New Computer

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Got my new computer up and running finally its done.

<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

P4 3.0GHz C (@ 3.68 for benching)
Asus P4P800-Deluxe
1GB OCZ Dual Channel Platinum
Sapphire Radeon 9600XT 500~570/700 (modded w/ OCZ Copper BGA Sinks & P4 Heatsink)
Lite-On DVD+R/RW
Seagate 80GB SATA 8MB
WD Caviar 120GB ATA100 8MB
Vantec AeroFlow VP4-C7040
Vantec IOB-B 400W PSU 500w Peak
Vantec Nexus NXP-201 Black Fan Controller
2x Panaflo 80x80x25 20dB 24CFM
3x Chieftec Fans (came with the case)
Chieftech Dragon AX-01SLD w/ Acryllic Window

~Bob</font>

[Wabbit_Swayer]

<font color='#000000'>Should have gotten a 9800 pro, or XT :P
or an nVidia solution, since the new 58.03 drivers are out, getting same performance as 9800 cards in HL2.</font>

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Yeah but I couldn't justify the extra money due to PCI-Express around the corner &nbsp;<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

~Bob</font>

[Wabbit_Swayer]

<font color='#000000'>you waiting for ddr2 and new vid cards coming out? Ive saved from this summer. most all of those new goodies are slated for Q2 this year. im leanin towards LGA775 but the FX-53 is tempting as well, since it wont require registered ram. with the power of the on chip mem controller, the benchmarks are gonna fly on that mofo. &nbsp;

its gonna be interesting. havent seen this kinda news for video cards since release of agp :P</font>

<font color='#000000'>Tyan S2466 Tiger MPx
Dual Athlon mp 2400
1gig pc2700 ddr
Radeon 9700 pro
2 Ibm 60gig 7200 rpm raid0
western digital 30 and 40 gig 7200rpm
Antec true control 550 psu
in-win q500 modded full tower
yamaha f1ze 44x CDr
16x liteon DVDrom

cpu
dhrystone 15156
whetstone 6257

integer aemmx 36407
float asse 37580

Memory I won't even compare as my amd 760mpx chipset is horrendously slow in that department, otherwise thoug, you have a nice rig goin there. Probably every bit as fast as mine just mine benches better.</font>

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>I'd hold off till the Socket 939 comes out, judging by the XP64 Demo out its gonna mop the floor with Prescotts.

If your gonna build, wait save some more money and buy something like this

Asus 939 Mobo
AMD FX-53
1GB Mushkin PC3500 Lvl 222
ATI R423
Dual WD 76GB 10k RPM Raptors in RAID
8x4x DVD+RW/-RW
Audigy ZS
Logitech Z680
NEC 17 LCD 16ms

~Bob</font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>Nice rigs!

Here's mine:

Athlon XP 2500
DFI NFII Ultra 400 "a" motherboard
2 &nbsp;512mb sticks pc-2700 (running in dual-channel)
80gb Seagate barricuda ata100 7200rpm 2mb hard drive
16x16x40x12 cd-rw/dvd-rom combo drive (toshiba)
ATI Radeon 9800 pro 128mb version
Pinnacle PC-TV Pro TV-tuner card
Antec P-160 chassis
Antec TRUEPower 380w power supply.

Watercooled with:
Swiftech mcw5000 &nbsp;(cpu)
swiftech mcw50 &nbsp;(vidcard)
swiftech mcw20 &nbsp;(motherboard)
eheim 1250 300gph pump
d-tek jr-120 radiator with dual shrouds and aluminum evercool fans
angeleye technologies bay-resevoir.

The whole point of it was to have a whisper quiet system. &nbsp;So far I can't even hear it running from more than 6 feet away.

EDIT: forgot to mention all fans are running at 7 volts instead of 12, so they run quieter. &nbsp;If I ever get to making another relay, I'll make one that will allow them to start at 7v then go down to 5v to get some serious quiet...so far my in game temperatures are about 41c, websurfing is about 34c.

Here's a link to an inside pic of it: http://www.strike9.com/comment....pen.JPG (http://www.strike9.com/comments.aspx?fileid=372682&path=/catatonic/fullsize/side-open.JPG)</font>

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Hopefully I'll have more new pics of the video card mod and stuff.

