Computers

DarkScorpion

Scorpion
Staff member
Computers, let's share what system that we are on and use.

Do you prefer and/or use a custom build, factory build, or a modified system?

Mine is a custom build, and after using it, I'll not do a factory build if I can help it. Factory builds I prefer Acer's, E-Machine's, and Asus's. I find that a custom build is a lot more flexible in many areas, and a lot better then a restrained factory build.


My System:


OS: Windows 7 Pro 64bit

Case: Thermaltake RX-I Overseer

Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0

CPU: AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core 4.0GHz, overclocked to 4.88GHz

Ram: Crucial 8GB Memory sticks x4=32GB DDR3

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212

Video: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 2GB DDR5

PSU: Antec High Current Gamer 620W

Network: Asus PCE-N53 300Mbps 11n Dual-band Wireless LAN PCI-E Card

Storage:

Drive 1) Crucial M500 480GB SSD (Solid State Drive)

Drive 2) Seagate Maxtor 750GB Hybrid Drive

Drive 3) Crucial M4 512GB SSD

Optical Drives:

Drive 1) LG BD-R/RW (Blu-Ray)

Drive 2) LG DVD-R/RW

Multimedia: Manhattan Multimedia card reader

Other:

HDD Dock on top of the case

6 USB 3.0 ports

8 USB 2.0 ports

1 eSATA port

Front case fan: 200mm Blue LED

Top case fan: 2 200mm Blue LED

Back case fan: 140mm Blue LED

Bottom case fan: 140mm Blue LED

CPU Cooler fan: 2 140mm, one of them being a Blue LED




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I'm wanting to get a new computer, and I'm particularly lazy, so I don't want to build my own. Right now, my two computers are:

Dell XPS 8300 desktop with a mid-to-high end video card (at the time, a GeForce GTX 560) put in after the fact.
ASUS K73SD laptop (which I use most now, for surfing when I'm home playing things on PS3, or when remoting into work).

I don't much care for getting factory built computers and shoving new components in, the only real reason I went for the desktop was because it was a fairly cheap Dell and Windows 7 Pro was effectively free for it (due to how Dell's Windows licensing works).


When I do go to get a new computer, I'd like to get it custom built, because I want a warranty that won't be voided immediately, but I don't know where to go where I feel like I'll get a great deal and not get ripped off.
 
I am currently running a Dell Inspiron with personalizations from my children. Yep, one kid cracked the case, on broke 1/3 of the screen, one loosened the USB ports and lost a button, and the fourth is determined to pound on it until something happens. lol, yeah, needing to get a new one soon.
 
Chaos, I can understand with not wanting to upgrade a factory build. I've ran into some factory builds that make it hard to upgrade most things except the ram, but with their boards, it sort of limits you due to the MB specs of what it is able to handle. I've also found that they like to use cheap-o CPU's that are are hard to replace, and plus the OS on a factory build is mostly tied to the CPU so upgrading it if you can would void your Windows License. I can't stand Dell's though, they give the worse headache that I know of.

I also understand about getting a custom build from certain places. I fortunately have a place just at the end of our corner which happens to have a few good people with very awesome parts for very good prices. A tech there who happened to become a friend built my first custom build for almost free. I took my 10 year old E-Machine tower to him cause the sound jack went out. Three days later he gave me a call to come pick it up and charged only $45, and ended up being a completely new system with kick-butt specs.

Later he gave me a call when I was across the street and told me that he got me a good deal for $18, selling me a new larger case and a new Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 MB with the AMD 8350. I ended up with the parts of my previous system with the new parts and custom building my own. And not that long ago, when I walked in, he ended up giving me the current case that I have. He had the previous case as a place-holder cause he wanted to find one that matched me.

My wife now has my first custom build system, and our oldest daughter now has my wife's old tower that is one year old, but residing in the first case. I still have and use once in awhile my Acer Aspire 5323 laptop.

Lol Rhysis about your kid's case modding your system, and it still being a work in progress from them.

