My new PC is now built

[Odd Job]

When I was enquiring on here for info about the best components for my new build I was asked to provide info and pictures on how it went - so here goes .

My components turned up last Thursday at about 2PM. After unwrapping and admiring, I immediately started the build.

I started by installing the CPU, cooler, sound card, and memory into the motherboard BEFORE installing the motherboard. This gave me more space to fiddle about with the cooler mount etc. without the constraints of a case. As you can see, the Zalman cooler is quite a bit bigger than the stock item that came with the CPU :shock:

I then installed the PSU into the case. As you can see from the photo, it had to be installed upside down due to the bottom mount.

Next the motherboard was installed into the case and power supplies connected.

I then installed the GPU's and connected the power supplies and Crossfire link.

Next job was the swapping over of the 3 sata HDD's from my old machine to the new. These were installed and so was the new DVD drive.

All the wiring was checked and double checked, and then made as tidy as possible. The side panels to the case were replaced and I was ready to go. (I did try to boot the machine with the case side off, but got an open case error message. Don't know how as there are no open case detectors on the case or M/board )

Below are some more pictures of the finished machine. To see all the picks click this link:

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

LED case fans

All lit up

Illuminated GPU's

Next to my new monitor

Another interior pic

Republic of gamers illuminated box

LED CPU cooler

LCD poster showing CPU temperature

Hope you like it

 

[Lemur]

Thanks for sharing. Very nice rig. Very clean installation (wires and all). Hope you get lots of joy out of your new system!

 

[pparks1]

I'm unsure about "having" to mount the power supply upside down in the case. If I remember correctly from my Corsiar PSU, it's pulling air from inside and exhausting it out the back. In my case, there is a small amount of clearance at the bottom of the case (Antec P182) and it pulls air in from the very bottom of the case and exhausts out the back.

 

[LiquidSnak]

If it is on carpet, upside down installation is a good thing.

Looks great, was it your first build?

Very clean, very good looking.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Odd Job, Your new system is everything but odd. Nice pictures and overall your build came out great. You'll have to post some WEI scores in time. Great job with the cable management !

 

[pparks1]

If it is on carpet, upside down installation is a good thing.

Why is that?

 

[spinifex]

I'm unsure about "having" to mount the power supply upside down in the case. If I remember correctly from my Corsiar PSU, it's pulling air from inside and exhausting it out the back. In my case, there is a small amount of clearance at the bottom of the case (Antec P182) and it pulls air in from the very bottom of the case and exhausts out the back.

The Handbrake's computer i'm building has the same case. An Antec 902 and i had to put the psu upside down. There is no space between the bottom of the case and psu.
This way it has a chance of airflow.

Nice looking rig you built.

 

[pparks1]

The Handbrake's computer i'm building has the same case. An Antec 902 and i had to put the psu upside down. There is no space between the bottom of the case and psu.
This way it has a chance of airflow.

Thats a bummer. Obviously you have to upside down in that event. it seems like a bad case design in my opinion.

 

[DirtyElf]

in my antec nine hundred case my PSU is mounted the same way... no problems with heat

that is a very nice build... seeing threads like this make me want to build more computers!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Odd Job, excellent choice installing the Zalman outside of the case as those fins tore me up when working in my first case....lots of fun ?

 

[Odd Job]

Odd Job, Your new system is everything but odd. Nice pictures and overall your build came out great. You'll have to post some WEI scores in time. Great job with the cable management !

Here's the WEI. I'm a little dissapointed with the hard drive score as it's letting down the whole score. However I've got a feeling that one of the drives is failing as my windows installation on that drive is very slow, and sometimes grinds to a halt completely (and this happened after a new install). My new windows installaton on my main drive is as fast as lightning, so I suspect a failing drive is giving me a bad score. Although it does say Primary hard disk in the score. (Is primary disk the C: drive, or the one plugged into Disk 0 slot on the board, as that is the one that is running slow ?)

