Project: The Ultimate AGP System (PC-A05FNB/HD3850)

[Jayzilla]

Project: The Ultimate AGP System (PC-A05FNB/HD3850)

Are you thinking this is an AGP video card with a Lian Li case work log? You are damn right, and it is going to be Ultimate.

What so special about this work log?
Since this will be my last casemod project before I go back to school and travel. I will put all my modding ideas I have on this project. The system will be fully water-cooled. Very cool indeed. Most of the parts on this project are discontinued and hard to find. So it will take some time to complete.

Why investing on absolute components?
If we are really into casemodding, this question is not really important. I can see why people fixing their 73 Mustang. My casemod hobby started on AGP age, I had Windows 95 and I was live in Vietnam at that time. I always wanted to build an awesome high-end desktop, but I’ve never have the time and money to actually do it. Time going by and the AGP age was already over years ago. I’m putting an end to platform.

Chao. My name is Jay and I’m here to make sure this work log is worth your time, or we can simply talk about casemod logic and see some cool parts. All the hardware are fixed but I’m open to comments and advise.

Main parts:
-Case: PC-A05FNB
-Board: AM2NF3-VSTA
-GPU: HIS Ice turbo HD 3850
-CPU: Phenom II X4 980
-PPU: Zotac GT 430
-PSU: Seasonic or OCZ modular.
-RAM: OCZ Flex
-HDD: Western Raptor X2

OS: Windows XP 32-bit (only choice)

Cooling parts (in planning):
-Pump: dual or triple pumps.
-Rad: 2X120MM, 1X240MM, 2X20MM!?.
-Blocks: ?
-Tubing: ¼.

Mod parts:
-Follow the log and you’ll see.

Sponsors

I don’t get any hardware sponsors since this is not a standard system, but the photo tethering software helps me a lot in this work-log. Thank you!


http://controlmynikon.com
The finest tethering software for your Nikon DSLR.


http://rebuildingcenter.org
Thanks for the ideas and screws.

Special thanks:


Thanks for letting me pursue The American Dream.


http://zerenesystems.com
The best photo stacking program out there.

Katie and Gordon
Thanks for buying and transporting the CPU cooler.

TRWOV (a hardcore AGP user at techpowerup).
Thanks for all the friendly advises.




One of the unique parts for this project. I’m not sure if I’m going to use this. I will do a benchmark for this item later.

Be sure to check back.
Cheers

[WangChung]

I always say work with what you got! In for progress

[Jayzilla]

I always say work with what you got! In for progress

Thank you!

Here are my mobo stories. I started a thread somewhere asking the compatibility for the Phenom 980 with the AM2NF3-VSTA. I got turned down with most of the answers. No one does seem to have exp with this CPU and board. My thought was the latest BIOS supports the 970, why not the 980? And the 975/980 came out a year after the last BIOS updates. I tried and BOOM! I was like F*** yeah! Fastest quad core and AGP, here I come.



I’ve thought about the Conroe865PE too. It can handles Windows 7 but I want DDR2 platform. So the AM2NF3-VSTA is the best choice for me.

What’s next?
Review that hyper-cooler.
Current status: Trying out PhysX with the Zotac GT 430.

********************************************

Before I have another updates. I want to share something with you. I just bought this desktop.





We seem scammer on fleebay pretty often these days. What interested me is this guy selling other’s people casemod project. I knew because I’ve live long enough on fleebay/casemodding industries. I got impressed with this casemod because of the straight tubing. So I went ahead and buy it! Here are my conversations with that guy.

Me: Where is the CD ROM? I didn't see it. How many GB of DDR3 you have in here? Any more details you can give me? I'm ready to pay.

scamie: This system is 12GB DDR3, the CD rom does not have an actual tray. It was actually modified from a cars strio system their for you slide the DVD / CD in and press eject to remove the DVD / CD. It is the little green light at the bottom of the front face.
I'm, having trouble with Paypal connecting to other websites such as amazon and other sites, if the payment does not correctly send, send it directly to XXXX@live.com from your Paypal, in the note leave me this eBay order ID. Alongside with your full shipping address. To avoid any complications please send as a gift. (right.)
Thank you,
Thomas.

Me: That is a cool looking PC right there. How come the CPU from your screen shoot doesn't match what you have listed?

Scamie: That picture is taken 7/22 I placed an order for a couple new drives and cards the 5th, I've actually also installed a fresh LEGAL copy of windows seven. This does come with a windows seven disk, including the key. I have just installed esus-partition for you due to me spiting my drives into multi partition to dual boot with mac OSx and Windows XP pro, Mac has been removed due to software problems but windows XP is still included in the boot sequence 1500GB is dedicated to the F drive of windows seven and another 500gb is dedicated to the Windows XP installation. Nothing is installed on both OS's as of now it is just two clean installs of both Win 7 & WinXP. Their should be no issues software nor hardware this computer was very rarely used. Honestly I hate to see this go but being called in I'm not going to be able to store it anywhere it will get stolen this is a very expensive piece of work. And I ask for you to take care of it as I would. Are you still interested in it?

Me: Dear Mr. Thomas or whatever your real name is-
I think I should stop asking you technical questions and let you go get a life. The answers you made up does not impress me at all. Here is the thing, If I ever try to fake an expensive painting and try to sell it, I wouldn't pick Picasso works I’m cool with everything you said, but about the Armed Forces, I hope that is really untruth, because I don’t want someone like you serving our country. I wish you the best in your life.
Sincerely
Jay

Reference:Cm-haf-xl by Kier
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...5938-Cm-haf-xl

[CrazyNutz]

Fun project! That hybrid cooler is very interesting, I would love to see how it performs.

[Jayzilla]

Fun project! That hybrid cooler is very interesting, I would love to see how it performs.

Yes, sir. That cooler is one of the reasons I have "Copper/Aluminum rig. Are you an anti-corrosion expert?" thread. And you were there helping me out. Thank you.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...92#post5128892

[coolamasta]

Awesome, fair play for being different with an old school AGP system, will be watching