New Setup

[Psywar]

I put together a new computer this weekend.

I am using the same tower, PSU, CDROM, HDD's from my old rig.

 

The old Rig was an Intel Wolfdale Core 2 Duo E8400 3GHz

8GB RAM

Nvidia Geforce 260 Video Card

 

 

The new rig contains the following:

 

ASUS M5A97 R2.0 Motherboard

AMD FX 8350 (4.0GHz 16MB Cache 8-Core)

XFX R7970 Black Edition Video Card

Mushkin Enhanched 16GB RAM

PC Power and Cooling 610w PSU

 

Photo time!

 

This is the old hardware out on the table surrounded by all the new hardware.

 

 

The marriage of the CPU and Motherboard

 

Putting together:

  

 

Video Card Sexiness:

 

Hard Drive Sexiness:

 

Case Badges (If you look closely you will notice the old elusive OCC Case Badge from 2002/2003)

 

 

Computer Reassembled: 

  

 

Holy Crap Moment:

 

 

So one of my drives had failed, but on the bright side I had nothing on the drive because I knew it was on the verge of giving up.

After about 5 hours of installing Windows Updates, Software, etc. I finally got to test the PC out a bit and see how well it would run.

So to stress my PC I kind of just started using Folding@Home. For those of you who run Folding@Home you know that this does a fairly great job at stressing your entire PC.

 

After about ~10mins of running Folding@Home my PC BSOD on me. Typically if everything is running fine and temps look great your culprit is going to be your memory.

So we started there and I went into the Bios and tinkered around with it until I found a Memory timing/speed that allowed me to run the PC flawlessly.

Last night after I got everything setup correctly I decided to let Folding@Home run all night to make sure everything was good to go. It has been running non-stop for 17 hours.

I even have it on "Full" right now as I am using the PC with hardly any noticeable lag/delay.

I must say I am quite happy with this PC so far!

 

Here are some random photos of the Bio's, Memtest86, Folding@Home, Sisoft Sandra Lite Scores.

 

   

[cjloki]

noice werk Psy, good build you got there !

[ccokeman]

Good looking rig!  You running in single or dual channel? 

[Psywar]

Thanks guys!

 

I have it installed as single channel. The heatsink was in the way to do multi-channel.. now that I am thinking about it though I could probably slap them on the end of each channels.

I might give that a shot next time I shut down the PC.

Looks like it might be a tight fit though. Either way I can't complain too much.. The PC is just blazing fast.

 

I used Convert X to DVD today. You can set it to use "x" amount of cores. 

My old PC to convert a 2 hour movie and burn it literally took about an hour or so to do.

 

I set it to 8 cores on this new rig, went poop (10mins), came back and it was done converting. I think it took almost as long to burn the disc as it did to convert it.

[ccokeman]

Sweet! Dual Channel will help you out if you can make it happen. It looks like it in the pics! 

[Boinker]

Nice rig there Psywar. Hope it gives you many years of good service.

[IVIYTH0S]

Sweet upgrade, now for some questions and comments on my part

Video Card Sexiness:

R7970.jpg

You mean "Video Card Referenceness"

 

Hard Drive Sexiness:

HDDGoodness.jpg

What about SSD sexiness, where's your SSD mang?!

 

So one of my drives had failed, but on the bright side I had nothing on the drive because I knew it was on the verge of giving up.

After about 5 hours of installing Windows Updates, Software, etc. I finally got to test the PC out a bit and see how well it would run.

So to stress my PC I kind of just started using Folding@Home. For those of you who run Folding@Home you know that this does a fairly great job at stressing your entire PC.

I disagree, I've found F@H to let a lot slip by unless it's VERY unstable. I'd use Prime95 in Blend mode, that will always sniff out any issues (make sure Round off Checking is ticked on)

 

Sorry about your drive, are you going to be able to RMA it??

 

So we started there and I went into the Bios and tinkered around with it until I found a Memory timing/speed that allowed me to run the PC flawlessly.

Last night after I got everything setup correctly I decided to let Folding@Home run all night to make sure everything was good to go. It has been running non-stop for 17 hours.

I even have it on "Full" right now as I am using the PC with hardly any noticeable lag/delay.

I must say I am quite happy with this PC so far!

So the memory isn't stable at factory speeds and timings or are you overclocked??

 

I hear great things about the FX-8000s and would consider one if I were looking for a *new* system right now for sure. I've never owned an AMD CPU in my desktop or laptop but love my HTPC and was blown away by the super budget gaming build I built my cousin with just a "lowly" x4 620 Athlon

 

 

Off topic:

If my car's new rack and pinion doesn't fix a steering issue on my SC2...I'm looking at buying a turbo model of the same year and thought you'd love to hear that

Edited November 11, 2013 by IVIYTH0S

[Psywar]

I did run Prime95 a few nights ago to in between Memtest86 and SiSoft Burn-in testing.

So I do know the system is very stable as of right now.

 

When I installed everything and set it up I set everything up on an Auto-Overclock setting and I wrote down all the timings ASUS recommended and I rolled with that during my tests.

The memory was actually overclocked during the BSOD. Everything else is still slightly OC'ed except for the memory. I don't recall the speed or timings of the RAM, but it is set to stock now.

 

I actually have not been keeping up with hardware much. This system was all built by recommendation from Bosco. He said he uses this on his home PC's so, if he is using them I figured they had to be pretty darn good.

 

I did not go with SSD's because I did not really have a ton of money to spend. This whole setup was only in the mid $600 range. 

The 5 HDD range from 1 year to 6 years old.  The one that is failed is an older drive and is no longer able to be RMA'ed.

 

 

Oh man.. Turbocharged SC2! Rock on! Is it just going to be 5PSI or are the internals all rebuilt on it for more power?

I sold the Supercharged ION Redline a year ago. I am rolling in a Gecko Green Jeep Wrangler now lol!

Man I have not thought about Saturns in so long.. Since that drunk chick hit me and totaled my SW2 I have been a sad, sad man and I have had no interest in building up an engine or anything.

You will have to shoot me some photo's if you end up getting it. I'd like to see the Turbo manifold setup! They are always pretty interesting looking unless it is just the "log" style.

[IVIYTH0S]

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/4129478318.html

[Psywar]

Very nice sir! If he took that car apart and could find the buyers he probably has 2-3grand just in turbo parts. 

That is a pretty decent deal.

[IVIYTH0S]

Very nice sir! If he took that car apart and could find the buyers he probably has 2-3grand just in turbo parts. 

That is a pretty decent deal.

Isn't it? It's a stellar deal with all the work he put in, and the best part is it's all done. I've always wanted to turbo my saturn but didn't want to have to disable it for a little while I tuned it up and strengthened things up and all. (since it's my rainy/snowy day DD)

[Psywar]

Yeah dude + he added the forged internals.. That is probably a sick ass ride. >3000lbs on 22psi! All I can say is "weeeee!!"

I think the only thing I might do if I owned it would be to add some sort of coilover suspension system. I like to do autocross type junk though.