First Build 50% complete !

[jmbrettler]

Hey all!! Im very excited to be here =)

Here's what I have bought and put together so far:


NZXT Tempest Air Flow King Case
XFX Nforce 750a SLI Motherboard
AMD x2 7550 2.7GHZ w/ Unlocked Multiplyer w/stock heatsink fan
4 GB OCZ Reaper Dual Channel 1066 MHZ
1 TB Seagate 7200 Rpm
SONY DVD+RW/CD+RW drive
65 IN 1 USB Internal Card Reader/Writer
ULTRA LSP 650 WATTPSU

Total Cost thus far: $750cnd and one pissed off girlfriend...
Pissed off not so much at the expense but more-so her inevitable replacement...

Well I managed to screw everything into place and figure out where all the wires connect to! (Believe me, its a big deal for me )

I want this case to be a project for all of us to learn from.
My homework is to learn how to overclock via the internet, over the next couple days. I was hoping to OC' this chip from 2.7 to 3.0Ghz to start and with a new CPU fan in the near future, 3.4 Ghz and beyond...

ANYWAYS I fired up the Mobo and it went right into bios when I hit DLT.
CPU temp is around 50 C
SYS temp is around 22 C



All comments and suggestions are welcome! I can't wait to get an OS and get this show on the road!!

- JB

I also am waiting to figure out which OS I will be using 32bit or 64bit ect...


Any and all suggestions welcome at this point.

P.s I am already thinking about a solution for all these fans I have!! Some sort of fan speed controller for rpm.
How does one go about measuring the case temperature?

 

[Darren]

My homework is to learn how to overclock via the internet, over the next couple days. I was hoping to OC' this chip from 2.7 to 3.0Ghz to start and with a new CPU fan in the near future, 3.4 Ghz and beyond...

The athlon X2 7750 will typically get around 3-3.2GHz with ease, 3.3-3.4 GHz maybe with a bit of work. Beyond that forget it!

Above 3.4GHz will require pure luck and a super high-end motherboard, on air cooling it is very unlikely regardless of whether its stock or a custom cooler.

Your rig looks good, the only thing is missing is a dedicated video card, presuming you're a gamer.

 

[MoonPig]

Pictures or it didn't happen.

lol

Nice work man, hope you enjoy the unpacking, my favorite bit

Edit, Use 64bit OS

 

[jmbrettler]

Cheers! Ill refine what I stated earlier, I would be totally satisfied with 3.33 ! =)
The beyond im not so concerned with. Whether its doable is another story!
I assumed a better cpu cooler = more OC' capabilities. Not so much as I thought, eh.

As far as the video card is concerned the onboard will do until I can afford a decent card. This board apparently will use hyper share or some such feature to share the onboard with an additional video card, if the card is not better than 8500 gt? (not 100% sure on this though). I am wondering if its worth getting an 8500 and have the graphics be shared, or just save up for a bigger bad@ss card for the future... your thoughts?

Also I am heading back to the store today, just wondering if I should exchange for 800mhz ram instead of 1066mhz ??

 

[Darren]

I assumed a better cpu cooler = more OC' capabilities. Not so much as I thought, eh.

Aftermarket coolers are not what they used to be, stock cooling is usually adequate even for overclocking and the motherboard and CPU tolerance are more likely to dictate the level of overclock. I'd still recommend an aftermarket CPU cooler but with the emphasis reducing noise and slight temperature decrease opposed to seeking a increased overclock.

This board apparently will use hyper share or some such feature to share the onboard with an additional video card, if the card is not better than 8500 gt? (not 100% sure on this though). I am wondering if its worth getting an 8500 and have the graphics be shared, or just save up for a bigger bad@ss card for the future... your thoughts?

The 8500 GT should perform better, but both suck to be honest, if you're a gamer I wouldn't recommend the 8500 GTeven if you're financially broke. You do not need bad ass graphics card, any midrange GPU can play today's games at high settings with ease. ATI 4830 is about $70, 4770 and 4850 is about $100 all of which are far from bad ass but get the job tone without a sweat!

Also I am heading back to the store today, just wondering if I should exchange for 800mhz ram instead of 1066mhz ??

It makes no difference, you will see little if any performance increase or decrease. You could of probably overclock a PC6400 (800 MHz) to near PC8500 (1066 MHz) specification easily. But since you've bought the ram so just keep it!


