My project: Excalibur :)

[Israar]

Hey guys and gals, as the title says, this is about my current project: Excalibur -- I've got it up and running but still got components to get, and bits and bats to do to it.

Currently as it stands, the computer itself consists of the following:

Case: Mountain Mods U2-UFO - Brushed Ali PA120.3 Model
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450, Yorkfield Core, S775, 2.66GHz, 1333MHz, 12MB Cache
CPU Water Block: D-Tek FuZion v2.0 - Universal
DVD: Pioneer DVR-215SV, SATA, Silver OEM
*GFX1: nVidia GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB DDR3
HDD1: 160 Gb Maxtor/Seagate, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 32MB Cache
HDD2: 1 Tb Maxtor/Seagate, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 32MB Cache
Motherboard: XFX MB-N790-IUL9, NF790i Ultra MCP, 3-way SLI, S 775, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), DDR3 667/800/1066/2000, ATX
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Retail (DVD) 32Bit & 64Bit
Pump: Laing DDC 3.2 Ultra with Plexitop
PSU: Real Power M1000 (RS-A00-ESBA)
Radiator: ThermoChill PA120.3
RAM: 4GB (2x2GB) CorsairTwinX XMS3, DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600), CAS 9-9-9-24(1.8v), DHX
Reservoir: Danger Den Clear Bay Reservoir - 5.25"
Tubing: 1/2" ID Tygon R3603

* The current graphics card is there for me to just generally use this for now as my old computer I've given to my youngest brother =) -- The two cards that will REPLACE the current graphics card will be 1GB XFX 9800GX2, Black Edition, PCI-E 2.0, 2100MHz GDDR3, GPU 719MHz, 256 Cores, 2xDL DVI-I/HDMI

I am looking forward to overclocking this little monster hehe, although I'm still a novice in my eyes at overclocking! :O -- So, was looking for some kind help in making this more beefy!

The idea for now, is to get a stable CPU overclock out of the system, I'll be posting CPUz screenshots, Super Pi screenshots, temp screenshots, Prime95/IntelBurnTestx64 screenshots, and more if needed. I've only got a couple of pictures of the computer so far and albeit not brilliant ones, so when I get my digicam back from my mate I'll be posting some of those for you guys

I still need to get stuff like a new monitor, speakers, mouse and keyboard (soundcard aswell but for now I can persevere with onboard as it's not a massive priority yet ) as to which all will come! Although the two graphics cards are my main priority at the minute then the monitor afterwards (though these as like 50/50 on whether I buy these first or a car lol, the joys of choices haha!) the rest will fall in place

If I'm missing anything out or questions arise that you want to ask, just tell me and I'll be glad to answer and add in what I'm missing out!

--Lee

[WhiteLotus]

there are many people here that can help you overclock that processor, and your cooling looks more than capable.

Good luck!

[Israar]

Thanks fella, can't wait to tickle it and see how it goes

--Lee

[Solaris17]

OMG sweet rig!!! man it looks like it finally happened! i remember when we were chatting back and forth and that was just paper!!! your going to love GX2's i love mine. man thats a really nice system really nice man congrats!!! lil bit of a step up from that FX-57

[richardbel]

you got a great set-up there bro..

[Israar]

Originally Posted by Solaris17

OMG sweet rig!!! man it looks like it finally happened! i remember when we were chatting back and forth and that was just paper!!! your going to love GX2's i love mine. man thats a really nice system really nice man congrats!!! lil bit of a step up from that FX-57

Haha, the main man shows himself <3

Aye, and as I've proven to you now, when I say I'm going to do something, I always follow through with it eventually haha!

I'm definitely going to love the GX2's, can't wait to have them pumping this machine hehe!

Glad you like it too fella, you seem more in love with it than I am! -- How cools that haha! As for the step up, if you recall well, it was an FX-55 which with your help I got it to a stable 2.8GHz, we hit 3.0GHz, but it wouldn't stabalize in windows for us if you remember lol

Ah well, good times

EDIT: @richardbel: Thanks mate, glad you like it and hopefully I'll show it off for folding @ TPU

--Lee

[Israar]

Here's a screenie for now, I'll be taking some pics this weekend of the rig itself, but bear in mind the cable management is not done at present simply because I'm not spending my time doing that until I slap in the 2x 9800GX2s I'll be getting



The memory timings are set at 7-7-7-20 T1 instead of the default 9-9-9-24 T1, BIOS automatically recommended it as optimal (if I'm remembering correctly) so thought I'll leave it with them lower than the standard lol, they're running on 1.8v too, had to change that from 1.5v as the rig was unstable with the timings of 7-7-7-20 and 9-9-9-24 at 1.5v...

