When everything is working as expected, the urge to tinker suddenly vanishes!
Is that how that's supposed to work?
/closes Newegg tab
Perpetual Pics of Your Rig
- Thread starter Jehos
- Start date
Is that how that's supposed to work?
/closes Newegg tab
Dang Semi, your almost at your 90K DoD. That still a thing around here?
When everything is working as expected, the urge to tinker suddenly vanishes!
Classically, "Perfection is the enemy of 'good enough'."
Mostly reflective of what is currently running. The old card died and I had to replace it with a new one, which has some LEDs, but doesn't work with any available software other than the MFG stuff, which is awful. In the meantime, I'm trying to reverse-engineer things so I can actually get SignalRGB to control it without freaking out.
I'm not really sure what to do with this. I upgraded to a 9800X3D/5070TI, but this 10700KF/3080 in a S-ishFF SAMA IM01 case (barely bigger than a NR200 but takes an mATX) is still a sweet box.
I tried doing an HTPC thing, but my TV keeps going black in HDR mode, and the whole Windows on a TV thing still isn't great even with Steam Big Picture.
I'm REALLY tempted to 3D print and paint this: https://makerworld.com/en/models/15...1-pc-case-front?from=search#profileId-1635148 and just have the coolest PC I don't have any use for.
I tried doing an HTPC thing, but my TV keeps going black in HDR mode, and the whole Windows on a TV thing still isn't great even with Steam Big Picture.
I'm REALLY tempted to 3D print and paint this: https://makerworld.com/en/models/15...1-pc-case-front?from=search#profileId-1635148 and just have the coolest PC I don't have any use for.
It’s the Fuma 2. The case is full of Arctic p12s with fan curves to avoid their annoying ranges. Noise and temps are decent but I’ve always had a moderate undervolt.
The fractal north for my main rig now is definitely easier to cool and keep quiet but I’d be lying if tweaking the SAMA case, fitting everything into it and just optimizing the shit out of it wasn’t more fun.
The fractal north for my main rig now is definitely easier to cool and keep quiet but I’d be lying if tweaking the SAMA case, fitting everything into it and just optimizing the shit out of it wasn’t more fun.
Pocky Is God
Ars Legatus Legionis
My latest build.
Nothing extreme.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming
GPU: MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT MECH 2X 12G OC
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16
Storage 1 (NVMe): Samsung 980 PRO 2TB PCIe Gen4
Storage 2 (NVMe): SK hynix Platinum P41 1TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280
Storage 3 (HDD): Western Digital Red Plus 12TB 7200 RPM 3.5”
Case: Fractal Design Define 7 Compact
Case Fans: 3× Noctua NF-S12A PWM Chromax.black.swap
Case Fans: 1x Noctua F12 PWM chromax.black.swap
Case Fans: 1x Dynamic X2 GP-12
Power Supply: Corsair RM850x (2021) 850W Fully Modular
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Card: ASUS PCE-AXE58BT (Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2)
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Antennas: Tenmory WiFi 6E Tri-Band RP-SMA Antennas (6GHz / 5GHz / 2.4GHz)
Nothing extreme.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming
GPU: MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT MECH 2X 12G OC
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16
Storage 1 (NVMe): Samsung 980 PRO 2TB PCIe Gen4
Storage 2 (NVMe): SK hynix Platinum P41 1TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280
Storage 3 (HDD): Western Digital Red Plus 12TB 7200 RPM 3.5”
Case: Fractal Design Define 7 Compact
Case Fans: 3× Noctua NF-S12A PWM Chromax.black.swap
Case Fans: 1x Noctua F12 PWM chromax.black.swap
Case Fans: 1x Dynamic X2 GP-12
Power Supply: Corsair RM850x (2021) 850W Fully Modular
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Card: ASUS PCE-AXE58BT (Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2)
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Antennas: Tenmory WiFi 6E Tri-Band RP-SMA Antennas (6GHz / 5GHz / 2.4GHz)
Maybe it's just the picture but that video card looks to be drooping more than I would expect for a card of that size.
The case was difficult to built in, but that was not the fault of the case.
This struggle was mainly due to the the fan headers on the motherboard, and the big the wrap around the 24 pin atx power cable. That wrap that comes around the 24 pin that protects the cable makes it difficult to bend.
I would suggest if you are planning to build in this case, you should buy a power supply that has a more flexible cable or get some custom cables, also, suggest you get a fan hub.
I think its just the picture. (sometimes get shaky hands)
Thank you. I would like create a benchmark to share more information. What software would you recommend?
This struggle was mainly due to the the fan headers on the motherboard, and the big the wrap around the 24 pin atx power cable. That wrap that comes around the 24 pin that protects the cable makes it difficult to bend.
I would suggest if you are planning to build in this case, you should buy a power supply that has a more flexible cable or get some custom cables, also, suggest you get a fan hub.
I think its just the picture. (sometimes get shaky hands)
Thank you. I would like create a benchmark to share more information. What software would you recommend?
I find you ideally want to report a few different things:
As far as actual benchmarks, Prime95 has a CPU stress test mode (instructions), however note Prime95 has several different datasets. IntelBurnTest is another one (it's a wrapper around Linpack), but I would set it to test 90~95% of available system memory if you're actually using it for stability testing; Linpack Xtreme is another more intensive but also somewhat more limited one. For GPUs, Furmark is a common one.
I am not trying to be complete so yeah, go for it (OCCT also comes to mind).
- current ambient temperature (from a separate thermometer in the room). Not critical but provides essential context.
- report -- logging may be easiest -- desired component temperatures (RealTemp, CoreTemp, CPU-Z, HWMonitor, and/or HWiNFO for CPU, GPU-Z for GPU) for whatever you are benchmarking; I think HWiNFO and maybe HWMonitor can do CPU and GPU both. Am a bit fuzzier on SSD temperature tracking but I think some of the ones I listed can log those, too.
- report -- logging may be easiest -- desired component clock speeds. I think some of the utilities mentioned above can do that already.
- run your benchmark. Generally speaking for simplicity and clarity I recommend attempting to benchmark only one component at a time.
As far as actual benchmarks, Prime95 has a CPU stress test mode (instructions), however note Prime95 has several different datasets. IntelBurnTest is another one (it's a wrapper around Linpack), but I would set it to test 90~95% of available system memory if you're actually using it for stability testing; Linpack Xtreme is another more intensive but also somewhat more limited one. For GPUs, Furmark is a common one.
I am not trying to be complete so yeah, go for it (OCCT also comes to mind).
Wrakkenruan
Ars Praefectus
I also built recently in a Fractal case - North XL. Love the room in it. Same cooler, RX 7900 XTX card. Bought the PSU when I got the video card and needed more 8-pin lines, and was using a white Enthoo Pro.
I've since pulled the side mount for extra fans, so the view is cleaner now, but no pic. Started to leave it on the case so I don't have to look for it if I want it years from now, but finally just took it out for storage...
Side by side with the old one:
I've since pulled the side mount for extra fans, so the view is cleaner now, but no pic. Started to leave it on the case so I don't have to look for it if I want it years from now, but finally just took it out for storage...
Side by side with the old one:
@Wrakkenruan I have the same case and absolutely love it. I tried the side fans in various configurations, they haven't been worth it to me. The mesh helps the video card enough (can measure by dust accumulation.)
Very nice-- a friend is considering a build in the exact same case, although I think he's going to hold off til he actually needs a full system upgrade...
Wrakkenruan
Ars Praefectus
Compared to the Enthoo (i5-9600K, GTX 1080, with a couple of spinning rust buckets), this North XL (with only a single nVMe SSD for storage, and AMD 9800x3D) is so very, very quiet. I can hear my tinnitus now... (roughly 11KHz, low level volume) Even when the fans ramp up under load, it's maybe half as loud as the old system under similar load.
And, continuum, I basically waited for a full system upgrade for this case, too
And, continuum, I basically waited for a full system upgrade for this case, too
@Struxxffs, what's the noise like on that MSI Mech RX 6700 XT?
