This is the official start of the next Frank N Stein upgrade!
Originally I had hoped to start this thread based on a new case design I was working on to house Frank's "badness" in a single case solution as opposed to his external ERM cooling solution still. This case is still in discussion and planning phase with Mountain Mods, unsure as to finalization on the design and overall solution at the moment, but its work in progress as this case will be very unique in some ways. In short it is based around the MORA3 LT Rad I had originally purchased for the "Vampi" build that got killed quickly.
CATCHING UP:
What is transpiring is a hardware upgrade for Frank. Many minor upgrades have occurred over the year as well as a significant rebuilding of all his tubing and coolant solution as it was a year old and time to do the "oil change" on him. He went many miles and it was time to flush and re-tube him.
What is gone out of Frank that was part of the 2011 build?
What is new in Frank since the 2011 build oficially ended?
What is coming to upgrade Frank with?
Some Pictures to get us going…………….
ASUS Rampage IV Extreme LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i7-3930K Hexa-Core Processor 3.2 Ghz 12 MB Cache LGA 2011 - BX80619I73930K
Corsair Dominator 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 2133 MHz (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory (CMT16GX3M4X2133C9) x2 for 32GB total
The parts are slated to arrive Thursday and Friday of this week – so this weekend the rebuild begins. I will then take the next week or two (based on occupational work load) to begin editing and putting images and the build log together here, as well as put up a couple videos on YouTube showing the de-install of Frank’s current items, then one showing the build. Potentially there will be a mix of time lapse and real time video showing the build. We will see what time allows.
So let it begin………………..Frank N Stein’s 2013 build!
Originally I had hoped to start this thread based on a new case design I was working on to house Frank's "badness" in a single case solution as opposed to his external ERM cooling solution still. This case is still in discussion and planning phase with Mountain Mods, unsure as to finalization on the design and overall solution at the moment, but its work in progress as this case will be very unique in some ways. In short it is based around the MORA3 LT Rad I had originally purchased for the "Vampi" build that got killed quickly.
CATCHING UP:
What is transpiring is a hardware upgrade for Frank. Many minor upgrades have occurred over the year as well as a significant rebuilding of all his tubing and coolant solution as it was a year old and time to do the "oil change" on him. He went many miles and it was time to flush and re-tube him.
What is gone out of Frank that was part of the 2011 build?
- Creative XFi Titanium Sound card
- USB 3.0 Riser card - this was the ultimate culprit of all those weird issues I had from Franks last build. If you followed that thread, there was a time I had enough, pulled out the Asus Rampage, and replaced it with an EVGA X58 Classified, only to keep having similar issues. It was finally solved when I pulled this card out - all USB problems ceased, power issues ceased, and things began to return normal.
- OCZ Vertex 2 60g SSD's x4 - all four are on eBay being sold.
- Saitek Cyborg Keyboard v7
- Turtle Beach PX5 Headphones
What is new in Frank since the 2011 build oficially ended?
- HT | OMEGA Claro Halo w/XT - a 192Kz 7.1 sound card that is simply light years better than that XFI card was. Sound quality is amazing.
- Razer Tiamat 7.1 Headphones - the mic quality was an issue with the PX5's for me as was having the batteries die at the most inopportune times. It was time to go back to hardwired.
- Buttkicker Gamer Though this was discussed at the end of the last build, it finally happened and is awesome
- Razer Nostromos Still trying to get used to this thing, but I can tell how it will help improve game play. I need all the edge I can get against those younger/faster response time players.
- Nvidia 3D Vision 2 Kit Yeah - what a difference this made in campaign mode gaming (have yet to do an online full game).
- Corsair Force GT 120g 555MB/S READ 515MB/S WRITE SSD x2 RAID 0 Programs What a great set of SSD's, these babies are FAST
- Patriot Pyro SE 120g 550MB/S READ 520MB/S WRITE x2 SSD in RAID 0 BOOT Pure speed here, they beat the Corsair's in an ATTO Bench. I cannot wait to see what these drives do on the Rampage IV board
- Logitech G19 I love this keyboard and the mini display, helps while gaming to see people coming in and out of Ventrillo easily, as well as see who is talking.
