Please Examine this rig

[Daovonnaex]

Note: The air-cooling is temporary, as I will put peltiers and waterblocks on the CPU, a water-block on the FSB, and a water-block on the graphics card
Case: Lian Li PC-76 (fans exchanged for Enermax temp-sensing fans)
PSU: Enermax 550w and Antec 400w (to be used to power future peltiers and water-cooling)
Fan Controller: Digital Doc 5 Fan Controller
Planar: Asus A7M266-D
CPUs: 2x Athlon MP 1900+
HSF: Bitspower NP80D attached with ASII
HSF for north bridge: Crystal Orb attached with ASII
Memory: 3x Corsair XMS2400 256mb non-ECC DIMMs (will exchange for XMS2700 when available)
Graphics Card: Gainward Powerpack Ti550 (it's a Ti500, and I'm aware that the Ti200 is almost as good)
HSF on graphics card: Crystal orb attached via nanotherm
--I'd like recommendations for methods of cooling the RAM on graphics cards, as well
SCSI/RAID adapter: Adaptec 3410s
ATA adapter: Highpoint RocketRAID 404 (I might scrap this to leave an open PCI slot)
Sound card: Hercules Game Theatre XP (I want the external box, and I sure as hell don't want an Audigy)
Ethernet adapter: I'd like a full duplex gigabit ethernet card for a 64-bit 66MHz PCI slot (will use 10/100 if necessary), suggestions welcome
Modems:
--USRobotic V.92 external
--Linksys cable modem (recommendations, please)
IEEE 1394 Adapter: Aten PCI FireWire
HDD
--6x Seagate X15-36LP in RAID 0 on first SCSI channel (for high workloads)
--6x Fujitsu MAM in RAID 0 on second SCSI channel (for low workloads)
Optical Storage:
--Kenwood 72x TrueX CD-ROM
--Philips DVDRW208 DVD+RW
--Yamaha CRW3200 CD-RW
--Asus 16x/48x DVD-ROM
Removable Storage:
--Iomega Peerless
--Iomega Zip250 SCSI
Floppy: Teac 1.44mb floppy drive (whoopee!)
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1
Monitor: LaCie Electron 22 Blue III

I'd like input on my selection of components, possible superior alternatives, etc. BTW--don't try to subsitute a cheaper component that's almost as good--money is NOT an issue in any way. Most importantly, did I forget anything?

 

[DSTA]

Just a couple of thoughts and suggestions that come to mind:

HSF: Alpha PAL8045 attached with ASII

Sure there is enough room for those?

PSU: Enermax 550w (necessary for future peltiers)

If I was to use peltiers, I would find a case that has room for two PSUs and run the peltiers on a dedicated PSU.

Memory: 4x Corsair XMS2400 256mb non-ECC DIMMs

I think you need registered memory if you want to use all 4 mem sockets.

--Iomega Zip250 (btw--is this available in SCSI) [...]

Look here.

BTW, if money is no object, why not buy a HP Kayak? They should be available with Prestonias soonish.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Just a couple of thoughts and suggestions that come to mind:

HSF: Alpha PAL8045 attached with ASII

Sure there is enough room for those? >>


It doesn't, so I'm changing over to Bitspower NP80D HSFs



<< PSU: Enermax 550w (necessary for future peltiers)

If I was to use peltiers, I would find a case that has room for two PSUs and run the peltiers on a dedicated PSU. >>


The case has room for two PSUs, so I will. Given my nutty HDD config, I still need 550w.



<< Memory: 4x Corsair XMS2400 256mb non-ECC DIMMs

I think you need registered memory if you want to use all 4 mem sockets. >>


That's true, but I like purchasing an extra module because I've had experience with modules failing or being bad before.



<< --Iomega Zip250 (btw--is this available in SCSI) [...]

Look here. >>


I fixed it before you posted, but thank you.



<< BTW, if money is no object, why not buy a HP Kayak? They should be available with Prestonias soonish. >>


I'm overclocking, and the Xeon has a 20-stage pipe-line that I don't want. Also, the system configured here will be more expensive than the HP workstation...

 

[palominon00b]

what is the purpose of this computer, and who's footing the bill? (hehe)

-n00b!

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< what is the purpose of this computer, and who's footing the bill? (hehe)

-n00b! >>

Digital video, DTP, 3D rendering (I'm going to modify the graphics card so it'll essentially be a Quadro DCC), gaming (I'm aware of the marginal edge in a single processor nForce config), seti@home, etc.
As for the bill, I'm footing the bill.

 

[DSTA]

I fixed it before you posted, but thank you.

You're welcome. I'm slooow towday .

I'm overclocking, and the Xeon has a 20-stage pipe-line that I don't want. Also, the system configured here will be more expensive than the HP workstation...

I don't want to talk you into anything, it's just that the Kayaks I've seen so far all were very nice, rather over-engineered machines .

Edit:

[...] 3D rendering [...]

I'd suggest more RAM. Probably not a bad idea to max out what the board can handle (if that does not get in the way of overclocking too much).

 

[palominon00b]

whats the approximate cost of that beast?

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< I fixed it before you posted, but thank you.

You're welcome. I'm slooow towday .

I'm overclocking, and the Xeon has a 20-stage pipe-line that I don't want. Also, the system configured here will be more expensive than the HP workstation...

I don't want to talk you into anything, it's just that the Kayaks I've seen so far all were very nice, rather over-engineered machines . >>

It'll be nothing compared to the monster I'm building. It's nice, but not as nice as this proposed rig.



