| Build Date: 1/5/2007 Build Cost: $1000 after all rebates/tax/shipping (system only, no peripherals) This build was initially for me, but since it wasn't much faster than my current rig, I decided to give it to my mom, as she was due for an upgrade. She was tired of her Lian-Li PC-60 (which I got for $30 brand new, btw), and wanted to go back to a Full tower, with USB ports on top. She didn't like the blue LED's on my P160, so I got her the Cooler Master Stacker STC-T01-UW1, Silver (which I got from CompUSA liquidation sale for $85, btw). I also picked up the window for it, as it was only $15. |
Front Angle View |
7600GT and Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B |
Side View (Window) |
| The first pic is the finished build. The section where the 3 faceplates look a bit bright is where the 4-in-1 drive cage with 120mm intake fan is sitting. I didn't feel like hiding every single cable, I just wanted it to look cleaner than normal. I also used SATA optical drives, to help with cabling. The pic on the right is of the 7600GT. I test all my builds outside of the case, first, on my desk. This is to ensure everything is working properly. The Tuniq Tower was used first, but I didn't like how heavy it was, even with a backplate. The Scythe mounting bracket needed modding before it would fit on the DS3. See below for the pics on the mod. |
Tuniq Tower 120 preliminary Test Run |
Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B preliminary Test Run |
:: Specs ::
|
CPU/HSF: |
Intel Core2Duo E6400, 2.13Ghz, 2MB L2 Cache, 1066Mhz FSB Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B 120mm Silent Tower overclocked to (8x333Mhz) 2.66Ghz @ 1.325v (stock vCore) |
Motherboard: |
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 - Intel P965 Express / ICH8 - Socket-T ( LGA775) - pci slots: 3 - pci-e 1x slots: 3 - pci-e 16x slot(s): 1 - sata ports: 6 (4x ICH8/2x Gigabyte SATA) - onboard Audio: 7.1ch HD Audio, Realtek ALC883 - onboard LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps, Marvell 88E8053 - usb 2.0 ports: 6 (3x internal headers) / 4 (on-board) -- 10 ports total - ram dimms: 4x 240-pin DDR2-533/667/800+, dual channel supported, 8GB max - PS/2 (x2), LAN port, COM port, LPT port, S/PDIF Out (optical/coaxial), 6 audio ports - ATX form factor, 12" x 8.3", 24-pin ATX Power, passive chipset cooling for both NB and SB |
RAM: |
G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800, PC2-6400, CL5, 1.8v-2.0v, F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ w/ Red Heatspreaders Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800, PC2-6400, CL4, 2.2v, BL2KIT12864AA1005 |
Graphics: |
BFG GeForce 7600GT, BFGR76256GTOCE, 256MB 128-bit, 580Mz Core, 1450Mhz Memory |
Audio: |
onboard 7.1ch HD Audio, Realtek ALC883 |
Hard Drives: |
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200RPM SATA300 16MB Cache PRT Western Digital Caviar SE WD2000JS 200GB 7200RPM SATA300 8MB Cache |
Optical Drives: |
Lite-On 52x/16x Combo drive 1.5MB Cache SATA SHC-52S7K-05 Lite-On 16x/48x DVD±RW/CD-RW 2MB Cache SATA SH-16A7S-05 |
Case/PSU/UPS: |
Cooler Master CM Stacker STC-T01-UW Black/Silver Aluminum Full ATX Tower w/ window Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500, 500W, +3.3V@32A +5V@35A +12V1@17A +12V2@19A +5V, +3.3V combined max output: 180W, Modular PSU w/ smart fans APC Back-UPS XS 800VA/540W, BX800BLK w/ AVR, 4x battery backup, 3x surge protection only |
:: Peripherals :: |
Monitor: |
Dell 2001fp 20.1" Flat Panel LCD, running 1600x1200 @ 60Hz, DVI 400:1 Contrast, 250 cd/m² Brightness, ± 88° H/V Viewing Angles, Analog + DVI + S-Video + Composite, 4-Port USB Hub, 1600x1200 Native Resolution |
Input Devices: |
Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 Natural Keyboard usb Microsoft Trackball Explorer (big ball) 1.0 ps2/usb |
Speakers: |
Altec Lansing 221 3pc 2.1ch 30W RMS speakers |
Printers: |
HP Laserjet 4 Plus Monochrome laser printer Epson Stylus Photo R1800, 8-color UltraChrome inkset (inkjet), CD Printable, 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi, 13" x 44" max printable area |
