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View Full Version : [Project] The Last PC!

Jan Kyster
09-08-10, 08:37 AM
I saw this desktop case when it was released and I knew that would be the one:

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L001.jpg

But it "never" showed up in Denmark.
Pestered my favorite dealers for it and even the Silverstone HQ, but it wasn't until some months ago I incidentally stumbled upon it.
Used it temporary for the "old" system, but that was transferred to another case for watercooling, and now the new pieces have finally found it's way into this case...

Here's what I did and how it turned up...


There are two bays for drives in the case, but the build will only have room for one. The graphic card's too big to fit otherwise http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/rolleyes.gif
The drive bay will have a 8cm fan and the graphic card will have a 12cm fan. Hole's too small - first modding was to cut a larger hole:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L002.jpg

Why do Silverstone "ruin" such a beatiful case with such big and very white letters?
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L003.jpg

I masked them, sprayed a light coat of matt paint, polished it and here's the result:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L005.jpg

A first look at the cables to be managed... omitted are the two bunchs coming in from the front (USB/FireWire/buttons/Audio) http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/run4hills.gif
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L006.jpg

Inspired by the Fractal Design case, I decided to try and make a plate for hiding the cables...
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L009.jpg

The two 8cm fans at the back both had some +40cm wirings... cut back and merged into one:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L012.jpg

The sidefan is placed exactly where Asus has placed the ATX powersupply - a tiny cut was needed:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L014.jpg

In place - a tight fit:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L016.jpg

Cables managed and coverplate in place...
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L019.jpg

Fill'er up!
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L021.jpg

Packed:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L022.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L023.jpg

After initial testings, I've found the graphics temps to run between 80 and 90 degree C and have decided to swap the graphic cards fan with this one from Artic Cooling:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L024.jpg

Components used:
Silverstone LC10-E case
Asus P6X58D-E motherboard
Intel Core i7-730 cpu with stock fan
3x2 GB Kingston HR-1800 RAM
Thermal Take 850W powersupply
Sapphire Radeon HD5970 graphics card
2 x 8 cm fan
1 x 12 cm fan

It runs Silent Hunter very, very well :D and after enabling Intel's Quiet scheme it even runs reasonable silent...

And The "Last PC" part?
Yes! No more upgrades for me. This is the last build.
I only use my pc for SH and racing sims like GTR2 and GPL and the system has plenty of overhead for those.
GTR3 is just around the corner, but can't imagine that to not run well too.

Should I one day need some extra juice :shifty: then the cpu can easily be overclocked to outrun even the Core i7-965 Extreme (according to tests) and the graphics card can be overclocked too.
Or I can plug one more 5970 in as the motherboard supports two PCI 16x cards... and even a third as PCI 8x :88)

So no more filling up the forum with projects from here! :rotfl2:
Gerald
09-08-10, 08:44 AM
good work :up:
Konovalov
09-09-10, 09:55 AM
Nice one Jan Kyster. Some nice modding there. :yeah: And I have heard that before about "this will be the last build". It's an addiction. ;) By the way you really get to appreciate just how much of a monster the Radeon HD 5970 is when it is in a case. :o
Jan Kyster
09-10-10, 11:22 AM
Picked up the new fan today - the result:

Cleaning the "old" part:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L031.jpg

Adding new thermopads:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L032.jpg

The bad and the (hopefully) good:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L033.jpg

Sideview:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L034.jpg

Loaded and ready:
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L035.jpg

Been running the thing for ~1 hour now, temp is stable at 39-40 degree in idle.
Fan speed is running between 0 and 1%?? :88)

Tonight I'll take the Silversides up the Korea Strait and we'll see how temps evolve then...


...I have heard that before about "this will be the last build". It's an addiction. ;)I know! Been bying the crap for the past 25 years :D but this time it is really different.
The heaviest load is by far Silent Hunter and even there, there's a major overhead, so I am confident. :shifty:

Only thing that I probably will add to the system is a SSD drive once it's down in price (and reliability?).
Cables are already in place for both power and SATA 6...

Thanks for the kind words!
Jan Kyster
09-10-10, 06:15 PM
4 hours later with Silent Hunter:

gpu max 75 -> cools to 44
cpu max 58 -> 44
MB max 48 -> 43

We're not unhappy, but can't help contemplating water... maybe something on the outside of the building... :hmmm:

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Patrol096.jpg
_
Jan Kyster
09-11-10, 08:04 PM
Just reporting! :D


But back to square one here! Desperately fighting facts... damn you, truth! http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/argue2.gif

There is simply not enough airflow through the case. There are no stability issues, but anything above 75 degree is not acceptable.

