My Dual Harper - Asus Z7S WS living review *56K warning*

[jt1]

What case are you looking at because I am looking at a new one for this build as well?

I'm still undecided. I'm looking for a mid-tower case with the right standoffs. Chieftec has some cases that work. For example, the Chieftec GH-01B-BW GIGA looks pretty good. I'm also looking at In Win and Enlight since they offer a number of good options i.e IN WIN O3-S, IN WIN GD, Enlight PR42A101, etc. If you're looking for a full tower, there's more choices, since they tend to keep server boards in mind i.e. Cooler Master 1000. For whatever case, be sure to get a photo of the mobo tray and look for the right standoffs.

Yeah thats no good, sorry man... Basically anything jcool has on his rig, I would consider getting. Unfortunately many are not avail here in the states... The separate soundcard is part of the motherboard , that's not an accessory in my opinion. The debug card is nice , but not really necesarry (although the power/reset buttons are cool )

I got it from Newegg so I knew that it might not come with any accessories. But since it was cheaper, I'm trying to see if I can keep it and make it work. I can get replacement cables and sound card. I figure whatever case I get will provide the necessary screws to install the board. So, am I forgetting something necessary to make this work?

[neveroffline]

I'm still undecided. I'm looking for a mid-tower case with the right standoffs. Chieftec has some cases that work. For example, the Chieftec GH-01B-BW GIGA looks pretty good. I'm also looking at In Win and Enlight since they offer a number of good options i.e IN WIN O3-S, IN WIN GD, Enlight PR42A101, etc. If you're looking for a full tower, there's more choices, since they tend to keep server boards in mind i.e. Cooler Master 1000. For whatever case, be sure to get a photo of the mobo tray and look for the right standoffs.

I know the Enlight PR42A1-01 works, I have confirmation from another Z7S user in the ASUS forums. Problem with this one is no side window or side fan, not sure if it has a front fan, it's quite tight, and only one rear fan. Right now I have 2 rear fans, 1 top, 1 front, and 1 side. Problem with looking at the MB tray pics is there is only about an inch difference between the CEB 12x10.5" standoffs we need and the full EATX standoffs most use. My current case had the latter, so I needed to use the backplates. I'll take a look at the other ones you mentioned.

I got it from Newegg so I knew that it might not come with any accessories. But since it was cheaper, I'm trying to see if I can keep it and make it work. I can get replacement cables and sound card. I figure whatever case I get will provide the necessary screws to install the board. So, am I forgetting something necessary to make this work?

I love the diagnostic card, but it isn't really needed. The soundcard I believe is a good addition, and part of the reason I chose this board as many server boards sacrifice this for onboard video. Cables are a dime a dozen, the only one I used was the IDE for one DVD drive so you don't really need those. You should have everything you need to get the board up and running. I would invest in a RAM cooler or some nice heatsinks. I bought a thermaltake with 2 fans, and it dropped my ram 5-10c vs the stock heatspreaders only.

[neveroffline]

Here is a pic of my rig -1 3870. Sorry about the low light, I couldn't find batts for my hot shoe flash unit.



You can see the cheap ram coolers (but they work), and most notably the extra room for an EATX MB. I also prefer this layout for the HDD's with a front fan, it keeps them really cool. Not pictured is the top fan, just behind the PSU top center, and the side fan. I hate these stupid IDE cables, so I'm going to buy a circular one. Also you can see with dual/dual slot 3870's there is very little room. I also placed some electrical tape on the end of the top card where it has potential to short on the heatsink.

Also if you look closely to the right of the board, you can see a few CPU standoffs for a full EATX board.

[minhgi]

Is there anyway to Vcore mod the Z7S? I had search all over the internet but no result.

How about creating a patition to ASUS to include features in the bios that may be useful??

[jcool]

You can pinmod the CPUs for more Vcore. But what I'd need is VTT anyways..
A petition sounds good, since the first review boards had settings like Vcore and VTT available. I think they become available if you put a QX CPU in there... Maybe a bios hack would work.

[Jaco]

Maybe we should ask TicTac if he can 'open up' the bios

[jt1]

Neveroffline, cool rig!

And I finally decided on a case, Enlight Extreme Gaming. From the picture, the side fan looks like it could serve as a memory cooler.

[minhgi]

Bios hack??

Yep, we needs someone talented to hack it. That person will be my hero til my next upgrade, which will be for a very long time.

Patition is good. How many people here have a Z7S?