- Asus VG278HE 144Hz 27” 3D Monitor The first of three I hope in the coming year. This now is the main center monitor, the other three are raised above and on a new pole mount solution I put together to raise them up with the same triple monitor arm that was originally used. I just took that arm off the original pole/stand and used a threaded flange and a threaded galvanized steel pipe. Screwed the flange to the desk, screwed the pipe into it, and set the monitor arm on the pole – now the three 24” Asus monitors are above and when not gaming work as additional desktop space for programs and information I need during work hours.
What is coming to upgrade Frank with?
- Asus Rampage Extreme IV Z79 Motherboard This should not only be a great upgrade over the X58 board, but this also allows for QUAD SLI and true x16 slots. I should be able to take full advantage of the three GTX 580 3G GPU’s Frank currently runs.
- Intel Core i7 3930k hexa-core 3.2Ghz 12M Cache It’s a mixed bag of opinions, but one thing is certain, this CPU most certainly will perform as good as if not much better than the 990X. Many tests I have researched shows this CPU pulling away in many respects from the 990X and should be a worthy best to put in Frank.
- Corsair Dominator GT 2133Mhz Quad Channel DDR3 4x4G (16G) What more can I say – its Dominator GT RAM, not much better or more stable IMO.
- EK RE4 Water Block I cannot imagine air cooling a board. I know there are those out there who have varying opinions about EK products and the company itself. I prefer to not get into that, however when researching water blocks I had limited choices for the Rampage Extreme IV and was basically limited to Koolance or EK – umm, EK won.
- Bitspower Triple Rotary Black Sparkle 90 Compression Connectors Needed additional 90’s to assist with the routing with these new water blocks for the X79 board.
- Performance PCs Purchase of Misc Items
- 1 x*** HOT *** EK-FB KIT RE4 - Acetal CSQ (4 Fittings) (EK-FB-KIT-RE4-CSQ-AC)
- 2 x Xigmatek "Crystal Series" 140x25mm LED Fan - Retail - Red (CLF-F1452)
- 4 x Bitspower G1/4 Black Sparkle Triple Rotary 90-Degree Compression Fitting-ID 1/2" OD 3/4" (BP-BS90R3CPF-CC5)
- 1 x Digital Multimeter Pro (PPCS-DMM)
- 1 x EK-CPU EzMount HF LGA2011 Add-On Nickel (allows me to use the same LGA1366 W/B on the 2011 boards)
- 4 x Bitspower G1/4" Black Sparkle Stop Fitting (BP-BSWP-C06)
- 2 x Bitspower Premium G1/4" "Stubby" High Flow 1/2" Fitting - Black Sparkle (BP-BSWP-C14)
- 1 x Bitspower BP-BSDG14AALPI Black Sparkle Dual G1/4" Adjustable Aqua Link Pipe I (22-31mm) (BP-BSDG14AALPI)
- 1 x Bitspower BP-BSDG14AALPII Black Sparkle Dual G1/4" Adjustable Aqua Link Pipe II (41-69mm) (BP-BSDG14AALPII)
Some Pictures to get us going…………….
ASUS Rampage IV Extreme LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core i7-3930K Hexa-Core Processor 3.2 Ghz 12 MB Cache LGA 2011 - BX80619I73930K

Corsair Dominator 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 2133 MHz (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory (CMT16GX3M4X2133C9) x2 for 32GB total

The parts are slated to arrive Thursday and Friday of this week – so this weekend the rebuild begins. I will then take the next week or two (based on occupational work load) to begin editing and putting images and the build log together here, as well as put up a couple videos on YouTube showing the de-install of Frank’s current items, then one showing the build. Potentially there will be a mix of time lapse and real time video showing the build. We will see what time allows.
So let it begin………………..Frank N Stein’s 2013 build!
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