My next mod will prolly be to the Vantec HSF, I am still trying to find a 70mm to 92mm Aluminum Fan adapter

~Bob</font>

[Wabbit_Swayer]

<font color='#000F22'><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Swiftech mcw5000 *(cpu)
swiftech mcw50 *(vidcard)
swiftech mcw20 *(motherboard)
</td></tr></table>

Im not a big fan of swiftech WB. I'd take a d-tek whitewater, NB, and a DD Maze3 for video any day; over anything. Nice rig though. <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

I heard on The Inquirer that ONLY 10,000 939's are going to be released. That my friend is scarce for a proc of that capacity. *Looks like 754, or, uh, hopefully amd has a rabbit to pull out because all of their roadmaps seem a little shady. *Although chipzilla is more than clear. *especially since IDF.

But I totally agree with you on that sys build Khellandros66. *I could afford that 939 proc, but I dunno if its worth it, knowing such quantities are going to make price sky high. *The only thing i would dump is the speakers, I'll let me 2400/RBH take care of that *<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> *

Oh and thats 74GB Raptors. <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cool:'></font>

[Clint DeBoer]

<font color='#000080'>OK, ok... I just built/upgraded 2 machines:

Main system:

Athlon XP 2500/333 Barton
Shuttle AN-35N-Ultra Motherboard
512MB PC3200 DDR RAM
Promise FastTrack TX2000 Raid Card
Two Maxtor 120GB, 8MB cache HDs (Raid 1 config)
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro

Home Theater PC System:

Pentium 4 2.4GHz/533
MSI PT880 Motherboard
CoolJag CPU Fan
384MB PC2700 DDR RAM
30GB/7200RPM Main HD
Western Digital 200GB, 8MB cache HD

Lots coming on the HTPC.. I'm working on Parts 2 & 3 of my article now that its back up and running (had a processor go bad...)</font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>Thanks!

I'm partial to speedfit connectors on my waterblocks. &nbsp;No hoseclamps to mess with, the fittings actually add to the overall safety of the setup.

I do agree the whitewater, and many other blocks are nicer, but I'll stay put.

Next on the list....finding an old broken down amplifier to build my next PC into....something with as few buttons, knobs, etc as possible....going to try to make it blend into my stereo setup....also considering going P4 this time around.</font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>Well... I just had to jump in head first!

http://www.siegster.com/bigfoot/Tha_Trixta/pc.jpg

Modded Radeon 9700 pro with SK6 heatsink:

http://www.siegster.com/bigfoot/Tha_Trixta/pcmods.jpg</font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>Nice swifty stuff.

Looks like you got the swifty fill/bleed kit too.

If you yank that fill/bleed for a res, you'll have less overall restriction, those globe valves are terrible for that...plus Res's are great for their "self-bleeding" capabilities <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

I found that out after using my swifty fill/bleed kit for about a year and still had troubles with it.

Next up on my list is buying a koolance exos to rip apart. *It will be for my next PC, a watercooled 64-bit Intel rig, but I'm going to have VERY limited space....bet you can guess what I'm doing &nbsp; <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cool:'></font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>Thanks for your comments Mustang <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> Nice to see a high end computer user branching out to other hobbies like me <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Yea I have the whole swiftech kit.... I have had nothing but problems with their pumps leaking all over my baby..... this is my third pump and I don't trust it worth a dang.

Not to overlook that swiftech has basically given me the big FU after these pump failures. Last time I ever buy, use or recommend their products.

If I had the chance over again, I'd go high end air cooled.Like maybe a SP 97! Now THATS a heatsink!

But anyways... I digress on that topic.

So your gonna go a shuttle or ATX mini? Fill me in!</font>

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Just installed a 2.4C SL6Z3 M0

CPU-Z (http://forums.pimprig.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10012)

Arithmetic (http://forums.pimprig.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10009)

Memory (http://forums.pimprig.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10010)

Intergers (http://forums.pimprig.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10011)</font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>nice fsb on that rig !</font>

[Wabbit_Swayer]

<font color='#000F22'>i just noticed your new avatar Khell. good stuff &nbsp;<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'></font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>ThA tRiXtA : Yea I have the whole swiftech kit.... I have had nothing but problems with their pumps leaking all over my baby..... this is my third pump and I don't trust it worth a dang.

Not to overlook that swiftech has basically given me the big FU after these pump failures. Last time I ever buy, use or recommend their products.

If I had the chance over again, I'd go high end air cooled.Like maybe a SP 97! Now THATS a heatsink!

But anyways... I digress on that topic.

So your gonna go a shuttle or ATX mini? Fill me in!
Wow...I finally found this thread again...,

Just get a Swiftech MCP-600 pump...the MCP-300 pumps is a peice of crap...I had mine crack on me too.

