the type of stuff overclockers dream of

[xconcept]

i build computers for a living and am a overclocker at home. yesterday a geek dream came true: build the best, forget the cost. i was introduced to a guy who has money to burn and wants to start with a fire in his cpu. so i humbly ask you guys to help me brainstorm a beast. since money is no object, i'm aiming to make this thing quiet, but power is the priority.

here's where i'm starting off:

CPU : intel EE 3.7 (would like to push 4.4ghz minimum)
MB: asus or dfi 925xe
MEM: 4gigs. ocz, corsair? anyone done 711 @ 2 CAS yet?
HD: 4 raptors, 2 seagate 400gbs. for 1+ terabyte
VID: 2 nvidia 6800 ultras SLI **Edit: duh, no sli via intel. maybe ati o/ced...
CD/DVD: 2 plextor Sata's. 712SA i think.
PSU: 2 zippy's. can pcp&c custom their unit's to be quieter? the dBs on these scare me. i would really like the new MGE heatpipe psu but they are not out yet i think.
CASE: custom Lian li server series maybe? frozencpu.com to do the mods?
SOUND: probably an m-audio delta
Solid State Drive: for swap, temps etc....
and probably some 30+inch monitor. suggestions?

(the fun)

cooling cpu: chilly1's gear? vapochill server case?
cooling gpus: danger den triplextreme + silver connectors
cooling hds: are there water cooling enclosures for hard drives?
cooling chipset: danger den again
cooling mem: not sure about this one or if it's neccesary.

i can't wait to here ideas. my experience has been with intel, but i'm open to AMD. and yes, i of course will be posting results and pics of the process.

thanks in advance.

Update the guy does not know much so what would the minimum water cooling service be? i can over-engineer this due to no budget restraints.

how loud is phase change? if i don't push the cpu to the absolute limits could i back off and get the noise down? I'm leaning hard towards a Vapor LS depending on sound levels.

[Napoleonic]

I don't think an Intel system can run SLI (not yet) except i7205, cmiiw

[mcnbns]

I would build an FX-55 system, and if you're giving him phase change, give very specific instructions. Warranteeing a phase change cooled sys will not be fun, I think.

[xconcept]

thanks Napoleonic, i overlooked that. so maybe an Ati o/ced? my understanding was nvidia does not have much o/c room in their 6800 ultras.

also, as i catch up on my xtreme o/c reading, 4.4ghz may be conservative with the new prescott steppings...


----------------------------------------------------
for anyone interested here is my current rig:

intel 3ghz D0 ---> 3.72 on air. might go higher but i'm out of power
2x512 corsair xms2 pro @ ~330mhz
asus 925XE premium deluxe
leadtek NV6600GT (had a 6800gt and i prefer this card)
ocz power stream 420 (at its' limits and does a great job)
3 hds, 1 dvd+r/cdrw, fanbus, m-audio audiophile 192, samsung 193p, coolmaster stacker (great case), zalmann all copper 120mm on cpu, artic silver

[EnJoY]

Forget Intel.

I'd go FX 55, VAPOCHILL LS w/ Custom Lian-Li PC60 PLUS, DFI nForce 4 SLI-DR, 2x6800 Ultra's, Swiftech watercooling for the gpu's, OCZ VX PC4000 (2x512MB), Sound Blaster Audigy 4 if you care, and a nice Dell 1905FP LCD(have it, it rules).

[Suffocation]

I would get a FX55 with 2*6800 ultras in sli and some extreme cooling

[LightSpeed]

I say forget Intel, and get a FX-55 for sure.
DFI NF4-SLI
2x512MB Mushkin PC4400 or Gskill LA PC4800.
2x6800 Ultras SLI
Zippy 700W(mod for noise) or custom PCP&C(no, they'r not loud)
Audigy4 Pro
4x74gig raptors, 1x400GB Seagate if u need the extra 400gig
Swifty Waterblocks for GPU, no HD WC'ing required, and a Vapo LS for CPU
and the other junk..
an btw, Welcome to the XS Suffocation

