Fun with The Torture Rack

[xaxis]

Asus suck for RMA's. Nice to see it's not just me who have problems witht heir 4870X2's (I'm still waitin, supposedly getting a "marketing sample" that isn't back yet, so I'm getting a crappy used 1!)

~Bex

I know all of our experiences with hardware (well... everything) are subjective as an intrinsic side effect of our ape-ness. To date I've owned 6 4870x2 GPUs (all manufactured by Sapphire). 4 of them I've disassembled and installed EK GPU blocks on, ran them at full load for 58 days, 3 hours, 22 minutes, 45 seconds (well, 44.8 seconds ) to analyze modular exponentiation in various residue number systems using variable i-bit moduli from 1 to 4096 bits paying no regard to small latency for the sake of recording max throughput data for further analysis and with the intent of demonstrating ATI StreamSDK's/GPU's strengths vs. NVIDIA CUDA's "framework"'s/GPU's untapped potential, despite supposed lack of StreamSDK driver support. Average temperatures across the 8 GPUs was 34 degrees over the mentioned time period. Then I took them out, removed the blocks. Dropped not one but TWO of them from my hand (approx 3.5' high) to hard concrete surface (carpel tunnel acting up... and only 24, gonna need replacement hands, fingers, wrists soon), then slightly agitated I through them all in a box then kicked the box under my bed for a few weeks.

Some riends told me to use them for gaming machines for a lan party, so indifferent to whether they would still work or not, reassembled the stock heat cooling systems, through them in 4 gaming machines, and played Unreal Tournament without glitch for about two weeks straight. One week in time after that (some time in mid November 08 I think) they were placed in my primary workstation where they have been acting as my near 24/7 computer's GPUs and space heater for the cold winter months. I tested them an hour ago after putting the EK GPU blocks back on AGAIN, and they still work marvelously .... As for the other 2.. well haven't opened them yet. So obviously my sample size proves that statistical strength IS on my side and that 4870x2s are superior cards (sarcasm) ... at least as far as sapphire goes (more sarcasm).

where was I going with this...?

... Oh yeah, so the manufacture for your cards were all ASUS? Was that the case for Shazza too? I would place money that it was mentioned but can't find that answer atm. Anyway, my awkwardly and badly phrased banter up to this point was brain's attempt to query as follows (with of course more preface): I've had 3 friends with early to mid batch Asus 4870x2s completely die on them without extraordinary circumstances and soon after purchase. Now, with the grand total equaling 4, 5, 6? We surely have a statistically significant sample size to go and tear down the doors of ASUS and demand free stuff right? (post-modern-sarcastic-ism)

Arghh... I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to ask basically nothing and answer the same nothing thereafter... but I can't just not post this, for my carpel tunnel would slap me upside the dome for wasting its time writing a time wasting question/post and then deleting it.

Someone needs to send me an express ICBM via "air mail" ... would totally deserve it right about now.

... Love your build though Shazza, whatever GPU choices you make, keep it up and... OH GOD A TORNADO, gotta go!!!

[DarthBeavis]

Would love to go, but our travel schedule is pretty hectic for the next year or so. I'll keep practicing on my builds to be ready some day!

The winner of the PDXLAN mod contest gets a CPU mag cover. I am one of the judges would love to have some detailed work like yours in the running

[shazza]

The winner of the PDXLAN mod contest gets a CPU mag cover. I am one of the judges would love to have some detailed work like yours in the running

We would not want to see me on the cover of any magazine


@xaxis ... My 4870X2 is a Sapphire card. I have two of them, one has had no issues. I have to partially attribute issues with the card that is being RMA'd with PSU/mobo/user error issues. Have had a Danger Den block, then an EK block on it, and that wasn't an issue. Wasn't til I smoked it with a wanky Power Supply that I had to RMA it. It has been sent off, and I'm awaiting news.

Had a 2 year old Ultra X3 1000W PSU that was delivering only 9 volts instead of 12. That was a very easy RMA - they cross shipped a brand new one.

My Rampage Xtreme 775 motherboard RMA was a hassle. I did just receive the new board, have to send the old one back tomorrow. I found their RMA process very convoluted.

Gotta get back to finishing my build now ...

[dualbrain]

We would not want to see me on the cover of any magazine

Hmpf ... you mean:
"We would not want to see me on the cover of any magazine AGAIN "
Shazza Cover

Truly sad story. Hopefully we can get this right again!

[pingpong1455]

Hmpf ... you mean:
"We would not want to see me on the cover of any magazine AGAIN "
Shazza Cover

Truly sad story. Hopefully we can get this right again!

lol i think thats the same polar bear shazza has

@nils please release the new site and white sleeving

id really like that new white with red for my black case please hurry

ok back on topic now

any updates shazza ??

[xaxis]

lol i think thats the same polar bear shazza has

You mean there is more than one polar bear left? ... Good news. Suggested solution to problem: replacing depleting sea ice latent seal plunge holes with sea worthy polar bear 'All you can eat - big oil hired disinformation "scientist"', buffets.

[DarthBeavis]

Ur rig on the cover and a two page write upside plus 1500 bucks, Shaz. U r silly gerl. I would love to she a shaz build in the spotlight

[pingpong1455]

Ur rig on the cover and a two page write upside plus 1500 bucks, Shaz. U r silly gerl. I would love to she a shaz build in the spotlight

Yes and everyone there would behave because of her polar bear and all would be quiet

[oily_17]

Just read the entire thread and love the build.It's nice to see what you can achieve with the TR.

Also you just shamed me into redoing my PSU sleeving again....it's hard to compete with PERFECTION !!

[RCG_Bex]

All of my 4870X2's bar 1 have been Asus, and the 1 NOT made by Asus is the only 1 that still works!

Asus and I talk far too often. They never have a replacement handy, and never give a good explanation. They've all been DOA or died randomly with no evidence of what caused it. All from pre January time. I'm convinced it's a manufacturing problem.

HOWEVER! I seem to have people with similar problems with Sapphire cards, which, funnily enough, die the same way my Asus cards :?

~Bex

[millertime359]

Hmpf ... you mean:
"We would not want to see me on the cover of any magazine AGAIN "
Shazza Cover

Truly sad story. Hopefully we can get this right again!

Yes and everyone there would behave because of her polar bear and all would be quiet

[NaeKuh]

All of my 4870X2's bar 1 have been Asus, and the 1 NOT made by Asus is the only 1 that still works!

Asus and I talk far too often. They never have a replacement handy, and never give a good explanation. They've all been DOA or died randomly with no evidence of what caused it. All from pre January time. I'm convinced it's a manufacturing problem.

HOWEVER! I seem to have people with similar problems with Sapphire cards, which, funnily enough, die the same way my Asus cards :?

~Bex

the X2 is all sourced by AMD.

Thats why all the brands look the same underside, and its just a sticker on the heat sink that tells them apart.

Powercolor has been good with me on RMA's. They have been very informational on the

[xaxis]

the X2 is all sourced by AMD.

Thats why all the brands look the same underside, and its just a sticker on the heat sink that tells them apart.

Powercolor has been good with me on RMA's. They have been very informational on the

I really don't know where you're getting your information NaeKuh, but AMD/ATI's graphics division is a fabless operation and all of their manufacturing/assembly is outsourced to over 24 manufacturing divisions alone in 9 different countries that I know of. Of course they have certain control protocols in place, but by no means would I say that the graphic's division is sourced (implying a closed lid/manufactured in house) by ATI, for that's simply not true. Notice I didn't say that was the case for AMD who does have two fab plants I know of off the top of my head, one in Dresden and another in Singapore. Now AMD as just AMD (no ATI) is very much so it's own FAB and sources controls and procedures to the point of gaining copyrights on those techniques. Perhaps that's what you were thinking of? Or perhaps I misunderstood you entirely.

[shazza]

A little progress this morning:


The naked 4870





All dressed up with nowhere to go ...





The backside - very easy to install this block, a bit of MX-2 on the GPU chip and the lil' whatchacallits, slap it on and screw it tight:





Experimenting with compression fittings ... not sure I'll use them, but they look like they will fit:





Someone "gave me" some workspace in the garage, but I've filled it already. Here's the reason why my progress is slow - too many things going at once:

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

looks good shazza but why not use the VRM heatpipe?

[shazza]

looks good shazza but why not use the VRM heatpipe?

I may use it ... gonna check it out this way first. I like the looks of the heatsinks on the VRM

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

haha ok

btw soda breakfast = win I know that whenever I get a build going full tilt I head to the store and grab a few 12's of dr pepper and go all night long

[Chicken Patty]

like the shots of the 4870 shazza. i'm sorry I haven't been following this thread lately. What ended up happening with the 4870x2. Did it die or what?

[oggie]

I love Shazza's builds, everyone of them ends up like a story Wonder what next one is gonna be like

[dualbrain]

lol - the screwdriver ... even that suits the theme

[jpm804]

Is there going to be a worklog on that Lian Li XB-01? I'd definitely like to see how that turns out

[shazza]

like the shots of the 4870 shazza. i'm sorry I haven't been following this thread lately. What ended up happening with the 4870x2. Did it die or what?

I haven't been following this thread closely either I smoked the 4870x2 - literally. It's in for a potential RMA, but I have a spare. The 4870 is for the upcoming HTPC build.

I love Shazza's builds, everyone of them ends up like a story Wonder what next one is gonna be like

Thank you, oggie. I'm sure the serious folks around here get annoyed at the off-trackedness of my wanderings, but guess they know not to click by now

lol - the screwdriver ... even that suits the theme

Yes ... purely coincidence, but I left it in since it matched. I'm awaiting arrival of my custom hollow-core screwdriver set, ready to be filled with Feser One

Is there going to be a worklog on that Lian Li XB-01? I'd definitely like to see how that turns out

I thought it prudent to get a little further along before posting a work log - I'm not sure how the painting will turn out, let alone if I can get the case back together. Here's a few pics of WIP:






My first experience with popping (un-popping?) rivets:




Taped for the painting adventure:



I'm currently sidetracked with Tiger Woods 10 on the 360, so not making as much progress as I should be.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

ooooh, tw10 is out??? I loved 09 how does 10 compare?

[matsjuw]

Dammit Shazza, this is looking way too good again.
You'll start costing me money again, craving for things like that :P

[shazza]

ooooh, tw10 is out??? I loved 09 how does 10 compare?

I skipped 09, but am enjoying 10. I like the new precision putting, but taking a bit of time to master it. Getting ready to play Bay Hill - a course I've played many times, and that's always fun.

Dammit Shazza, this is looking way too good again.
You'll start costing me money again, craving for things like that :P

Nothing much too exciting yet, but I've got plans for the next few days