Great White Bengal

[t_ski]

basic troubleshooting for network:

1. open a command window and type "ipconfig /all"
2. record the ip address of the network card and your gateway (usually 192.168.1.1)
3. in the same command window ping the loopback address (127.0.0.1 - checks the networking ability of the system before the NIC). If this works, go to the next step.
4. in the same command window ping the ip address of the network card (checks the networking ability of the NIC). If this works, go to the next step.
5. in the same command window ping the gateway address (again, usually 192.168.1.1 - checks the network from the PC to the gateway). If this works, go to the next step.
6. in the same command window ping the address 74.125.225.72 (this is an address for google.com - checks the network from the PC oout to the internet). If this works, go to the next step.
7. in the same command window ping google.com (checks DNS).

If this stops anywhere in the process, that's where your issue lies, and you can start troubleshooting at that point.

[Crap Daddy]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

Basically that's all I did (during the entire afternoon!). Trying modem only, leaving it off, powering it on, shutting down pc, restarting it, changing the cables...
Then doing the same thing but with the router in place...

If you haven't done it yet, powering off might not be enough, you have to reset it by taking the power plug out and leaving it a bit like that (the modem)

[Random Murderer]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

I always managed to connect with any laptop before. But this time I tried with my cellphone and my connection's name was "default" instead of "blackpanther"

That alone tells me that your router settings have been reset to factory. Can you connect to the router itself using a wired connection? if so, you need to log in to the admin page for your router and tinker with the settings.

[brandonwh64]

Connect to your router via wired cable. once you have an IP address goto http://192.168.1.1 then input the default login. go to service page or WAN page and refresh the IP.

[Black Panther]

Thanks for the advice t_ski, Crap Daddy and Random. I'm sure I'd be finding this all very useful when I get back at home tomorrow.

On "default" I still couldn't get online though from the cellphone. I'm assuming that was 'my' connection, since 'BlackPanther' didn't appear.

What's weird is that the pc can see the router but it's not called Edimax anymore but NU11 or something similar...

I googled NU11 and apparently it's a wireless adapter. I haven't got any of the sort.



Edit: Thanks brandon I just saw your post. I will try that tomorrow as well.

Thanks everyone for the help, much appreciated!

[Chicken Patty]

Sounds like all your settings reset, might have to set it up again. Either that or the ISP might BR having temp issues coincidently.

[Black Panther]

The router being set to default is no cause for alarm. I remember hitting the reset button thinking it was the power button of the router... Strange that it's so prominent and easily hittable...

Anyway, I started a new thread for this problem because it doesn't pertain to this new build. I checked my old E8400 system, and also my laptop. Tried them all wired by ethernet. Always the same error as on the new rig, no matter which pc I try.

Took screenshots of t_ski's instruction results... it's all there. Thanks.

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

My ISP called me.

Apparently, when I had called the first time to check why my internet speed was 8Mbps instead of 20Mbps, the tech there had changed something in my modem's configuration and made it "Bridge" instead of "PPpoe" (I don't know what I'm talking about ). Anyway, this time another tech talked me through getting in modem settings online, and changing it back to Pppoe, it's done, all works. Even the router works now.

__________________

I really hate to say this, but I must admit that the 670 gives better image quality in gaming than the 5970.

It's not fps. As Murphy's law dicates, right now that I've got this build all set up, ready and working flawlessly I've got my 27" 2560x1440 monitor in RMA, so I have to do with a 22" LG 1680x1050. It isn't a bad monitor really. It's the best one I ever had.... before I got the Dell with the IPS panel and flawless colors.

I haven't yet tested the 670 with the Dell since it's rma'd but on this monitor with the comparatively washed-out colors, Skyrim appears so much nicer - the shadings, the lights, the HDR.. With the 5970 it was almost like I had HDR disabled (I didn't).
Perhaps it's because of ambient occlusion? I dunno?

I can't anticipate how much nicer the game would be on the Dell!
*drools*

[m1dg3t]

Nice! Enjoy the build now

Arrows incoming! Duck

Or jump rather! hahaha

[Black Panther]

OP updated with new photos.

Next upcoming - NZXT hue.

Hopefully it'll be in stock some time this week!

[Black Panther]

More photos in the OP.

The NZXT hue isn't in stock yet though...

__________________________

I'm mighty glad I bought a 4GB graphics card!
Thanks to everyone who suggested I forget about the 2GB Asus CU II Top and get the Zotac 670 4GB instead!

Here's Skyrim, everything on Ultra, with texture packs, enhanced distant terrain, and I set ugridstoload in the ini file to 9, and I plan to tweak more in the near future.
Still my fps stay between 55 and 60. Occasionally they dip to 49 for a split second, then go up again. Game-play is butter-smooth, I'd think it was always 60 fps hadn't I been monitoring the fps!

Btw, the only thing I haven't got maxed out is AA. I have it at x2 because on this monitor with a low pixel pitch of 0.233 I don't see any difference if I increase it.
But later on today I will be maxing AA just for kicks and to see if my fps suffer as a result. Also to check on vram usage.





__________________________

Edit Here's with all settings at full, including all AA now. The lowest fps I saw was 42 but that was just momentarily. It still always stays between 52 and 60 fps.
2621MB of vram usage



Though honestly I really cannot see any difference between 2x AA and 8x AA

I'm tempted to set AA back at 2x but tweak ugridstoload to 11 in the ini file......

[Black Panther]

Apart from the NZXT Hue (which isn't in stock yet..)

What would you suggest I add to this rig?

I was thinking of a sound card. But honestly I can't see hear any difference between the onboard I have now and the X-Fi Xtreme Music I had on the Black Panther rig. Well the only difference is that volume seems lower now - but I just increase the Z5500's volume to make up for it.

[bogmali]

Damn it BP, now I has to get that case

[de.das.dude]

you can add water cooling

nice job with the tiger appliqué

[XNine]

BP, the Hue should be in stock pretty much everywhere in the USA by now. Also, do you have any plans to sleeve or add sleeved cables? Might make thinks look a little bit better (but your cable management overall is great!)

[Random Murderer]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

Apart from the NZXT Hue (which isn't in stock yet..)...

Originally Posted by XNine

BP, the Hue should be in stock pretty much everywhere in the USA by now.

BP, check Newegg, Xoxide, Amazon, and the actual NZXT store. Got mine from Xoxide two weeks ago and it was on my doorstep two business days after ordering.

[Xceller8r]

where can i get the tiger decal?

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by Xceller8r

where can i get the tiger decal?

ebay.

[Black Panther]

Added a 2TB Seagate Barracuda to the works. Nothing special, but it was a gift and I appreciated the space a lot.

I'll be getting the NZXT Hue after the holidays..

What's putting me off is that the front controls might look ugly...

_______________

Edit: as a next upgrade I'm more looking towards a new and more spacious desk. This one serves its needs, but it looks kinda crappy... doesn't it?

[Random Murderer]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

I'll be getting the NZXT Hue after the holidays..

What's putting me off is that the front controls might look ugly...

Why's that? because it's black?