Shazza's Modest Mountain Mods Build

[theseeker]

LOL

i wish i could put mine into retirement.

the difference between a GTX295 i dont see the merit.

NaeKuh,

I believe Shazza is going with 2x285 cards which basically blow away the ATI solution, at least currently. My friends that own the ATI cards have been very disappointed with them mainly due to poor driver support and poor overclocking results. When I last had my 285's running in max resolution (25x16) on H20 they absolutely smoked everything I threw at them.
Personally, I have never been a fan of a single "dual card solution." Just my two cents. nVIDIA owns the dual or tri card setup for the immediate future.

[shazza]

I can't really say the ATI cards were not good performers. I didn't see much improvement when I added the second one, but the main reason I went with the 285s is I put the 260s in my other rig, and had more fun with OCing -- probably also due to familiarity with nVidia products.

With the 285s, I don't have any complaints at all. Performance in Fallout 3 (my current gaming diversion) is excellent at 2560x1600 with max settings. Better than I had with the 4870X2 - but I'm not ruling out user error or driver issues.

The ATI cards will ultimately find a good home, so no need to feel sorry for them. Also ... I picked the 285s cause I was a little leery of the 295 - but so far people seem to be enjoying them as well.

[theseeker]

I can't really say the ATI cards were not good performers. I didn't see much improvement when I added the second one, but the main reason I went with the 285s is I put the 260s in my other rig, and had more fun with OCing -- probably also due to familiarity with nVidia products.

With the 285s, I don't have any complaints at all. Performance in Fallout 3 (my current gaming diversion) is excellent at 2560x1600 with max settings. Better than I had with the 4870X2 - but I'm not ruling out user error or driver issues.

The ATI cards will ultimately find a good home, so no need to feel sorry for them. Also ... I picked the 285s cause I was a little leery of the 295 - but so far people seem to be enjoying them as well.

Shazza,
I am a rebel, you on the other hand are always politically correct!

[headala]

Wow, Shazza, I just found this and you're already on the second iteration! I can't believe I didn't know this was here...well, don't worry, I'm Subscribed now. Keep up the good work.

Regarding your pics: They are beautiful! My wife and I went on our honeymoon to Alaska, and I rented an L series 400mm 2.8 IS (my wife called it "our new ball and chain" because it came in it's own little suitcase). Got some great otter, walrus, and glacier pics with it; maybe they're almost as good as yours! We'll have to have a show-n-tell sometime!

[NaeKuh]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-295-preview/7

Shows the X2 is just tad bit off a 295GTX @ 1920X1200 resoltion.

Since i am running 2 in xfire, the only solution comparable would be GTX295 in sli.

However i am getting a 975 and rebuilding to haruhi b4 i change gpu sectors. :X

[theseeker]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-295-preview/7

Shows the X2 is just tad bit off a 295GTX @ 1920X1200 resoltion.

Since i am running 2 in xfire, the only solution comparable would be GTX295 in sli.

However i am getting a 975 and rebuilding to haruhi b4 i change gpu sectors. :X

Shazza uses 2500x1600 as I do with max settings. In that case 2x285's beat the single card solution. In 1920x1200 you do not notice as much of a difference.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3498&p=3

[NaeKuh]

Shazza uses 2500x1600 as I do with max settings. In that case 2x285's beat the single card solution. In 1920x1200 you do not notice as much of a difference.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3498&p=3

Yeah, im not at 30 inch yet. Also seeker, im running 2 HD4870X2's. So my only solution for an upgrade is 2 GTX295

I wanted to wait for the new 120hz monitors to become a bit more mainstream b4 i went 30's.

Im running dual 24's and you know the price when it comes with duals. So SLI is not an option for me yet, because i do use the second monitor for gaming.

[shazza]

Yep, as I said, the 285s are going great guns on the 30" (Dell 3008).

