My new build

[TX-Thunderbolt]

O.K., I know I've bounced around on this for awhile and started a number of threads in the process, but...Here is what I've gotten so far and my intentions for the remaining items needed:

These are the things I've already purchased (ordered the CPU and OS today):

CPU - Intel Core i7 920

CPU Cooler - Thermalright TRUE copper + 2x120mm fluid dynamic bearing fans

RAM - Corsair Dominator 1600 6GB kit (3x 2GB)

GPU - XFX GTX285 Black Edition 1GB

Optical - LG super multi DVD writer 22x

PSU - Corsair TX850w

HDD - Seagate 500GB 32MB cache 7200 rpm (I only have one of these right now, but plan on getting 3 more for RAID 0+1 array. Still cheaper than going with a 300GB velociraptor and faster in the end. Plus the security the redundancy of the +1 mirror)

OS - I decided to cave and got the Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP1 like Gunny.

Chassis - I'm leaning heavily towards gutting my Stacker 830 and using that case again and simply putting all my current stuff into my son's Antec case. It'll save me ~$200 and probably a couple weeks.


Here is what I don't have yet:

Soundcard - X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion PCIE with front panel

HDD - as stated above, I need 3 more for RAID 0+1 or two more for RAID 5

Motherboard - I haven't ordered this yet as I'm in a toss-up between the Asus P6T Deluxe and the Gigabyte GA EX58-UD5 (honestly, leaning towards the P6T)

Hopefully, the end of April I should start assembly. Watching all these shiny, high-tech parts sitting in a box next to my desk is starting to cause some anxiety, but I always hear the wise words of my Father at times like this..."Don't ever settle for anything, but temper your enthusiasm". But it's hard not to feel like a kid on Christmas eve.

[TX-Thunderbolt]

Update: I ordered my motherboard and soundcard today. So, technically, I could start assembly next week.

The reality is, I only have the one HDD right now and would like to either do the RAID thing or go with another Raptor for my boot sector. So it looks like another 2 weeks while I decide which direction I want to go and wait for my next installment in my monthly entertainment fund (don't laugh, it works for me).

I set aside a certain amount of cash for my own entertainment purposes to include golf, pc hardware, etc,.. and if I have a new build in the works, I let it build for a couple months. With my processor and mobo together running almost $600 this build will run me a bit more than usual so the extra few weeks.

The upside is, the beginning of actual assembly should coincide with my Wife and youngest son taking a 3-week trip to Texas and Arizona. That's three weeks I'll have to fly my ass off, run benchmarks on the new rig and generally bum around without any negative input...from anyone. Don't get me wrong, I'm gonna miss the hell out of them, but the timing is perfect.

[TX-FlightRisk]

Just think, no baths/showers, really unhealthy fatty foods, ahh the life....

[TX-Thunderbolt]

Well, assembly begins tonight. I prepped my case and transferred most of my current components to another case. I'll try to install all my new components tonight and start the OS install, driver updates and program installation dance tomorrow...or tonight if all goes well, but we'll see.

[GOZR]

I'm Glad TB i'll be curious about it...

[TX-Thunderbolt]

I completed assembly last night and went ahead and did some cable management/routing work on it. I know, that's usually the kiss of death as one fubar component may result in completely pulling apart all the zip ties and tucked wires, but I did it anyway.   

I'm using most all the displaced parts in 2 other pc's in the house and instead of doing the software installation, I went ahead and started dropping some of those parts in the the other machines. It was getting late and I didn't want to start the "Windows dance" at 11 p.m. and those parts were drop-ins.

OS and other proggies go in tonight.

Here's the final list of components btw:

Asus P6T Deluxe V2
Core i7 920
Thermalright TRUE Copper with dual 120mm cooling fans
Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Titanium Champion (lmao...what a name eh?)
6 GB Corsair Dominator 1600Mhz triple channel kit
XFX GTX285 Black edition
Raptor 300GB (boot sector and I intend to partition it in 150GB sectors leaving one for Windows 7 later in the year)
Seagate 500GB 32mb cache (data and programs)
LG 22x super multi optical drive
Put back into my CoolerMaster Stacker 830
Windows Vista Home Premium x64

Since I decided to keep this case for my own rig, I quickly remembered some of the reasons I like this case so much. It's big and roomy, well thought out with a removable PSU plate and removable mobo tray that even allowed me to attach the TRUE and then slide it into place! (no small feat considering the size of that frikkin hunk of copper  ), the completely tooless design and last, it's all aluminum so it's not as heavy and cools really well.

