolleyes:





^^ Thats been a full time job at my house with all my kids computers and of course the wifey :p:

I think you should get her a nice tripple core for all the hardware she lets you spend money on ;)

(and of course much more fun for you to play with)

[chew*]

^^ Thats been a full time job at my house with all my kids computers and of course the wifey :p:

I think you should get her a nice tripple core for all the hardware she lets you spend money on ;)

(and of course much more fun for you to play with)

Yah not sure I want to run a triple in that rig with a antec 380 earthwatts. It's first purpose is low power consumption, It just needs a little 45nm dual core zip me thinks plus I havent played with one yet....maybe they will offer an unlocked chip :D

[chinaguy]

Building the Wife's PC soon, just colecting the bits, so far; EP45 UD3L, 4x1GB Gskill PC6400, Asus 8500GT 512MB, Coolermaster Lite case, Antac EA380 380W, WD Blue 640GB, Samsung DVD RE/W. Just waiting for pay day to pick up the Intel Q9400 OEM, I have a HSF from my E6750! Maybe I will strech for the WD Black 320 or 640GB for the OS.

You got to keep the wife happy for when I upgrade to an i7 system!!!!!!

[G0ldBr1ck]

Ah gotcha. Well it will give you a chance to play with some of the new native duelies I guess.

You got it made I must say, my wife has to have the exact same hardware I run or she thinks she's getting a crappy computer. I try to explain it to her "no hun, realy theres no benefit in you having 2 4870x2's" ugggg.

[chinaguy]

My wife has to have a better PC then me! So think your self lucky your wife just wanting the same as you!

[chew*]

Ah gotcha. Well it will give you a chance to play with some of the new native duelies I guess.

You got it made I must say, my wife has to have the exact same hardware I run or she thinks she's getting a crappy computer. I try to explain it to her "no hun, realy theres no benefit in you having 2 4870x2's" ugggg.

LOL, I tell here that "realworld" what she has is no faster :ROTF: and the only reason the systems in my "LAB" seem faster is because they are highly oce'd via various methods of cooling :p:

Thank god she is not computer savvy..........

Next up is the Laptop.......apparently my sons turion is overheating.......requires a fan blowing on it just to run now.......It has an nvidia IGP......I wonder what the problem could be :rolleyes:

[dinos22]

lol you guys
my wife still uses a P4 1.6Ghz with 512MB RAM in her office
her 19" LCD blew up the other day so she got a downgrade to a 16" :D

but she's got a macbook for day to day crap :rolleyes:
mac sucks and i own one :D

[G0ldBr1ck]

LOL, I tell here that "realworld" what she has is no faster :ROTF: and the only reason the systems in my "LAB" seem faster is because they are highly oce'd via various methods of cooling :p:

Thank god she is not computer savvy..........

Next up is the Laptop.......apparently my sons turion is overheating.......requires a fan blowing on it just to run now.......It has an nvidia IGP......I wonder what the problem could be :rolleyes:

Thats funny, My C2d/8600gt lappy has just started artifacting bad yesterday and its 2 months out of warranty :shakes:.

And about the wifey thing, I just cant seem to fool mine. Its no joke, she realy has 2x 4870x2's and a PhII 955. I tried to pull one of the cards out wile she was away and Ill be damned if she didnt some how in the midst of playing her card games notice and made me put it back :cool:

Im just :cat::cord:, I can admit it :shakes:

[tiborrr]

I equipped my girlfriend with AXP2500+, 1GB TCCDs, DFI NF2 Ultra Infinity, virtually the best parts of my old hardware. It's funny though she has to have 640GB HDD in this 'soooo 2003 setup', for the music & TV series, and it's full all of the time.

[Mechromancer]

Those Phenom II X2s and especially Athlon II X2s look incredibly good. If you get one of those, your poor wife will have to go computerless for a bit while you see what it can do under LN2 hahahaha.

[tiborrr]

for a bit while you see what it can do under LN2 hahahaha.
I read that as if he would have to wait to see his wife doing LN2.

Damn i'm such a perv :shrug:

[Oese]

Thats funny, My C2d/8600gt lappy has just started artifacting bad yesterday and its 2 months out of warranty :shakes:.

And about the wifey thing, I just cant seem to fool mine. Its no joke, she realy has 2x 4870x2's and a PhII 955. I tried to pull one of the cards out wile she was away and Ill be damned if she didnt some how in the midst of playing her card games notice and made me put it back :cool:

Im just :cat::cord:, I can admit it :shakes:

damn xD

[gOtVoltage]

Haaha sounds like freindly game of strip poker , sShe still gets all the good Cards:rofl:

[chew*]

Might have something interesting on the way for this soon ;)

[FlanK3r]

nice PC :). I made for few weeks ago "student PC", +- similare as your, but x2 4850e and 2x1GB A Data :). Why "only" Sempron? X2 are better with comparable price.

[chew*]

What I could afford at the time, I may have an x2 soon.

[G0ldBr1ck]

What I could afford at the time, I may have an x2 soon.

Phenom or Athlon ?

[chew*]

Not sure what it is yet other than a BE and 45w and x2

[G0ldBr1ck]

Not sure what it is yet other than a BE and 45w and x2

Ah, well its official now that the PHII x2 will unluck into 4 cores! Woot :shocked:

[chew*]

Ah, well its official now that the PHII x2 will unluck into 4 cores! Woot :shocked:

LOL don't tell me that, it might have to sit on the bench for yet another day then......hmmmm 4 cores on a 2 core chip.....that will dominate wprime....

[gOtVoltage]

LOL don't tell me that, it might have to sit on the bench for yet another day then......hmmmm 4 cores on a 2 core chip.....that will dominate wprime....

Ha AMD goodness,, whole new meaning to 100% overclock .:D

[Mats]

http://members.cox.net/bostonreefer3/wifey8.jpg
Nice build, but zero leg room?? :eek: ouch.

[chew*]

Its actually has leg room, pic is decieving. I need to take an updated one though, added a scanner/printer and a 19" LCD since then.

[Mats]

Yeah I guess there's leg room, but you can't move them around any. I prefer more regular desks, big or small, with nothing in the way...

[chinaguy]

Well just picked up the WD Black 640GB for the wifes new build. I could not afford the Q9400 as I had to pay for the 4 new airconditioning units for the flat! So pocket money is going to short for the next month! With luck the Q9650 may have dropped in Price!