JOURNAL- A64 system, FROM noob to ELITE (with pictures)

[Swatdog]

I did tons of research between the Dfi ultra-d/sli and the msi sli and I decided to go with DFI Since they seemed to be praised more than the MSI in general FOR OVERCLOCKING. Also the overclocking numbers gained with the MSI in the hardop review was highest when a single card was used instead of dual video cards. In comparison I heard they overclock to similar levels I wouldn't say that the MSI SLI clocks much better than the dfi. BUT HEY i smell a challenge. Post your highest stable overclock on your msi and I will post on my DFI

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

I would suggest that you read the MSI K8N Neo4 SLI Platinum review from Hardop... and compare them with the SLI-DR.

To comparing OC results from the two mobos: Sure, but keep in mind that I will be on very high end air cooling (XP-120) for a while, while you will be on WC... But heck, we'll still compare.

 

[AlanD911]

Ok guys I have a question. Would it be allright to cut off a piece of my Snap-in 80mm fan mounts? They have this large purlple section that blocks the view of the fans from my case window. Here is a picture of the mount that I am talking about the part I want to cut off is circled.

 

[AlanD911]

UPDATE

Ok I have a new update. I cut all the tubes and fit them to the case for a sneak peak on what this system is going to look like. I also installed the CPU/MEMORY onto the motherboard but then I realised that I hadn't put the block clamp onto the actual block! What does this mean you ask? well it means another 2 hours of leaktesting again after taking off a hoseclamp and putting on that stupid clamp for the block. Here's some sneak peaks of what the system will look like

 

[AlanD911]

btw you see those ugly purple quick fan exaust things on the second pic? Well what I plan on doing is dremeling off the sides of those purple things so that my UV fans can show. I think i'm going to do that but i'm not 100% sure on it as of yet.

 

[AlanD911]

Ok guys i'm going to go ahead and dremel off the ugly purple plastic thing blocking my uv fans

 

[Swatdog]

Dude you can take them off and just do it the only fashion way: screw them in.

I think they just pop out.

 

[cujo]

it's good to see other canadian's spending insane amounts of cash on computers. just makes me feel better about the purchases i make.

tip, if possible stay away from bigfootcomputers except for certain modding things. their prices are much higher for most every day parts like cpus and mobos. i prefer canada computers to anywhere else i've been. they do have THE worst service possible but have good prices and you can actually go in and pick your cpu, ram, etc. i always love seeing what i buy. where do you guys shop?

just another quick question specifically for the thread starter. why did you pick that case? the design is very outdated. ie. 80mm fans, steel construction, no side fan, no roof fan. plus you're modding half of it anyway? why not a case like the shark or other similar designed cases built for water cooling? also, you're building a system like this, surely you'll be bringing it to lans, why not aluminum at least?? my case is very similar to yours except it's aluminum. i'd hate to be lugging steel around... i'm only questioning this because money doesn't seem to be of much concern as you're not skimping on most areas.

other than that keep up the good work. this is probably one of the best threads on here right now. pics, details, day-by-day progress = awesome job.

oh yea, i'd have gone with an x800xl over two 6600gts. but then again i'm just an ati fanboy. go Canada!

 

[Swatdog]

it's good to see other canadian's spending insane amounts of cash on computers. just makes me feel better about the purchases i make.

tip, if possible stay away from bigfootcomputers except for certain modding things. their prices are much higher for most every day parts like cpus and mobos. i prefer canada computers to anywhere else i've been. they do have THE worst service possible but have good prices and you can actually go in and pick your cpu, ram, etc. i always love seeing what i buy. where do you guys shop?

just another quick question specifically for the thread starter. why did you pick that case? the design is very outdated. ie. 80mm fans, steel construction, no side fan, no roof fan. plus you're modding half of it anyway? why not a case like the shark or other similar designed cases built for water cooling? also, you're building a system like this, surely you'll be bringing it to lans, why not aluminum at least?? my case is very similar to yours except it's aluminum. i'd hate to be lugging steel around... i'm only questioning this because money doesn't seem to be of much concern as you're not skimping on most areas.

other than that keep up the good work. this is probably one of the best threads on here right now. pics, details, day-by-day progress = awesome job.

oh yea, i'd have gone with an x800xl over two 6600gts. but then again i'm just an ati fanboy. go Canada!

Accckkk...Aluminum cases. So flimsy/bendable... I have the same case, but a little larger...and black. I don't mind steal since I'm a very big boy: 6'5", 280lbs, can bench press 320, and these cases weigh damn near close to that.

 

[cujo]

not all of us are that big... lol. i'm 5'09 135lbs. aluminum is my friend.

 

[Steven4563]

very nice system man congrats get that thing overclocked !!

 

[Sucka]

Looking good. I don't think i could have computer parts sitting around not in use though, i try and plan my builds to where it all comes in over a 1-2 day period so i don't have to wait....lol

 

[Swatdog]

Looking good. I don't think i could have computer parts sitting around not in use though, i try and plan my builds to where it all comes in over a 1-2 day period so i don't have to wait....lol

Well with your system, I couldn't wait either.

