My Velocity Micro Raptor DualX SLI Review

[tjmaxwell]

Well, I downloaded Prime95 again and ran the most CPU intensive test (my CPU usage was at 100% the whole time). The temp via Asus Probe went to 72C, 61C in Everest. I suspect you're right about Asus Probe being accurate.

As for those ambient temps, I don't see how they could possibly be right. 76C? There's no way that can be right. I took the side panel off and the CPU temps in both Everest and Asus Probe have dropped by about 10 degrees. As I continue to run the 100% CPU torture test, it's sitting at 63C in Asus Probe...down from about 72. My ambient temperature according to the video drivers is still showing 76C and hasn't budged. I stick my hand into the case while it's running and it doesn't feel remotely warm. There's cool air blowing from a huge fan in front of the hard drives. I don't think there's any way that ambient temperature can be right. If it was 76C in there, the air in the case would feel really warm. It should also drop significantly since removing the side panel, but it's not moving at all. I have no idea what to do or believe.

Oh, and I'm using the latest certified drivers (66.93 I believe).

 

[DrRios]

My cards run at about the same temperature so they should be fine.
It is interesting that 2 cards run at a lower temperature than using only one...

My CPU temperature has only gone as high as 58 and that was while compilling a home movie and surfing the web with a word processor open.

I have never done that before.

 

[Duvie]

The ambient are likley hosed by some sort of softare issue. The tempertaure from what I am told is supposed to be off the air around the card. It is not 76c in the case or you would definitely know it....I wuld imagine it would be somehwere in the 30's.....

 

[Mik3y]

i was just reading about that rig in my latest issue of maximumpc. except for the case itself, i find it super sweet. 🙂

 

[DrRios]

Nvidia has a new driver 71.89
placed in the web 2 -5 days ago

Is the first driver that will allow to turn "off" SLI in a ASUS Deluxe from the driver and back "on" with no difficulty and no lock.

this will allow Apple Cinema used to turn SLI "off" so they can play games in a lower resolution than native.

SLI work fine in native 1900x1200 resolution but most games do not go to this resolution.

Nvidia in the Release Notes for this driver for the first time admits there is an issue with Apple Cinema monitors and SLI and recommends to use NVIDIA 6800 Ultra with 512 MB ( and pass on SLI) for now...

http://download.nvidia.com/Windows/71.89/71.89_ForceWare_Release_Notes.pdf

RELEASE NOTES FROM NVIDIA FOR DRIVER 71.89

page 12...

 

[kini62]

75C under load

And they say the Prescott runs hot. Mine doesn't get near that hot (although the HSF weighs about 4 lbs) 😀

 

[ArnoldLayne]

This computer doesn't seem to be anything special at all, just an exercise in buying parts with bad price/performance.
I would want SCSI or dual CPUs for 4k. Raptors don't even have NCQ.

 

[Ken90630]

Originally posted by: ArnoldLayne
This computer doesn't seem to be anything special at all, just an exercise in buying parts with bad price/performance.
I would want SCSI or dual CPUs for 4k. Raptors don't even have NCQ.

Actually, I think the 74GB Raptors (which is what's in the OP's rig) do have NCQ. See here. WD just calls it "command queuing," as opposed to "native command queuing" (NCQ), but they're the same thing, aren't they? If not, what's the diff?

BTW, is "Arnold Layne" your name or is it a reference to the old Pink Floyd song of the same name?

 

[beany323]

for some reason link to pics = not there.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: tjmaxwell
I played HL2 for about an hour last night with this rig and immediately went to Asus Probe to check the temps. It reported the processor at 75C. I've had zero stability problems with the machine so far, so I'm wondering if this is accurate. I'm running the latest bios revision and the latest version of Asus Probe. These temps are really worrying me, but when I addressed them with Velocity Micro, they said:

The processor temperature is high, but that is to be expected in a system with as many hight powered components as yours. A single 6800 is hot, 2 of them as well as a few 10000 RPM hard drives and other components will yield higher temperatures. I believe the FX-55 is rated to operate at up to 85-90C. If it gets hot enough it will sense that it has passed its threshold and shut the computer down to prevent damage. It's true that the Zalman HSF won't make good contact with the processor without removing the Intel bracket and replacing it with the Zalman backplate, which is why we do this with our builds.

I suppose it's their problem if the chip fries, but I'd just as soon avoid that if possible -- even if it doesn't cost me anything.

this is the case, with the P4 bracket, and ASUS's handy andy work (ie a pre installed back plate super glued to the mobo) the ZALMAN CNPS7000's dont fit at all

as ASUS' un-removable back plate has raised nipples of its own, using Zalmans nipples means the cooler sits a good 5mm off the chip...no good

simply screwing the 7000 into the P4 bracket was better, but even screwed in its tightest i could stil move the hsf round on my ASUS mobo

in the end

i removed the P4 bracket, took the two long screws from it, and screwed the 7000 directly into the pre installed backplate. it looks precarious....and certainly u wouldnt expect it from a system builder, but it works like a charm

Asus really shouldnt install backplates with nipples, or at the very least not SUPER GLUE the damn backplate on so i had at least the option to swap it for the Zalman backplate

 

[SomeDude22]

pics wont show

make me a sad camper 🙁