GTX260 + Q6600 overheating issues?

[Webby]

If you want to test your memory then use memtest (download here http://www.memtest.org/) just burn it to a cd and boot to it let it run a couple of times (personally I would leave it 5 going to take about 4 hours mind...) if you have any errors they should show up.

[philpem]

Inaccessible boot device means you've turned AHCI on in the BIOS. If you wanna turn it on without reinstalling set msahci.sys to load on start up and then it will be fine.

If AHCI is turned on, it was turned on to start with... I haven't touched the BIOS since late last night when I set the RAM back to DDR800.

What's odd is that it refused to boot while the USB card reader was plugged in. I booted off the install CD to do a repair, and Setup whined about not being able to write to the card reader. Rebooted into Windows, and it worked... now it doesn't seem to care if the card reader is plugged in or not.

I'm chalking this one up to "Windows Weirdness" and taking a drive image in case it happens again...

If you want to test your memory then use memtest (download here http://www.memtest.org/) just burn it to a cd and boot to it let it run a couple of times (personally I would leave it 5 going to take about 4 hours mind...) if you have any errors they should show up.

Hmm, I think that's going to have to go on the to-do list for tomorrow, once the new case is in place. I don't think any tests are going to be particularly conclusive with a cable-tied 120mm fan keeping the CPU/RAM cool -- I'd rather wait until the 300 is in place and do the tests with its own cooling.

Speaking of which, said case is due to turn up tomorrow. Fingers crossed...

[Pob255]

The zalman CNPS9500AT is a nice cooler but not the greatest (although I still love the way they look ) the fan they use is a little small and they are far from cheap, however it's still a big step up from the stock cooler

You've not said what case you have but I'm guessing an older one from only 2x80mm fan slots, that 300 will be a nice case for you, and it's not that big, pritty much inline with current midATX cases, they a a couple of cm bigger in all directions, the main differnce you'll probably notice is the extra width, going from 44cm long to 46cm long is not very noticeable, but going from 18cm wide to 20cm wide is. (The extra width is needed for the larger 120mm rear fan.)

One thing you might want to consider is changeing the direction of you zalman cooler, pointing it upwards can work well is a case like the 300, so it's feeding hot air up into the larger 140mm top fan. although if you don't want the fuss of repositioning your cpu cooler I'd fully understand.

You can buy extra fans if needed for spot cooling/directing air flow, however haveing more fans sucking the hot air out is generally better than blowing it in. esp on cases with a large amount of air vents/area.

I don't want to get deeply much into that and confuse you.
However you seem to of already grapsed the idea of the air flow design for this case, by useing a mesh front antec have basically turned the front of the 300 into one big air vent, so as the rear and top fan such hot air out, cool air is drawn in through the front by the reduced pressure inside the case.
To keep this air flow focused they've not put any additional air vents on the sides (except the 120mm fan vent, which I'll come too)
Now there are mounting points for 3 additional 120mm fans, 2 at the front and one of the side pannel, which should (if you get additional fans) be mounted as intakes, these should be used to ballance the air flow (ie don't use very high air flow fans on these and put in more air than is being sucked out) and for "spot" cooling (increaseing and focusing the air flow over hot components)
The side pannel 120mm fan is a good example here, that vent is designed so you can mount a 120mm fan to blow air in over the graphics card.
Although if you're feeling semi adventrous then you could make an air duct out of cardboard to lead that air stright into the graphics card fan (semi because it would be far from perminate)

[philpem]

It's done!

Temps are down to 32/26/32/26 idle on the CPU, 42C GPU core and 36C GPU ambient. It's been a long while since I've seen a CPU running that cool...

I've only got one criticism about the case - the front-panel headphone jack. Every time I plug my headphones in, it pushes into the back of the case! I've just had to fish it out with a pair of pliers and refit it, and it's done it again as soon as I plugged the headphones in!

Shame the whole jack assembly is sealed, otherwise I'd open it up and put something behind the jack to stop this silliness...

[Webby]

Glad it meets with your approval shame about the headphone jack not sure what to suggest for that one...

[philpem]

Glad it meets with your approval shame about the headphone jack not sure what to suggest for that one...

I think there are two options -- solder a pin to the front of the jack to stop it pushing in, or attack the seams on the connector box with a Stanley knife and put something inside (probably a small nylon screw) to stop the jack from getting pushed in.

[richieuk]

You know what? I'm really glad to see it worked out first time

Happy for you mate

[philpem]

You know what? I'm really glad to see it worked out first time

Happy for you mate

99% works. The front panel jacks are toast. I just tried to push the connector in again, and it jammed. Pulled the jack out and it took the connector with it...

Anyone got the number for Antec spares?

[moogle]

99% works. The front panel jacks are toast. I just tried to push the connector in again, and it jammed. Pulled the jack out and it took the connector with it...

Anyone got the number for Antec spares?

You could email Antec I'm sure they'd help you out. Another user broke his front USB ports on his P18x case and they shipped him out replacement ports for free iirc.

[philpem]

You could email Antec I'm sure they'd help you out. Another user broke his front USB ports on his P18x case and they shipped him out replacement ports for free iirc.

Just put a "spare parts request" in through the UK site. Cheers for the hint.

Looks easy to replace though, two screws hold the plastic box to the case, and there's a grounding tag that goes off to one side and is held on by another screw.

If worst comes to worst, I'm sure I can get hold of a couple of suitable jack sockets - the hard part being finding the ones with the separate jack-sense switch that Azalia / HD Audio kit (like the sound card that came with my motherboard) demands... Blasted Intel, always making things difficult

EDIT: Antec have agreed to send out a new front panel jack assembly for my 300. Those guys are fast...

[moogle]

EDIT: Antec have agreed to send out a new front panel jack assembly for my 300. Those guys are fast...

See

Thats another reason why I chose them

Glad it's all worked out for you. I have a feeling you might receive it on Mon or Tues

[philpem]

See

Thats another reason why I chose them

It's nice to know their reputation is well deserved. I've got an EarthWatts 430W PSU in my PVR that seems to be pretty decently built too - certainly better than the light-as-a-feather "550W" piece of junk I pulled out of it.

Glad it's all worked out for you. I have a feeling you might receive it on Mon or Tues

Hopefully the latter rather than the former, at least then I might be there to sign for it...

Anyway, enough chat, time for games...

*starts whistling "Still Alive" (Portal closing theme) *

[philpem]

Well, for anyone that cares..

The replacement jack assembly turned up this morning. Three screws and a few minor lacerations later, and it's in. The jacks on this one feel a good bit more solid as well, which is nice.

Major thanks to Antec for sorting out the spare part so quickly.
Curses to Royal Mail for holding it in Customs for three days (according to the dates on the stickers)...