Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I started building a new computer for myself a couple days ago. We've been super busy with the holiday and appointments and my "building shelves in the garage" project and stuff, so I've only gotten to beat on this thing for an hour here, an hour there.

At this point, I've jammed most of the components in her. Some of the brothers here were a big help picking out components, my shopping list is right here.
Basically, it's a six core AMD, 9.8TB, 16GB RAM, dual PSU monster in the sweetest full tower aluminum chassis I've ever seen. If I can't take over the world with this rig, it can't be taken over. Period.

Right now I'm daisy-chaining the two Corsair 650 watt PSU's together. The tower is too high to use a splice kit that's offered around the net, so I'm doing it by hand, soldering and heat shrinking all my wires. As soon as that's done, I can plug stuff together and see if she'll post.
If she does, then I'll spend hours managing the wires and making them look like something.

I had to take one of the 290mm fans out so the case would accept the second psu, which I'm not happy about, but it was overkill anyways. I may look at modding the case to get it back in there.

Anyways, here's a lousy pic of where I'm at right now. I'll post some decent ones when I get done-ish. :tu

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/a6744d74.jpg

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

My wiring job worked, and admittedly, I was shocked. I just guessed at how to tie the two psu's together based on a picture of a jumper cable I saw online.
I'm trying to load an operating system on what might be a flaky hard drive right now. I guessed it wasn't really flaky because I found it's sata cable was broke.
Enough blah, I was just checking in and taking a break before I went nuts.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Ha ha. This is gonna be awesome! :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Now thats a puter! What are you going to use it for? Engineering? Model simulations?

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Thats a lot of wires

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

The same thing I do every day, Pinky. :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Post on CA

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Exactly. :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I'm not sure why a man needs 6 hdds, but I'll never question him about it.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

If you're serving media to the whole house, storing video, music, pics, etc, it takes no time at all to load up 10TB. This bluray thing makes it even worse.
What is probably the biggest space waster is having the movies, then the divx files (so you can get lots of movies on a single dvd), then the same movie in mp4 format for ipods and the like.
So there's a real simple, everyday reason why a guy would use 6 hdd's. There's lots of others, such as editing large raw hdr files, any kind of video production at all, blah, blah, blah.
I can probably tell you I was a lot happier with a newpaper, cup of coffee, and a cigarette. Times change, though. :sh

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Don't forget room for the huge a.. coolent driven graphics card for gaming.
Looks great though. Does it glow?

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

:r:r:r

Now that is funny... I feel your pain brother!!

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Nope. I'm too old for blue lights and OC'ing anymore. I certainly don't have time for COD anymore, either. That's good though, I'd rather build stuff in the shop and get hurt and things like that. It's way more fun. :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

That post is a total win!:r

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

It's giving me a headache installing my OS. Halts after loading files and giving me the starting up message. I'm tired and ready to hit the sack soon. I've tried lots of options insisting it can't possibly be a bad install disc, but that may be the case. I have a few onboard video bios options I can still try, but it ain't going anywhere. I'll get her tomorrow. :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

make sure you have the latest bios flashed to your mainboard and try stripping it to the bare essentials and install the os then add all the other drives and cards and such.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

also if its your install disc you can download a new one since you own a key.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Yep - I would disconnect all of the hard drives, except your main "c" drive. Reconnect them after the OS is installed.


Ron

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

If you have any issues, try the forums over at Tom's hardware. They have a great site devoted to build your own pc's

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I have 14TB on my HTPC... a friend of mine has 26TB on his central media server.

To add to what you said.... You run out of space real quick with blu-rays backups for XBMC, tv shows on RSS feed and FLAC audio.

As it stands I literally have less than half a TB left of space.


Interesting choice with the dual PSU setup :)

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Fixed it. I used the fourth onboard video setting, got some artifacting on my old lcd monitor, hit the auto settings button on the monitor, and there ya go.
It never gets old, does it, boys? :r

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

With the mobo and the six core on the one psu and all the peripherals on the other, neither psu will ever even get warm.
It makes a lot more sense than a single 1000w or 1500w psu, and the price is right. It may not be a straight out of the box solution, but everything lasts longer. It's worth a little messing around and soldering.
Another thing it's good for is that there's tons of connectors. It makes wire management easier and makes a much cleaner job when it's done.
If I decide to go to xfire later, it's not a problem, either. It just leaves tons of expandability.
The only reason I haven't done it in the past is because of the lack of dual psu compatible cases on the market. The stuff that's out there now is simply awesome and never-ending. I could sure waste tons of money. :D

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Damn.....nice setup. I dont think Ive ever seen a PC with dual psus.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Looks like a great system, but I've got to tell you, after many years at the custom PC game, I don't even start to load an OS on the system until I get some basic reliability testing done.

