AirCooled QUAD SLI


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Owner: HeavyH20
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Posted: Aug 17, 2006
Last Update: Sep 29, 2006 18:05
Viewed: 14,045 times
Rating: Outstanding (7.3)
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4 votes total
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Keywords:
AMDNVIDIA SLI
System Specs:
CoolerMaster 830, MSI K8N Diamond Plus, AMD Opteron 175 @ 2.9 GHz, 2 GB DDR 500 G.Skill, 2 x EVGA 7950GX2 driving a Dell 3007FPW, 2 x 250 GB SATA II, Mushkin Enhanced PSU Quad Rail, Zalman fan controller, LCD panel for system monitoring.
Performed Mods:
Just tried to build a clean system with some basic aircooling.
Sytem air flow is good enough to keep the 7950GX2 cards at 45 C idle and about 59C load. Cards use a custom BIOS with 20 MHz delta and 550/750 stock clocks. They will run 600/800 24x7. Great with a 2560x1600 30 inch LCD monitor. Benchmarks: 3Dmark06 - 9300 with a single card, 9500 with quad SLI. 3DMark06 - 15K with a single card, 15K with quad. CPU bound, big time. Need a Conroe to wake the system up! Just waiting on the Intel 590 SLI motherboards to release.

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User comments

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by POGE (August 17th - 10:12 PM) - Reply
What do you get in 3DMark05?
by Corrosion (August 17th - 11:12 PM) - Reply
OMFG i love it its like ice, so smooth and clean looking.
by randomperson21 (August 18th - 12:22 AM) - Reply
wow nice.

and holy crap! how many fans are cooling those quads? 4x120mm? that baby must roar.

but i'm jelous!
by Tory (August 18th - 1:29 AM) - Reply
Simply wow. I rate cases very tough and this is the first one I've ever given a ten. And yes I've rated every case on the site.
by pt (August 18th - 3:01 AM) - Reply
it's a great computer, but i don't like the case, for the money that a stacker costs i would buy a LIANLI
by HeavyH20 (August 18th - 8:54 AM) - Reply
by: pt
it's a great computer, but i don't like the case, for the money that a stacker costs i would buy a LIANLI
Thanks for the comments, guys. And, to counter the last, I am not a fan ofthe Lian Li cases. Too square. And, I bought these cases for $130 each. But, to each their own.

Actually, the fans are not that loud. They are 1500 RPM AC Cooling fans rated at 25 dBA. Tune down the voltage a bit, and they spin around 1000 rpm and sub 20 dBA. I hate noisy systems. If you can hear the hard drives whirring over the system, you are doing pretty good.
by pt (August 18th - 9:22 AM) - Reply
by: HeavyH20
Thanks for the comments, guys. And, to counter the last, I am not a fan ofthe Lian Li cases. Too square. And, I bought these cases for $130 each. But, to each their own.

Actually, the fans are not that loud. They are 1500 RPM AC Cooling fans rated at 25 dBA. Tune down the voltage a bit, and they spin around 1000 rpm and sub 20 dBA. I hate noisy systems. If you can hear the hard drives whirring over the system, you are doing pretty good.
i love square cases, they look more functional, but that stacker is a very good case
(case choosing is just a matter of personal taste)
by chopperdan88 (August 18th - 7:15 PM) - Reply
since you call yourself HeavyH20, are you going to watercool your rig? i like that stacker case, but for all that money you've laid down to get those parts, you're just going to leave to be a ground dwelling machine? that sucks, for such a piece of artwork that this machine is. anyhow, once you get that new conroe, you think you want to sell that K8N diamond and that opty processor of yours(with the CM heatsink)?
by HeavyH20 (August 18th - 9:26 PM) - Reply
by: chopperdan88
since you call yourself HeavyH20, are you going to watercool your rig? i like that stacker case, but for all that money you've laid down to get those parts, you're just going to leave to be a ground dwelling machine? that sucks, for such a piece of artwork that this machine is. anyhow, once you get that new conroe, you think you want to sell that K8N diamond and that opty processor of yours(with the CM heatsink)?
Well, this is actually a temporary setup. I have another CM Stacker 830 I am modifying with watercooling. Once the Intel 590 SLI boards are available, this one moves down the line and will likely sport a single 7950GX2. Also, still waiting on the Innovatek 7950GX2 water blocks.

So, watercooling once again, soon.
by pt (August 18th - 9:32 PM) - Reply
by: HeavyH20
Well, this is actually a temporary setup. I have another CM Stacker 830 I am modifying with watercooling. Once the Intel 590 SLI boards are available, this one moves down the line and will likely sport a single 7950GX2. Also, still waiting on the Innovatek 7950GX2 water blocks.