Oh yeah Chaos, you can check out the computer store that I use at http://www.ComputerCentral.com Their site needs serious updating, but you can check out their site. http://www.Crucial.com has good HDD's, SSD's, and Memory sticks that you can check out, and the pricing is quite good in my opinion. Crucial is owned by Micron which is stationed out here in Idaho, and they partnered up with Intel for some of their products.

{Grins and fades.}
 
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My System:

Seems Like me and T have a similar build. Also love custom builds because they can be upgraded easily and without voiding warranties and allows a better understanding of the internals and how and where they might be screwy. I get most of my stuff from www.tigerdirect.com

OS: Windows 7 Pro 64bit

Case: Silverstone Raven RV03
RV03-3-4.jpg


Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 AM3+

CPU: AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core 4.0GHz, overclocked to 4.88GHz

Ram: PNY MD16384K4D3-1866-X9 XLR8 16GB DDR3, 4gig sticks

CPU Cooler: Came with the processor

Video: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 2GB DDR5

PSU: Ultra X4 Modular 850-Watt ATX Power Supply V2 - 850W

Network: On-Board Wired Gigabyte Lan

Storage:

Drive 1) Seagate Barracuda STBD2000101 2 TB 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Drive 2) Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3250824AS 250GB

Drive 3) Seagate ST1000DM003 Barracuda 1TB Hard Drive

Optical Drives:

Drive 1) Asus DRW-24B1ST 24X Internal DVD Burner

Drive 2) Sony Optiarc dvd rw ad-7261s

8 different fans, no idea on the number of usb ports at the moment would have to check.
 
Very nice build Mith. Knowing your board already and seeing the specs for your case, your USB ports read is this: 6 USB 3.0, and 6 USB 2.0 . I do suggest you find a better cooler for your CPU though. With all your hardware inside and plus overclocking your 8350 to 4.88GHz, you'll definitely want to get a better cooler. Your CPU is already running hot, even with all the case fans that you possibly have loaded into your system.

You are possibly running close to 55-60c, or even possibly hotter depending if you're running higher end programs. Your stock cooler is also possibly sounding like a jet engine within the case as well when the temps start to get around 50c. The stock cooler for the 8350 does not do a good job for keeping a cool CPU. I know for I've already tried. If your CPU continues to run hot on the stock cooler, you'll be burning out your CPU very soon. You definitely don't want to get close to 65c. My Cooler Master Hyper 212 keeps my CPU at 40-50c running full load, and it runs 27-32c under regular load.


I agree with loving custom builds, allowing much easier access to what is inside, and ability to upgrade, and warranties. Customs are much more flexible in many areas. {Grins and fades.}
 
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The CPU Cooler's actually holding under a full load between 44c-49c. Although its not the quietest fan in the rig the other ones overlap its sound. Although I do have a fan that could drop the whole case by 10 degrees but that one sounds like having 12 vacuum cleaners running simultaneously 2 feet from my head. Although I may look into a replacement cpu cooler to keep it running a little more frosty in the future see if I can get to the 27-32c range on normal load.
 
Sounds like you got fans hitting around 36db for 2000rpms. Mine are all cooler master with the 140mm's running 1000rpm at 16db, and my 200mm's running at 700rpm with more air push then the 140's, at db's of 13db.
 
The Fan I am referencings not in the computer I left it out because honestly I would say it was probably somewhere around 90db if not higher and its a Vantec Tornado, things noisey as hell when installed, but it made my whole room colder. Moves a LOT of air. currently I have 7 case fans which are roughly I would guess about 37db when turned up on full power. I'd have to look though all my recipets from the last 2 years to narrow down the fan models in there currently.
 
{Grins to da Mith.} No need to go digging through receipts. I was doing the estimation for your case fans as well. I was thinking that since you stated that their noise overlapped the stock cpu cooler, they were possibly 2,000rpm fans, and those generally hit around 36-37db when at full power. They do push more air then my 140's due to them going 2x faster. It also explains why your CPU is at the low temps that you're running at full load. If it wasn't for your 2,000rpm fans, your CPU would be running much hotter under full load.

If you do switch out your CPU cooler for a better cooler, you'll definitely get better cooling results with keeping your current case fans, and not having to run at full power, and becoming much quieter then what you're currently experiencing. {Grins and fades.}
 
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