Shazza's Modest Mountain Mods Build

[CptDreadFlint]

You had me at the color coordinated triple loop! Beautiful build, Shazza!

-Fellow MM fan

[shazza]

...
Shazza i asked jonnyguru his thoughts on dual psu's setups and how to set one up properly.
I'll keep you updated with what he tells me.
Seems like our only hope maybe to dual psu our systems.

Thanks, NaeKuh - I'd appreciate any info you gather!

Certainly was a nice clean looking set-up shazza and some great photo's too

Appreciate the comments - your builds are so beautiful, I enjoy all your work logs.

Don't worry about the build it's an awesome build and your skill level is VERY high!

I can't wait for the "next" one :O

The "next" one may be just around the corner ... at least there will be an interim fixup coming soon

close project are sure.

Gracias

it is a shame about the board

your build has beautiful flow - very nice job -

my grandmother still golfs, and some knitting but i wish she was into this! she has a good eye (something you 2 have in common) & i'm sure could bring a wealth of handicraft to the table. To bad she is in AZ (warm) & i'm in chicago (super cold)...sadly, little would be acomplished, as a visit there would not be spent inside (i need some sun! golf..golf..golf!)

Thank you. Maybe I'll run into your GM on the golf course, and she can help me with my next build.

You had me at the color coordinated triple loop! Beautiful build, Shazza! -Fellow MM fan

Ahhh, thanks Cpt ... but you did a much better job making the MM case look good.


New parts received ... we'll see what I come up with for the next one.

[armeniandave]

Look forward to seeing the new build. I assume your sticking with the MM case and all the rest of your components.
Whatever you do I'm sure it will rock!!

[N19h7m4r3]

AH no! Shazza!

Between, you Charles, Sniipe and other, Ii'll never get my own build done.

Always reading and watching your's instead

[shazza]

Look forward to seeing the new build. I assume your sticking with the MM case and all the rest of your components.
Whatever you do I'm sure it will rock!!

Welllll ... yes, and no. Updates soon.

AH no! Shazza!

Between, you Charles, Sniipe and other, Ii'll never get my own build done.

Always reading and watching your's instead

I don't think I'm quite in their class, but thanks for the nice comment. I always get addicted to this place when I'm in the midst of a build.


Expect to have some progress pics tomorrow. New parts are installed, and running. Just trying to decide how many changes I'm going to make. But, for now, I've got other things on my mind:

[shazza]

A brief update, just so you'll know I haven't been slacking:


The Apocalypse: Tore out the Rampage Extreme. Installed the EVGA X58 + GTX 285. Just checking everything works, before redoing all my loops and wire management (#$&**%#@###&!!!)




You like my external hard drive setup?




Added the second 285, and I didn't blow up anything this time:




Gotta lose the chipset fan and mosfet cooler:







While it looks like I didn't get much done, I've been having fun OC'ing the CPU and the GPUs. AND, got a couple hours of Fallout 3 in.

(I sure hope Charles doesn't see this mess ... )

[theseeker]

Shazza,
Once again, you have been hiding secrets

[charles_h]

hehe, I was looking at that 2nd pic and thinking: "man... that's a big 'ol mess a wires..." hehe

You know, I had the same thing with the Fried Chicken build - rat's nest 'o wires. SiGFever touched on it in Rocky's worklog - we need to come up with a solution for managing the cable management. One thing I was thinking was some kind of array concept like with spark plug wires - you know those plastic clip thingies that hold the wires in a row. Something like that could be interesting... maybe a trip to the local auto parts store is in order.

[BlueAqua]

Shazza, where is the 3rd GTX 285?

How are you liking the Evga x58 so far? I've been thinking of picking up the Evga Confidential board they're working on whenever it arrives.

Great update! It's nice to see you trying out some new toys after your "old" ones just gave out on you from too much use and abuse.

More pics please.

[SiGfever]

I am looking forward to the "Next Evolution". I know with your skills this one will be just a beautiful as the last. I still say that you could sell these professionally.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Welllll ... yes, and no. Updates soon.


