PC fried... Possible cause = slight overvoltage due to lightning... o_0

.-= banzai =-.

.-= banzai =-.

.-= banzai =-.

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10 Apr 2008
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Ever have the feeling that things are going a little TOO well... ? :confused:

The story starts back in april... I had just built my first scratchbuilt pc - a Q6600 / Abit IP35 pro / 8800gt setup which was great fun to build, had started first time and had then been tweaked (nervously!) to 3.4Ghz, running nice 'n' cool too !

Stepping up to this from my old P4 was a treat - first build, first overclock - twas my pride n joy... :cool:

Go forward now to late July... I'm sitting at the PC with headset on, in VoIP with a friend when I hear two small rumbles outside... didnt have a chance to shut down and unplug because about ten seconds later the lightning hit the phonewire just a few feet from the house !! :eek:

Part of the power went to the phonepole and wrecked the box on that and the rest came into the house, huge flashes and flames and smoke from all the phone sockets as they were torn up, along with similar smaller ones from anything plugged into 'em... the filters were blown in two, my print/copy/scan/fax machine is dead, a Linksys router, a usb modem blew its top clean off and the new PC is now dead !! :(

Luckily tho all I got from it was a week - long earache and one helluva fright !! :D

On to today... good old BT were very quick in fixing up a new line and friends have lent me a laptop and modem while I wait for the insurance company to cough up, so its time to start thinking about the replacement !! :cool:


newspec.jpg


With a Tuniq tower or some other good cooler. (recommendations?)

I would be grateful to hear recommendations for powering it too - maybe dual GFX cards in the future, so I'd like enough spare juice for that, ta !! :p

Thanks for readin' and remember: if ya get the chance... UNPLUG QUICK !! :D
 
Buy a (decent) Surge Protector this time, for the phone line and the mains (don't really know if it'll help, but what the hell).

Those component choices though...way, way too much money being spent on RAM there. 4GB DDR2 is just as good, you won't notice the difference (unless you're into really heavy overclocking) and DDR3 is a serious waste of money. The 4870X2 is also another beautiful waste of cash unless you're running a 30" screen.

Plus, that case (even with dust filters) is the world's worst dust magnet (I used to own one) and will cover your brand new components in filth.
 
Chimerical's 280 system looks like an ace balance of cost and performance and definitely would give you near the same performance for less cash. Suppose it depends a little on how your insurance company is paying up though. If they are covering the costs for a system of your choice I would be tempted to stick with the system you have chosen
 
Woops ! I didnt realise at first but I had 2 lots of ram in that first list !

Now corrected the original list, (saving £140.99!), hope the image link still works ! :D



Chimerical:- Two juicy looking choices there :cool: Thanks for the input ! :)
I'd also been looking at the Rampage formula 'cos of its dual PCIE2 x16's - but then as the P5E3 is only a bit more the extra goodies like the wireless and ExpressGate make that my favourite at the moment in the x48 boards. Totally accept the general feeling that DDR3 is kinda pricey, but so long as the insurance company dont stiff me then it shouldnt be a problem.

I like that case - looks like a more mature persons version of the antec - understated and classy. May well swap to that or something similar, though if the insurance company leaves me with the wreckage of the old one I'll probably just use the antec 900 I have here, and resign myself to more frequent housework, 'cos youre right about the antec - in the 3 months i had the last PC running its collected a fair bit !! :D

Surge protectors are a good idea for sure - I had one :D but they just clean up lil bumps and spikes in the household supply, and aren't able to take a direct hit from lightning - I'd be happy to be taught otherwise tho :)

As for the gfx card - I'd like to be able to reach as far up the scale as I can now, that being one half of a dual card X2 setup, and a second to follow with the intention of makin' it last as long as I can - I dont usually have this kinda money to hurl around ! :D


Sibeer:- Thanks for your comment :) This would be my first non-Nvidia card, not that I think less of ATI but for some reason just kinda always bought Nvidia. 'Twas my understanding that the 280 is comparable to a 4870, and as a 4870x2 is like two of 'em on the same card I just assumed thatd be the way to go this time, with the option of cramming in a second.


Its all good food for thinks !! Thanks and keep 'em coming !! :)
 
I've recently built a PC with the tuniq cooler. It's a very nice piece of kit. Surprisingly quiet for the temperatures it can hold and you also get a fan controller which you attach to a PCI bracket. It's quite handy if don't need an overclocked CPU right now as you can just put it down to min which makes it pretty much silent. I don't have any other coolers to compare it to but I was very pleased with it. I think a lot of people will recommend it :)
 
Love the Tuniq's looks and it seems well proven and popular so I'll go with that - is the stock fan the best choice, or is there a better aftermarket one that fits in there?

Hoping to find a good recipe for 4 ghz + without hurtin' it so cooling's high on the priorities ! :)
 
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