Or do like I did and get an eheim 1250. *Awesome pump, but it is HUGE, and you should work on vibration dampening. *Tip for hte eheim...the outlet connector on your MCP-300 is a perfect inlet for the 1250...then go to Home Depot and buy a speedfit for your outlet...and voila! swiftech compatible eheim 1250.

For my HTPC project, I am working on fabricating my own ATX rackmountable chassis out of sheetmetal and aluminum stock. *My goal is to match my RX-496 and make it look as if it's some sort of dedicated amp. *I will watercool it, and am shooting for an insanely low noise floor on it (30Db or lower). *This means I'm mostlikely going to have to run two watercooling loops. *One for my CPU, the other for my northbridge and video card. *I already have a black ice micro radiator (1x80mm) for the vidcard/nb cooling, so I have all the radiators I think I'll need. *Now to get another waterpump and a quad-res and I will be all set. &nbsp;I also plan on watercooling my hard drives, from within a noise absorbing enclosure.

In the end I am going to rackmount all my audio gear and my PC in a portable rack. *I'm getting sick of having so much horizontal room taken up by all my stuff, so this is my big attempt at not only saving space, but doing something slick while I'm at it <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'></font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>Hey Mustang:

I did end up buying the MCP 600, it's lasted longer than the 300 (SO FAR!)

Sounds like you got it all worked out!

If I could be so bold, may I offer a few suggestions?

Well, to start off, 30 dB is very very low... you will be lucky to find an HDD that operates within those tolerances. Further than that, at that noise level, this machine will have to run on little to no fans.

To run two watercooling loops is going to be quite the challenge for a space saving design, sometimes even one loop is.

Are you going to be running anything through your videocard? If not, may I suggest you get something older, very minimal and try to slap on a large passive heatsink and forgo attaching the loop to it?

If you are infact not going to be overclocking the card, running anything 3D, you will get away running an older card at stock levels with a large passive heatsink.

(or you can even acquire an overclocking program and simply underclock the video card, which would cut the heat dispersion requirements muchly!)

Let me know if you need a hand with that program, I can get ahold of just about anything like that.

You will save lots of time, money, space and noise.

Same for the northbridge. If you are not using it hardcore or overclocking your FSB, you can most definately get away with a small passive heatsink.

As for the Black ice micro, it will not suffice if your planning to cool more than the cpu with it, let alone VGA card, northbridge, and potentially HDD's.

Personally, I would scrap the idea of cooling the HDD's as well. Now, I know that if you can cool them, hey great, but they are designed to run at unaltered operating temperatures.

If the drive cannot tolerate its own heat, it has no business in your rackmount, especially with the task you wish to undertake.

All this being said, I don't know your exact purpose or desires for this machine... but if it's going to just be a file server for MP3 or what have you, I would also consider underclocking the cpu. I don't know which type of processor you wanted, but if it's just a file server type deal, surely you wouldn't need more then a P3 / low P4. I'd stay away from the AMD's for this one.

I don't mean to stick my nose where it doesn't belong, but I am just trying to lend a hand, as many people here have helped me greatly in other areas. I would love to see this thing come out successful, quiet and stable.... Just my tweo cents on some neat ideas.

Good luck and please let me know how it goes ( hopefully with pics!)

If you wish to discuss this further, I am all ears.

I love building comps, especially if it's not my money! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'></font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>For the HDD, I was looking to place it inside of a noise dampening chamber. &nbsp;The problem with such a chamber is heat...namely how to get rid of it...that's why I am working on watercooling my hard drives as well.

Two loops isn't as bad as you would think, so long as you go for "what you need" as opposed to "what's the 'best' out there". &nbsp;For VGA and NB cooling 1/4" tubing is all thats needed (thus why I thought koolance), but 3/8" tubing is not that hard to deal with and I already have most of the parts for it.
To make things simpler, I am also working on integrating the resevior section of the loop to save even more space.

I'm a avid PC gamer, and my videocard is just a hair over what I would consider baseline acceptable for my preferences, so downgrading isn't really something I would plan on doing.

The Black ice micro was for my VGA/NB/HDDs...my CPU will stay on my JR-120 heatercore.

The rason for cooling my HDDs is that they are going to be in a noise dampening enclosure...and those enclosures often have no way for heat to escape. &nbsp;The usual drives types used in this type of box are 4200rpm. &nbsp;I use 7200rpm drives, which do put out a good deal of heat, so I think a bit of liquid will help keep it cool and relaible all while fitting in with my quiet requirements.

This machine is going to be my main system. &nbsp;It will see lots of gaming, video/sound editing, and any other odd task I put it through. &nbsp;The rackmount is just to have a single place I can fit all my gear, and have it look halfway decent while I'm at it.

