NEW Build Completed!!!

[dttuner]

Came home with most of my parts on Friday evening.
Stayed in my basement for 3 hours straight until I completed the build.
There are still some essential parts coming in the mail, which will allow me to overclock my system (Ultra-120, Noctua NF-P12 Fans), but I have the baseline system built for now.
Please know that this is my build in it's infancy. Bad cable management, crappy HSF on cpu, USB 1.0 802.11b external wireless, stock case fans, etc.



(See sig. for updated built sheet)
E8400, RAM, and 8800GT OC, at factory specs.

3DMark05 (FREE version) - 18888

Idle Temp CPU - Core1 42 celsius, Core2 42 celsius
Load Temp CPU - Core 1 48 celsius, Core2 48 celsius

Idle Temp GPU - 47 degrees celsius
Load Temp GPU - 69 degrees celsius (!!)

1GB WinRaR archive - 11 minutes.



I'm mostly concerned with the GPU load temps. So far I replaceed the factory "bandaids" with Artic Silver 5 TIM, and removed the fancy cover, exposing the heatsink. That lowered temps by about 2-3 degrees.
I may have to consider an aftermarket heatsink for the Video card.

The CPU is getting an Ultra-120 w/120mm fan in the next few days. 5 Noctua NF-P12-1300 120mm fans are on their way, and an 802.11 b/g MIMO PCI wireless card should arriving today.

EDIT: Also just bought a Thermalrite HR-03 GT 8800GT heatsink from Parker... so that should be sweet!



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[gvblake22]

Those temps really aren't out of range for a GPU. And you should try putting the shroud back on the stock heatsink as that may actually help your temps because that's how that heatsink is designed to work (have the air blow straight through the fins).

[dttuner]

Totally agree with you. But, I performed the mods in stages. First, the Arctic 5, and recorded temps.
Then, removed the shroud, and recorded lower temps.

I believe I'm seeing a benefit, because I have the Antec Nine Hundred case... which has those two front-mounted 120mm fans. One of them blows from the front of the case, and flows over the video card.

Once I receive my Noctua fans, I will be installing one on the side panel, which will be blowing directly onto the GPU.
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What does everyone use for Benchmarking?
I'd like to compare to higher-end systems to get an idea of where I stand, and how much I can squeeze out of my system.

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[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by dttuner

Totally agree with you. But, I performed the mods in stages. First, the Arctic 5, and recorded temps.
Then, removed the shroud, and recorded lower temps.

OOHHH, well nicely done then!

[drew and not u]

Did you replace the thermal pad just on the GPU, or on the memory as well? The heatsink is designed with the gap form the thermal pads in mind, and if removed, the heatsink will no longer make contact with the ICs. I'm not sure about the 8 series, but this happened to me with my 7800GT.

[dttuner]

I removed all the of Bandaid pads, and replaced with TIM :)

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by dttuner

I removed all the of Bandaid pads, and replaced with TIM :)

I think what Drew was trying to say is that you should double check the heatsink contact with the memory chips because it might not be touching at all without the stock pads!

[dttuner]

Yikes.... if I threw them away, where can I get more pads?

[simple_inhibition]

THESE should do.

as for benchmarking, 3dmark06/05/03/01 (03 and 01 more for amusement than anything else ) some like SuperPI 1mb and 32mb runs, but thats mostly used when overclocking. apparently you get a larger e-penis if you get a lower number :shrug: i believe sisoft sandra and everest have free trial versions that will allow you to compare your system against other configurations in different tests.

[Parker]

Oh brother......