[musk]

I say forget Intel, and get a FX-55 for sure.
DFI NF4-SLI
2x512MB Mushkin PC4400 or Gskill LA PC4800.
2x6800 Ultras SLI
Zippy 700W(mod for noise) or custom PCP&C(no, they'r not loud)
Audigy4 Pro
4x74gig raptors, 1x400GB Seagate if u need the extra 400gig
Swifty Waterblocks for GPU, no HD WC'ing required, and a Vapo LS for CPU
and the other junk..
an btw, Welcome to the XS Suffocation

DFI NF4 SLI-D (One with RAID 5 controller)
No on the Zippy, no worky PCP&P SLI version
4x512mb PC 4000 VX
74 gig raptors x 2 boot
5*300Gig in RAID 5


musk

[c42]

How much does this guy know about computers? Surely if he knows little you don't want to put a watercooling system in there, as the maintenance required for one might not be to appealing to him/her.

Also with phase change you could do it, as it doesn't require much maintenance, as long as he/she doesn't tinker with it(if they know little, if they are tech savvy then this is a different story).

But yes, I'd go with the following

FX-55
OCZ Gold VX Pc4000 2x512, or TCCD 2x512(depending on if you want tight memory timings and higher multi or lower multi and looser memory timings)
2x6800 Ultra SLI(BTW a company is about to release a 512mb 6800 ultra, but it is vaporware as of right now)
Zippy 700w 6701 PSU or PCPC 850, you'll probably need both modded to cut down on noise if it is a big issue to you, they really aren't that loud.
Audigy 2 Plat or Audigy 4
4x74gb Raptor Raid 0, 1 300gb Maxtor DM10 16mb cache


Case- Lian li PC70Plus or PC60Plus.

CPU Cooling-Mach2GT 404a modded with Lian Li kit aluminum kit
GPU Cooling- Fusion HL waterblock, Aquaextreme 50z Pump, Weapon Heatercore

[Jamo]

well if you want quiet i'd forget phase

[xconcept]

c42: the guy does not know much worth value here. i see your point about water cooling...what would the minimum service be? remember, i can over-engineer this due to no budget restraints.

how loud is phase change? if i don't push the cpu to the absolute limits could i back off and get the noise down?

[Torin]

Assuming this guy is not into PCs, tech savvy, etc. I'd go with this:

FX-55
DFI NF4 SLI-DR
PCP&P Turbo-Cool 510 SLI
2x nV 6800 Ultra Extreme PCI-E
2x Zalman VF700-Cu VGA cooler
Vapochill LS
Lian-Li PC65 (I believe this is the one that fits/matches the Vapo)
2x Plextor 12x DVD-RW
Floppy Drive
4x 74GB Raptor in RAID 0 or 1 (depending on his preference, redundancy or performance)
400GB Seagate HDD
2x512MB G.Skill PC4400 LE, possible 4x512, depending on his needs
SoundBlaster Audigy 4
Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 Audio System

The reason I went with non-water for GPUs is because of the maintenance issue. You don't want him to have to mess with it, and you want to minimize any risks involved. The reason I went with TCCD over VX, is you don't want him to have to deal with high voltages on the memory. TCCD I've heard also OCs better with 2GB than UTT (VX).

Run the idea of W/Cing the video cards by him, and see if he wants to be bothered with possible maintenance. Do the same with the high mem voltage of VX. If he's cool with both, go with a 2x120mm heatercore, AquaXtreme 50Z/MCP 350, 2 Silverprop Fusion HLs, some 1/2" ID tygon and PC4000 VX.

[Guardian]

Get a standard 5xx series prescott and overengineer the PC so you PC the cpu and gpu and get the cpu up to around 5.5-6ghz and get an x850 512mb and oc the $h1+ out of it. Also, then you could get some nice DDR2-5300(667mhz) and oc it a ton too! I'm working on getting my pressy up to 5.5ghz and my DDR2 up to 800mhz. I also don't have a very nice gpu atm(I have an x300se just till I get my x800pro or xl) but it is very fast. I am working on my dual head PC.

