Project: An 800D story

Project: An 800D story

So the first probem encountered was how to mount the hard drives to use Sata 3. In the end I have only got the SSD in place and I had to mount it backwards to fit it in:

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CPU was a breeze:

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I hit so many issues today that I decided to just get it up and running and fiddle about wth the detail as I go along. There is quite a lot left to do to complete the project but here it was just before connecting it all up:

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Here it is in its temporary home. The office isn't ready yet so I haven't hooked up the seakers for instance:

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It worked first time:

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With the cover on...MK1 complete:

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There is a HUGE jobs list left to complete:

Stealth the optical drive.
Order a shed load of cables, braiding and heat shrink to tidy the whole thing up.
Hook up the Aquaero fan controller.
Install the 1TB hard drive somewhere.
Sort the lighting out.

There is more I am sure. It works...:D
 
As for cost; no kids = high disposable income. That said, I have spread the cost over a 6 month period in order to afford all of the parts. I have spent about £5000. Makes a change for it not to be spent on my TVR :P
 
Project: An 800D story

G-Dubs said:
very nice, and so glad to hear you're going to braid the cables as I'm afraid they just stick out like a sore thumb in the pictures.

A build using all high end componentsuch as this deserves, no demands to befinished off to thehighest degree.
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I quite agree! I am too impatient sometimes and as the snagging list grew I just wanted to be able to use it at least. I can braid a section at a time. An order for cables and braid etc is going in shortly.
 
Project: An 800D story

Diggsy said:
That big 'sausage' looks to me like the 4+4pin cables weren't long enough to go around the back of the board. Hopefully that's a temporary solution and you have ordered extensions as it really spoils the overall look.
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Bang on, Diggsy. Very temporary solution and it totally detracts from the look.
 
mike gunnz said:
This has to be the most epic specced PC I've ever seen on the OCUK forum, an absolute beast. As such to not water cool the GPUs is akin to marrying Megan Fox then taking a lifelong vow of celibacy. Send them back under DSR and get GPUs with water blocks is my suggestion.
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I'm secretly hoping that the gods of the build logs will bestow upon me 2 custom waterblocks for them.
 
Project: An 800D story

I have not had much time to have a play yet, with either overclocking or benching.

Are there any specific benchmarks that you want to see results from? Suggestions please. Just as an aside I ran the critically acclaimed windows tool and it rated the machine as 7.8 with the SSD coming out top at 7.9, which is nice.

I will bench it with 6GB RAM (current) at stock clock speeds, then OC'd and repeat with 12GB.

As for gaming resolution I am at 1920x1200 on a 24" panel. My intention is to up that to a 3 screen eyefinity setup but due to the costs of the screens that will be a later update. Probably the last update after squaring the guts away first.
 
Project: An 800D story

TheCenturion said:
Your build gave me a semi, then seeing your GPUs turned it into full wood.
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Living up to your name, The Centurion :p, glad I could help.

Ok so benchmarks are still on the way but I think I am having problems with getting all 4 GPUs working together. I made a school boy error of connecting everything and then installing drivers and hoping it works. Its not throwing errors up and COD2 looks incredible on max settings but 3dmark vantage isn't showing expected scores on the extreme setting.

So the job list for tomorrow is as follows:

1. Uninstall the cards, boot in to safe mode and clean the system of drivers.

2. Remove both cards and drain the cooling system. Alter the top left loop with new parts that have arrived.

3. Unplug everything and leak check the system.

4. Assuming nothing goes wrong, re-route the new 8pin extensions over the top of the MB in order to remove the infamous 'sausage'.

5. Sit and curse myself for not getting a molex extension for the top PCIE slot and try to hide it. :mad:

6. Fit the 1TB hard drive in its new vibration reducing mounts and install it in a CD bay.

7. Stealth the DVD drive.

8. Fit the top GPU, install it and run a banchmark for comparisons.

9. Fit the second GPU, install it without the CF cable attached. Then add the cable and enable CF. Run benchmark.

10. Post pictures for Centurion's 'w**k bank'.

Time to go for a vindaloo in order to have the perfect excuse for not going to ikea tomorrow, thus ensuring enough time to achieve all of this.
 
Project: An 800D story

I have a bit of problem that I hope you can help with. I have the Aquaero Aquacomputer fan controller to add to the system. I want this one because it has a similar finish to the outside case and has white on black text on the screen which will look great with the theme.

The problem is that its fan inputs are 3 pin and my fans have 4pin connectors. My knowledge of this area is poor at best so if anyone has any bright ideas then please pipe up. I can't find a converter, maybe there is a good reason for this, I don't know.

Ideas such as...'send me your rig and I'll fix it for you' are...unlikely...to be taken up :D
 
Project: An 800D story

So I know you have been waiting on tender hooks for an update; I ran out of time yesterday to get on with my to do list but I have attacked it with gusto today. :D

I managed to mount the 1TB hard drive in cd bay and get the fans hooked up to the aquacomputer and get that mounted. I had a few issues getting the stealth bay to fit but sorted those out. I partially drained the system and sorted out some cabling and piping.

Whats that I can hear you typing feverishly? Post some pictures? Well who I am to deny you eh?

Customising the stealth cover so that it fits:

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Perfect:

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The front:

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Much neater:

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Closer look:

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The pipe looks a bit odd in this photo but there is no untoward pressure on that connection.

So jobs remaining are to braid about 10m of cables and get some case lighting installed. Now to go leak test and rebuild the system.
 
Project: An 800D story

Here is the first proper day of tweaking's results:

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I've never had a computer that could run a benchmark on extreme settings at playable rates. It was very exciting! My result sits me just inside 1000 points from the top 20 on Futuremark's hall of fame for extreme presets. I think that I would have to watercool the GPUs to get much higher. I need to start begging EK to make a block.
 
Project: An 800D story

Thnks Flanno. I am having no probs with with quadfire at all. Seems to work just fine for me and, of course, the GPUs match and therefore look better. I am back at work now so I haven't got time to braid the cables just yet but I am gradually buying the remaining parts that I need. I will be braiding in black and red to finish off the build.
 
Project: An 800D story

Sorry for not posting for a while. I have been back at work and Crimbo requires me to spend my money on others. Outrageous! The new study is nearly complete and it won't be long before the beast finds its new home and I can set up the B&W speakers.

So the question is: Red or black braid for the 24 pin and GPU connectors?
 
Project: An 800D story

So...

I've been super busy and have had no time to finish the build. Getting hold of the right cable braid has proved to be a bit harder than I thought as well. Thank god I waited, though, because I have found some new stuff that is black and red and looks to be about the same colour as the coolant that I have mixed together! Result. That should be here this week.

I have been trying to remove 6 pin heads from a spare cable because I have never braided before. Er...I can't do it! I have a little tool to help but I can't seem to find the right place to insert it in order to get the cable out. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Project: An 800D story

The saga continues...

Thank you Guitaroman for the advice. I am now starting to get somewhere. After about an hour (at least) I managed to braid 1 cable, yay me! A bit of do, review, apply and I am getting the hang of how to do this. Namely taping over the sharp bits to stop snagging whisle getting the braid on the cable and how to melt the ends properly to stop fraying etc.

4 down...

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A shed load to go!

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