Hope you like what you're seeing so far

Overclocking soon, so when I'm good to go, hopefully we can get this beauty to a stable 3.8GHz, although my goal is to reach 4GHz, 3.8GHz will be very satisfying

--Lee

[Israar]

Well, here's some shots for you lot XD

--Lee

[Israar]

Finally got round to overclocking my CPU and memory a little bit hehe! Thanks to wolf last night, kudos fella!

Here's some screenies for you peeps!






Hope you like them guys, as you might gather, I left the volts to auto, so that's why you see the difference in voltage increase for the CPU from stock to overclocked

There will be more to come, but going to let this run as it is for a while, even though it's quite stable!

--Lee

[Solaris17]

dude this is gonna be all kinda of crazy awsome!!! grats on the OC great job i cant wait till you get the rest of that beast together!

[Israar]

Originally Posted by Solaris17

dude this is gonna be all kinda of crazy awsome!!! grats on the OC great job i cant wait till you get the rest of that beast together!

Damn right fella, I can't wait, going for a higher FSB possibly this weekend and going for 3.6GHz/3.8GHz hehe, who knows

Definitely can't wait for it to be 100% fully done though!

--Lee

[WhiteLotus]

that was a quick overclock, i need to do mine. what else have you got left to add?

[Israar]

Originally Posted by WhiteLotus

that was a quick overclock, i need to do mine. what else have you got left to add?

Hehe, definitely

2x eVGA GTX 285s (decided to go eVGA instead of XFX)

Then the case is done and dusted with.

Outside, 22" Monitor, Logitech G15 Keyboard, Razer Copperhead Tempest Blue mouse, Logitech Z5500 speakers and that's about it I think

Addons will be watercooling loop on GPU's in the future, a re-vamped loop for the CPU so both have smaller resevoirs inside, modded fan wiring so I can couple the cables up and use a smaller better fan controller. (Never done that before but I'll read up and see what I can do)

Getting some blue LEDs, got two atm just not installed, and for now that's it really hehe XD

--Lee

[WhiteLotus]

... so quite a bit then!

[Israar]

Originally Posted by WhiteLotus

... so quite a bit then!

Kinda lol, but the major important bits mainly being the 2x eVGA cards and monitor

--Lee

[wolf]

Cheers man, always good to see a healthy overclock, and getting your ram up to full speed too, can you believe the board thought its max speed was 1066... thats harsh compared to the 1600 its rated at.

whats next 3.6... 3.8... beyond....

[Israar]

Originally Posted by wolf

Cheers man, always good to see a healthy overclock, and getting your ram up to full speed too, can you believe the board thought its max speed was 1066... thats harsh compared to the 1600 its rated at.

whats next 3.6... 3.8... beyond....

Lol, the board can accomodate 2000

If you need pics I'll upload some of the motherboard box for you hehe, I just don't think the memory would or could handle it hehe!

Although I'm gonna try to go to 3.6GHz next, prime it, then if alls stable, straight onto 3.8GHz, rinse, repeat to 4GHz hehe!

As I told you, I'm gonna try to get as much out of it as possible, and try to keep the temps low, when the cards come, I'll have fun trying to get the same with those hehe!

Love the help I've received though, you certainly know your stuff --

--Lee

[Binge]

Several thousand thumbs up! Great work

[Israar]

Originally Posted by Binge

Several thousand thumbs up! Great work

Haha, cheers fella and loving the several thousand thumbs up!



Expect more to come though, and more pics -- Woop!

--Lee

[h3llb3nd4]

Metal! I Love Metal!

[Israar]

Originally Posted by h3llb3nd4

Metal! I Love Metal!

Keep yourself coming back, there's more to come soon hehe ^^

--Lee

[Israar]

Well, now stable at 3.6GHz =)

HyperPi, CPU-z, Prime95 and SpeedFan for you guys ^^





Hope you like it =)

--Lee

[WhiteLotus]

good effort man, this on air or water?

[Israar]

Originally Posted by WhiteLotus

good effort man, this on air or water?

Water, although I'm thinking of redoing the loop intime to a smaller reservoir

Plus going rework all the tubing and what not and get everything neat inside once it's all setup, once that's sorted I plan on fan modding so I can use all fans on the fan controller as to which I'll get a new one, a better more snazzy looking one and keep the revved at 12v

Got lots in store for this beaut hehe, and when I do get round to it, I'm going to get ahold of some MX-2 and replace the AS5 on the CPU see if I can get any drops in temp maybe hehe

Going for 3.8GHz this weekend though

--Lee

[Israar]

Here's some new pictures albeit crappy ones from my phone of my eVGA GTX 285 hehe, woop woop!











Hope you like the new update, more to come, next will be my 3.8GHz

--Lee