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First Build Suggestions - Page 4

post #91 of 137
5/9/07 at 7:45pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

Your 7600 will run hot regardless. Actually, on the coolermaster case you're using, you should have no problem keeping that card within acceptable temps.
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post #92 of 137
5/9/07 at 8:03pm
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Re: First Build Suggestions

No, I wasn't running it in a coolermaster. I put it in an older Compaq computer and it ran fine, but then hot air was coming out the back, I touched the gfx card (burnt my finger) turned off the computer and took it out. The only fan that Compaq has is the one in the PSU. Which is clogged with dust.
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post #93 of 137
5/12/07 at 8:06pm
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Re: First Build Suggestions

Turns out you were right, it was the PSU that was the problem... Too embarrassing to go into detail, but lets just say that the PSU claimed another life of a motherboard...
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post #94 of 137
5/12/07 at 9:39pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

Was it another brand new motherboard? Or did you sacrifice an old mobo for the sake of testing?
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post #95 of 137
5/13/07 at 5:55pm
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Re: First Build Suggestions

It was an old one, but I didn't "sacrifice" it. I just used the family computer and decided to use it as the "back-up" computer until I got the motherboard back. I hooked up everything, pressed the power button, then there was silence and a slight "popping" sound from the motherboard. I put the old PSU back on, and fans spun, hard drive spun, but there was no image on the screen... Ohh well, I'll just use that old computer I have laying around, and return for replacement that coolermaster PSU...
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post #96 of 137
5/14/07 at 4:23pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

I've had power supply problems in the past (including a short that occurred when my fiance plugged in her USB memory stick & fried ~$1500 worth of new components). I will now only trust PC Power and Cooling, Seasonic, and Antec. I usually go with Seasonic because they are near-silent and have enough power for most tasks. The vast majority of PC problems that people have are power supply related... this is 1 component that you should NOT skimp on (as you found out!).
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post #97 of 137
5/15/07 at 1:11pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

I am going to order THIS PSU as suggested by another forum on Friday. Do you think this will be a good choice? The guy from the other forum said it can run my components, and all of the upgrades I'll get over time.
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post #98 of 137
5/15/07 at 1:21pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyg2
I am going to order THIS PSU as suggested by another forum on Friday. Do you think this will be a good choice? The guy from the other forum said it can run my components, and all of the upgrades I'll get over time.

I have the 600W version of that PSU and I like it so far. Had it for about a month I guess with no problems. I think it is a good choice. You could probably even save a little bit of cash and get the 600W rather than the 700W.

You can get the 600W at zipzoomfly.com for $99.90 - $10MIR = $89.90 with free ground shipping or $1.99 for 2 day Fedex. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=316504

If you want the 700W, get it at Zipzoomfly as well. $126.99 - 25MIR = $101.99 with free shipping or $1.99 for Fedex 2 day. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=316505

They are a very reputable online retailer. I ordered my PSU and some other things from them.

Be careful on the OCZ rebate. It expires tomorrow and MUST be postmarked within 10 days of your order date. I would suggest spending the $2 for Fedex 2 day so you have plenty of time to test it out and get the rebate in the mail.
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post #99 of 137
5/15/07 at 1:49pm
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Re: First Build Suggestions

I'm ordering it on Friday, and I really don't care much for the rebate... I haven't sent any rebates in yet for the parts I have atm. The only one I'm going to send a rebate in is for the motherboard when it arrives back from RMA.

I like Newegg, but if it's a bunch better to get from the other one, sure I'll get it from there. I'll just have to make sure there is a rebate for it then.
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post #100 of 137
5/15/07 at 3:12pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

I think OCZ has been renewing that rebate so there will probably be another one that goes from the 16th to the end of the month.

Newegg, Zipzoomfly, ClubIT, Mwave are all highly regarded online retailers. Just because you already bought stuff from Newegg doesn't mean you have to pay them more money. I like Newegg myself but I also shop around. No point in paying more money when you don't have to.