So, watercooling once again, soon.
Are you going to sell it?
by HeavyH20 (August 19th - 2:43 AM) - Reply
by: pt
Are you going to sell it?
I will probably simply keep it and cascade it down within the family. My nephew needs a new PC, so I will keep this one for a second system and hand down another to him.
by pt (August 19th - 7:25 AM) - Reply
by: HeavyH20
I will probably simply keep it and cascade it down within the family. My nephew needs a new PC, so I will keep this one for a second system and hand down another to him.
lucky nephew...
by technicks (August 28th - 2:05 PM) - Reply
Like it a lot. 9.

Throw in a in game screen shot. So we can see how your cards performe.
Would be nice.
by cdawall (August 28th - 7:09 PM) - Reply
WOW thats one hell of a system bet it makes my ti4200 card look like a paper weight
by stealthfighter (August 28th - 7:43 PM) - Reply
Makes my uncle's ATi PCI-E 256MB 500MHZ GPU look like a paperweight... lets' see
4x500MHZ GPU...
2GB RAM...
GDDR3...

Where's all this money fallin from boi? :O
by BigD6997 (August 28th - 10:12 PM) - Reply
nice system you must have some serious cash to throw down if you spendin money like this with dx10 around the corner and how a single x1800xt 512 can play any game on max settings at the moment 8
by HeavyH20 (August 31st - 12:38 AM) - Reply
Well, I can take a shot at some answers:

1) I will take a 16x SLI AA shot and post when I get back from vacation.
2) The PC costs far less than a decent system from Velocity or like. The system cost $2500 to build (without monitor). Velocity charges $1800 for base system with 1 GB DDR, a 7900GT and a X2 3800+. Not too bad when compared to that.
3) DX10 is coming and I will likely jump on that bandwagon, especially if there is performance to be had.
4) In June, I stepped up from two eVGA 7900 GTX SC cards for $14 each,so it seemed like a decent move.
5) I had a Sapphire x1800XT 256 MB card, and it was a decent card, but it definitely does not have the power of a single X1900XTX (13,000 in 03) or 7900GTX (12,500 in 05). Add SLI or Crossfire, and it falls way back (16K plus in 05). And, the system is paired with a 24 inch LCD which works the cards decently hard (1920x1200). Next up, a 30 inch which will really work the cards ;)
6) As for the money, well, it's a hobby. I have some friends that put down $2,000 on a single lens for their digital SLR cameras. So, seems not too bad when all things are considered. I guess it's all where you spend it. Heck, this past year I have owned systems with 7800 GTX SLI, 7800 GTX 512 SLI, X1800XT, X1900XTX, 7900 GTX SLI, 7900 GTX SC SLI and now 7950GX2. Yes, easily considered a waste of cash, but you certainly learn a little about each of the cards. It's all fun :)
by BigD6997 (August 31st - 2:05 AM) - Reply
by: HeavyH20
I have some friends that put down $2,000 on a single lens for their digital SLR cameras. So, seems not too bad when all things are considered. I guess it's all where you spend it.


ha yeah i guess if i wasnt into photography as well id put more into my computer... actually photography is much more expensive! yeah i want one of those 2grand lenses :D

great case and great computer!
by WeZaL (November 1st - 5:28 PM) - Reply
Defintly one the best, if not the best, machine on here.
by InfDamarvel (November 1st - 5:35 PM) - Reply
Get a Nice E6600 over there and o/c that baby to like 3.4 or 3.6 and your scores will sore.
by DaMulta (November 1st - 5:38 PM) - Reply
A perfect 10
by vivanco (November 1st - 8:43 PM) - Reply
really cool looking, 10 from me...
by Protius (November 1st - 9:27 PM) - Reply
amazing, 10
by PVTCaboose1337 (November 1st - 10:45 PM) - Reply
It is the machine everyone wants, but with water, a 10 or course.
by magibeg (November 1st - 11:59 PM) - Reply
You said your going to give a computer to your nephew right? Can i join your family :D. Also since you've tried a variety of video cards would you say theres any noticable quality difference between ati and nvidia in terms of game appearance?
by i_am_mustang_man (November 2nd - 12:19 AM) - Reply
you should 3d05 or 06 @ 2560x1600 because i want to see how it does! i get 6100~ with everyone on highest quality on 3D05 @ 16*12 w/ 4xAA 16xAF. i bet you might be able to beat that even @ 2560!
by HeavyH20 (November 4th - 8:59 PM) - Reply
by: i_am_mustang_man
you should 3d05 or 06 @ 2560x1600 because i want to see how it does! i get 6100~ with everyone on highest quality on 3D05 @ 16*12 w/ 4xAA 16xAF. i bet you might be able to beat that even @ 2560!
Thanks for all the kind words, guys. Right now, I have a new build under way so the 7950 GX2s now have another owner. Soon to be completed - x6800, 680i, 8800 GTX SLI, 2 GB DDR2 1000, and about 70 amps of 12V power to support it all. This time around, I will do some tec boosted water cooling. :)

As for 1600 x 1200, 4x AA, 16x AF, HQ, 3Dmark06 was actually a tick over 9000 in quad mode. With a single 7950 the system score 9800 at default 06 run (card clocks at 680/1600).