[scrible88]

Assuming this guy is not into PCs, tech savvy, etc. I'd go with this:

FX-55
DFI NF4 SLI-DR
PCP&P Turbo-Cool 510 SLI
2x nV 6800 Ultra Extreme PCI-E
2x Zalman VF700-Cu VGA cooler
Vapochill LS
Lian-Li PC65 (I believe this is the one that fits/matches the Vapo)
2x Plextor 12x DVD-RW
Floppy Drive
4x 74GB Raptor in RAID 0 or 1 (depending on his preference, redundancy or performance)
400GB Seagate HDD
2x512MB G.Skill PC4400 LE, possible 4x512, depending on his needs
SoundBlaster Audigy 4
Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 Audio System

The reason I went with non-water for GPUs is because of the maintenance issue. You don't want him to have to mess with it, and you want to minimize any risks involved. The reason I went with TCCD over VX, is you don't want him to have to deal with high voltages on the memory. TCCD I've heard also OCs better with 2GB than UTT (VX).

Run the idea of W/Cing the video cards by him, and see if he wants to be bothered with possible maintenance. Do the same with the high mem voltage of VX. If he's cool with both, go with a 2x120mm heatercore, AquaXtreme 50Z/MCP 350, 2 Silverprop Fusion HLs, some 1/2" ID tygon and PC4000 VX.

DITTO.

[9mmCensor]

Remember that your client may not be as technically adept as you.

Is you client prepared to deal with any extra work involved with a special cooler (vapo or H2O)?

[xconcept]

9mm: check 4 posts up.

[dnavarro]

I wouldn't go over 1GB of memory if you want to be able to get sky high overclocks. Go with what most are recommending here a FX55 and DFI-SLI-D setup. G.SKILL 4800LA or 4400LE RAM and Raptors. PCPower and Cooling 510 SLI or maybe the new 700 watt one (modded for sound as that one is for sure loud). The Zippy 700W is great but has incompatibility issues with the DFI so I would stay way from that. If this guy wants a quiet system (the Vapo LS is great but while not too loud it is not quiet) go with a MACH 2 GT setup (extremeprometeia still seels em) as that one is said to be pretty quiet phase change. Don't forget the dieelctric grease!


D

[faruquehabib]

FX-55
DFI NF4 SLI-DR
PCP&P Turbo-Cool 510 SLI
2x nV 6800 Ultra Extreme PCI-E
2x Zalman VF700-Cu VGA cooler
Vapochill LS
Lian-Li PC65 (I believe this is the one that fits/matches the Vapo)
2x Plextor 12x DVD-RW
Floppy Drive
4x 74GB Raptor in RAID 0 or 1 (depending on his preference, redundancy or performance)
400GB Seagate HDD
2x512MB G.Skill PC4400 LE, possible 4x512, depending on his needs
SoundBlaster Audigy 4
Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 Audio System

I third this rig

[D_o_S]

I agree with what the guys here are saying, an AMD system for sure. OCZ VX, Ultra Extremes, FX 55, Raptor RAID array, DFI mobo.

[halcyon]

CPU : FX-57 out very soon. If not doing video encoding, my choice would be FX, not Intel (based on benchmarks alone)

MB: DFI nf4 (for the FX-57)

MEM: the more mem you put, the less it overlocks. I'd be happy with 2 x 1GB or 4 x 512MB. Pretty much good for anything, except really large scientific calcs, databases and huge photoshop files. With 2GB you might still be able to OC some. For 1GB DIMMs my choice would be Kingston HyperX PC3200 (CAS2.5). For 512MB DIMMs you know the choices already

HD: Raptor 74 GBs. Hitachi 7k500 (native sata, ncq) for storage or if that is not available yet, then Maxtor Maxline III 300GB (native sata, ncq). Both spank 7200.8 Seagate silly in speed.

VID: 2 nvidia 6800 ultras SLI

CD/DVD: Plextor 716 SATA and BenQ 1620Pro (PATA for both, save SATA for
HDs where it can be used). Both decent writers, both relatively semi-quiet and both can check writer errors on discs.

