Potential problems with my proposed Rig?

[DoggyDaddi]

I am nearly finished building my ATI rig.. and was hoping for some input as to potential problems that some of you may have encountered, provided you built something similar?

CoolerMaster 830 Stacker (silver) w/ 3 additional Yate Loon 120's (panel & top) and Crossflow Fan
Vantec Stealth 520 PSU
Thermaltake 250w W0099RU (for graphics supliment)
Asus A8R32 MVP Deluxe w/ 4400 Toledo X2 + 9500 Zalman LED
2 matched pair DDR 3200 Corsair TwinX 512mb (2gb total)
2 X1950 Pros in Crossfire (ATI, not 3rd Party)
X1300 PCIe 1x for addtional monitor output and Physics (Havoc?)
Creative Xi-Fi Elite
Lite-On DVD Burner
Lite-On CD Burner / DVD Rom
1.44 Floppy (just in case, you NEVER know [flails])
2 150gb 10k Raptors in Raid-0 (For Vista Premium when available)
2 160gb SATA Maxtors in Raid-0 (for XP-Pro, maybe upgrade to XP-Pro 64)
Arris Cable Modem (My Motorola just took a crap, they're sending a replacement)
Creative 6600 6.1 speaker system
Logitech MX-1000 Laser Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Photo keyboard (natural/comfort design)
2 19" KDS flat CRTs
Sceptre 20.1" Widescreen LCD

Sooo.. any thoughts? I've havn't tried Crossfire yet, and am a bit pensive.

 

[DoggyDaddi]

ok... wow. No one has any comments... I feel very very sad now

 

[sully127]

Since you want a comment so badly...

Sounds like a nice rig, I like what your doing with the HDDs, but why CRTs? Why not just go all LCD? You can get them somewhat cheap

 

[snowysnowcones]

Is that processor AM2 or 939? If its 939, I'd recommend buying a AM2 mobo, and buy the am2 socket processor for future upgrades... if it is an AM2 mobo/processor, wouldn't you want DDR2 RAM? Isn't that standard on AM2?
Also, might want to think about a better powersupply.. maybe 650+ watts?

 

[stealthy123]

dont buy 4 sticks of ram buy two for 2 gigs
everything else is solid, but its an upgrade dead end.
I would be proud to have that rig but I would also know it was a tribute.

CRTs are a waste of space now, your hard drive selections are wasteful especially when compared to the capacities available today and the minimal benefits a raptor offers.
The x-fi elite is a waste of money just to be a waste get the cheapest one. And the x1300 is a huge waste of money.

 

[Dan_D]

You could get the ever rare and uncurable DVI bug.

 

[DoggyDaddi]

Actually, the system is the result of gutting older systems, and buying new parts to update. I allready HAD the memory, but when I bought it I hadn't considered the limitation the BIOS placed on overall DIMM capacity when using the full 400mhz bus of my 3200 Barton Core.. that kinda sucked.

The parts I've purchased/will purchase for the new rig are the 1950 pros, the 1300, the 939 Toledo 4400, Zalman, Motherboard, case & fans, Thermaltake PCIe PS, raptors.

I'm looking at about $1200 when finished, and should end up with an exceptionally competative rig. The 5 most expensive parts were the two 1900s, the Raptors, and the Case. They made up the bulk of the cost.

Something I was unexpectedly happy about, was when i gut an old rig, I always save just about EVERYTHING from it... it all goes into the 'carnage' box.

When I went thru and started figuring out just WHAT was going WHERE in the case, it occured to me that I was running out of space. I simply didn't have enough back panel expansion slots available for everything that I was planning on. The motherboard has connectors for ports like USB, Game controller, Firewire, serial/com, the Termaltake has it's power-plug, my crossflow fan has its speed control. I found myself short by quite a bit. I dragged out the 'carnage' box, pulledout a couple old slot covers, marked em to combine plugs, and went outside (metal shavings in the carpet will make the ball-n-chain homicidal) with my Dremel to start cutting them up.

