EDIT - I changed the hosting for the pictures so now there shouldn't be any problem with them loading.

Although I ordered all of the parts for this computer on July 5th, IÂ’ve only just now gotten it all put together correctly. At first I thought I had a bad stick of RAM, so I had to RMA both sticks. I then got the replacement RAM and it ended up not working either. I then realized that the RAM was incompatible with my motherboard, so I had to send the first motherboard back. My video card cooler also had to be RMAed. Anyway, IÂ’ve finally got the computer put together and everything is working great. The specs are as follows:

Lian Li P-7B plus case
OCZ Modstream 520 watt PSU
DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ overclocked to 2.5Ghz with Thermaltake XP-120 Heatsink
2x 512MB OCZ Gold Series PC3200 RAM OCed to 250Mhz
Geforce 6800GT OCed to 425/1100 with Arctic Cooling NV5 cooler
Soundblaster Audigy soundcard (carried over from old computer)
LiteOn DVD RW drive (with Lian Li stealth bezel)
2x160GB Seagate Barracuda SATA HD
1x200GB Seagate Barracuda IDE HD
Vantec Nexus Fan controller
Logitech Cordless Desktop (the mouse actually works pretty well for gaming)
Logitech Z-560 4.1 speakers (carried over from old computer)
Samsung Syncmaster 710n 17”LCD monitor (carried over from old computer)
Samsung Syncmaster 955df 19”CRT monitor (carried over from old computer)

My plan was to take pictures of the entire computer building process, but that plan fell apart pretty quickly. I was so caught up in putting everything together that I kind of forgot to take pictures of most of the process. Anyway, hereÂ’s the pictures I did take.

All of the pictures can be clicked for full-size.

Yay, packages!


The first boxÂ… I wonder whatÂ’s inside?


The BFG motherboard! (Too bad it would end up being incompatible with my RAM.)


I finally have a wireless keyboard and mouse.


My friend Chad had me order a PDA for him. He finally paid me back for it about a week ago.


The RAM and the new HD (I already had the other two).


The 6800GT.


Again.


The sexiest power supply around.


Fan controller.


Four 120mm fans. (I only ended up using three.)


The wonderful 64bit processor. This one is one of the new Venice cores, so it runs nice and cool and is very overclockable.


Liteon drive.


And the awesome Lian-Li case.


Now the real fun starts. This is my friend Chad (daklown on the forums) cutting the hole for my window. I probably could have done it myself, but he was eager to use power tools. Notice the high quality protective mask.



My dog Little Bit wasnÂ’t too happy about all of the noise.


HereÂ’s me randomly wearing my eye protection. (swimming goggles)


More cutting.


ChadÂ’s giving a thumbs up.


The hole is taking shape.


Almost done.


Chad – 1. Side panel – 0.


Another thumbs up. In addition to the window Chad also cut a 120mm fan hole in the back of the case. It had a 80mm fan hole, but that wasnÂ’t good enough for me.


This is the Thermaltake XP-120 heatsink. ItÂ’s a monster.


Another pic. This heatsink wouldnÂ’t fit on the BFG board, so I sold it on eBay. I ended up buying another one when I got the DFI board.


This is the computer with the BFG board installed and with the stock heatsink on both the CPU and the graphics card. The fan on the stock 6800GT heatsink is LOUD. I was also using my old Crucial PC2100 RAM at this point, since the OCZ RAM wouldnÂ’t work with the BFG board.


The same picture without flash.


This is what the 6800GTÂ’s cpu looks like. I had taken the stock heatsink off to install the NV5.


Another picture of the naked 6800GT.


The videocard with the NV5. The fan on this thing is completely inaudible, and the heatsink dropped my idle videocard temps by 7 degrees celcius.


Another picture of the computer. This was when I still had the BFG board.


The same picture without flash.


Finally, here is a picture of the computer after the DFI board was installed, along with the XP-120 heatsink. Notice the massive 120mm fan thatÂ’s cooling my CPU. My idle CPU temp is 28 degrees celcius, and thatÂ’s with the CPU overclocked by 500Mhz.


Again, the same picture without flash.


And hereÂ’s a (bad) picture of my entire set up.



And finally, here are my 3dMark/Aquamark scores. I donÂ’t know if theyÂ’re as good as they should be on my computer, but IÂ’m still pretty happy with them.
3dMark 2000 – 20,006
3dMark 2001 - 21,319
3dMark 2003 – 8534? à this one is 3000 points lower than the score I had when I was using the Crucial RAM and BFG board. I don’t know what the problem is.
3dMark 2005 – 5370

Aquamark3 – 62,289

CRAPPY SERVER BUILT FROM PARTS FOUND IN BOXES OF TRASH FOR THE WIN!

I've since upgraded to a real Dremel and some shop goggles.

Not too bad of a build, if I do say so myself! You guys did good on the window, from what I can see anyway. Good wire management, good hardware, and good modding. A+!

MOD ON!

very good job looks very good

Thanks for window feedback

I went through about 20 of those crappy discs (first time ever using a rotary)

Nice work... a little more text and this could have been a detailed tutorial on how to put a PC together! Cute dog BTW!!

Quote: Originally Posted by daklown Thanks for window feedback I went through about 20 of those crappy discs (first time ever using a rotary)

Get the reinforced ones. They last longer.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerdz Get the reinforced ones. They last longer.

Heh, we realized this soon after Chad started cutting the window. When I went to Home Depot to get the Dremel an employee told me I needed to use a little drill bit type attachment instead of the discs, so I bought one of those instead of a reinforced disc. I soon regretted that.

Also, thanks for the comments!

Exelent work men, what were you using to hold the side panel up while you were cutting? sand bags? any way once more, great job... neta wiring keep up the mods..


Cheers

wow your so lucky.. Im soo poor.. Im just having a hard enough time saving up for a CCFL

Quote: Originally Posted by mmaturen Exelent work men, what were you using to hold the side panel up while you were cutting? sand bags? any way once more, great job... neta wiring keep up the mods.. Cheers

We used a vice clamp with ducktape on one side and a towel on the other. You can see it in one of the pictures.