I had a Mech RX 5700 XT, it was a good card, but MSI put a damn noisy cooler on it. It was the noisest part of the system it was in.
I had a Mech RX 5700 XT, it was a good card, but MSI put a damn noisy cooler on it. It was the noisest part of the system it was in.
Thank you. I am thinking of using cinebench and 3dmark to benchmark and HWInfo64 for the tests.
@Wrakkenruan
That is a beautiful build!
Have not done a noise test yet for the graphics card. Will remember to include in benchmark.
Ooooo good to think about noise. There is subjective (aka reporting your opinion). For actual data I think both iOS and Android have ample sound measuring apps, although those are usually pretty limited by two things:
1) quality and design of the microphone
2) actually consistently placing your phone to measure noise
First is harder to work around (and honestly, for sharing with us fellow forum dwellers, probably not worth worrying too much about). Second can definitely have impacts-- many sites do 50cm at some angle from the front, others do 1 meter, some straight on, some from the side, some at an angle above and to the side, etc. Main thing is to be consistent. And describing the quality of the noise is often sufficient for such informal purposes.
1) quality and design of the microphone
2) actually consistently placing your phone to measure noise
First is harder to work around (and honestly, for sharing with us fellow forum dwellers, probably not worth worrying too much about). Second can definitely have impacts-- many sites do 50cm at some angle from the front, others do 1 meter, some straight on, some from the side, some at an angle above and to the side, etc. Main thing is to be consistent. And describing the quality of the noise is often sufficient for such informal purposes.
Your old 'puter looked more like a trad computational device.
Was your wife making you 'match the furniture'? The new box looks like a dehumidifier?
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Wrakkenruan
Ars Praefectus
I liked the case. I was leaning toward the white North XL, but she thought the dark one would fit in better - so yeah, "match the furniture"
Happy wife, happy life.
I do like the looks of it. And it is so very quiet under normal operation. Can't even really tell it's on without looking at the screen.
Happy wife, happy life.
I do like the looks of it. And it is so very quiet under normal operation. Can't even really tell it's on without looking at the screen.
Endgame rig, now a couple of generations old: 12900K, RTX 3090, DDR5 (cutting edge back then) in an O11 XL case. An external radiator (MORA) is used for silent operation, but the 360mm rad in the case can keep the water below 40C while gaming with the fans running at high speed.
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Windows sucks for this (or just sucks, period). Look into Libre/CoreELEC, de-googled Android TV builds for x86, and KDE Bigscreen. I think Bigscreen is the most flexible option as it is just a DE with a 10-foot UI for a plain Linux distro which means you can run anything on it. With LibreELEC (Kodi) only, you need to put up with shitty third party addons instead highly polished frontends like VacuumTube. No spyware, no ads, no DRM anywhere to be found.
A bit outdated now but still performs pretty well.
12900KF, 96GB DDR5, 6950XT, Z690 EVGA Kingpin. Custom loop with 1x 420mm and 2x 280mm, direct die on CPU. Overkill but I've always enjoyed doing custom loops.
@profanum: I was under the impression that putting the reservoir on the bottom was a bad idea. Doesn't the CPU at the top of the loop mean that the inevitable air bubbles will impact you right away?
Do you benefit from the side fans? It kinda looks like you were trying to do a bottom-to-top airflow, but don't the side fans mess that all up?
But, overall, that one is clean, pretty build. Very nicely done.
Do you benefit from the side fans? It kinda looks like you were trying to do a bottom-to-top airflow, but don't the side fans mess that all up?
But, overall, that one is clean, pretty build. Very nicely done.
It's more of a concern with CLCs, because your radiator is effectively your reservoir, it's a sealed system(no low pressure release point like an open res) and the pumps are relatively anemic.
The pump is also mounted on the CPU(well, the Asetek variants) so having it at the highest point will more likely lead to dry running over time due to liquid loss. Less of a concern with customs because, well, you can refill them trivially.
