discussion Finally Gave it a Go

[zc1]

FINISHED...
(...or so I thought. Updated photos here)

PSU was a 650, went to swap for 850 and got 1000 for same price

-Replaced Noctua fans with CM R4s -- same (actually better) performance, but at higher RPM
-Replaced stock intake fans (bottom) with Silverstone LED fans and exhaust fan (top) with CM R4
-Wire loom for exposed wiring (front panel lights, HDD LED, power LED, card reader and fan controller cables, etc.)
-NZXT cable extender (sleeved) for ATX power
-Black SATA data cables

It's pretty bright when the cover's off...

...but subdued when the cover's back on. It actually looks far brighter in the photo than in person

SATA cables

NZXT sleeved ATX cable extender.

Specs:

-Intel Q6600@ 3.60 GHz (50% overclock); 1.47V max Vcore, 67C max temp (Prime95)
-Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
-Noctua NH-D14 Heat Sink w/ CM R4 Fans
-Mushkin Blackline PC28500 2GB x 4 @ 1066 MHz
-2x Sapphire Radeon HD5750 (CrossFire) @ 870 MHz GPU clock (23% overclock) and 1160 MHz/4640 MHz effective memory clock (not overclocked)
-3x Samsung SyncMaster 2243 (Eyefinity)
-Sapphire Active Displayport to DL-DVI Adapter
-OCZ Vertex Turbo 120 GB SSD
-3x Seagate Barracuda 500 GB
-LG 22x and Philips 20x DVD writers
-Corsair HX1000 PSU
-Silverstone Fortress FT02B-W
-NMedia CE-Z128 Card Reader
-Scythe Kaze Server Fan Controller
-NZXT Sleeved Fan and ATX Power Cable Extenders

This was my goal for this build -- I feel satisfied that I have pushed my particular setup as far as *I* can get it to go. I'll try to use it for a while without modding it (much) and then start upgrading when I get too stir crazy. The only things on the slate for upgrading are the processor, video cards and motherboard. I actually already have new video cards because I find it hard to pass up a good deal on something that I was planning to get eventually, especially if stock is low.

When my daughter was born I gave up riding/driving/modifying motorcycles and cars (my wife was surely glad to see all of that go). Now learning more about building a system, overclocking, etc. has become my hobby. It's still expensive, but far less-so than the big toys were, and with another daughter on the way, I figure I had better get my "all for me" spending done before the two princesses hit their teens. :doh: I know that I'll get bored if I stop modifying or run out of things to change, so I'm actually not in a hurry to move up to an 1156 or 1366. I'll keep going down the 775 route for now...still lots to learn.

A few shots to show the initial and final builds, as well as what I enjoy most about this setup:

 

[Digikid]

Very impressive!!!!!!

 

[zc1]

Thanks! It had only been "finished" for a few days when I decided to try out some new graphics cards, though :biggrin:

 

[CroSsFiRe2009]

I see you got 2 5870's going into that thing, would love to see some pics!
Keeping with the black theme, maybe paint the DVDRW black?

 

[xilocient]

Very nice! you're making me regret getting a lancool K60, even though it's half the price!

 

[Musabi]

Thanks! It had only been "finished" for a few days when I decided to try out some new graphics cards, though :biggrin:

Haha I was about to say: you're never finished!

 

[zc1]

I see you got 2 5870's going into that thing, would love to see some pics!
Keeping with the black theme, maybe paint the DVDRW black?

I'll try to take some photos with the new cards later today. I tried to swap the LG drive for one of my wife's drives but it was even larger than my Philips drive and wouldn't fit. Modifying this one (painting or other) as you mentioned might be the way to go.

Very nice! you're making me regret getting a lancool K60, even though it's half the price!

Thanks! The K60's a great case, too, and was on my short list. In the end it came down to FT01 vs FT02, and I got a pretty good deal on the 02.

Haha I was about to say: you're never finished!

Tell me about it, lol. I really should have known better. That said, though, I haven't opened up the case in a week, now. That's progress.:biggrin:

 

[StockClocker]

Very nice.
That giant Noctua heat sink makes me feel a bit inadequate...:sad:

 

[zc1]

Thanks!

The Noctua's a crutch...compensation for my lack of overclocking finesse. I couldn't have gotten 3.6 GHz prime95 stable @ < 71C max core temp without it.

 

[zc1]

I see you got 2 5870's going into that thing, would love to see some pics!

Here are the photos of the new cards installed. There's not really much to see. I still need to hide that one wire loop next to the ATX power header:doh:...missed it when putting the cards in, then forgot about it since that bit's hidden behind my monitor when I'm actually using the system.