Tom's Hardware Member System Gallery

[tisue001]

I just completed my new build a few days ago!

Here are some pics:

The specs:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Motherboard: MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) $200 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130610

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600 $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145347

GPU's: MSI GTX560ti HAWK in SLI $490 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127578

SSD: Crucial M4 64GB $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

PSU: Corsair Professional Series HX850 $125 after MIR and promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Heatsink/Fan: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

DVD: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

OS: Windows 7 Home premium $100

Total cost of build after mail-in rebates: $1,575

 

[Motopsychojdn]

I like how you've got so much neatly into a smaller case
so I'll leave my usual cable rants out and just say nice build man
Moto

 

[Lutfij]

so I'll leave my usual cable rants out

:lol:

hmmm the pics are also crisp - what camera you using ? DSLR or point and shoot ?

 

[saint19]

I was suggest change the fan to the other side of that cooler, but the RAM is a problem there.

Nice build

 

[Motopsychojdn]

^Maybe a slim profile fan would fit though?
http://www.scythe-eu.com/en/products/fans/slip-stream-120-mm-slim.html
although the top model only shifts 45 cfm....
Moto

 

[tisue001]

Thanks guys. Yes I've packed quite a bit into a mid size case, but all the cables are tucked away neatly and out of the way. Air flow is great.

I couldn't use the cpu fan in a push configuration because it conflicted with the ram, so I'm using it in a pull configuration. Seems to be working just as good; idle temps right now are ~25-26 degrees C.

Photography is another hobby of mine. I have a DLSR; Canon EOS Rebel T1i. For a few of those pics I was shooting with a 50mm lens at F1.8.

 

[Lutfij]

hmm, that explains the nice crisp exposure apart from that bleached top fan. I own a Rebel XT (black) and my dad had lenses - USM 28-80mm and a prime 50mm, which are now mine

 

[tisue001]

I did try simply sliding the fan up the heatsink in order to clear the ram but it wasn't possible to get it high enough before the bracket clips were off the heatsink. Putting it on the backside and pulling the air through has been working great. Even with the CPU oc'd to 4.2ghz during BF3 gaming it hasn't gone over 50 degrees C.

 

[saint19]

New arrive at home

I feel bad after a lot of years using AMD, but, Intel is far away in performance.

 

[cmcghee358]

I agree very nice picture quality tisue001

 

[cmcghee358]

New arrive at home

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9346/dsc00334f.jpg

I feel bad after a lot of years using AMD, but, Intel is far away in performance.

I agree. Just sold my 955 and 890fx and picked up a 2500k and Z68 motherboard. Pics to follow after assembly.

 

[cmcghee358]

I sold my 465, 955 and 890fx for 300. Got mobo, CPU, DVD drive for 400. $100 to go to a 2500k is pretty awesome.

 

[toneekay]

So I had to return the 448 Cores that I had before; turns out that the coils were making a LOUD whining/squealing/vibrating sound. The store that I picked it up at didn't have any others in stock so I was forced to downgrade a bit to just a regular GTX 560 Ti. Done a few tweeking to the rig ever since and have managed to get my CPU to 4.4ghz stable; still working on my GPU's overclock, but so far, this is what I got.

^This is pretty stable so far at 1.1v... I'm still getting the hang of overclocking the video card, but things have been going pretty smoothly so far. Planning on moving up the bar a bit and aim for that 1050-1100 core clock!

 

[yankyfan100]

@chrometusk



"Awesome temps! I love the BF3 output to the Vizio TV. Are you using an extension for the keyboard?"

Thanks! The vizio TV is working out GREAT! I am using a 15 foot usb extension with a powered usb hub between the keyboard and extension. It worked without the powered usb hub but when I plugged my headset into the keyboard it started to draw too much power and create a lot of distortion. 15 feet is far for a single USB run!

 

[shoda]

ahhh! These new posts are making me even MORE anxious to post my system up! I was going to upload pictures, but then I ordered an LED kit. My LED kit is supposed to get here tomorrow, BUT I just ordered some new fans TODAY, so I'll wait till I have all of them in before uploading pictures. Can't wait!

 

[cmcghee358]

re-using the same RAM.?

what you think:
$200 for i5-760, EVGA P55 SLi board and 4GB of DDR3 1600 CL8.
that's a cool price for the bundle I'd say.
maybe $250 if lucky..

Yeah reusing my Corsair DDR3-1600 CAS7 4x2GB RAM. It's at 1.65v but I see alot of the approved RAM in the motherboard manual @ 1.65v so I'm not too worried. If push comes to shove I'll downclock the speed or latency to ease up on the voltage to 1.5v.

 

[cmcghee358]

While waiting for an Intel H70 bracket(I tossed mine as I was previously I die hard AMD fan boi) I had the chance to scrub my wire management even more.

I went so far as to place both of my SSDs behind the motherboard tray area to reduce showing wires a bit more.

 

[cmcghee358]

ASUS Z68V.

Meaning I have 3 PCIE2.0x16 lanes.

With 2 cards I'll be operating at x8. So I am taking a minor performance hit with the lanes(by comparison to the 890FX) but should gain significant improvement in performance from the 2500k

And yes I'll still be using the 5970 and 5870

 

[cmcghee358]

Well I do still have 3 GPUs, so you were still right

5970 counts as 2 GPUs

 

[cmcghee358]

Bleh it didn't like my RAM it seems. Going to go stick by stick, but I might just have to buy another kit.

Makes me sad

But I didn't have alot of time to fuss with it before work. Maybe I'll resolve it tonight. Going to try 2x2GB tonight to see if it posts.

 

[cmcghee358]

Yar, never know. Luckily RAM is much cheaper compared to when I bought 4 sticks of DDR3-1600 C7 2GB!

 

[Motopsychojdn]

+1,
4Gb of generic DDR3 cost me £90 for my first build,
Then £70 six months later for 4Gb generic on the Gf's build,
then £72 for 8Gb Corsair vengeance for the last one, and its about £22 for 4Gb of vengeance now hehe,
Wish ssd's would take the fine example that Ram has set.....
Moto

 

[cmcghee358]

Ugh I pulled 2 sticks and it booted just fine. I sure hope one of the RAM slots isn't effed.

 

[cmcghee358]

Bleh it always looks terrible by comparison

 

[aznshinobi]

LOL, the 5970 is drooping down slightly.