Why would you not send in the rebates? If you like throwing away money so much you can always send it to me
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post #101 of 137
5/15/07 at 4:28pm
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Re: First Build Suggestions

I just forgot about them, and by the time I remembered it was already too late...

EDIT:

How do these fans look?

1 x 120mm exhaust: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835110014
1 x 120mm intake: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835110014
1 x 80mm intake: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811999602

I'll order them next Friday. Along with (hopefully) another gig of RAM.
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post #102 of 137
5/17/07 at 4:11pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

Looking back at this build, I really wish I got a full-tower... Mid size is pretty big, but would get nowhere near as much airflow as a full-sized case. I don't have much options for case fans now. I can only fit 1 rear 120mm fan, 1 front 80mm fan, and 1 front 140mm fan... I really wish I got that full sized case...

I probably can't return it now anyway, I have modified it for better airflow already.
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post #103 of 137
5/19/07 at 6:33pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

I ordered that PSU, along with two-day shipping.

Thanks guy's!
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post #104 of 137
5/19/07 at 6:54pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

Which PSU did you end up getting?
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post #105 of 137
5/19/07 at 8:10pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

The 700W that you linked to.

I should have plenty of headroom for when I decide to upgrade.
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post #106 of 137
5/24/07 at 2:26pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

I have the computer all put together and running great! I have the processor overclocked to 1.95GHz and the memory overclocked to 820MHz. (from 1.86GHz, and 800MHz)
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post #107 of 137
5/24/07 at 4:11pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

Push that thing to 3+ ghz
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post #108 of 137
5/24/07 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

What about the RAM?

EDIT:
I just got the RAM to overclock to 900MHz, and the CPU to overclock to 2.1GHz. I shoulg have this thing overclocked to 3GHz by Sunday.
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post #109 of 137
5/24/07 at 6:01pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

Personally, I wouldn't push them both at once. If you do and you get a BSOD or system lockup, it will be harder to pinpoint the problem. So OC your RAM first and see where you can take it without errors or leave it at stock and play with your cpu.
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post #110 of 137
5/24/07 at 7:16pm
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Re: First Build Suggestions

I have the CPU at 2.1 and the RAM at 950 right now. Should I just play with the RAM for now?

EDIT:
The RAM wont go above 950 without beeping. I have the RAM at 950 right now and the CPU at 2.158.

Is 950MHz the highest physical limits of my RAM, or will a burn-in period allow me to go higher?
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post #111 of 137
5/24/07 at 9:13pm

Re: First Build Suggestions

You can't really determine a solid OC number without stress testing. Use Orthos or Memtest to test the RAM and different OC's and find your highest stable speed. Just because you can boot at 950mhz doesn't mean it is stable.

What do you plan to do with the computer that you want to drive the RAM above 900 or so?
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post #112 of 137
5/24/07 at 10:05pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

The faster the memory runs, the faster my computer runs.

Here's what I got after 30 minutes of Orthos:

Type: Blend - stress CPU and RAM Min: 8 Max: 4096 InPlace: No Mem: 766 Time: 15
CPU: 2150MHz FSB: 306MHz [307MHz x 7.0 est.]
CPU: 2150MHz FSB: 306MHz [307MHz x 7.0 est.]
5/25/2007 12:34 AM
Launching 2 threads...
Using CPU #0
Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
Press Stop to end this test.
Test 1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using 1024K FFT length.
Test 2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using 1024K FFT length.
Test 3, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19374367 using 1024K FFT length.
Test 4, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19174369 using 1024K FFT length.
Test 5, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M18874369 using 1024K FFT length.
Self-test 1024K passed!
Test 1, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M172031 using 8K FFT length.
Test 2, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M163839 using 8K FFT length.
Test 3, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M159745 using 8K FFT length.
Test 4, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M157695 using 8K FFT length.
Test 5, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M155649 using 8K FFT length.
Test 6, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M153599 using 8K FFT length.
Test 7, 800000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M147455 using 8K FFT length.
Torture Test ran 30 minutes 5 seconds - 0 errors, 0 warnings.
Execution halted.
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post #113 of 137
5/25/07 at 8:12am

Re: First Build Suggestions

Well yes, the faster it will run. But are marginal increases worth the risk of damaging components? That is where stress testing comes in along with monitoring temps.

I would recommend also running Memtest and give it more than just 30 minutes just to make sure.

Also, be sure to put your finger on the heat spreader while the RAM is under load and measure the temp that way. If you can leave your finger on there for 10 seconds without burning, its fine. If you only make it 5 seconds, its pretty warm. If you only make it 3 seconds, its way to hot. This testing method is pretty full proof and can also be used to test the heatsink on the NB which heats up pretty fast when you start to overclock.

The important thing here is to keep your computer alive. I'm all for it being fast but you also want to be safe with the money you just spent.

Also, what are your RAM timings at that speed? For me, I prefer a slower clock speed while maintaining tighter timings. I currently run my RAM (2GB OCZ Platinum Rev. 2) at 840mhz with 4-4-4-15 timings. If I get up in the 900mhz range, I have to loosen the timings to something like 5-6-6-17 to make the system stable.
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post #114 of 137
5/25/07 at 9:28am
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

I can keep it there for a long time, not too hot... Although, it's definitely warm.

What should I change the timings to? And, how do I find out what my timings are?

I tried memtest, but I need a floppy disk and a floppy drive. Neither of which I own.

The hottest things in my computer are the North bridge, South bridge, and GPU. All around the same temperature. My CPU is fine, and runs very cool. I'm sure I can overclock that thing a lot farther.
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post #115 of 137
5/25/07 at 10:31am

Re: First Build Suggestions

You can use a knoppix CD for memtest, plus it's a great disc to keep around for troubleshooting.

http://www.knoppix.org/

When you get to the boot screen enter in "memtest" and it'll load up memtest86.
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post #116 of 137
5/25/07 at 10:39am

Re: First Build Suggestions

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyg2
I can keep it there for a long time, not too hot... Although, it's definitely warm.

What should I change the timings to? And, how do I find out what my timings are?

I tried memtest, but I need a floppy disk and a floppy drive. Neither of which I own.

The hottest things in my computer are the North bridge, South bridge, and GPU. All around the same temperature. My CPU is fine, and runs very cool. I'm sure I can overclock that thing a lot farther.

I would set the timings as tight as they can handle and still run stable. Did you get the RAM that is in your Newegg wishlist? Newegg probably has the specs on the RAM and the manufacturers web page should as well.

Edit: If you got the Patriot RAM, it is rated at 4-4-4-12. I would set it at that and then determine your OC for your RAM. Like I said, I prefer the tighter timings and less OC rather than looser timings and higher OC. But, some of that depends on your applications as well.

Download CPU-Z and when you run it there is a tab for memory and it will tell you what your timings are. You "should" have a setting for them in the BIOS but I'm not familiar with that mobo.

Your NB will probably get to hot long before your CPU gets past its thermal threshold. The C2D's are excellent OC'ers but the FSB limit of the mobo and many other factors will come into play as well to determine how high it can go.

And as Tekara said, just download and burn a knoppix cd (or any of several other Linux distros) and they will include memtest right on the cd.
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post #117 of 137
5/25/07 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

That knoppix thing... What the heck do I click on? It's all in... What, German?

EDIT:
CPU-Z:



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post #118 of 137
5/25/07 at 11:59am

Re: First Build Suggestions

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyg2
That knoppix thing... What the heck do I click on? It's all in... What, German?

Click on the American flag to convert it to English.
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post #119 of 137
5/25/07 at 12:06pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

Wow, slow download... Ahh, whatever. I'll just wait.
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post #120 of 137
5/25/07 at 4:10pm
Thread Starter 

Re: First Build Suggestions

Alright, is this a Linux Only program? If not, what the heck do I do now that I have this downloaded? (and extracted)

EDIT:
Also, would I be able to get the CAS Latency down? Or, is that unchangeable? (I tried it, and had to reset everything)
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