It hadn't occured to me that the wind and 19 degree temp would make it unfun, so I marched my shivering ass back inside. I decided to dig thru the 'carnage' (patent pending) box, and found TONS of backplates with all kinds of plugs that were easily removable. I found a couple that had the cut-outs in the sizes I needed, and simply combined all the single plugs to combos, and eliminated the ones I didn't really need!

I'm quite happy with the results, and look forward to its being finished. I'm making the final purchases tomorrow, but I may end up upgrading the Vantec Stealth to that amazing Corsair 620 ... everything I've read about it says 'Must have!'

 

[Dan_D]

If you are talking about the original Stacker Crossflow fan, it isn't compatible with the newer Stacker 830.

 

[DoggyDaddi]

If you are talking about the original Stacker Crossflow fan, it isn't compatible with the newer Stacker 830.

Not sure how you mean or what you're refering to, as I purchased a (don't know if it is the only version or not) Stacker Cross-Flow fan the same day I bought my Stacker 830 case. They both arrived UPS same day, and I installed the fan in the case in less then 2 minutes.

I read a PILE of reviews about the case on NewEgg, and I never encountered ANY of the problems they mention. Either the problems folks talked about were batch/anomolous events, and thus atypical of the bulk of cases produced... or ALL of the problems were addresed and otherwise fixed. My case and fan are flawless, and I absolutely adore them.

Expensive? Yes.. very much so, but I'm VERY happy with the outcome.

 

[Dan_D]

Not sure how you mean or what you're refering to, as I purchased a (don't know if it is the only version or not) Stacker Cross-Flow fan the same day I bought my Stacker 830 case. They both arrived UPS same day, and I installed the fan in the case in less then 2 minutes.

I read a PILE of reviews about the case on NewEgg, and I never encountered ANY of the problems they mention. Either the problems folks talked about were batch/anomolous events, and thus atypical of the bulk of cases produced... or ALL of the problems were addresed and otherwise fixed. My case and fan are flawless, and I absolutely adore them.

Expensive? Yes.. very much so, but I'm VERY happy with the outcome.

I'd need pics. The Stacker STC-T01 and 810 are compatible with the Crossflow fan. As far as I know, the 830 isn't. It has a swing door with 4 120mm fans (optional) and therefore wouldn't even really need the Crossflow fan even if it were compatible.

 

[DoggyDaddi]

I'd need pics. The Stacker STC-T01 and 810 are compatible with the Crossflow fan. As far as I know, the 830 isn't. It has a swing door with 4 120mm fans (optional) and therefore wouldn't even really need the Crossflow fan even if it were compatible.

As you can see, the frame for the case is actually and intentionally designed FOR the cross-flow fan. From what I had read, it's supposed to be more efficient, quieter, and moves better air volume then the 2 fans it replaces. Thats why i bought it, and am looking forward to testing it

 

[Dan_D]

I wondered what the hell that bracket was for. Awesome. I stand corrected. I'll have to pickup one of those.

 

[djBon2112]

I'll be frank: I want to know how the hell you plan to fit all those cards on that mobo! I have the same one, but I can barely get my Video card (x1950 XTX) and by E-MU 1212m (2-slot) PCI sound card in there with another card (hence why I don't have a TV-tuner card). Especially, where is the x1300 going to go, since x1950 pros are dual-slot? (The PCIe 1x slot is RIGHT under the top PCIe 16x one.)

 

[stealthy123]

I'll be frank: I want to know how the hell you plan to fit all those cards on that mobo! I have the same one, but I can barely get my Video card (x1950 XTX) and by E-MU 1212m (2-slot) PCI sound card in there with another card (hence why I don't have a TV-tuner card). Especially, where is the x1300 going to go, since x1950 pros are dual-slot? (The PCIe 1x slot is RIGHT under the top PCIe 16x one.)

wow ya he is right I got that same board and was thinking the 1x slot was above them all but its not. No way that x1300 will fit

 

[DoggyDaddi]

I'll be frank: I want to know how the hell you plan to fit all those cards on that mobo! I have the same one, but I can barely get my Video card (x1950 XTX) and by E-MU 1212m (2-slot) PCI sound card in there with another card (hence why I don't have a TV-tuner card). Especially, where is the x1300 going to go, since x1950 pros are dual-slot? (The PCIe 1x slot is RIGHT under the top PCIe 16x one.)

