New build

[ajones]

Just an update.

Everything has arrived bar the graphics card.

P50 case:
OK case. A bit on the light side but as long as you don't drop kick it down the stairs I'm sure it'll be fine. Not too bad to work with but.... My Holy Grail of builds is the small form factor system under water.

Trying something different this time using AIO coolers (240 and 120) and given that this case is "supposed" to support 2x 240 rads (one in front, one in top) I thought it ideal. Well, maybe it would if you removed the optical drive bay, but with it in there you cannot fit a 240 in the front (snug fit for 2x120 fans... no chance the extra length of a rad will fit).

A similar story up top. A rad fits this time, but.... with the optical drive installed you can't fit both fans to the radiator, and I'm a little concerned with the tubing as the HDD cage doesn't leave much room and since it's riveted in, I can't remove it easily. Going to have to try to get some anti-crink on there.

Sound proofing is non-existent. Going to have to fit some, especially since I'm gonna need to develop positive pressure in the case with only 1 fan on that 240 rad.

All in all.... OK case, but almost sent it back as I want the optical drive installed.

CPU: enough said.

H100i: easy install (can't blame Corsair for the case issues), bit noisy at boot up. Only issue is that the Corsair link cable uses up an entire USB header, even though it only needs one USB.

HX750i: Again, easy install, but even though the Corsair link cable is now just for a single USB (i.e. the half header variety), there are no spare headers left. Whilst the H100i has a USB port on it, I can't find any supplied cable to daisy chain the H100i to the HX750i. Shame that.

MoBo: Still getting used to UEFI (slap BIOS after that if you want too... not going to get into that arguament). Needed the F5 BIOS for it to recognise the SM951, but once upgraded it was simples.

SM951: Not had a chance to test the actual speed, but now that Win8.1 Pro is installed, it feels like it takes as long to POST as it does to land me on Desktop.

Still to do: Configure ISRT and bring up the HDD+Cache sub system. Install graphics card (eta end of the month). Tidy up the cabling... bit of a mess atm. Soundproofing.

Off to Heathrow at 5AM so no more tinkering time until next weekend.

[KeyboardDemon]

I thought ISRT had a 32GB limit, also, if it were my PC I'd scrap the optical drive and get an external USB optical drive instead. Still, sounds like an awesome build. Can't wait to see the pictures.

[ajones]

I thought ISRT had a 32GB limit,

No, 64GB.

also, if it were my PC I'd scrap the optical drive and get an external USB optical drive instead. Still, sounds like an awesome build. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Call me a bluff old traditionalist, but I want the optical. If this wasn't a requirement I'd have gone for the Corsair Airflow 240 which doesn't have a mount. I learnt a long time ago that you never get everything you want. Came close with the Stacker, but that because it's so big (ooer missus). Still took 2 Dremels (yes, two... tough old bugger that case) to shoe horn the radiators into it!

[ajones]

Think I've figured out how to connect the Corsair links up. Will connect both header cables (from H100i and HX750i) to the same header and loose the sheath drain on the HX100i cable. i.e. connect the wired part of the "H100i full header" (only wired for 1 USB but into a full header block) upto the 4-pin side of the MoBo header. That'll leave the 5-pin side free for the "HX750i half header".

Has anyone got any feedback on soundproofing sheets? I've used AcoustiPack before (both the 2 layer 4mm and 3 layer 7mm varieties), and see that you can now get 3 layer 12 mm sheets.

Wondering whether some liberal deployment of the 12 mm stuff and 4x80mm silent fans will do the trick.

[ajones]

Just a quick update.

Cabling all wrapped up.

Graphics card arrives tomorrow

Finally got the M2.SSD configured with GPT. What a kerfuffle that was! Ended up using Rufus to build a GPT bootable Win8.1 USB stick, since the Win7 tool configures it as MBR. I only assume that meant the system would only boot in legacy mode, and thus Win 8.1 configured the SSD as MBR as well. So 3rd times the charm and Windows now booting into Win8.1 full UEFI config.