If I were you, I'd download and burn a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD. It's free, and it will make you a bootable CD for your new system. Before I even go for an OS load, I run a minimum of:

- Memtest86+, for at least 12 and usually 24 hours. At the end of the run, "No Errors" is the only acceptable answer.
- The manufacturer's "long" diagnostic on every hard drive in the system....twice. Again, "No Errors" is the only acceptable answer.

The UBCD has lots of other burn in tests that a guy can run, but those two are my "golden minimum". I can't tell you how many hours I've saved by those two simple steps....my :2

Good luck and have fun - N.F.H.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

That is some sexy technology :dr
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I used to use the Ultimate Boot, I'm surprised it's still around. I know lots of guys swore by it. It never cost me anything but time, and I've long since abandoned it (prior to 05, iirc).
If I was building a whole rack of rigs, it'd probably appeal to me more. I know I built a lot of Barton rigs when I was using it, and there was a specific reason I used it, maybe it had to do with that core?
Anymore I'd just as soon get windows in, get all my components in, then run tests. That way "real world" problems will show up, too.

I quit doing this stuff for lots of years. This build is reminding me why. :D
My wife used to build computers way back when, and when I was telling her about all the goofy problems I had so far she said "that's why I'd just as soon buy a factory box".

I got seven years out of my last build until I decided to upgrade, and it'll last a lot more years once I clean it up and shake it down. It'll still be reasonably tight, and a good, stable, powerful rig. This one will likely remain problem free for a good ten years without me thinking of an upgrade. I think that's worth the trouble. :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I should say, I went up to 11TB of storage, thanks to Jordan. I had a couple 1.5TB platters, and decided to use them.
I just partitioned a boot sector and I'll just be happy with that.
I'll see how it plays, and if I don't like it, I'll switch to a 300GB boot drive.

Windows is loading, so it won't be long till I can take this thing for a spin around the block. :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

A fire-breathing dragon there, ouch! Never tried such a thing, putting my own together. Don't even want to try.

You are a much braver man than I.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Don't be afraid, Todd. The toughest part is buying the right pieces. That's maddening. After that it's easy. :r

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Putting together your own PC is one thing, what he is doing is NOT indicative of just 'building a pc'.

:)

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Yeah Scott just went all out :r

It's much better to build your own PC. It's almost VERY self explanatory. You'll either save lots of $$$ or have a twice if not three times as good PC by doing it yourself.

Coming along nice Scott :tu

Glad you like the tower.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Or you have a giant paper weight

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Welp, Windows files on that 1.5TB EcoDrive have been expanding for 3 hours and are only at 79%. I'm not happy with that, so it's coming out.
I'm going to format this 300GB I have and use it for my boot. I'll format it and change the volume from dynamic to basic on this machine, then swap it out. Odds are, I'll be looking at the same thing, though.
Without the proper ide controller drivers in there, it may just be the speed I'm gonna be looking at until I get that done.
I'm glad I talked that out. lol
I'll get that 300GB ready and just let the install finish up on the new rig. Once I get the new drivers in, I'll see if I can live with 1.5TB as my boot. Doesn't look good, but I suppose it's best to wait it out and go from there, right?

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I absolutely love it, Bill. I'm so glad you pointed them out. I'd have probably bought Antec or Lian Li, otherwise. I could not be more pleased with this case. The only way it could be any better is if there was another 3/4" behind the slide-out mobo tray to chase wires. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of room back there (which is brilliant thinking on their part), but another inch would allow a guy to mod it real heavy and do all kinds of wacky sh1t.
As is, I give it at least a 10/10. :D

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Got her all running, OS loaded, drivers in, it's doing great. Just finished up wire management, what a pain.
Now I have to move it to my desk. That'll be awful.
Anyways, a couple pics till I can get good "done" shots...

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/99f3cdf0.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/1a757ec6.jpg

Jeeeeeez! That thing is bigger than some of my friends' apartments!

And well done with the cabling. It always makes me sad to see a custom built PC with cables everywhere to where it looks like the computer vomitted in itself.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Thanks Alex. I've seen some rigs that kids built that are amazingly awful. They used to have "ugliest computer" contests at anandtech.com, and some of the stuff was truly scary. :D

I got the new rig to my desk and it's all hooked up. Now it's just all software and getting stuff to work right. I'm tweaking and she'll run at 4.0ghz easy, all six cores. That's insane.
I can't get all my monitors to work yet. They'd probably start working faster if I actually tried to fix it. I'm too busy updating drivers and utilities to bother with it just yet.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I finally finished the new build today.
I wanted to run three monitors and I had a shortage of analog outs, so I went and got a new 23" widescreen samsung that was on closeout. It was that or add another video card, and that would have cost just as much.
So the whole deal is done. <balloons and a parade>
As soon as I clean up the pigsty that is my desk, I'll post some proper pics.
I still don't have Photoshop loaded on here either, so that's another problem.
I'll eventually have my rig reloaded with all my software, I just haven't been working here much. I'm sure it'll wait till I get back. :D

One other thing...
Surprisingly, I'm enjoying Windows 7 Professional. It just plain works. No muss, no fuss. I was worried I'd want to go back to XP, but it hadn't even crossed my mind till now. Lisa has been using 7 for quite awhile, if I can't find something I ask her. She's been a big help.

