Okay, I got my i7 920 through today, the final piece of the puzzle. Crack on, as it were. Everything unwrapped, I set about.
First problem: mobo screws won't screw. Try as I might, I just couldn't get those little ******** to thumb in. Eventually I resorted to a bevel-head mini screwdriver which, despite the obvious mismatch in design, seemed to do the trick. I'm hoping a slight bend isn't gonna affect the performance any.
The work flew ahead then, the hdd & dvd drop in nicely on the CM 690 - no screws, lucky me. I got right up to slotting in my 4890 card before I had a flash of dread: mobo backplate. Sure, I could run without it for a mo, but the cabling was getting more hectic than I'd anticipated, and I didn't want to have to open it up more than I had to. So. off come the mobo screws. I actually managed to slot in the backplate with the mobo still sat in the case, though it cost me. Luckily, it also gave me time to realise I'd wired up the case fans wrong - don't ask. I just did.
Replacing what I'd shifted to amend that task, I went for the final leg - fat bertha of graphics cards, ATI Radeon 4890 Juggernaut. Could this card be any bigger? I had to disconnect my CPU power, 2 case fans and a separate PCI plate just for the exhaust. I remember when graphics cards were not much bigger than modems - I've still got my old GeForce 5700LE around here, and I put them side by side for a laugh. Funny. Anyway, it took some creative pulling, but I got it into place eventually. I'm hoping I wired it up okay too - I'm not used to graphics cards needing 2 power jumps.
Finally it was all finished, and I went to reassemble the case - little expecting it to be the hardest part yet. The side fan's power cable is so short, the entire thing needs to be virtually closed to reach the pins on the MSI X58M - and I needed this fan, because until I can extend the cable, the front panel fan is impossible to connect for exactly the same reason. Physically impossible, by about 5 inches. It took me more than 20 mins to get the panel on with the fan connected.
Joy! cried I, Joy! I could finally hook it up to my ancient POS monitor - my new 24" is on the wishlist for next paycheque. Pull down the VGA adaptor, what do I find? A socket I've never seen before. Ever. It took me 2 hours of beers before I could return to the scene of my most recent tantrum to pack things up and patiently await my new display, at which point I came across the DVI/VGA adaptor packaged with the card. I've never seen a more beautiful piece of electronics in my life.
I've put my blood, sweat & tears into this rig - literally. I cut my fingers on the mobo backplate, my house is unbelievably hot, and I don't deal well with stress. Now I'm gonna try hooking it up and seeing what happens. Wish me luck.
First problem: mobo screws won't screw. Try as I might, I just couldn't get those little ******** to thumb in. Eventually I resorted to a bevel-head mini screwdriver which, despite the obvious mismatch in design, seemed to do the trick. I'm hoping a slight bend isn't gonna affect the performance any.
The work flew ahead then, the hdd & dvd drop in nicely on the CM 690 - no screws, lucky me. I got right up to slotting in my 4890 card before I had a flash of dread: mobo backplate. Sure, I could run without it for a mo, but the cabling was getting more hectic than I'd anticipated, and I didn't want to have to open it up more than I had to. So. off come the mobo screws. I actually managed to slot in the backplate with the mobo still sat in the case, though it cost me. Luckily, it also gave me time to realise I'd wired up the case fans wrong - don't ask. I just did.
Replacing what I'd shifted to amend that task, I went for the final leg - fat bertha of graphics cards, ATI Radeon 4890 Juggernaut. Could this card be any bigger? I had to disconnect my CPU power, 2 case fans and a separate PCI plate just for the exhaust. I remember when graphics cards were not much bigger than modems - I've still got my old GeForce 5700LE around here, and I put them side by side for a laugh. Funny. Anyway, it took some creative pulling, but I got it into place eventually. I'm hoping I wired it up okay too - I'm not used to graphics cards needing 2 power jumps.
Finally it was all finished, and I went to reassemble the case - little expecting it to be the hardest part yet. The side fan's power cable is so short, the entire thing needs to be virtually closed to reach the pins on the MSI X58M - and I needed this fan, because until I can extend the cable, the front panel fan is impossible to connect for exactly the same reason. Physically impossible, by about 5 inches. It took me more than 20 mins to get the panel on with the fan connected.
Joy! cried I, Joy! I could finally hook it up to my ancient POS monitor - my new 24" is on the wishlist for next paycheque. Pull down the VGA adaptor, what do I find? A socket I've never seen before. Ever. It took me 2 hours of beers before I could return to the scene of my most recent tantrum to pack things up and patiently await my new display, at which point I came across the DVI/VGA adaptor packaged with the card. I've never seen a more beautiful piece of electronics in my life.
I've put my blood, sweat & tears into this rig - literally. I cut my fingers on the mobo backplate, my house is unbelievably hot, and I don't deal well with stress. Now I'm gonna try hooking it up and seeing what happens. Wish me luck.
(your PC not the hooker!