I don't think I'm quite in their class, but thanks for the nice comment.

hey man don't sell youself short, your build was a beauty and certainly as distracting as some of the other best builds around

[shazza]

UH OH ... I got busted pretty quickly on these ***runs and hides***

@Rocky - I was trying to hold out til later in the new year for the i7 build in AZ, but I am weak: EVGA X58, GTX 285 x 2, with Corsair Dominator RAM.


@Charles - Yep, I've seen some setups where they put connector ports in. I'm sure you can come up with something, Charles. Plus, Dave is doing some cool (UN)Designs for hiding cabling in his Ascension.

Just remember ... I had all these cables in there before, with the exception of the extra two GPU connectors. Gotta figure out how to sleeve those - they are a bit funky. The hard drive is outside, because I didn't want to use the one in the case since I'll keep it for the other components.

@ Blue Aqua - I sure did wear that 775 setup out quickly Musta been the whole 10-12 hours of gaming I did with it. And about that third 285 ... hehe, let's just say this started out as one, but I couldn't resist the second. I will be strong! I'll post some info tomorrow on my impressions of the EVGA X58 vs the P6T Deluxe, but so far it's pretty good. I may step-up once the new EVGA board is out.

@ SiGFever - thanks. I would never want the responsibility of building for money, but let's just say my friends and relatives are quite happy with the hand-me-downs.

@SNiiPE - thank you, sir. I am just having fun with this stuff, keeping myself occupied.

[shazza]

No hardware pics today ... just been playing around with everything and enjoying the new i7 and 285s.

So far, pretty happy with performance. I've been running all day with the CPU at 3.8 with no issues. Also played around a bit OCing the 285s, and still got some headroom on them. Here's some data, for anyone who might be interested (Ambient at 23 degrees):


I use Real Temp 2.90 to monitor Temps (duh!), and use the Cool Down test as a quick check for stability and responsiveness of the core sensors. Max temp at 56:




Haven't played much with Vantage, but here's a shot of one of my runs (GPU at 729/1584/1333, Temps in low-60s on air with fan at 40%, Physix Enabled):




Haven't seriously tried to top 4.0, but it probably won't be too hard:




And, just for fun ... here's a shot after running Linpack for an hour at 3.6. Max temp is 58 degrees ... note Vcore for this run was at 1.39, compared to my 3.8 setting of 1.29. I think I can reduce it a bit more:




Other comments - Played Fallout 3 for several hours at max settings (2560x1600, Ultra High), and never had an issue. I could not get the 4870X2 / E8600 combo to run this game for more than a few minutes once I escaped the vault. Had to lower the res and other settings. Too many variables to call, but let's say I'm happy to have gone back to the Green Team. I love this game, but it is on the depressing side:




EVGA X58 vs ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 - not too much to say. I actually found the ASUS easier to OC. All I basically had to do was set memory timings, up the BLCK, and it would do it's thing. Seems like you need to be a bit more specific with the EVGA, and I've got some more tweaking to do on voltages. BUT, there is a lot of good advice in the EVGA forums, so not a problem. A minor complaint with the EVGA Bios update process - ASUS has more options and it's a bit easier to flash the BIOS. The Northbridge (if that's what you still call it) fan, and the Mosfet cooling tower on the EVGA look cheesy to me. Easy enough to fix with cooling blocks. I do have a problem with my P6T where it only shows 4 of 6GB of memory, which seems a fairly common problem.

Bottom line - I don't think you can go wrong with either of these boards for the basic stuff. It will be interesting to see how the EVGA Classified performs.

That's it for now. I know looking at other people's performance data is as fun as mud, but I find these work logs make good archives for when I want to look something up months later

[theseeker]

Shazza,
That is looking stellar as usual! You should have no trouble hitting 4 you have plenty of room and your temps are great. Your 285's are looking great on air.
I too am curious about the new eVGA MB. I had their 680 in my previous system and I had no problems at all.
Rocky

Having a scotch yet after all that hard work?

[dualbrain]

OMG Shazza - don't show these pictures of modern games. I avoid all these threads and websites, because my latest game was programmed in 2001 and I don't want to lose interest and excitement about graphics, when I start playing all the games I missed in the last 8 years ... once I can retire

... but you could not know that I am so far behind ... I try to forget the Fallout-picture ... I try to ...

