New build complete

garylouden · 3 Jun 2009 at 14:15

But have a few questions.

I have been reading about pre loaded overclocked profiles for DDR3 RAM modules and wondering what they actually are? Also if anyone knows if http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-048-KS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1389 has it.

I have also been looking at my temps of my i7 920 and the temps are as follows:

29-29-32-31

Now that's overclocked at 3ghz (i done this to see what the BLCK actually does, will get onto proper OC'ing soon) but the temps seem a bit funny, is it normal for the cores to be a good few degrees different?

I set up my 2 Samsung F1 640gb in RAID0 and i think i have done somthing stupid. I set them up as big as it would allow (1.1TB?) and set the strip size to 128 (largest setting, i think it was 128, im at work so not 100% sure).

Now I'm not sure that was ideal as I have then created a 500B partition on it using the vista install and planning on using the other 500gb partition for data. I was thinking maybe it would have been better to create a 500GB "disk" pre install and then create a separate "disk" for my data. I hope that makes sense

Also would putting my pagefile on a separate 320GB F1 be advisable or would the speed of my RAID0 be better?

Apart from all that it seems great, the case is awesome

LukeTW · 3 Jun 2009 at 14:15

Got any pictures mate? :cool:

garylouden · 3 Jun 2009 at 14:17

LukeTW said:
Got any pictures mate?

I will post some when I get home, I have to say it looks great compared to my old Thermaltake Armour

LukeTW · 3 Jun 2009 at 14:19

garylouden said:
I will post some when I get home, I have to say it looks great compared to my old Thermaltake Armour

Nice one

GilesGuthrie · 3 Jun 2009 at 14:48

garylouden said:
But have a few questions.

I have been reading about pre loaded overclocked profiles for DDR3 RAM modules and wondering what they actually are? Also if anyone knows if http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-048-KS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1389 has it.

Can't help you on that one I'm afraid.

garylouden said:
I have also been looking at my temps of my i7 920 and the temps are as follows:

29-29-32-31

Now that's overclocked at 3ghz (i done this to see what the BLCK actually does, will get onto proper OC'ing soon) but the temps seem a bit funny, is it normal for the cores to be a good few degrees different?

Temps looking quite good. I assume that's idle? It is normal for the cores to be a few degrees off from each other.

garylouden said:
I set up my 2 Samsung F1 640gb in RAID0 and i think i have done somthing stupid. I set them up as big as it would allow (1.1TB?) and set the strip size to 128 (largest setting, i think it was 128, im at work so not 100% sure).

Now I'm not sure that was ideal as I have then created a 500B partition on it using the vista install and planning on using the other 500gb partition for data. I was thinking maybe it would have been better to create a 500GB "disk" pre install and then create a separate "disk" for my data. I hope that makes sense

Practically speaking, it makes no real difference whether you create a large array and subdivide with partitions, or create two smaller arrays. Although whenever I've partitioned disks I've always regretted it later as one or more of the partitions has turned out to be the wrong size. Also, Windows seems to favour single-disk (or partition) installs, so you're often forcing it away from its natural behaviour in partitioning.

Long story short: don't stress about it. Although I would have created smaller stripes if it had been me.

garylouden said:
Also would putting my pagefile on a separate 320GB F1 be advisable or would the speed of my RAID0 be better?

I would expect the RAID0 array to comfortably outperform a single disk.

garylouden said:
Apart from all that it seems great, the case is awesome

Good good! I'm in the middle of an i7 build at the minute. Although I can't wait to get it finished I'm also getting really picky about getting it right!

garylouden · 3 Jun 2009 at 15:49

GilesGuthrie said:
Can't help you on that one I'm afraid.

Long story short: don't stress about it. Although I would have created smaller stripes if it had been me.

I can still do this but had no idea what it actually meant, I only done a clean install so it would be about 30minutes for me to change it. What would a smaller strip actually do?

Also I felt my vista took a long time for each screen to show, is that normal for RAID0? the install was about 10minutes but screens took ages to appear.

FaceplantSi · 3 Jun 2009 at 15:53

garylouden said:
But have a few questions.

I have been reading about pre loaded overclocked profiles for DDR3 RAM modules and wondering what they actually are? Also if anyone knows if http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-048-KS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1389 has it.

I think you're talking about XMP - or Extreme Memory Profiles. That kit you linked to says it has XMP, but to be safe I'd call sales.

I know of one or two people here who use RAM with XMP and apparently it makes setting the memory to it's highest performance a breeze.

As far as those temps go, it looks absolutely fine and the difference between cores is perfectly normal.