[TX-EcoDragon]

That's great news TB, I hope to see you up and running soon! I'm sure you'll not be able to resist going flying on that for very long - here's to a painless OS/Driver installation!

It will be really great to hear about RoF performance with how multithread RoF is.

Part of why I got the video card that I did was so that when you built your i7 machine we would have similar enough rigs to get a comparative sense of how a dual core compares to a HyperThreaded Quad.

[GOZR]

TB i recommend you "not" to partition your drive .. bad idea just load a windows into your other drive, you will have better performances and if your Raptor fail ( often on those ) you will still have an OS to start your PC and Fly..
I did get a great Q9650 for mine and i'm at the moment burning in the CPU low voltages and low temp making some higher runs for a week.. yesterday i went for 4.4 Ghz for 2 or 3 hours and now 4 GHZ on cruise low volts with 8GB RAM.. The Q9650 is pushing those GTS 8800 SLI to their max quite impressive.


Welcome to the Quads club TB !!!!!

[TX-Gunslinger]

Well, I've never had a Raptor fail - and I've had many.

My ^%$^%$ Seagate 1.5 TB did fail the other day - AFTER I put data on it.

S~

Gunny

[GOZR]

Yeap i had and have Raptor(s) and failed.. it's like the Russian roulette but by safety ..... .. Sorry for your 1.5T Gunny..

[TX-Thunderbolt]

Installed OS last night and got most everything tweaked (basic Vista tweaking). I installed TeamSpeak but didn't get all my TS info transferred over from my other machine as it's been doing the same thing it was doing a month ago (i.e. not booting...hell, not even posting). So, I'm going to have to setup most everything from scratch. Not too daunting but a pain in the ass nonetheless.

I also installed TIR5 Pro and the new software last night. Since it was approaching 1 a.m. I had to call it quits as anything else I would have started would have added another hour or so and I had to be @ work at 7 this a.m.

Anyway, running at stock speeds and hopefully getting most everything else installed tonight. I obviously haven't stressed it at all yet but ASUS Probe II said it was idling at 38-40c, FYI. That's about 15c higher than my C2D running at 3.2 used to run, but looks to be somewhat normal.

I intend to bug out early again today to get right on it and if things drop right into place I may even run a few sorties tonight just to test. I still need to install all my controllers and learn some of the GUI nuances of the new Creative software (that seems to always be the toughest...lol). I'll let this run as is and do some testing for a few more days before pushing the CPU through OC.

[GOZR]

Great TB and remember to push your cpu with out voltage first to see the limit and little increase after that.
I'm on the RAM timing at the moment trying to get all settings right, 8 GB is a different ball. and testing new video drivers as well.
http://www.gozr.net/iocl/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=534

[TX-Gunslinger]

Yeap i had and have Raptor(s) and failed.. it's like the Russian roulette but by safety ..... .. Sorry for your 1.5T Gunny..

Thanks Gozr

I'll have to tell you about it when I get a chance - it was very strange...

S~

Gunny

[GOZR]

Yes Gunny if i remember the first 1.5T had some issues but i think they will correct or did it already.. see you on comms..
I'm on the roof working ( using my Mac laptop )

[TX-Thunderbolt]

I installed the CH Control Manager and remembered that in a moment of clarity a couple months ago I was wise enough to backup my CH map profiles and some other stuff (like my IL2 "users" and "conf.ini" folders). It all installed without a single glitch, hiccup or issue (I think that's the first time ever for me... ). I even was able to apply the 4.08m, 4.09b1m, UI 1.1, and UI1.1.1 patches seamlessly.

At stock speeds with 4xAA, 8xAF, "quality" I'm never dipping below 60 fps (yes, Vsync was on). I really need to get the RoF stuff, but would like to wait until I can get one of you more knowledgeable guys on comms as I was still never able to log back in once our credentials were restored post Russian release.

Anyway, another couple days at stock speeds then I'll need to find out how much real headroom this thing has (I got the C0 step before the D0 came out...bleh).

The new TIR 5.0 beta software is a definite improvement (at least for me) and once I spent a few minutes fiddling with a couple profiles I was able to get something I liked fairly well. I still need to work on a couple aspects of some axes here and there, but so far, I really like it.

Wife's been gone for 4 days and I'm sleep deprived, slightly malnourished and dehydrated...SO, I guess I'm doing well.