It's all good man, I like to hear input. &nbsp;I've been building PCs for about 10 years now, and overclocking them for 8 years, so some of my designs may seem weird, but there is some method to my mayhem <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

BTW, the swifty was mostly my "getting my feet wet" stage, so I could learn the basics and get some more insight into what works best before I spend any real money <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'></font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>Ahhh I am sorry man, I thought it was merely going to be a file server feeding your home theatre.

If you are going to use it for more than that, than certainly you will need more then standard cooling to accomplish what you desire.

Do you think you would see less noise and heat if kept in the noise chamber, or if you didn't keep them in there and didn't have to cool them.

I have 2 X 36.7 gig WD raptors which run at 10000 RPM are surprisingly cooler than my Maxtor 7200 RPM 30 gig storage drive.

Anyways, I really like the idea of designing your own rackmount case... i bet it would look so sharp.. just a nice gloss black rackmounted box.... <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

I really hope you crawl in under the 30 dB mark man, but I dunno!

Good luck,

Rob</font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>I'm already looking at the possibilty of making my own convection radiators. &nbsp;If I can make &nbsp;some &nbsp;large enough, and good enough, then I can replace the back door of the rack with one gargantuan radiator...and that rad won't need a fan <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

As far as waterpump noise...submerged pumps. &nbsp;I almost have the resevoir design done, and that unit is incredibly cheap at about $50. &nbsp;I'm still working on a cheap way to vibration damp them. &nbsp;I'm thinking jsut buying the silicone dampers like I use on the eheim in my rig...despite being costly @ $20 per set of four.

I've already seen what a good hard disk isolating enclosure can do, and it's amazing. &nbsp;One of my friends has a 4200rpm drive in his, and I had trouble knowing it was even on...add in his antec truepower psu, and he was using a via c3 processor (c3 heatsinks don't have fans, they don't need them)..and that system was beautifully silent. &nbsp;Bad part is the c3 has next to no real muscle, so for gaming it's out of the question &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('></font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>Looks like I found a rack.

Was looking at a flyer I got at work a few weeks ago.. A GEMsound road case, 16U, with flip-top lid....$159.00

I'm good to go <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Heck i could possibly turn the flip-top section into a toolbox while I'm at it. &nbsp;The case isn't hte most pretty thing in the world, being all carpeted and such, but I wasn't exactly looking for world-class looks as much as just being able to have verything in one place...and bonus...less lifting for the next time I choose to re-arrange my room &nbsp;<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'></font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>Well I can't wait to see the pics man...

Keep me posted!</font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>Project is on hold, waiting for the new watercooling setup from Zalman. &nbsp;They have these MASSIVE passive cooling radiator/resevoir assemblies that could be perfect.

I'm saving up instead to buy it all at once. &nbsp;My guess is each Zalman unit will be about $200.

And on that note, I might not have enough to build my own rackmount chassis this time around...time to go scrounge at the used PC shop.</font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>yea if only they gave this stuff away free huh?</font>

[mustang_steve]

<font color='#000000'>Heh, i wish they did...so far the whole setup with watercooling is going to be near a grand. &nbsp;A wee bit on the painful side...but if I live off ramen for the next 2-3 months it may be attainable <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'></font>

[ThA tRiXtA]

<font color='#000000'>hehehh shed a few pounds for the one you love...</font>

[sheep]

heres my new rig coming in tomorrow.

raidmax scorpio 868 420watt power supply
asus a7n8x - e deluxe
amd athlon XP-M 2500+ barton (1.83)
corsair twinx512-3200c2(2x256)
maxtor diamondmax plus 9 80*
lg 16x dvd rom
lg 52x32x52 cd-rw
sapphire Radeon 9800pro 128mb (256bit edition)
using on board sound storm
thermaltake volcano 12 cpu heatsink fan combo
logitech mxduo keyboard/mouse combo
logitech z2200 400watt thx 2.1 comp speakers(already have)

total price with tax: $1280.01 CAD
sheep

[Unregistered]

color='#000000'>Looks like I found a rack.

Was looking at a flyer I got at work a few weeks ago.. A GEMsound road case, 16U, with flip-top lid....$159.00

I'm good to go <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Heck i could possibly turn the flip-top section into a toolbox while I'm at it. &nbsp;The case isn't hte most pretty thing in the world, being all carpeted and such, but I wasn't exactly looking for world-class looks as much as just being able to have verything in one place...and bonus...less lifting for the next time I choose to re-arrange my room &nbsp;<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'></font>[/QUOTE]