FaceplantSi · 3 Jun 2009 at 15:55

garylouden said:
I can still do this but had no idea what it actually meant, I only done a clean install so it would be about 30minutes for me to change it. What would a smaller strip actually do?

Also I felt my vista took a long time for each screen to show, is that normal for RAID0? the install was about 10minutes but screens took ages to appear.

The stripe size is the amount of data that will be written to each drive in the array - a stripe of 128k means that the first 128k will be written to drive one in the array and the second 128k will be written to drive 2 etc etc - so if you are dealing with a file server or large multimedia files then a large stripe is for you, if you are gaming and doing general PC use then a smaller stripe would prob be beneficial - say 64k. This is because the files are typically smaller so writing a smaller piece of data to each can speed the array up.

GilesGuthrie · 3 Jun 2009 at 16:17

I agree with Si. I think 64K is a good size for most usages.

garylouden · 3 Jun 2009 at 19:00

The little bit of mess next to my PSU cant be fixed, there just isnt enough room behind the motherboard. I still think it looks amazing compared to some of the systems i have seen though

FaceplantSi · 3 Jun 2009 at 22:14

Nice looking build there m8

, almost the same spec here - good choice of PSU by the way.
I'm sure you can do cleaner cabling than that though - have a look at my build on the Fortress thread here for some pics... you'd be surprised at how many cables you can get behind the mobo tray - have to kinda squeeze the side back on though, but it does fit!

I have since changed from that board etc to the i7 setup, but the case interior and cabling is just as it was for the skt775 setup.

What you got your i7 clocked to?

garylouden · 3 Jun 2009 at 22:25

FaceplantSi said:
Nice looking build there m8 , almost the same spec here - good choice of PSU by the way.
I'm sure you can do cleaner cabling than that though - have a look at my build on the Fortress thread here for some pics... you'd be surprised at how many cables you can get behind the mobo tray - have to kinda squeeze the side back on though, but it does fit!

I have since changed from that board etc to the i7 setup, but the case interior and cabling is just as it was for the skt775 setup.

What you got your i7 clocked to?

Im certain i could get the cables out from the space between the PSU and the HDD's but TBH it wont effect the system as its not efecting airflow and it was such a pain getting the side of the case back on....

Im going easy on the OC so sitting at 3.5ghz just now. Seems to fly......35c idle and about 50c - 55c load. Still got some stuff to learn as all i done was bump the BLCK up a little bit........

FaceplantSi · 3 Jun 2009 at 22:31

garylouden said:
Im certain i could get the cables out from the space between the PSU and the HDD's but TBH it wont effect the system as its not efecting airflow and it was such a pain getting the side of the case back on....

Im going easy on the OC so sitting at 3.5ghz just now. Seems to fly......35c idle and about 50c - 55c load. Still got some stuff to learn as all i done was bump the BLCK up a little bit........

Yeah the side is kinda hard to get back on - but once it's been there a while the cables leave an imprint in the foam sound deadening mat so not so difficult after that!

These chips do fly don't they! Those temps are pretty damn good with the Noctua - I have been considering reducing my OC for the summer if this recent weather is anything to go by - now idling at 42/44ish and loading at 78/80 - really dont want to go above 80 if I can help it. I found that running a lower BCLK and a higher multi gave me the best temps as I could do that with less VCore - might be worth a try when you have time.

Anyway - welcome to the Fortress and i7 clubs!

LukeTW · 3 Jun 2009 at 22:34

Nice build mate!

Just that cable management to do then your sorted :cool:

RJC · 3 Jun 2009 at 22:45

Nice build

garylouden · 3 Jun 2009 at 22:49

FaceplantSi said:
Yeah the side is kinda hard to get back on - but once it's been there a while the cables leave an imprint in the foam sound deadening mat so not so difficult after that!

These chips do fly don't they! Those temps are pretty damn good with the Noctua - I have been considering reducing my OC for the summer if this recent weather is anything to go by - now idling at 42/44ish and loading at 78/80 - really dont want to go above 80 if I can help it. I found that running a lower BCLK and a higher multi gave me the best temps as I could do that with less VCore - might be worth a try when you have time.

Anyway - welcome to the Fortress and i7 clubs!

Im very impressed with the case. Coming from a TT Armour to this was great. My whole machine is about the same weight as my old case.......Also no cuts and the only anoying part was the Motherboard mounting holes were a little tight due to the paint but that was only minor

I think my laptop is noisier than my PC now....even my NAS seems to be a little louder :eek: