Ahh random installment numbers, how fun…..Render Machine #1 is up and running in the rack now, running at 3ghz with 45C load temps, in my much coolder than cool room…I could not be happier with the results. Needless to say, It’s a rendering MACHINE! I can’t wait till I fill the rack with these badasses!
Few things I did learn was that the cords that come with the case’s PSU are way to short to do anything, I couldnt even reach to the far end of the case to run the power cord to the processor, so I had to make due…I also learned that I can pull the video card out after I am done with the configuration and it will drop my temps by 10C! I simply remote desktop in to check temps or to do something like that…So, after I took most of these pictures I pulled the video card and let it work away…Here are some pictures with some more info and process, bare with my extremely messy room, I had to take down some storage racks to make room for the cabinet, and I was so excited to get the system up I didn’t bother cleaning…lol, anyway, here we go…
(fan and Zalman 8000 not pictured)
I plugged the case in and it did nothing so I thought the PSU was dead on arrival, I simply jumped the PSU to test it, and found out its good to go, so time to move on…Mental note, and a bit of advice, a shock from the PSU SUCKS!!!!
it works:
After the PSU was tested I needed to install the mounts for the mobo, always be sure that these mounts match the holes on the mobo, you feel stupid when one or two are in the wrong place:
The insulators you see in red there are not really required, but I put them there anyway, and before I mounted the mobo I had to install the heatsink mount:
Quad core power:
Here you can see the processor in socket, and the power cord for the processor stretched over the the port…
And here the heatsink, ram, and video card are in:
Then I hooked up the hard drive and all the rest of the junk, yeah I know, messy cables, they will be/were cleaned after everything was oiled and running smoothly….
It booted, time to install the OS (monitor on right):
Ready for a stress test over night, pre-OC:
So, I woke up the next morning in a SWEAT, it must have been about 90 degrees in my room, both my desktop and new machine were on the verge of overheating. What to do?
So, now that its a brisk 68 degrees ambient in my room, we can get to work…remember the power cord issue?
(its only temporary till I decide I am not going to RMA the case), then I will cut it…After updating the bios I overclocked it to 3ghz, nothing crazy, just enough to keep temps in range, but enough to make it worth it…stress tested again and set up networking, then put it in the rack:
Notice the thing dangling? Thats right its a thermomiter…
80 degrees in there with both doors closed…I didn’t have any double sided tape at the time, I will clean it up…
So, that about does it, its running stable at 45C load temps…
And, in case anyone was wondering, here is a quick rundown of my costs so far:
- Cabinet: $150
- Window AC unit $140
- 25′ Cat 6 cable: $12
- Case:$150
- Q6600 $190
- 4gb Ram: $100
- 7100gs: $20
- 80gb hd: $35
- Mobo $75
- DVD drive: $20
- Zalman 8000 $35
- temp gauges $20
- Software $150
- Shipping/gas $45
$1150 give or take, the next machine will be $650 or so, and my only other expenses will be a switch and a power strip, the switch I listed earlier fell through…Anyway, all and all a success I think…Unfortunately I will NOT be able to finnish this build/rack (ie add more machines) untill a but later down the road, life called, it wants my money, I mean, its money back.