The pump is also mounted on the CPU(well, the Asetek variants) so having it at the highest point will more likely lead to dry running over time due to liquid loss. Less of a concern with customs because, well, you can refill them trivially.
Yep, with a custom loop as long as your pump isn't running dry you can put it pretty much anywhere. The goal is to really get as much air out of the system as possible, and usually the GPU and CPU blocks won't be holding it.
Currently the fans are setup on all three radiators as pushing through the radiator to exhaust as much hot air out of the case as possible. The two back fans are kinda there because it looks odd without fans on there, hah.
Currently the fans are setup on all three radiators as pushing through the radiator to exhaust as much hot air out of the case as possible. The two back fans are kinda there because it looks odd without fans on there, hah.
+1 - I built a new rig about a year ago using the Fractal North XL case. Really love it. Nice and roomy, easy to work on. It seems to do a good job on cooling, and the esthetics are great. I thought the wood slats on the fron were kinda wierd at first, but you get used to them.
I also came from an Enthoo case as well - an Evolve ATX mid-tower (which didn't cool well - I did a couple mods on it to change that, though. Gave it to my granddaughter).
And I too have an RX 7900 XTX (XFS Merc 310 Speedster) which I'm really happy with.
The MB is a Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite X WiFi 7 with a Core i9 14900K, with 32 GB of Corsair Dominator Titanium DDR5. For cooling, I have an Arctic Liquid Freezer 3 (radiator mounted on the top, exhausting), 2 fans on the front, blowing in and I'm using the side panel fans blowing in, which helps cool the vid card. eVGA Supernova 1000 GT PSU; Crucial T700 gen5 NVMe 1 TB OS drive; eVGA NuAudio sound card. A couple storage drives and a whole bunch of storage on my LAN.
Yes, it's hard to find traditional air-cooled builds interesting (or silent enough) once you dabble in watercooling. It's only when one of my builds gets old and is demoted to the role of appliance (a server or backup machine) that it becomes air-cooled.CustomLoopLife!!!
In my early watercooling days, I built something similar, but there are inevitably airflow challenges with such cramped builds. I found that the second or third radiator did very little in such configurations, because there is not enough air intake. Access to motherboard headers, especially those at the bottom of the motherboard is impossible or difficult. These days I much prefer external rads, and I keep a single standard 360mm rad in the case to be able to use the PC without the radiator if needed.
Luckily with this case, a HAVN HS420, it's pretty open. Without the VGPU mount access is very easy and with QDCs on the CPU and GPU the top radiator comes out without a problem, giving good access to the CPU and RAM.
The biggest issue for this one is honestly the motherboard; the EVGA Kingpin board uses 90 degree headers for it's USB ports so I had to make some short extensions so I could put the motherboard into the case and still have access to those ports. Without the extensions the ports are pretty much flush with the shelf in the case and very hard to plug things in.
I've looked at the external rads and might go that way in a few years but for now I'm pretty happy with the case and it's accessibility
Kids build, a new case + spare parts:
AMD 3700x, 32GB DDR4, AMD 5700XT, 650W power supply.
Was very impressed with the quality of the case (Deepcool CC360) given is was ~50USD, surprising solid construction + 3 RGB fans (admittedly the fans are pretty crap).
Untitled by aeon Data, on Flickr
Untitled by aeon Data, on Flickr
AMD 3700x, 32GB DDR4, AMD 5700XT, 650W power supply.
Was very impressed with the quality of the case (Deepcool CC360) given is was ~50USD, surprising solid construction + 3 RGB fans (admittedly the fans are pretty crap).
Untitled by aeon Data, on Flickr
Untitled by aeon Data, on Flickr
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I only built the one custom loop system, but I had wanted to for years. And when I finally did, I found it felt a bit like a model railroad train (the water path, and it was super quiet. I’ve tuned it over the years to be completely silent.
I love the pictures! Keep them coming! My desk is a disaster and the same system I built in 2017-18. So no photos from me anytime soon :-/
I love the pictures! Keep them coming! My desk is a disaster and the same system I built in 2017-18. So no photos from me anytime soon :-/