Scanners: |
Epson Perfection 4490 PHOTO scanner, Flatbed w/ Digital Ice, 4800 dpi, 48-bit color, CCFL, USB2.0, MatrixCCD line sensor Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite II AF2920, Film/Slide Scanner, 35mm/APS film, 2820 dpi, 16-bit, Digital Ice, Firewire and USB1.1 |
External Storage: |
Sandisk Cruzer Micro 2GB w/ retractable USB2.0 plug Toshiba 40GB MK4032GSX SATA150 5400RPM enclosed in a... Vantec NexStar 3 2.5" HDD Enclosure, eSATA/USB 2.0 Interface w/ carrying case |
:: Overclocking Results :: |
1st OC: |
RAM used: G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 PC2-6400 CL5 1.8v-2.0v F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ Coolers used: both Tuniq and Scythe CPU Multiplier: 8x base FSB speed: 400Mhz DRAM timings: 5-5-5-15 @ 1.8v resulting OC: 3.2Ghz (8 * 400), 1600Mhz FSB (4*400), DDR2-800 (2*400) temps: Scythe: 28°C idle, 49°C load, 22°C Ambient room temp Tuniq: 30°C idle, 50°C load, 22°C Ambient room temp |
2nd OC: |
RAM used: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800, PC2-6400, CL4, 2.2v, BL2KIT12864AA10005 Coolers used: just the Scythe, didn't have time to switch in the Tuniq CPU Multiplier: 8x base FSB speed: 450Mhz DRAM timings: 4-5-4-13 @ 2.2v resulting OC: 3.6Ghz (8 * 450), 1800Mhz FSB (4*450), DDR2-900 (2*450) temps: Scythe: 35 °C idle, 56 °C load, 22°C Ambient room temp Tuniq: did not test |
Super Pi 1M: |
2.13Ghz: 26.016s, 8A45B829 2.66Ghz: 21.921s, 870F832F 3.20Ghz: 18.375s, D1736C0B 3.46Ghz: 17.250s, no ss =( 3.50Ghz: 17.078s, B5A346B6 3.60Ghz: 16.563s, 9F1D5BD5 3.73Ghz: 16.015s, D3084A20 3.80Ghz: crashed on 8th Loop |
Highest OC: |
RAM used: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800, PC2-6400, CL4, 2.2v, BL2KIT12864AA10005 CPU Multiplier: 8x base FSB speed: 475Mhz DRAM timings: 5-5-5-15 @ 2.2v resulting OC: 3.8Ghz (8 * 475), 1900Mhz FSB (4*475), DDR2-950 (2*475) temps with Scythe: 41 °C idle, ?? °C load, 22°C Ambient room temp NOT Orthos Stable!!! |
| Overclocking was fairly easy on this setup. First boot with the original G.Skill RAM was smooth. Second boot was at 8*3200=3.2Ghz. Orthos failed after
a few minutes, so I increased the voltage from 1.325v (stock) to 1.33125v. OC was orthos stable for 35+ hours (blend test). I was able to OC the G.Skills to 430Mhz, but with very loose timings. When the Ballistix came in, I reached 3.8Ghz, but was not Orthos stable. I couldn't find a stable setting for 3.7Ghz either. So I gave up because of time constraints. I ended the night at 3.6Ghz, with some weird timings because I was too lazy to change them, lol. Orthos ran for over 26 hours on blend test, after I did the 9.5 hour Small FFTs test for the HardForum OC Database requirements. I think I could have gotten the 3.8Ghz OC stable if I had more time to play with it. I would have liked to update the BIOS and increased the chipset voltage. The NB Heatsink gets HOT when overclocking -- hot to the touch, it burns, lol. I had my Thermalright HR-05-SLI on the northbridge, but I needed it for my Ultra-D board instead, lol. So, I stuck a 40mm fan I had layin around onto the stock NB HS instead. I have an HR-05 non-SLI version coming soon, so I'll install that onto the DS3 once it comes in. |
Look how close the fan on the Ninja gets to the RAM |
First OC attempt: 3.2Ghz... with ease! |
Got some new RAM... Ballistix FTW! |
3.6Ghz was rather easy, too. |
Orthos (Small FFTs) Stable for 9.5 hours. I actually let the test run for another 12 hours after this. |
| Modding the Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B mounting bracket was rather simple. I used a dremel. I cant find the overhead pic of the bracket clearing the caps after I finished cutting it. =( |
Overhead view of where the capacitors interfere. The red line is where I will be cutting. |
The result of the dremel cutting. As you can see, its now a straight edge instead of a curve. |
The cut is along the big arrow. The bracket is not touching the caps. |
Mounted and ready for testing. Wow, that thing is HUGE!!! |