[shazza]

OMG Shazza - don't show these pictures of modern games. I avoid all these threads and websites, because my latest game was programmed in 2001 and I don't want to lose interest and excitement about graphics, when I start playing all the games I missed in the last 8 years ... once I can retire

... but you could not know that I am so far behind ... I try to forget the Fallout-picture ... I try to ...

I know it's hard to believe, but sometimes we actually use these computers to PLAY GAMES I don't have as much time as I'd like, but someday...



Got a few new toys, while waiting for the GTX 285 Waterblocks:


Decided to try the Lamptron Fan Controller ... the Kaze is a bit too delicate. Didn't realize the Lamptron also came with extensions ... nice.



Needed a front headphone jack for those noisy late night gaming sessions (sorry, Nils)



I have no idea what "Free Cooling Playing" means, just wanted a bay mount for my HD



Never heard of Sytrin. The lil fans may not survive (they are removable)



And with the front cover on



Needed LEDs for my XSPC res (accidentally threw out one of the originals)



A comparison of the Bitspower LEDs and the Feser LEDS: The one in the center is the Feser - a bit shorter, sleeved with neoprene or something similar.



I know I keep wowing you guys with exciting stuff lately ...

Now, off to do some more sleeving.

[N19h7m4r3]

I like alot!

The HDD cooler looks interesting.

[trfnj74]

I really love the look of the Lamptron's but from what I hear they dont play nice with my San Aces so Ill have to stick with my Sunbeam Rheobus. My next build which will be for the I7 I might have Gary at Sidewinder make me up some real Rheostats to use which dont have the clicking issue at slow speads with some fans....

I know it's hard to believe, but sometimes we actually use these computers to PLAY GAMES I don't have as much time as I'd like, but someday...



Got a few new toys, while waiting for the GTX 285 Waterblocks:


Decided to try the Lamptron Fan Controller ... the Kaze is a bit too delicate. Didn't realize the Lamptron also came with extensions ... nice.



Needed a front headphone jack for those noisy late night gaming sessions (sorry, Nils)



I have no idea what "Free Cooling Playing" means, just wanted a bay mount for my HD



Never heard of Sytrin. The lil fans may not survive (they are removable)



And with the front cover on



Needed LEDs for my XSPC res (accidentally threw out one of the originals)



A comparison of the Bitspower LEDs and the Feser LEDS: The one in the center is the Feser - a bit shorter, sleeved with neoprene or something similar.



I know I keep wowing you guys with exciting stuff lately ...

Now, off to do some more sleeving.

[shazza]

Thanks, guys ... for the warning on fan controller. I don't need any squealing pigs around here, so I'll keep an ear out for them. I have a spare Sunbeam, if this doesn't do the trick.

(Can you tell I'm procrastinating with my sleeving. Should have ordered the Multi-Media I/O port bay cover with custom sleeving )

[SiGfever]

After seeing the Psychopack I keep having this strange urge to redo all my sleeving and even tackle the power supply.

[shazza]

Get yourself a Psychopack, SiGfever, and go nuts like the rest of us.

Progress ... Sleeved up the I/O ports for USB and HDAudio ... and it works. Love it when a plan comes together.

Now, on to the fan controller.

[just a noob]

shazza, tell me how you like the lamptron controller, oh, and be sure to blow up megaton(if your a woman, you can use ladykiller perk to seduce Mr. Burke)

[theseeker]

Thanks, guys ... for the warning on fan controller. I don't need any squealing pigs around here, so I'll keep an ear out for them. I have a spare Sunbeam, if this doesn't do the trick.

(Can you tell I'm procrastinating with my sleeving. Should have ordered the Multi-Media I/O port bay cover with custom sleeving )

You should really try an Aquaero!

[theseeker]

Get yourself a Psychopack, SiGfever, and go nuts like the rest of us.

Progress ... Sleeved up the I/O ports for USB and HDAudio ... and it works. Love it when a plan comes together.

Now, on to the fan controller.

+1 on the Psychopack but get two, one is never enough!

[armeniandave]

Looks like we have matching front I/O panels!
I looked at probably 50 of them and I settled on
that same one. It's nice and simple and thank god
it doesn't have a card reader! I never use all the
slots those things come with.