New Fractal Design case has been ordered. Again! :har: As a first step, then probably top it up with water cooling. We'll see...


Ahh, the waste! :rotfl2:
Sailor Steve
09-11-10, 10:50 PM
Dang! And that looked so good too! I have never considered a 'flat' case, and you had me interested. I'm looking at building soon, or at least having one built. Thought this one looked kind of cool:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103011
Arclight
09-12-10, 08:37 AM
Just reporting! :D


But back to square one here! Desperately fighting facts... damn you, truth! http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/argue2.gif

There is simply not enough airflow through the case. There are no stability issues, but anything above 75 degree is not acceptable.

New Fractal Design case has been ordered. Again! :har: As a first step, then probably top it up with water cooling. We'll see...


Ahh, the waste! :rotfl2:
It's a dual-GPU card. Those temps are to be expected. :-?

Running 85C is normal for 5970.
Jan Kyster
09-12-10, 09:00 AM
Yeah, 85 degree with standard cooler, but not with the ArcTic cooler: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/ac-accelero-xtreme-5970.html

Alas, the cramped desktop case doesn't allow enough air to pass through it to see the full potential of the cooler...
The scenario was lurking in the back of the head, but ignorance's a bliss at least as long as it lasts... :O:


Now the case Steve shows, that's an entire different matter! Looks very efficient! And a nice pricing! :up:


Once the components have been transferred to new case, I'll show the readings... stand by! :D
Arclight
09-12-10, 09:10 AM
What about using some proper paste, instead of those thermal pads? Never been impressed by those. :hmmm:

Lot cheaper than a new case and whatnot.

...

(sorry) And get a decent cooler for that bloody CPU, seriously. :O:
Jan Kyster
09-12-10, 08:55 PM
What about using some proper paste, instead of those thermal pads? Never been impressed by those. :hmmm:

Lot cheaper than a new case and whatnot.

...

(sorry) And get a decent cooler for that bloody CPU, seriously. :O:Hey! It's a genuine Intel cooler! :smug:

No seriously, that was my initial thought as well.
But it's actually 1½ times larger than the "normal" Intel coolers and as these normally runs very silent, I wanted to give it a try.
It is doing a very fine job.

Until the new case arrives, I've removed the lid of the case and temps are much better now.
Cpu max. 60 and Gpu max 70 degree... even after a couple of hours SH IV.


Also agree on the thermal tape - but once settled in, they too works well.
And they ensures a thermal contact to the heatsink for all components, even the ones that may be a bit "mis-aligned".


Gotta love those weekend-working internet stores! Case should arrive tomorrow! :rock:
Arclight
09-13-10, 04:16 AM
Actually, for a graphics card those pads might be better, yeah. At least to avoid something not making contact. I did replace the pad for the GPU with grease on my 8800; shaved off some 5C in idle, probably more under load.

My point about the Intel cooler is that it creates turbulence. Air is forced down and out in all directions as it is forced out the sink. A good portion of the hot air trying to move towards those exhaust fans will get drawn into the cooler again. If you can get a small tower-design in there, you can have the air move through more cleanly, straight towards exhaust fans.


Anyway, good luck with the new case. :yep:
Jan Kyster
09-15-10, 09:42 PM
:hmmm: - some last night scriblings...

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/CoolingBox.jpg
Jan Kyster
09-17-10, 04:06 PM
What the postman dragged in today... http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/banana_sad.gif


http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L52.jpg


http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L50.jpg


http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L51.jpg
Herr-Berbunch
09-17-10, 04:09 PM
All this money spent on this rig and I think you should get a new keyboard! :hmmm:
Jan Kyster
09-19-10, 02:22 PM
I... shall... never... surrender... http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/smilies/banana_sad.gif

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z15/subject_rod/Desktop/L55.jpg

Ran a series of test, temps idle/load: cpu 32/51, mb 32/34 (!), gpu 37/56
In the open desktop temps were 42/63, 42/55 and gpu 40/68

Next step: water cooling to be added. Will probably post an image or two... :D

All this money spent on this rig and I think you should get a new keyboard! :hmmm:
Best keyboard ever! :rock: Logitech UltraX! :rock:

But a cleaning is way overdue... :oops: