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Jafo
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
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Jafo's OK PC Build of 2015

February 3, 2015 7:27:30 AM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Following on with ID's thread re new PC build.... and I'd only hijacked Starkers' one to describe what I'd been doing to date...so here's my own thread with the ins and outs of what's what.

My old machine [also home-grown] was a [then] reasonably OK machine....

Lian Li PC-A6010 case [black]

Antec TruePower Quattro 1000w PSU

ASUS P6T-se  X58 i7 MoBo

Intel i7 920 2.66Ghz LGA1366 CPU

12G OCZ Triple [6x2G] PC12800 DDR3 Gold Ram

CoolerMaster V8 CPU Cooler

Vantec EZ2 Sata hot-swap racks [x2][black]

1TB Seagate Sata2 7200 HD [x2] [redundancy backup/data]

2TB Western Digital Caviar Green Sata2 HD [x2]

500G WD Sata2 7200 HD [game backups]

250G Seagate Sata2 7200 HD [x2] [secondary/alternate OS installs in racks]

240G SanDisk SDSSDX240GG25 [for OS]

ACR-105 Multi card reader

LG Sata DVD-RW [x2][black]

ASUS GTX590 3GB GPU

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit RTM.

 

That was its final specs...having doubled the ram from 6 and adding a 'faster' GPU.

The stumbling block was really 'just' the CPU.  For FSX  it's a case of 'the faster the better' - so just before Xmas I started researching....

 

More to come...

 

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Jafo
Jafo
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Reply #1 February 3, 2015 7:34:34 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

 

Before I knew it whilst looking at 'the next' Lian Li case to use I saw this thing....

That's when it all got.....

 

 

 

....expensive...

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Jafo
teddybearcholla
Join Date 12/2002
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Reply #2 February 3, 2015 7:39:30 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 1

....expensive...
  but it looks like no pc I've ever seen before...business like, is what I'd call it!   

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Jafo
Jafo
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Reply #3 February 3, 2015 7:44:49 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

The design concept intrigued me.  It seemed so 'logical' in so many ways - separation of components meant separation of heat issues [mostly], and for the very first time ever [for me] I was almost confident I could do some tidy wiring....

Now, it's bloody huge...and weighed 50 pounds empty, but the styling was such it deserved to be left on a bench, not under [which is good because it'd never fit].

The entire animal is 3mm 'sheet' aluminium so it's its own heat-sink and sound insulator.

The biggest issue was/is its price.

If you're going to fill this thing with 'bits' it can't be a 486 .... it's gotta be something 'cutting edge'....

 

 

....so fingers [wallet] were bloodied....

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Jafo
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Reply #4 February 3, 2015 7:51:10 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

[doing this in 'bits' because the ISP is flaky] ...

What I ended up getting, less what I might add [matching mouse and a Blueray burner]-------------->

Prices are in AUD so [these days] multiply by 80% for USD.

************************************************

Thermaltake Level 10 VL300A9N1N Titanium Limited Edition Case   $1299   

Corsair ASX 1200I Platinum Certified 1200w Modular PSU    $  439   

ASUS X99 Deluxe LGA2011v3 MotherBoard      $  529   

Intel i7 5960 3.00Ghz @3.50Ghz LGA2011v3 CPU     $1279   

Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 LGA2011 CPU Cooler     $    88   

32G Corsair Dominator Platinum [4x8G] 2666MHz DDR4 Ram   $1020   

ASUS Strix GTX980 4GB GPU       $  869   

512G Samsung XP941 M.2 PCIe x4 SSD [C]=Win7 Ultimate [H]=Games $  611 

240G Corsair Neutron GTX SSD [E]=[Office + Proggies]  [hotswap] $  279

240G Corsair Neutron GTX SSD [F]=[Games 2]   [hotswap] $  279

3TB Western Digital Caviar Green Sata2 HD [G + D]  [hotswap]  $  128

2TB Western Digital Caviar Green Sata2 HD [I]   [hotswap]  $    99

2TB Western Digital Caviar Green Sata2 HD [J]   [hotswap] $    99

LG Sata DVD-RW [M] [black]        $    19

3X SATA 3 Cables         $      9   

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit.        $ Technet    

MS Office 2007 Ultimate 64bit       $ Technet    

          $7037    TOTAL

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Jafo
Jafo
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Reply #5 February 3, 2015 8:05:04 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

This has been the first machine I've done with a UEFI boot, and definitely the first with the OS loaded onto a M.2 'card' that's about the size of a Wrigleys Spearmint gum stick.

It seems Windows just scratches its head when it encounters DDR4 so a WEI test fails every time.

The ASUS board has some 'tweaks' with the CPU pins [there are more] which enables a bit more get up and go from the i7-5960 and the desktop CPU 'gadget' showing 16 'cores' looks impressive.

This is a fourth generation build [for me].... the earliest were shop-built but I'd never go back to 'off the rack' except for laptops of course...

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Jafo
Island Dog
Join Date 06/2003
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Reply #6 February 3, 2015 8:09:41 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I'd say that's more of an "awesome" build.

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Jafo
Jafo
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Reply #7 February 3, 2015 8:46:56 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Now, if anyone is contemplating a similar build...into such a case there's a few things to note...

The case is strictly ATX ...no oversize MoBos...

If you use the cooler I chose you need to cut out a few fins near the outer bottom to allow the case to close...I think the X99 layout has the CPU lower down than other socket types.

And if you plan to populate the other 4 Ram slots for something kewl like 64gig you'll have to chuck out the cooler entirely and find something narrower/more compact.  As it was it came with an extra fan which cannot be mounted due to the RAM proximity, however one's more than enough anyway. [it's a good cooler].

Thermaltake goes to great pains to specify max GPU card length, etc...but forgets about width.  The 980 only just fits....

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Jafo
DaveBax
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Reply #8 February 3, 2015 8:50:53 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 4

Prices are in AUD so [these days] multiply by 80% for USD.

Wow forget it on this end.

I agree with ID. The thing is it's like skinning. If you like it that is all that matters. Wish you the best using it.

 

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Jafo
fooshniken
Join Date 01/2003
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Reply #9 February 3, 2015 8:56:14 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

  VERYYY NICE!!!!! 

 I have an Asus Maximus V Formula motherboard that features a PCIe combo connection. Essentially I have a  Samsung 250GB PM830 SSD  mSATA card connection for extra cache and faster boot times.

 "Hook up immediate extra connectivity to the ROG motherboard and say so long to physical limitations. The unique Combo attaches to the motherboard near the rear I/O , and comes with one mSATA port supporting Intel® Smart Response Technology hybrid storage acceleration with compatible mSATA SSDs, and a dual band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth v4.0 card bundled into its mini PCI Express 2.0/USB 2.0 combo port on the opposite side. This way, you can connect extra devices without taking up valuable space on the motherboard, and get the best of both worlds: for better connectivity and expandability without sacrificing essential features."

Windows doesn't recognize it as a regular SSD, it seems to think of it as an external hard drive. Maybe that's why your M.2 isn't recognized either. Even Samsung's Maintenance program for SSD's doesn't recognize it as a SSD. Check your COMPUTER MANAGEMENT /Storage to see if that is the possibility.

 Again A big WOW on that build.

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Jafo
Jafo
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Reply #10 February 3, 2015 9:11:05 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting fooshniken,
reply 9

Windows doesn't recognize it as a regular SSD, it seems to think of it as an external hard drive. Maybe that's why your M.2 isn't recognized either. Even Samsung's Maintenance program for SSD's doesn't recognize it as a SSD. Check your COMPUTER MANAGEMENT /Storage to see if that is the possibility.

The OS is on the M.2 OK... however I think I'm waiting for a 'Bios' upgrade to get past the 2 or 3 cold boots needed before the thing actually fires up.  Typically the Windows 'load' stalls halfway through the 'flag' animation and you just restart it again [with normal settings].

Since I rarely turn my computer off it's really only a pain with windows updates that 'demand' a reboot.

I expect once I've moved on to Windows 10 Microsoft will have caught up with 'modern' hardware...

 

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Jafo
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #11 February 3, 2015 9:57:11 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 7

Now, if anyone is contemplating a similar build...into such a case there's a few things to note...

The case is strictly ATX ...no oversize MoBos...

There is no contemplating a similar build in 'such' a case.  I have inquired about both the titanium and black versions and neither are available anymore.  For the Titanium version, only 5000 were ever manufactured, and according to what I'm hearing, all have been sold.  As for the Black version, the one I originally wanted, it is no longer in production and most likely unavailable unless some obscure PC stores here or there have one.

BUGGER!!!!!!

... cos I really, really, really wanted one.

As for the innards, well I'm saving like buggery for very similar parts and have plans to build later in 2015, probably around mid to late August.

However, I will go for the CoolerMaster Cosmos II case for my next 'beastie'

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benmanns
Join Date 12/2005
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Reply #12 February 3, 2015 10:08:04 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Intel i7 5960 3.00Ghz @3.50Ghz LGA2011v3 CPU     $1279   

there is no such thing- U must have missed the mighty X behind it (Intel i7 5960X)
good choice for it`s cooling 
I also need to upgrade soon but i wait for the next gen i still have some puffer i can run the I72600k on 5Ghz with air cooling  
Thought of upgrading to a 8Pack Supernova I75960X Extreme OC but that would blow my wallet hehe
About the system stalling try changing the PCI-e SSD on a diff slot or take a look at the mainboard description should be working on every x99 board
As far as i know the x99 bios should have the bootcode for the m2 


 

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bluedxca93
Join Date 07/2014
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Reply #13 February 3, 2015 11:22:29 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Hi,

Hope that your pc remains also that fast for the next years ( its indeed  very vaery and very  very fast for  today, but how will it be in some years? ).However the case seems really nice.

 

B.t.w: Are western digitals hd gotten better nowadays?.Did see about 5  of them with broken file systems some years ago.

 

regards bluedxca93

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Jafo
fooshniken
Join Date 01/2003
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Reply #14 February 3, 2015 11:47:55 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

 Went to check on some useful reviews of this M.2 Card. faster than a speeding bullet. The reviewers who bought this seem to have a handle on how to make it bootable and recognized. hope this is helpful!!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-XP941-512GB-80mm-PCIe/product-reviews/B00JOSM3TK

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Snowman
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Reply #15 February 3, 2015 1:08:23 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 1

 
Well, I hate you, now.
 
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Jafo
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Reply #16 February 3, 2015 3:20:47 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting benmanns,
reply 12

there is no such thing

Yes, forgot the 'x' ...

It's an M.2 card in an M.2 slot, not in a PCIe - there may be 5 of those in the X99 but only one M.2 slot.

And yes it's bootable....I'm using it right here.

Quoting starkers,
reply 11

For the Titanium version, only 5000 were ever manufactured, and according to what I'm hearing, all have been sold.

500.  Mine's No.221 ...

 

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Reply #17 February 3, 2015 3:41:24 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Benchmarking....

Previously I had used the Resident Evil 5 Benchmark Demo to test my i7-920 with the GTX285 and achieved a handy 106.0 fps at my default 1680x1050x32 DX10.

The GTX590 got to 144.4 fps. ....a 40% increase.

 

This thing gets 250.8 fps. ...

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benmanns
Join Date 12/2005
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Reply #18 February 3, 2015 6:22:30 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

ahh ok...
the small thing with the screws, honestly i havent tested one yet 
enlighten me ^^ what is the difference beetween m2 and pci-e supertalent for example ?
I found something that says that they save up space but that cant be the only reason or is it?
 

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starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #19 February 3, 2015 6:51:11 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 16

Quoting starkers,
reply 11

For the Titanium version, only 5000 were ever manufactured, and according to what I'm hearing, all have been sold.

500. Mine's No.221 ...

Yes, you are quite correct.... can't even blame it on a typo, either.   I knew it was one or the other and figured the larger number made more sense... like why would they even start up the production line for just 500. 

I could have checked I suppose, but at the time it just seemed like waaaay too much effort. 

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psychoak
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Reply #20 February 3, 2015 6:59:22 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

M.2 is just a newer, smaller connection method.  It's no different from a normal SATA connection, performance wise.  Space wise it's a relatlvely tiny chip instead of a full 2.5 inch form, and plugs into a connector on the board.  It's the standard for mobile applications because of it's size, but there are quite a few performance motherboards coming with them in the desktop environment as well.

