My Asus 780A/AMD 9850 Black Edition Build

[nRollo]

Case shots

NVIDIA was kind enough to supply me with an Asus M3N-HT motherboard, so I ordered a Phenom 9850 and ZeroTherm Nirvana to use with it.

Case is Coolermaster Cosmos 1010 with Tagan 1100W, 2 GB Corsair Dominator PC8500, and a 9800GTX.

There are some nice leaps forward with this motherboard for AMD, IMHO:
1. Hybrid Power- shuts off dicrete graphics when not in use.

2. Better onboard Hi Def audio

3. 3 way Sli

4. Hybrid Sli

5. The ability to hit the internet before getting into Windows.

After a couple bonehead plays on my part, and replacing an old powerstrip that thought 1100W was a little too much, it seems stable and I'm ready to install some games.

 

[Quiksilver]

You took off the memory heatpipe? Shoulda tested to see how well it works 🙁

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
You took off the memory heatpipe? Shoulda tested to see how well it works 🙁

if it's like my M3a32 mvp deluxe/wifi, he didn't take it off, it's included but not installed so you have the option of using it if you want to.


nice looking setup.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Have you tried OCing?

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Have you tried OCing?

Not yet, and honestly I doubt I will much.

There's not one game in this review that shows more than 1fps average difference between stock clock, and their 300MHz maximum OC at 16X12

I game at 19X12 on this computer, so it would be even more pronounced diminishing returns.

I may well go Quad SLi on this computer for increased gaming performance when the GT200s launch though, and use the hybrid power to reduce heat and energy costs though.


EDIT:
It occurs to me after I posted this that I'll probably want to OC after I go SLi or Quad in this box, so I will look into it.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: dawp

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
You took off the memory heatpipe? Shoulda tested to see how well it works 🙁

if it's like my M3a32 mvp deluxe/wifi, he didn't take it off, it's included but not installed so you have the option of using it if you want to.


nice looking setup.

You are correct, and thanks!
🙂 :beer:
Moving to the motherboard forums per your request.

Markfw900 Anandtech moderator

 

[nRollo]

Tried some gaming with this last night, was very impressed:

Crysis at 19X12 0X0X, all HIGH, ran silky smooth, no anomalies.

I tried testing FEAR v108 at 19X12 4X16X, all max, no soft shadows.

32min/66average/152max.

http://www.firingsquad.com/har...ance_preview/page4.asp

Firing Squad got 70fps average with a QX9650. That?s not bad at all: Phenom set me back $235, another $40 AMIR for the Zerotherm Nirvana.

I was looking at QX9650s the other day, over $1000.. For 4fps?