New Rig

[eeth]

Have you considered 120Hz displays (3D capable)?

about 2 years ago, i got a Viewsonic 120Hz monitor ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116452 ) because i thought that double the refresh rate would = more epic gaming and better response times for shooters and stuff.

boy was i disappointed. they never had that 5ms response time on the specs originally.

I'd recommend against it in retrospect and go with a 1ms response time monitor. the 120Hz just puts more "stress" on your video card as it has to push out the extra juice for 2x the refresh rate, which doesn't matter unless you're getting a full 120+ fps at a minimum. I feel like 120Hz causes more flicker issues in some games and since they're not in wide use, games don't get tested properly at 120Hz.

[Ash]

Okay so I've got the computer put together and it's running like Roger Bannister (Google it).  I've embedded thumbnail pics of the whole build process and links to the larger pics like I did in my first post.  

Overall it was a pretty easy build, I did have to retrace my steps a couple of times because one piece wouldn't install because some other piece was blocking it but other than that it was pretty smooth sailing.  I did make sure I read all the manuals cover-to-cover of each piece of hardware before installing it so that probably helped.  

The system is 100% set to default settings, nothing has been tweaked or overclocked except the video cards which came overclocked from the manufacturer.  I'll be posting some benchmark numbers as soon as I find a good program to do so, if anyone knows of any let me know.  I'm gonna try and hold out on doing any adjustments until I need it but after reading through the motherboard manual and seeing all that it can do I doubt I'll be able to last that long.

Enjoy and thanks for reading.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC02.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC03.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC04.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC05.jpg
((That's right, the PSU came in its own velvet bag))


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC06.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC07.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC08.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC09.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC10.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC11.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC12.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC13.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC14.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC15.jpg
I decided to reverse the flow of the fans for the CPU watercooler so that it pushed air out as opposed to bring cooler air in because the PC case had more than enough fans forcing air into the case.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC16.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC17.jpg

[Ash]

Here are a couple pictures of the finished product.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC18.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a283/Shinzui501/New%20PC/NewPC19.jpg

[Fuse]

I have the same Bamboo tab. Love it.

[Jeyk]

Nice rig and setup, brother!

[eeth]

sexy, color me jealous.

[Mythrillian]

Nice Rig!!

Ash have you done any benchmarking or plan on benchmarking?

[Ash]

I definitely want to do some benchmarking, do you know of any decent software to use?

[Fuse]

Futuremark 3DMark/PCMark is a pretty set standard.

[Mythrillian]

there are tons of benchmarking software.

Passmark for CPU Benchmarking
For graphics people generally use 3DMark06 or 3DMark11 or both

For monitoring you want Real temp,  (which will be handy to see how well your new cooler is doing in comparison to other systems) CPU id (CPU info handy for OC Multipliers)

I'm curious to see your benchmarks because i just built a beast of a PC and in certain areas you have went above what i am running. I am a nut about this stuff lol.

My specs...
Corei7 2600K Sandy Bridge OCed to 4.7 at 26cIdle Under 50c full load
16Gb 2133 Ram
120GB hyper ex SSD
2x 1TB Seagate 10rpm 32cache
Asus Raptur Motherboard
Gigabyte Odin 1000w powersupply 4x12v rails 42amp per rail
2x 560Ti GPUs
i use a 32"widescreen Asus Monitor with a 22"Dell just for TS and browsing
I used to do Multiple Monitors then with the lowering prices i prefer one large monitor with a small one for side objects.

Custom Liquid cooling 3/4" OD tubing 1/2" ID tubing
CPU and GPUs cooled. 6x120mm fans in Push Pull Config for Radiator
XPS reservoir, with a Klipto 12v Pump.

[Fuse]

We measuring epeen?


Yours would cream mine on benchmarking.

[Mythrillian]

Sexy none the less )

You need a larger Case though! Killing your space for larger Radiator and Reservoir. SuperATX is the shit ;p

[Ash]

Just ran PCMark7 and my score was:

5126 PCMarks

How does that compare to others?

[Mythrillian]

That's extremely well....

Would really like to see your 3D Mark scores one day if you get a chance. 3Dmark 06 is what i generally use. You can rip it off just about any torrent site. If you dont get a chance no biggy. Enjoy the new system!

[Sared]

Just something I noticed off the bat: turn off your virtual memory allocation for that SSD. You won't need it with that much physical ram, and you'll be cramming for space on it pretty easily. I use my SSD for system applications and core programs that can take advantage of the speed (Photoshop, Premiere, etc.). I use a 1TB SATA3 (6BG/s) internal for games and a 2TB USB3 external for media and such.

Also, I don't know what issues everyone's been having with Crossfire+Eyefinity, because it's worked beautifully for me thus far with my 6970's. Even borrowed two monitors from a friend to try out 5-monitor Eyefinity for DX:HR and it was a glorious, glorious thing.

I've got to pitch in with likwid on the cooling though. It's nice, but ultimately un-needed unless you're doing some serious overclocking later on down the line, in which case you'll be set. Given the current plateau of graphics tech, you'll be set for at least the next four years or more.