PSU: Zippy fan modified by you or custom specced PC&P.

CASE: This is mostly an aesthetic choice for people who don't tinker with their cases/innards themselves. Let him pick it from the pre-selection you do based on cooling, silence and enough space for all the gear.

SOUND: Two cards: Audigy 4 Pro for games and RME HDSP9652 for everything else (bit-accurate, superior analog output, low latency, etc.). Or if no pro-level sound is desired, then Mystique 7.1 Gold for Dolby Digital Live encoding (real-time). This means DD output from all DirectSound3D games (hardware accelerated). Audigy can't do this (it can only bypass DD data from DVDs).

Solid State Drive: HyperOS HyperDrive III with 16GB of memory for startup and/or swap. Solid state DDR memory that sits on an ide interface. separate own power source, battery backed up. Silent. Fast.

Monitor: Dell 2405FPW (12ms grey-to-grey, enough for games, 24" 1920x1200, good contrast, good brightness, dirt cheap at 1200, good for anything except colour accurate photo/video work). Maybe two of these if you want to go ga-ga. If he needs colour accurate work or just wants to view his digicam images the way they were meant to be, then Eizo ColorEdge CG220 is the best LCD you can get, bar none. It's not good for games though.

Putting it together: have somebody who understands silencing computers to put it together. Nothing is more annoying than a powerful PC that sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

That's what I would day

[Geforce4ti4200]

Theres no good overclocking 1GB sticks and games dont need that much, 2x512 is plenty. fx55 is sold out but in days supply will be replenished with the new 90nm diego fx55s. I am not a fan of nvidia nor sli since not all games support sli anyway. A single x800xt pci-e wont do him wrong till the short wait for r520 as for cooling, phase change is better and safer, water can leak

[craig588]

There is a new app that allows SLI support to be added at the driver level to any game or 3d app.

[Highland3r]

The only major problem I can foresee with selling a highly overclocked pc, using vapo or whatever cooling is what happens if the customer has to clear the cmos for any reason? The settings will be lost (its unlikely but possible) Also, people who buy from a shop want a take home and go pc, thats not gonna need lots of tlc, something that can be run 24/7 if required, transported or whatever without worry.
Personally I'd look to some high end air cooling, XP120 maybe? and stick a fan on a reobus so the customer can control noise (just make sure the min voltage is 7, and that the cpu wont overheat with that airflow) Couple of 6800U's in SLI, and an FX55 should be fine. Stick a gig of mem it, and run that at whatever is stable... He really WONT notice 2-300mhz cpu speed or 80 fsb... While an overclocker maybe would, he isnt so probably wont care... Its not like its gonna be slow at stock anways...!
Spend the extra money on some fast HDD's, decent monitor, speakers, kb/mouse etc....

[xconcept]

thank you to all the replys. this is not just the best hardware and overclocking forum i know of, this is the best forum i know of.

lower the memory: duely noted everyone.

highland3r: thanks for your thoughts. i need the business end perspective as well. my main concern with going "all air" is the noise. in addition, if i use a vapor chill, i don't think i would be talking about only 2-300mhz speed. more in line with 500-1000mhz. i do realize that the tangible differences will be 0 in almost anything and maybe 10% in almost nothing. prestige is big part of this. he wants the best of the best within reason.

to properly make these next decisions in planning, we'll have to wait for some definitive information on the phase change noise levels. thanks dnavarro for the starting points. and i will not forget the dielectric goo. my big question is this: can you dial down the lightspeed or the prometeia? does anyone customize the fans? or noise proof the box?

[Jamo]

i dont see you logic that going all air = noise yet you want to use a vapochill, they are relatively loud, especially at startup - you could exchange the fans but this would lower performance, i think you'd gain 300 - 500mhz at most between high end air and vapo, also i remember when i had my vapo it wasnt only the fans making noise its the actual condensing unit, every now and again it makes 'plops' and to a relative n00b this could be quite offputting, i'd go air cooling purely from the service aspect