<< whats the approximate cost of that beast? >>


A hell of a lot. I'll let you guys know after I've bought it.

 

[Daovonnaex]

I'm changing from Seagate Cheetah 73LPs to 6 Seagate X15-36LPs and 6 Fujitsu MAMs each in its own RAID 0 interface on seperate SCSI channels. Also, I still need recommendations for a 64-bit 66MHz PCI ethernet card.

 

[Daovonnaex]

blast...another bump because I still need ethernet on the 64-bit 66MHz PCI recommendations.

 

[Daovonnaex]

I think I have a fairly finalized machine now (still looking for grphx card RAM sinks)--here it is
Case and Power Supply
--Case: Lian Li PC-76
--PSU: 2x Top Power 430w units
--Fans: Enermax Temp sensing units
--Fan controller: Digital Doc 5 Fan Controller

Planar
--Planar (mainboard): Asus A7M266-D
--CPU: 2x Athlon XP 2000+
--CPU HSF: Bitspower NP80D attached with ASII
--North Bridge HSF: Crystal Orb attached with ASII
--Memory: 3x Corsair XMS2400 256mb non-ECC DIMMs

Video
--Graphics Card: Gainward Powerpack Ti550 (a Ti500)
--HSF on Graphics card: Crystal Orb attached via nanotherm
--RAM sinks: I'm open to suggestions
--Monitor: LaCie Electron 22 Blue III (I'm open to suggestions on this one)

64-Bit PCI Cards
--SCSI/RAID adapter: Adaptec 3410s
--Ethernet adapter: Linksys EG1064

32-Bit PCI Cards
--ATA adapter: Highpoint RocketRAID 404
--Sound Card: Hercules Game Theatre XP
--IEEE 1394 Adapter: Aten PCI FireWire
*This board needs another 32-bit PCI slot, as I want an MPEG decoder card

HDD Storage
--4x Seagate Cheetah X15-36LP on RAID 0 on first SCSI channel
--4x Seagate Cheetah X15-36LP on RAID 0 on second SCSI channel
--4x Seagate Cheetah X15-36LP on RAID 0 on third SCSI channel
--3x QPS Que! M3 UltraSlim 100 GB FireWire (external drives for backup purposes)

Optical Storage
--CD-ROM: Kenwood TrueX 72X as single ATA Master
--CD-RW: Yamaha CRW3200 as single ATA Master
--DVD/CD-ROM: Asus 16x/48x as single ATA Master
--DVD+RW: DVDRW208 DVD+RW as single ATA Master

Other Storage
--Iomega Peerless on fourth SCSI channel
--Iomega Zip250 on fourth SCSI channel
--Teac Floppy Drive

Sound Input/Output
--Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1
--Headphones: Bose Headphones
--Microphone: Neumann Solution-D Digital Microphone set

Input Devices
--Keyboard: Belkin Ergonomic PS/2
--Mouse: Kensington Optical Elite PS/2 Mouse

Network
--Modem: USRobotics v.92 external modem
--Cable Gateway: Linksys BEFCMU10
--Ethernet Switch: Linksys EF2S16 (16 port 10/100)
--Firewire hub: Network Technologies IEEE 1394 5 port repeater

Miscallaneous
--Arctic Silver II thermal grease
--Nanotherm thermal grease
--DIMM lubricant
--Round ATA and SCSI cables

While this is pretty final, I'm still very receptive to any additional suggestions. Also, am I forgetting anything?

 

[Dug]

Can you even find a Kenwood 72x anymore?
Although I had one of these, I certainly don't miss it.
It was fast on store bought pressed disks, but not with anything burned.
It's not like your going to care about the 15seconds you save on installing SOME programs.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Can you even find a Kenwood 72x anymore?
Although I had one of these, I certainly don't miss it.
It was fast on store bought pressed disks, but not with anything burned.
It's not like your going to care about the 15seconds you save on installing SOME programs. >>

It's still advertised at Kenwood's site...
BTW--was it actually significantly slower on burned?

 

[JohnnyPC]

Whatever Doood! What is it exactlty that you want to know? It's like telling the rest of us that you'll be buying a Ferrari and "what do we think"? What are we supposed to tell you..."oh no, you have to buy the Lamborghini because it's 'better'". Looks like you spent a bunch of time > dreaming < about this system so just go do it since the rest rest of us don't really care that your money is no object....post a pic for us when you gitter done!!

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Whatever Doood! What is it exactlty that you want to know? It's like telling the rest of us that you'll be buying a Ferrari and "what do we think"? What are we supposed to tell you..."oh no, you have to buy the Lamborghini because it's 'better'". Looks like you spent a bunch of time > dreaming < about this system so just go do it since the rest rest of us don't really care that your money is no object....post a pic for us when you gitter done!! >>

I was think along the lines of the Koenigsegg CC instead of Italian super cars...
Alright, I'll definitely post the pic and the benches

 

[Dug]

<< BTW--was it actually significantly slower on burned? >>


yep. My Toshiba 48x can blow past it with no problem + most other dvd and cdroms are clonecd compatible- the kenwood is not.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<<

<< BTW--was it actually significantly slower on burned? >>


yep. My Toshiba 48x can blow past it with no problem + most other dvd and cdroms are clonecd compatible- the kenwood is not. >>

Damn. That sucks--thanks for the information.