Also the WEI doesn't take into account crossfire mode for the GPU's so perhaps the true performance is not shown. BUT it plays Crysis maxed out on all settings without a problem, so it must be working OK


Oh, and thanks everybody for the complimentary responses.:grouphug:

 

[linnemeyerhere]

OJ,
I'm sure it runs strong and don't get too wrapped up in the WEI thing. The good news is it's built, booted, runs strong and it's yours !

 

[LiquidSnak]

If it is on carpet, upside down installation is a good thing.

Why is that?

Even if you vaccuum regularly, particulate gets underneath the carpet. It's disgusting, but it's the nature of the beast. The PSU will pull this dirt up slowly, as it is a constantly running air flow.

The second reason is that even if there is an inch or so of clearance at best under a stock case, as with my thermaltake, it will sink into the carpet, especially so if it is high pile.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Another aspect is as all dust settles and the fibers of the carpet are kicked up by walking around the vacuum of the PC draws this material in and deposits it on all the internal surfaces an exits as warm clean air so we all have very expensive air cleaners running in our computer rooms ! lol

 

[pparks1]

If it is on carpet, upside down installation is a good thing.

Why is that?

Even if you vaccuum regularly, particulate gets underneath the carpet. It's disgusting, but it's the nature of the beast. The PSU will pull this dirt up slowly, as it is a constantly running air flow.

The second reason is that even if there is an inch or so of clearance at best under a stock case, as with my thermaltake, it will sink into the carpet, especially so if it is high pile.

It's not like there are vents or opening at the bottom of the case. In the case of my Antec P182...I got some room right under power supply. It would be pulling air in through the front of my case, and right over my air filters.

You can see the small gap at the bottom of the case. Probably about 1 inch.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Why is that?

Even if you vaccuum regularly, particulate gets underneath the carpet. It's disgusting, but it's the nature of the beast. The PSU will pull this dirt up slowly, as it is a constantly running air flow.

The second reason is that even if there is an inch or so of clearance at best under a stock case, as with my thermaltake, it will sink into the carpet, especially so if it is high pile.

It's not like there are vents or opening at the bottom of the case. In the case of my Antec P182...I got some room right under power supply. It would be pulling air in through the front of my case, and right over my air filters.

You can see the small gap at the bottom of the case. Probably about 1 inch.

This is a different story. If there is no vent, then the only issue is the restriction of airflow by how small or large the gap is.

 

[96accord]

I know this is a 2 month+ bump but NICE build!

Great work! Post up in the "Show your Rig thread" -> http://www.sevenforums.com/overclocking-case-mods/104136-show-us-your-rig-2-a.html

-Jeff

 

[WH4K]

*drool*

Nice rig. Enjoy!

I'm planning a fresh build some time later this year, as a reward to myself for getting a decent job again. I can't quite convince myself that 2 video cards are worth it, so it won't be bleeding-edge, but I do see at least 8 GB RAM, one or more SSD's, and a quad (or more) -core CPU in my future.

I have a crazy idea to re-use the case from an old build whose guts died a couple of years ago. It's an Enermax CS-10181B, a huge & massive "server" case. Six fans built in. All-steel, so it weighs about 30 lb. without any computer guts in it. Also, it has a nifty rail system for mounting HDD's, among other things that make for a relatively easy build.

And it actually does have a "case open" switch. But I have yet to own a motherboard with a connector for that. Probably something only seen on "server" motherboards, which are a whole different beast.

 

[sandman]

Ram is it in dual channel install or in the two same color slots plus I cut a hole in the bottom of my case and mounted a nice fan filter over the hole and I always raise the case at least 8 inches off the floor for circulations and less hair and dust getting into the case. Very nice build.

 

[WH4K]

Yup, after seeing the kind of junk that got in there over time, I started putting my boxen up on something. Current machine is sitting on a couple of old ammo crates, about 12" off the floor.

I've seen computer desks that have a metal bracket on the side to hold your box up off the floor. Might have to buy one of those eventually. It makes it easier to move stuff for cleaning behind the desk.