Edit:

i might recommend a 9600gt i just bought today for my friend but if u want to go amd/ati then a 4770 is really cheap if ur in US

Be careful with the 9600 GT, the early versions were highly incompatible with certain motherboard chipsets and hence lead to customers getting random blue screens of deaths and lock ups. There was no fix for it apart from replacing the motherboard or the video card, for this reason I would advise the 9600 GT. I'd say for anyone going the Nvidia route and want a budget card look towards the GTS250 instead.

But performance wise the 9600 GT is top notch and if you're lucky enough not be experience the above mentioned incompatibility issues they are great cards. I had a 9600 GT and I was very happy with it.

 

[DreamSeller]

i might recommend a 9600gt i just bought today for my friend but if u want to go amd/ati then a 4770 is really cheap if ur in US

 

[DreamSeller]

Be careful with the 9600 GT, the early versions were highly incompatible with certain motherboard chipsets and hence lead to customers getting random blue screens of deaths and lock ups. There was no fix for it apart from replacing the motherboard or the video card, for this reason I would advise the 9600 GT. I'd say for anyone going the Nvidia route and want a budget card look towards the GTS250 instead.

But performance wise the 9600 GT is top notch and if you're lucky enough not be experience the above mentioned incompatibility issues they are great cards. I had a 9600 GT and I was very happy with it.

his board looks like a new one to me
afterall he can get a refund or replace it with another or just instead buy the GTS250 from the beginning

 

[MKmods]

First thing get a better CPU cooler... The one you are using is AMDs cheapest one (not the heat pipe version)
Also for GPUs since you are using a Nvidia based mobo the 9600 series is a great start. You will have the option to add another down the road and in pairs they are excellent.

Windows is letting everyone use Windows 7 for the next year (32 or 64 bit) I use the 64 bit version and it works nicely (especially for free)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

 

[Kenshai]

First thing get a better CPU cooler... The one you are using is AMDs cheapest one (not the heat pipe version)
Also for GPUs since you are using a Nvidia based mobo the 9600 series is a great start. You will have the option to add another down the road and in pairs they are excellent.

Windows is letting everyone use Windows 7 for the next year (32 or 64 bit) I use the 64 bit version and it works nicely (especially for free)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

I'm going to have to agree here on every point, The cpu cooler is one lacking the heatpipes, the 9600gt will go great in that system. I can't speak highly enough about Windows 7, zero issues with the RC.

 

[Hayder_Master]

First thing get a better CPU cooler... The one you are using is AMDs cheapest one (not the heat pipe version)
Also for GPUs since you are using a Nvidia based mobo the 9600 series is a great start. You will have the option to add another down the road and in pairs they are excellent.

Windows is letting everyone use Windows 7 for the next year (32 or 64 bit) I use the 64 bit version and it works nicely (especially for free)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

agree with you , better cooler is important

 

[jmbrettler]

wow thanks for all the feedback!

I will definitely make a new cpu cooler my next upgrade

I am dl'ing a version of windows vista 64 bit, right now, which I plan to burn after to use for installing an OS on the new computer. Wish there was an easier way, but I don't have many connections when it comes to getting operating systems.

I'll need a good list of software for downloading once my OS is in place.
I guess it makes sense to get all the latest updates for all my hardware, and then start with the OC quest.

- JB

 

[Charper2013]

Simple way to overclock that proccesor... Just go in Bios.. Bump multi to 16... There you go 3.2ghz...

 

[jmbrettler]

I have an incredible update !
Well firstly Windows Vista 64bit, is almost finished dnloading. I really hope it is what it says it is. How annoying is it when you DL a torrent for something and it takes two days lol and it turns out not to be what the title says... ill keep my fingers crossed.... its almost done anyways!!

How can I ensure that when I place the dvd into my new comp, it will auto install ...

AND THE REAL GOOD NEWS...

I was tinkering with my boards auto overclocking feature. It has 3 modes, OC 30mhz, OC 60mhz, OC 90mhz. I managed to move the jumper on the board, access the feature in BIOS, she is now, without any effort really, running 3117mhz! I obviously can`t test the stability and whatnot, but when I restart and go back into bios, it still says 3117 not 2713mhz. This is fantastic =)

 

[Darren]

Good job with the overclocking, there shouldn't be any reason why you couldn’t get it to around 3.4 GHz on air.