 

[AlanD911]

it's good to see other canadian's spending insane amounts of cash on computers. just makes me feel better about the purchases i make.

tip, if possible stay away from bigfootcomputers except for certain modding things. their prices are much higher for most every day parts like cpus and mobos. i prefer canada computers to anywhere else i've been. they do have THE worst service possible but have good prices and you can actually go in and pick your cpu, ram, etc. i always love seeing what i buy. where do you guys shop?

just another quick question specifically for the thread starter. why did you pick that case? the design is very outdated. ie. 80mm fans, steel construction, no side fan, no roof fan. plus you're modding half of it anyway? why not a case like the shark or other similar designed cases built for water cooling? also, you're building a system like this, surely you'll be bringing it to lans, why not aluminum at least?? my case is very similar to yours except it's aluminum. i'd hate to be lugging steel around... i'm only questioning this because money doesn't seem to be of much concern as you're not skimping on most areas.

other than that keep up the good work. this is probably one of the best threads on here right now. pics, details, day-by-day progress = awesome job.

oh yea, i'd have gone with an x800xl over two 6600gts. but then again i'm just an ati fanboy. go Canada!

Thanks for the advice on bigfoot I kinda realised that allready tho and I only go there for modding stuff. I chose the case cuz it was cheep 40 bucks and it had a window I probably wont be bringing my stuff to lans cuz im too scared to take it anywhere (my dad funded the computer lol). Also I suggest using bbf.ca it searches canada wide for the lowest prices on computer parts Canada computers is allright but there are better deals to be had with alittle shopping around at those mini asian stores @ pacific mall. I shoped mainly at ncix.com and tigerdirect.ca i don't suggest tigerdirect.ca tho because the prices are kinda higher than average but their shipping is quite fast compared to ncix. Oh yea I didn't really think about modding at all until after I bought the case and I thought it looked cool and wasn't that expensive and had a window so I decided to get it. Why buy an xpensive case when you can just mod an old one to something ELITE!! woohoooo


UPDATE:

the computer is now fully assembled AND IT IS SO HYPE i'm going to have tons of updated pics. Sorry for not having pics of the process but i just got upset and decided to install everything one time But it looks super hype. So pics are going to be posted tommorrow in the morning time. I'm also going to go and get a copy of windows xp home edition since I don't pirate anymore.

OH YEA I GOT SOME STATS ON MY TEMPS FOR THE WATERCOOLING (these temps are the computer on idle)
30-31degrees on the CPU
38-40 degrees on ambient tempterature. There is another temp sensor too but i forget what it was used for and the numbers, meh prolly doesn't matter .

I LOVE MODDING I installed a small vantec 80mm fan to cool down my uv cold cathodes and I lowered my ambient system temps by a couple degrees and got a steady 30degrees on the cpu temp on idle

tommorrow I will post pics of my case with fully installed parts and the horrors that I had encountered when installing everything PLUS PICS . Also I will be doing some overclocking babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! Well of course that will be after I make sure that the windows XP is running fine and I get wireless internet hooked up (its always a problem setting up wireless internet at this place).

I PLAN ON GETTING A 3 GIG OVERCLOCK WITH THIS BABY! and if I don't i'm going to add so many fans you won't even believe it. Trust me the moding bug has hit me I WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING to this case in order to reach that 3gig goal muhahahahahah

 

[AlanD911]

very nice system man congrats get that thing overclocked !!

I will once I get my windows XP home edition.

BTW QUESTION: Why is it that when I start the system is says that I only have 128mb of ram? I have 1gig dual channel lol

 

[AlanD911]

ALSO STAY THE HECK AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL X64 BETA!! IT'S A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. I THOUGHT I COULD SAVE SOME MONEY BY USING THAT INSTEAD OF WINDOWS XP BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DRIVER SUPPORT IS HORRIBLE! ALL OF MY 32 BIT DRIVERS THAT CAME WITH MY PRODUCTS DO NOT WORK WITH IT ARGGGG DAMN YOU MICROSOFT

 

[Swatdog]

ALSO STAY THE HECK AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL X64 BETA!! IT'S A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. I THOUGHT I COULD SAVE SOME MONEY BY USING THAT INSTEAD OF WINDOWS XP BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DRIVER SUPPORT IS HORRIBLE! ALL OF MY 32 BIT DRIVERS THAT CAME WITH MY PRODUCTS DO NOT WORK WITH IT ARGGGG DAMN YOU MICROSOFT

ROFL, well I could have told you that... sheeesh.. Besides 64-bit WXP will actually lower your performance in games than on WXP:H or WXP. They have TONS and TONS of bugs to work out.

 

[AlanD911]

thanks for telling me in advance

 

[Steven4563]

u might need to flash your bios to a newer version ? what slots have u got your ram in ? have u tried the other slots ?

 

[clocker2]

ALSO STAY THE HECK AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL X64 BETA!! IT'S A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. I THOUGHT I COULD SAVE SOME MONEY BY USING THAT INSTEAD OF WINDOWS XP BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DRIVER SUPPORT IS HORRIBLE! ALL OF MY 32 BIT DRIVERS THAT CAME WITH MY PRODUCTS DO NOT WORK WITH IT ARGGGG DAMN YOU MICROSOFT

What the heck are you nattering on about?
Of course your 32-bit drivers wouldn't work.
Both nVidia and ATI (along with many others, SiI for instance) have been releasing beta 64-bit drivers for several months.
I have been dual-booting both XPs for a while and am almost ready to drop the 32-bit OS altogether.
Just as with your hardware, there is a bit of a learning curve involved, but the OS is almost completely functional right now.
Not sure about gaming performance though.

 

[ONE]

You've got some good stuff there, congrats...keeep the pics comin.