I may have a few more kinks to wrangle out. I need to get the Spyder out and calibrate my monitors, and I need to get a new non-kidproof plugbar/surge protector. The one I have is ridiculous. Aside from that, all is well.
Thanks again for everyone's input!!! :tu

:tu

Sounds fantastic! And Windows7 is freaking awesome. With professional you can always run a program in XP compatability as well. That has saved my hide on a couple of old games.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I just backed up one of my movies.
With the dual burner setup, it took 13:02 to read/burn, start to finish. If I get another LG, that'll come down to around 10 minutes. I'm shocked, to say the least. :D

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

XBMC + sickbeard FTW!

I work for a computer company that builds media server ( crazy expensive stuff). I biggest server is a 16bay 3u 32TB

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_2137.jpg

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Really awesome rig :banger Never thought to run dual PSU's, now you have me thinking, LOL. I havn't upgraded my system in a couple years and I'm getting all itchy to do it again. Love how clean your install looks, nice and well thought out. The last PSU I purchased was one that had modular connections that you could unplug from the PSU if you weren't using them. This was a great idea that only lasted until the first time I turned it on, lol. Took out the vid card and optical drives, wth. I agree with windows 7, just an awesome OS, havn't had any problems in the last few months. I'm always afraid of a new OS ending up like Millennium or Vista, lol.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I ordered another blue-ray burner to replace the dvd burner I had put in it. That one was just laying around, we'd used it to try to fix an old Dell.
It's been flaky since day one, so I finally just bit the bullet and ordered the right burner. It matches and it'll look a lot better, too. Now I just need to find two minutes to get it installed.
I almost bought another vga card to go xfire, but stomped that idea pretty quick. :D

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

I just got this pig all ironed out.
The Dominator RAM did not work with the ASUS mobo, caused me all sorts of grief. I just switched it out to Kingston stuff and the system recognizes all 16gb of RAM.

I also got a 120GB Kingston HyperX SSD. It absolutely screams. Bill(86) turned me onto it, he was right on the money.
It was a royal pita to install. The bundled Acronis bootable software didn't work at all, kept hanging time and time again. Finally I decided to clone my old primary hdd through windows with a free utility called Macrium Reflect. It was free and worked perfectly the very first time right in Windows.
I swapped out the drives and Bam!!! Problems solved.
I went from a 5.5 windows experience index to a 7.7.

Now I have to plug in all my other drives, button her up, and rock out.
That only took 10 months to finish, not bad. I got the computer done quicker than my deck. It'll be another 8 months or so before that's done. :lr

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

:tu :tu

I love Acronis software, it's a bit complicated at times but it can do wonders.

Hopefully once you get it all plugged in you'll notice the immediate much faster boot times. I'd have paid the price of admission alone just for that.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

It's snappin' like a fargin firecracker, Bill. :D
It's all back together, drives are reassigned, and everything works perfectly.
I can't get over how fast programs populate and how fast I can snap between webpages. It really shows just how crazy fast our internet is here. 23mbps down and 1mbps up, and it's recognized.

The biggest problem is the size of that drive. It's only 120gb. I already wish I'd have sprung for the 240. I figured I'd have no problem gutting garbage and moving folders to other drives, and I did just that.
The biggest issue? iTunes. It's a bloated redundant pig. I've really got no choice but to gut it and install it on a different drive, it's hogging up almost 60GB of the SSD and I already moved the media files off my boot drive.
I'm minutes away from fixing that issue.

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Oh yeah with that kinda internet speed you'll definitely be flying all the time :tu

I hear ya. I figure I'm just holding out till prices drop and whatnot. When they are a good price I'll get a 250+ gig.

As of now though it's just much easier to throw files on a spare 1 TB+ HD.

I hate Itunes so much :r

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

The hell is, iTunes finally works. :lr

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

:r :tu

Re: Project of the Day : New Computer
 

Scott, maybe you could create a junction point for the itunes bloat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_ju...ing_disk_space
If you move the itunes directory to the spinning disks and then create a junction in C: where it was, pointing to the new location you should be able to reclaim your space.

If you do decide to go for a larger SSD, there is a wealth of information in this recent article. http://techreport.com/articles.x/22358/1
And hey it's only 13 pages long. ;)

You have the coolest projects. :tu