Finally Placed the Order...

Tute

Tute

Tute

Soldato
Joined
24 Jul 2004
Posts
22,593
Location
Devon, UK
Well people, after months of reading, researching, and checking out various build logs i've finally placed my order for my next build.

I have the following winging it's way to me:

Core i5-650 32nm
DFI LP MI P55-T36
4GB Patriot DDR3 (on TWO)
Sapphire HD5770 Vapor-X
Crucial M225 128GB SSD
Sony Optiarc Slimline DVDRW

And it's all going in a Sugo SG05.

I went for the CPU for it's modest power draw and reasonable performance. The HD5770 was picked in the end as I wasn't 100% sure about fitting the HD5850 into the PSU requirements - when the 450W version surfaces I may sell it on MM and upgrade, but that's a bridge i'll cross when I come to it.

As for cooling, well i'm going to initially run it with the horrid Intel stock cooler until the weekend as i'm off to a LAN party later in the week. At that point i'm going to have a go at getting my H5O in there, but if I can't get it installed in a state i'm happy with, i'll be sourcing a Scythe BIG Shuriken or a Thermalright AXP-140.

So er... wish me luck? [Thanksfortheinfo.jpg] ;)
 
One pic for now as I have to clear the mess and install stuff. I'll get some proper ones up tomorrow with a proper camera.

PSU is absolutely fine - the Core i5 is running a smidge over TWENTY degrees stock with the stock cooler. Amazing CPUs.

photoib.jpg
 
It is quite possibly the sexiest graphics card I have ever seen.

I can't stop looking at it, it's literally mesmerising.
 
It works beautifully well. No complaints from me at all.

As soon as I can get my hands on the ST45SF i'm getting it and an HD5850. I've heard that the 5850 works with the stock PSU, but that it depends largely on CPU choice.
 
Combination of many things - time, lack of a decent camera, and the fact that it's still (partially) a work in progress. :)

Basically, when the ST45SF hits retail i'll be putting it in with an HD5850; I also want to get the H5O in there somehow without cutting the case apart. And it's a bit messy as i'm not going to the hassle of cable sleeving a temporary PSU.
 
Thanks.

Only complaint i've had so far is a non-SFF one. I'm finding 128GB to not be enough to work with - i'm having to chop and change software on and off to keep everything happy.

It's a dilemma - do I sell it and get a mechanical drive for now, stick with what i've got, or just bite the bullet and drop a 256GB in?
 
So er, the DFI board went pop one day a couple of weeks ago. After fighting with a competitor for an RMA and refund, I went and bought an Intel DH57JG to use in the meantime, and i'm going to see if it's better thanthe DFI and keep the superior board.

Just away to install it now. Rest of the parts are the same.
 
Nope, was totally at stock. Just came to turn it on and it no longer would boot.

Not good at all. Everything else is fine, just the board is dead.
 
Intel is fine - it's not going to set your bum on fire with regards to overclocking, especially as there's no CPU voltage adjustment. But it's rock solid stable.

It's not the first DFI board i've had that's just decided to go with death either. I won't be buying another.
 
UPDATE!

I decided to stick with the Intel board, and I also dropped an HD5850 into the case a few months back to give it a graphics boost.

Well, here's a small update before Sandy Bridge and the Intel X25 G3 drives in Q1 2011.

Code: 
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 460 AMP 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with Prince of Persia & HAWX2 PC-Games £153.18 1 £153.18 
G.Skill RipJaw 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel Kit £119.14 1 £119.14 
Corsair Hydro H70 High-Performance CPU WaterCooler (Socket LGA775/LGA1156/LGA1366/AM2/AM3) £71.48 1 £71.48

I really wanted to get either an H5O or an H7O in there. I've run the sums, checked them and checked them again and it all *seems* to fit. Zotac claim this card is 8.25" long! :eek: VERY impressive given the power it seems to have, close to HD6870 performance?

If it doesn't fit, I have the DSR to help me out. But as said, I ran the sums, and it all seems to.

Will post up pictures of the build when the stuff arrives.
 
Typical that the Corsair 8GB kit is now on offer for £20 cheaper, but it's all been dispatched so I guess i'm sticking with it now. :)
 
It is, but the HD5850 won't fit with the H7O. I went for the GTX460. It's a core picked to run at those speeds, and does it out of the box with no faffing. As of yet, there's no proof that HD6850s will hit the same speeds. With this option, there's no risk to me.
 
Well, it's working (sort of). There were quite a few issues during build, let me finish up and i'll do a write up about it.

[Edit] Windows install has decided to nuke itself, so there won't be any updates tonight. Gotta love how Windows still retains that trait, 20 odd years after it's inception! :rolleyes:
 
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Right, after a bit of a fight i'm back in the game, albeit with some major deviations from the pre-arranged ideas.

Okay, my day started with a good example of excellent customer service. I wasn't in to collect the parcel, so DPD sadly took it back to their depot. I went onto the website to book a collection to be met with some news: I couldn't collect that day.
Undeterred, I phoned them and asked if I could pick it up that evening. The lady on the phone was fantastic and said I could go and get it that evening.

So, one trip later...

photo1ts.jpg


And out everything came...

photo3hk.jpg


Then... disaster. I'd run the sums, but Zotac weren't entirely truthful about the length of their card...

photo4lx.jpg


More to come soon...
 
Okay, so after much deliberation, I decided to try the EVGA GTX460 1GB *** card. Higher clocks, and EVGA state that it's 209mm on their site. Surely they can't be wrong either...?

Had to go elsewhere for this one as OcUK don't stock it. Placed the order, took the Zotac out and packed it up ready to send back.

Parcel arrives today. I open it.

photomxm.jpg


I'm sorry, what the **** does it say on the box? I'm at my absolute wits end with this. Zotac can't measure something as simple as a graphics card, and it seems a retailer can't even read a ******* box!!!

Back it's going to have to go again. More time wasted. I'm tempted to jack in the whole sodding build. :mad:
 
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