This now means that ISRT is recognising the SSD, so once I've replumbed the HDD, I should (fingers crossed) be able to accelerate the HDD. With the HDD partitioned as GPT but the SSD as MBR, I couldn't get this working.

Almost given up with Corsair link. Have got the PSU configured, but the H100i isn't recognised as a USB device. Looks like I have to update the firmware, but to be honest from what I saw it just looks like pretty graphics chewing up system resources.

Still to slap in the soundproofing, but will probably order a load of quiet fans at the same time.

So the to-do list is;

1) graphics card (tomorrow)
2) iSRT (tomorrow)
3) soundproofing

[ajones]

For what they're worth:
Now with added Fury....

PCMark 8 Basic Edition: 3809
3D Mark Basic Edition:
Fire Strike 1.1: 11878 (15705/7434/6152)
Sky Diver 1.0: 25146 (45374/7846/17339)
Cloud Gate 1.1: 19316 (88112/5175)
Ice Storm 1.2: 156655 (316409/56613)

[dfour]

The most important thing is are you happy with it??

[ajones]

The most important thing is are you happy with it??

Performance wise; Yes

I'm running with 25x14 and 16x12 monitors. With World of Tanks windowed in the 25x14 screen I'm 70-100 fps with maximum eye candy.

Noise wise; No

However, the case sucks. OK, it's a warm day, but it was a mistake trying to shoe horn these components into such a small case. The system is basically way too noisy trying to keep things cool. I've only got an option of changing to quieter fans (which isn't going to help cooling) and adding 80mm fans (which aren't particularly reknown for their airflow).

Frame rate control on the Fury doesn't seem to make a difference. the fps indicator in WoT never goes below 70 (tried setting it to 60)! Maybe it's the way it counts fps.

I don't think blowing 100 quid on new fans and sound proofing are going to make a difference. So that leaves changing the case.

[dfour]

Is a bigger case a problem then bar having to spend more money??

[Chugz]

Does it absolutely have to be a SFF case, or would a bigger one be OK? I love the look of the NZXT LEXA S, but that might be too big for you.

[ajones]

The form factor isn't critical. I would have liked a small case, but don't want to compromise the build because of it.

Will have a shufty at cases today

[Chugz]

If you've got the room the NZXT Phantom offers massive air capacity and cooling potential (with some case mods of course).

[dfour]

Still small for factor

Corsair Carbide Series Air 240 High Airflow PC Case

also

Fractal Design Node 804 Micro-ATX Case

No optical drive bay though.

Lian Li PC-V359WRX Micro-ATX Case

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv Micro ATX Case

[ajones]

Removed the rad from the case this evening and temps much better. Fan never maxed out (GPU hit 67 ° last night). All was nice and cool expect for the toasty exhaust blowing from the rad onto me left hand!

1. Cooler evening so difficult to compare with yesterday
2. Case restricting air flow
3. Within the tight confines of the case, the water pipe was kinked restricting water flow?

May as well go large on the case. This is replacing the Stacker so space ain't a problem Toying with the 450D.

[Obie]

Removed the rad from the case this evening and temps much better. Fan never maxed out (GPU hit 67 ° last night). All was nice and cool expect for the toasty exhaust blowing from the rad onto me left hand!

1. Cooler evening so difficult to compare with yesterday
2. Case restricting air flow
3. Within the tight confines of the case, the water pipe was kinked restricting water flow?

May as well go large on the case. This is replacing the Stacker so space ain't a problem Toying with the 450D.

My friend just ordered himself the 450D, looks super sweet. Otherwise I was going to say the Fractal Define R5/mini cases are held in high regard and have excellent acoustics.

[ajones]

From the sublime to the ridiculous. Just ordered a 500R!

Similar vitals to my Stacker.