As an aside, my favorite monitor is the 27" Dell - running at 1920x1200. The size of the monitor does not overwhelm me, and I actually like the slightly larger pixel size - I went with the GTX 260s in SLI for the 27" system, which is plenty (see, I am budget conscious, contrary to what this worklog might leave you to believe ). I have to run the 30" at 1920x1200 for text, cause my eyes are very old. No problem with scaling that I've noticed.

I've got a wide variety of Widescreens that I use for console gaming - and will eventually hook up my computer to the 71" Samsung DLP as well, just for kicks.

One of my next projects will be a HTPC build for my 60" Kuro (non-elite - still thinking about that budget) setup in Florida:





The thin cabinet on the wall is for DVDs and games:


The backyard:



A regular vistitor:



I know ... too much information, but I'm bored

[NaeKuh]

I know ... too much information, but I'm bored

i love your pictures tho.

if only i could take pictures like that, snipe skinnee and xilikon would be much happier people.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

wow shaz, what kind of bird is that?

[shazza]

wow shaz, what kind of bird is that?

That's a Blue Heron. The backyard is a swamp, so lots of birds and a few alligators too. Obviously, this is Florida, not Arizona

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

That's a Blue Heron. The backyard is a swamp, so lots of birds and a few alligators too. Obviously, this is Florida, not Arizona

cool, its very colorful for a blue heron, the ones we have in Maine where I sail my catamaran in the summer are very pale in coloration so I was a bit confused.

[SiGfever]

shazza,
Love the wood in your ceiling. Very beautiful place you have there.

[dualbrain]

Shazza: Congrats for a stunning home setup

[charles_h]

What a stunning room Shazza - right out of the pages of Architectural Digest!

The only thing missing is the custom built, in-wall 8 foot South American biotope aquarium!

Ok, now I'm projecting.

[dingdong555]

Amazing room Shazza! But you're missing the PC room!

I bet there is lots of midges there too!

[anubis_is_evil]

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

Shazza, where do you get that ? i've been looking something like it, just unlucky to find one , it really fit with my taste, simple and black anodized especially the way it can be close ..is it for 3.5 or 5.25 bay shazza ?

thx...

[shazza]

Thanks for the compliments on the house, folks. I don't usually post pics like that, but I have a couple of computer-related projects in the works involving the TV area.

@ SiGfever - the wood in the ceiling is pecky cedar. We recently redid the upstairs into a family room/home theater combo, and the wood was my husband's idea. I wasn't sure, but it came out nice.

@ Nils - thank you, but I think your "dining room" murderMod showcase arena has us all beat.

@ Charles - funny you mentioned the aquarium, as it was something my husband wanted, just not feasible since we aren't here full time.

@ dingdong - My den is behind the glass doors in the second pic ... it's setup with surround speakers for the PC. I've got a project underway in Arizona that will give me a dedicated PC / Gaming room. My husband is tired of me taking over the den we share there. You're right - lots of nasty little bugs here, which is why the outside is screened in:




@ anubis_is_evil - Here is a link to the I/O port bay accessory. Got it from Performance PCs. Mine is 5.25", I believe it may also come in a 3.5" version.

[shazza]

Shazza, where do you get that ? i've been looking something like it, just unlucky to find one , it really fit with my taste, simple and black anodized especially the way it can be close ..is it for 3.5 or 5.25 bay shazza ?

thx...

I found a place where it is quite a bit cheaper than the link I posted above (although I've never used PCTOYS before):

http://www.pctoys.com/840556088516.html

[theseeker]

Shazza,
I love your backyard!

[shazza]

Okay ... back on track here. A quick look at the nickel EK GTX 285 block ... I like Took these shots as the sun was setting, I'll try to get some better ones on the weekend:















I have my work cut out for me this weekend. Guess my busy social schedule will have to be put on hold once again

[Hockeydude]

That's one great looking block.

[capreppy]

Nice. I'm getting the exact same blocks!! Those look way nicer than expected.

[N19h7m4r3]

Very nice blocks there

You seem to be enjoying yourself non-stop here

[The[R]eaper]

Wow! Great pics and one beautiful looking block you got there.

i was looking at ordering a 285 when i ordered my i7 rig, and this is making me regret it