From AMD Dragon++ to Fermi - an evolutionary Build Log

[nomidangerous]

ok.
so after a long time i have decided to start a build log/ unboxing/ review thingy on pg.

its basically a evolution of my exsisting rig in one relatively big step.


currently im running the following:
phenom II x4 965 BE
MSI 790fx gd70 mobo
8 gb ram @ 1600mhz
asus 4870 1gb (downgrade from a pair of 5770s)
cm 690 II plus casing (have modded a hot swap hard disk caddy on top like the advanced version and crudely installed a side window and slots for 3 x120mm fans in the top)
cooler master v10 tec cooler
coolermaster ultimate ucp 700 w psu
kingston V100+ 60 gb ssd, plus 5.5tb harddisks
and a samsung 2232bw lcd.
a pair of uv ccfl, red ccfls, 5 x 120mm red led logisys fans, 2 x 120mm delta fans, lamptron fc-2 fan controller

What???
build an uber multi display gaming rig with a no holes barred cooling system that can play all exsisting games at max settings in a relatively economical fasion.

Why???
Its YOG (the year of the game) - too many good games that need to be enjoyed to the max being released this year
Don't have much of 'free life' remaining

HOW???
here is a list of upgrades i intend to perform (here is where i would really appreciate your valuable comments):
3 x 22" displays for nvidia 2d surround or eyefinity (i have already decided to go for 2d surround) (budget cap approx 49k)
have decided to go with 3 HP x22LED dispays cause they are realtively cheap and perform fairly well

enough gpu horse power to run games at 60+ fps at 5040 x 1050 with max details (budget cap approx 40k)
(have decided to go for a pair of gtx 470 and have already bought one and almost bought another one)

a new psu to power the upgrade plus any future upgradation
im thinking about the corsair tx950 psu available at galaxy for 14k

and last but not least the cooling system
will use my exsisting cpu, chipset watercooling loop. will have to buy new full cover water blocks for the gpu cause the current gpu blocks i have are not compatible with the gtx 470.
plus i will be using a chilled water circuit for cooling my hardware!!!!
chilled water???
its like having ur pc installed in ur fridge. running ur system below ambient temperatures!
will most probably go for a vapour compression cycle (the same as any fridge or ac) but could also go with a TEC chiller unit (like the coolit ones) or a vapour absorbtion cycle.
have done a rough calculation for a vapour compression cycle modelling around a couple of compressors used in water dispensers.

and some case modding:
i would be going for neon yellow/ black colour scheme (much like the colours used in hazzard signs)
the whole interior and ack of the case would be painted neon yellow with slight accents in the front and top panels. remaining items would be black.
have choose yellow because the bright yellow and black would give a nice contrast.
complete mesh top for 3 x 120mm or 3 x140mm fans
4 x hotswapable hard disk bays
completely meshed left side pannel
and ofcourse aftermarket cable sleeving to match the theme



and first a little unboxing!
the first EVGA 1.28gb gtx 470


the battered evga box. Evga, BFG, diamond and PNY all use the same packing scheme; a thin outside carboard box with an inside plastic shell packing for the gpu. although the plastic shell keeps the goods inside secure, but you have unnerving feeling when you see the box in this shape. packing used by XFX and HIS is much much better as they use a very rigid cardboard inside box to protect the goodies inside which in turn keeps the outside box relatively undamaged during handling.


everything is fine though.
and a big EVGA bumper sticker in the accessories!!! (im a real sucker for these type of guddies; case badges, wall stickers, XFX im gaming door knob tags).
along with vga to dvi adapter 2 x 6 pin power adapter, drivers cd, instruction manual and a caution note (this is the sort of colour scheme im planning on; bright neon yellow with black)


next to a 4870x2

taken from my 1.3mp q3i

[The Avenger]

well for 2d surround at that res - 2 gpu are not going to cut it at all , specially 470 , it might work but u have to dial down the setings etc . also psu is good enough , though note that the 950watt corsair is the low version model not the original ones - hence the price is cheaper , i would recommend antec / or thermaltake , modular ones specially 859watt thermaltake is a good and decent option / or contact yasir bhai if he has 1000watt xigmatc , price is good enough.

franly i have tried 2d surround , its fun yes , but spending that much cash on 3 lcd .emmm , why not get a 32 inch or even 40 inch 1080p lcd , u can hook ur pc via hdmi and play games on that - i do the same with my lcd ...........42 inch of lcd bliss ..
as native res is 1080p its smooth no issues.

i would say if u can get ur hands on used 570 or a pair of used 480 then that to is a decent option ...but in 50k as u mentioned add another 10k and get dual 6950 oc to 6970 or ultimate performance.


psu = thermaltake or antec 850watt or 1000watt xigmatic
gpu = dual 480 sli in used = 60k
lcd = 40 inch = 58000 or 32 inch lcd = 37000

[nomidangerous]

well for 2d surround at that res - 2 gpu are not going to cut it at all , specially 470 , it might work but u have to dial down the setings etc . i would say if u can get ur hands on used 570 or a pair of used 480 then that to is a decent option ...but in 50k as u mentioned add another 10k and get dual 6950 oc to 6970 or ultimate performance.

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=947
a pair of gtx 470 run fine, keeping in view that the gpu are running at stock and when overclocked 15 to 20% performance gain can be acheived (and yes my cpu is much crappier but that wont impact that much than gpu performance at higher resolutions) with the exception of metro 2033 (even 2 gtx 480 is brough drown to its knees).
2 x 480/ 570 or 6950 would cost me more than 60k where as 2 x gtx 470 are for about 40k. so thats quite a bit more expensive

also psu is good enough , though note that the 950watt corsair is the low version model not the original ones - hence the price is cheaper , i would recommend antec / or thermaltake , modular ones specially 859watt thermaltake is a good and decent option / or contact yasir bhai if he has 1000watt xigmatc , price is good enough.

the v2 is made by seasonic instead of CWT; the same OEM for Antec and some thermaltake psu. i also read the article in which the review pointed out how inferior the v2 unit is but i can't find any bad review about it. even johnny guru (which conducts the most through psu reviews out there) gave it a very positive score.
was looking for the xigmatec psu but unfortunately its out of stock.

franly i have tried 2d surround , its fun yes , but spending that much cash on 3 lcd .emmm , why not get a 32 inch or even 40 inch 1080p lcd , u can hook ur pc via hdmi and play games on that - i do the same with my lcd ...........42 inch of lcd bliss ..
as native res is 1080p its smooth no issues.

getting a bigger lcd just makes everything .... big. where as 2d surround increase peripheral vision in games like switching from a 4:3 aspect ratio monitor to 16:9. plus i usually multi task; watching a movie while at the same time working or browsing etc (although two monitors are enough for it). a couple of years ago i played colin mcrae rally in a car simulator at goodwood festival with screens in the front, side back, terrain mapped suspenion of the mock car etc and fell in love with it and i said this is how video games should be.

[The Avenger]

chalo go for it then , do let me know how it works out , as i allready have 2 - 24 inch lcd , will add another for eye finity but i need an active display port switch box or a lcd with display port to use 3 lcd , anyway good luck with the setup........

[nomidangerous]

thanks.
the active display port (because of the additional const of a new dp adapter is fairly high and lack of availibility here) is a big let down when considering eyefinity