[minhgi]

You can pinmod the CPUs for more Vcore. But what I'd need is VTT anyways..
A petition sounds good, since the first review boards had settings like Vcore and VTT available. I think they become available if you put a QX CPU in there... Maybe a bios hack would work.

If I recall from the Inquirer, they did a review of the Z7S with qx9775. They mention that the vtt and vcore were absent from the bios. I can be wrong.

We needs those in the bios. It's a necessity!! (not my life depends on it, but close enough)

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquir...e-inqpressions

[STEvil]

My Z7S arrived yesterday.

Just need another E5340 to drop in it now.

[minhgi]

My Z7S arrived yesterday.

Just need another E5340 to drop in it now.

Sweet, now come and join the party. Let OC that baby til its can fly.

Someone have too b/c I can't on mine.

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Bios hack??

Yep, we needs someone talented to hack it. That person will be my hero til my next upgrade, which will be for a very long time.

Patition is good. How many people here have a Z7S?

I don't have one, but I'd sign it

[minhgi]

Any one here good at writing a persuasive patition?

English is my second language and my computer can only say 1&0. When I was young, I have no friends and talk to my computer allot. I writes essays during my school years and alway have them given back to me by the teachers. The teachers alway said that they cannot read my handwriting b/c was only 1&0. The only distinction that they recognize was the spacing of 8 charactors of 1&0. Anyways, when I got back my papers; they said the essay BYTEs

[riiaku]

What about the Xclio Windtunnel advanced case, 2x 250mm side fans, 200mm fan on top, 120mm on front, and 120mm on rear. tool-less everything, and dead silent. good choice or no?

[Asgard_thor]

What about the Xclio Windtunnel advanced case, 2x 250mm side fans, 200mm fan on top, 120mm on front, and 120mm on rear. tool-less everything, and dead silent. good choice or no?

well, if the side 250mm don't push enough you can buy different 250mm that push 100-110cfm

and trade the 200mm for a antec 200m big boy

[loonym]

What about the Xclio Windtunnel advanced case, 2x 250mm side fans, 200mm fan on top, 120mm on front, and 120mm on rear. tool-less everything, and dead silent. good choice or no?

I bought one of those, great airflow but, like I do with everything, I added fans whether it needs it or not. I liked it so much I bought another

[MrBean]

Hey Guys,
The new Lian-Li A20 Server box is a nice setup for this board - got one last week, and it works like a dream.

Br,
MrBean.

[Bobsama]

What about the Xclio Windtunnel advanced case, 2x 250mm side fans, 200mm fan on top, 120mm on front, and 120mm on rear. tool-less everything, and dead silent. good choice or no?

I just suggest you bring black electrical tape to cover all the LEDs... I find LEDs annoying as heck!

well, if the side 250mm don't push enough you can buy different 250mm that push 100-110cfm

and trade the 200mm for a antec 200m big boy

XClio's 25CM fans push plenty of air--I've seen estimates 2-3x more than just 100-110cfm. And yes--I have one (25cm XClio fan).

I bought one of those, great airflow but, like I do with everything, I added fans whether it needs it or not. I liked it so much I bought another

I personally love my XClio 188A and Propeller--I bought both for the price of a single Windtunnel. The 188A was $65 ($50+shipping) and the Propeller was $50 ($80-$30+free shipping). I jumped on that deal when I saw the Propeller at $50 flat, though it took NewEgg about a week to ship it (over Christmas).

[jt1]

Do you guys recommend I get any 3rd party screws, bolts, washers, standoffs, etc to go along with normal motherboard installation? My board will be pretty heavy with three heatsinks (HR-01X and NC-U6).

[the_cultie]

Just wondering how did you get the heatsink off the chipset beside the CPU's? I have a board here now and I cant seem to get he heatsink off. Have the push pins out but it seems to be stuck very well. Any help is very much appreiated

[Jaco]

Try to remove the heatsink while it's still hot.
Maybe it will come off easier ?

[the_cultie]

I'd try that alright except the RAM is at my friends house as this is for him, he forgot to bring it to me this morning, all 12GB of it. So I might have to wait until tomorrow. Just an idea, would the heat of a soldering iron be too much to apply to the top fins of heatsink to try and heat it up, even for a brief period?

[2fink]

take a hair-blower

[the_cultie]

This may seem a little odd but we dont have a take a hair-blower in our house. However you may have given me an idea

[jcool]

I used a flathead screwdiver. That with some confidence and quite some force will solve the problem