Do not start celebrating yet though, just because the system posts or boots at the new overclocked frequency it doesn’t mean its stable. You might get random lockups, blue screens of deaths etc days or weeks after the overclock. It might only be on a specific application that might cause the instability.


Edit:

just curious, my bios oc options are under justwoot!

I cant find any option that says `multiplier`. theres core fid, core vid, core did, nb fid, nb vid, nb did, sb to k8 frequency (800mhz) ...

and i also have voltage changes i can make to the cpu voltage, cpu sb voltage,dram voltage and chipset voltage...where is my multiplier hiding ...

Not all motherboards allow one to access the multiplier, most decent motherboards will though. You should be able to achieve the OC still by just increasing the bus speed regardless of increasing the multi. You might be required to increase the CPU voltages to sustain those bus speeds and to increase stability.

Remember to decrease the ram bus slightly so you do not accidentally overclock the ram whilst incrementally overclocking the CPU the CPU as both buses usually move in concert with one another.

Edit 2:

It might not refer to it as memory bus, it varies bios to bios. The memory bus should be 533 MHz (1066 MHz) by default, but ideally you want to lower the ram below its default as you increase the CPUs bus. Once you've got windows installed you can confirm the configurations in CPU-Z.

 

[jmbrettler]

Simple way to overclock that proccesor... Just go in Bios.. Bump multi to 16... There you go 3.2ghz...

just curious, my bios oc options are under justwoot!

I cant find any option that says `multiplier`. theres core fid, core vid, core did, nb fid, nb vid, nb did, sb to k8 frequency (800mhz) ...

and i also have voltage changes i can make to the cpu voltage, cpu sb voltage,dram voltage and chipset voltage...where is my multiplier hiding ...

 

[jmbrettler]

Gotcha! well I have already compiled the following software into a cd, CPUz, HWmonitor, Prime 95, and Clock Gen... Im hoping the OS will finish soon So I can test the 3117mhz stability. Darren thanks for standing by here for me
K+

 

[jmbrettler]

looks like i got some more research to do.... ill be lurking

 

[jmbrettler]

darren you rock!!
TY!

 

[TheVietster]

Total Cost thus far: $750cnd and one pissed off girlfriend...
Pissed off not so much at the expense but more-so her inevitable replacement...



Her inevitable replacement huh, LOL, I have been there man...

 

[reverze]

Total Cost thus far: $750cnd and one pissed off girlfriend...
Pissed off not so much at the expense but more-so her inevitable replacement...

Same thing happened to me a mere three weeks ago.

Well i'm personally on my ZALMAN high horse and as for a CPU cooler I would recommend this.

ZALMAN CNPS9700


I have mine running @ 1560RPM right now and it is barely audible. Runs and looks great.

Runs about 40c Idle and 56c load @ 1560.

Full speed at like ~2800RPM I was getting like 34c or 35c and like 50c load.

Higher RPM gets a bit louder of course, but it still is pretty quiet. 1560RPM does the trick for me.


As for inside the case.. Maybe consider picking up a cathode or two if you want to spice it up a little when your done since you have that nice side window to show off your hardware with.

And when you're done of course some cable management by rerouting the cables behind the motherboard, and using zip tie mounts or something similar to keep everything in place.

Other than that it looks good so far. Keep us updated on pics and crank that proc up!

 

[Reventon]

How can a build be 50% complete? There's only 2 parts - buying the components then putting them together.

 

[Gam'ster]

How can a build be 50% complete? There's only 2 parts - buying the components then putting them together.

The point in your post was ?? .

Anyway jmbrettler congratz on the build and id agree with others and say 64 bit OS is the way to go. If u havent already try WIN7 its free and well worth a look.
Good luck.

 

[jmbrettler]

50% of the build is complete because I don't have an OS yet!!
how can I check the stability of an OC without my OS?

I disagree about your two part method. 50% is getting the parts and 50% is making the parts work
once you get them together your only at 75% completion

 

[Reventon]

50% of the build is complete because I don't have an OS yet!!
how can I check the stability of an OC without my OS?

I disagree about your two part method. 50% is getting the parts and 50% is making the parts work
once you get them together your only at 75% completion

Oh well then you are more like 90% done then