 

PCI-E has a much higher bandwidth capability than SATA, the supertalent cards can be in the 2GB/s range, massively faster than the sub 600MB/s you can get on a SATA3 port.

 

They're also leaving SATA for PCI-E, just using the same connection methods going forward.  the SATA-Express standard is a PCI-E interface in there for faster speeds.

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kryo
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Reply #21 February 3, 2015 7:16:18 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 4

[doing this in 'bits' because the ISP is flaky] ...

What I ended up getting, less what I might add [matching mouse and a Blueray burner]-------------->

Prices are in AUD so [these days] multiply by 80% for USD.

************************************************

Thermaltake Level 10 VL300A9N1N Titanium Limited Edition Case   $1299   

Corsair ASX 1200I Platinum Certified 1200w Modular PSU    $  439   

ASUS X99 Deluxe LGA2011v3 MotherBoard      $  529   

Intel i7 5960 3.00Ghz @3.50Ghz LGA2011v3 CPU     $1279   

Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 LGA2011 CPU Cooler     $    88   

32G Corsair Dominator Platinum [4x8G] 2666MHz DDR4 Ram   $1020   

ASUS Strix GTX980 4GB GPU       $  869   

512G Samsung XP941 M.2 PCIe x4 SSD [C]=Win7 Ultimate [H]=Games $  611 

240G Corsair Neutron GTX SSD [E]=[Office + Proggies]  [hotswap] $  279

240G Corsair Neutron GTX SSD [F]=[Games 2]   [hotswap] $  279

3TB Western Digital Caviar Green Sata2 HD [G + D]  [hotswap]  $  128

2TB Western Digital Caviar Green Sata2 HD [I]   [hotswap]  $    99

2TB Western Digital Caviar Green Sata2 HD [J]   [hotswap] $    99

LG Sata DVD-RW [M] [black]        $    19

3X SATA 3 Cables         $      9   

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit.        $ Technet    

MS Office 2007 Ultimate 64bit       $ Technet    

          $7037    TOTAL

 

... and FSX still brings it to its knees.

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Jafo
Jafo
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Reply #22 February 3, 2015 7:50:01 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting psychoak,
reply 20

M.2 is just a newer, smaller connection method. It's no different from a normal SATA connection, performance wise.

M.2 is just a newer, smaller connection method.  It's no different from a normal PCIe connection, performance wise....except can be better...

Third gen m.2x4 has a throughput up to 32 gig/sec.  SATA3 is quite a bit less than that.

Specs I got once installed....

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 Shizuku Edition x64 (C) 2007-2013 hiyohiyo
                           Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

           Sequential Read :   968.661 MB/s
          Sequential Write :   899.165 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :   657.540 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :   827.227 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :    34.918 MB/s [  8524.8 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :   105.197 MB/s [ 25683.0 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :   199.841 MB/s [ 48789.4 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :   146.707 MB/s [ 35817.2 IOPS]

  Test : 1000 MB [C: 50.6% (99.1/195.8 GB)] (x5)
  Date : 2015/01/08 9:05:50
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)

 

Edit....

Just ran Passmark's Performance Test 8.0 to see what it found with the m.2 .... came out at 7736 when the nearest best in the default listing was a Kingston SH100S3120G at 3822.

Perhaps I should have shut down FSX, etc first before running benchmarks....

 

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Jafo
Jafo
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Reply #23 February 3, 2015 7:53:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting kryo,
reply 21

... and FSX still brings it to its knees.

Just about....though I've seen quite an improvement [as you'd hope]... staying in the double figures frame-rate-wise even in the high load/detail addons such as 3rd party airports...

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Leo the Lion
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Reply #24 February 4, 2015 1:11:42 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Paul...........You sure that's going to fit under the bonnet of your Saab? Oh! my bad its a PC build..........thought it was a new engine for your car!

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alaknebs
Join Date 08/2010
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Reply #25 February 4, 2015 7:15:10 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

this ain't the one with modules where the cpu/gpu bits are cooled in mineral oil or something, is it?

 

ps.. not waiting 6 months or what not for skylake?

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