As for the nephews, I get them each a PC every couple of years. Their PC's move down to their parents who need nothing more than a web browser.
by Azn Tr14dZ (November 4th - 10:13 PM) - Reply
Are you rich?
by HeavyH20 (November 4th - 10:41 PM) - Reply
Not rich, just older. University was 15 year ago, for me. No student loans, no car payments, no debt other than a mortgage means I have a little extra left over to buy some toys. ;)

As for the video cards, the gap between ATI and NVIDIA has narrowed with each subsequent evolution of the respective cards. This time around, angle independent AF is on the plate for NVIDIA (read no shimmering). Add to that AA + HDR, and the offerings from each vendor become more alike than different. Personally, I stick with NVIDIA since I can edit the BIOS. ATI has the voltage adjustments via the BIOS, but I understand that will go away with the advent of the R600. Bottom line, there is no wrong choice, just a different one.
by ATIonion (November 4th - 11:37 PM) - Reply
by: HeavyH20
Not rich, just older. University was 15 year ago, for me. No student loans, no car payments, no debt other than a mortgage means I have a little extra left over to buy some toys. ;)

As for the video cards, the gap between ATI and NVIDIA has narrowed with each subsequent evolution of the respective cards. This time around, angle independent AF is on the plate for NVIDIA (read no shimmering). Add to that AA + HDR, and the offerings from each vendor become more alike than different. Personally, I stick with NVIDIA since I can edit the BIOS. ATI has the voltage adjustments via the BIOS, but I understand that will go away with the advent of the R600. Bottom line, there is no wrong choice, just a different one.
damn man ....well said
by thekid (December 3rd - 2:05 PM) - Reply | Edit
wtf thats crazy jus like ur other pc's..i whish i had money likethat...10 for me
by robert_14 (December 8th - 11:19 AM) - Reply
dam that things fine.......
by xnox202 (December 12th - 12:11 PM) - Reply
One of my favourites! 10/10
by JUDAS3 (January 7th - 6:31 AM) - Reply
that is bloody lovely m8 - well done.

I love the colour of the interior, its pukka.
by tkpenalty (April 25th - 3:50 AM) - Reply
Holy shit seriously
by JUDAS3 (April 25th - 11:55 AM) - Reply
by: tkpenalty
Holy shit seriously
explain please.............?
by WarEagleAU (April 25th - 12:52 PM) - Reply
he means this system is frikkin awesome. :)
by Gam'ster (April 25th - 1:01 PM) - Reply
Mother of god !!!! , a 10 from me very very nice and soooo clean :), Nice work dude
by JUDAS3 (April 25th - 3:16 PM) - Reply
by: WarEagleAU
he means this system is frikkin awesome. :)
THX M8.
by ktr (April 25th - 3:22 PM) - Reply
by: Azn Tr14dZ
Are you rich?
Also, computers is a cheap hobby when comparing it cars, in where people dump $20k-80k...
by D007 (April 25th - 3:33 PM) - Reply
by: WeZaL
Defintly one the best, if not the best, machine on here.


yea.. it's the best..

I hate you...lol.. im kiddin im kiddin.. maybe...lol.. awsome system though man.. love the look and the performance.

fyi.. if you have 4 grand to spend at the drop of a hat.. your rich..lol.. who cares? lol.. the point is.. awsome system... definitely the 10 I was waiting to give..
by S^line (May 2nd - 2:54 PM) - Reply
NICEEEEE. I think it would look even better w/ some LED fans. But i have one question, and I hope this isn't considered rude, but how much did that cost?
by zCexVe (May 4th - 11:34 AM) - Reply
Wow amazing clean and cool.I will give u 10.There are many much nicer ones but this appeals good.BTW I use the same mobo too. :)
by DaMulta (May 18th - 2:28 PM) - Reply
HeavyH20 is number 9 on 3DMark06 Users Top 20.
by R^ven (August 8th - 6:02 AM) - Reply
sweet machine!
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