Afraid you are incorrect, as the ATI 1950 Pro is a single slot card. It's very slim, and freakishly heavy.

Since Crossfire shuts off a monitor output on each card, and I use 3 monitors, I need the 1300 to drive a third Monitor. I love running 3 monitors, and have no intention of dropping to less again.

 

[djBon2112]

Hrm, alright, I just keep thinking that stupid hunking PowerColor x1950 pro If they're 1 slot, you have no problems whatsoever.

 

[Dan_D]

Afraid you are incorrect, as the ATI 1950 Pro is a single slot card. It's very slim, and freakishly heavy.

Since Crossfire shuts off a monitor output on each card, and I use 3 monitors, I need the 1300 to drive a third Monitor. I love running 3 monitors, and have no intention of dropping to less again.

Why don't you just disable Crossfire when you are not gaming?

 

[DoggyDaddi]

Why don't you just disable Crossfire when you are not gaming?

Heh.. because I have 2 MORE 19" NEC Monitors that are going to be on the otherwise inactive outputs for non-gaming use

I've gutted & rebuilt several rigs several times in the last 8 years. Some people do drugs... others bury hookers in the desert... I just build a new 'Frankenstein' rig using parts who's only crime is not being less then 3 months old, every couple of years

 

[djBon2112]

Actually, I read about a thing a little while ago, it basically turns up to 4 monitors into one big one (to the computer at least), therefore using only one dual link DVI. I forget what it's called or the link, can someone help me out?

 

[Dan_D]

I've got three monitors on my rig, and I only use the other two when I am working on motherboard reviews and stuff like that. Sometimes for general use, but when I am gaming, the bastards stay disabled.

 

[Farva]

I've got three monitors on my rig, and I only use the other two when I am working on motherboard reviews and stuff like that. Sometimes for general use, but when I am gaming, the bastards stay disabled.

Out of my own curiosity, how do you do this? Disable the output to 2 monitors and allow the 3rd to exist.

 

[Dan_D]

Out of my own curiosity, how do you do this? Disable the output to 2 monitors and allow the 3rd to exist.

Nothing so complicated. The 30" is connected to the card located in the primary PCIe x16 slot on the motherboard. The other two are connected to the card located in the secondary PCIe x16 slot. When SLI is enabled, it disables video output to all but one port on the primary graphics card. This is how SLI has always worked, and for that matter Crossfire as well.

Additionally, a question to the original poster: Why buy two X1950Pro's when you can buy one 8800GTS for just a little bit more and get more performance? I realize this is the ATI section, but it just doesn't make sense to me. The 8800GTS will be faster, and Direct X 10 compatible. The price increase isn't that significant either.

 

[DoggyDaddi]

Nothing so complicated. The 30" is connected to the card located in the primary PCIe x16 slot on the motherboard. The other two are connected to the card located in the secondary PCIe x16 slot. When SLI is enabled, it disables video output to all but one port on the primary graphics card. This is how SLI has always worked, and for that matter Crossfire as well.

Additionally, a question to the original poster: Why buy two X1950Pro's when you can buy one 8800GTS for just a little bit more and get more performance? I realize this is the ATI section, but it just doesn't make sense to me. The 8800GTS will be faster, and Direct X 10 compatible. The price increase isn't that significant either.

I'm not terribly worried about having the fastest, most bleeding edge performance. I wan't an exceptionally stable rig, that does everything I like to do (many at the same time), using parts I like from a name I trust, that performs at a level above the norm.

I think this rig will be well up to the task. Lord knows I'm excited about finishing it up