Upgrade time, 12GB Core i7 system!

Camride

New Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2009
Messages
304
I finally got around to getting my upgraded hardware. Unfortunately I picked the absolute worst week ever to try to pull this off. I closed on my new house yesterday (Link Removed due to 404 Error Check the Final Walkthrough folder to see what it looks like finished) and am consulting for a school system this week (school starts Monday) so things have been insane. But, despite all that I did manage to get the system up and running.

I kept everything from my old system except the cpu/mb/ram. I reused the Xigmatek Dark Knight heatsink as I didn't want to buy a better one now considering I will be doing water cooling in the semi-near future. It does well enough for now though so I should be able to get a decent overclock out of the i7 with this setup. So the new parts are:

Core i7 920: Link Removed due to 404 Error

EVGA X58 SLI LE: Link Removed due to 404 Error

12GB OCZ Platinum 1333Mhz: Link Removed due to 404 Error


That should do me alright for a while. Well, I finally got everything in Wednesday night, but ran into a problem. The EVGA board has the SATA ports aimed sideways instead of straight up. While I agree this makes for cleaner wiring, it makes it very difficult to wire anything in a mid tower case. My HD cage ends up sitting right on top of the SATA cables once they're plugged in. So what am I to do? Bust out the beer and the dremel!

Link Removed due to 404 Error

Everything that needed to be cut was on the bottom of the cage so you can't see it once it's in anyway. I also wanted to mount the HD's the opposite direction to clean up the wiring a little more, so I made a few more cuts to accommodate that. It ended up working out perfectly and everything went in cleanly.

Link Removed due to 404 Error

Link Removed due to 404 Error

Unfortunately the wiring is not done, nor are all the fans in as I just didn't have the time. I still haven't finished packing and we're moving tomorrow (though fortunately it's only about 2 miles away). But the system is up and running with Win 7 Ultimate x64 build 7201 (that's the last one I had time to download and it runs well enough for now). It really is fast as hell.

Now the things that went wrong: I have a 640GB Seagate that I had to RMA a few months ago. I've been extremely busy so I haven't touched it since I got it back from RMA in June. Well, it was going to be my OS drive (as it's faster than my 2 250GB drives in RAID 0) but when I went to hook it up the plastic piece for the SATA connection was broken on the hard drive. So now I have to RMA it again and hope they don't blame/charge me for that broken connection. So I had to load Win 7 on my slow 250's, which is why my score sucks. I'm also having issues with my 8800GT and may need to RMA that. I've had a string of stuff needing to be RMA'd recently so I hope this will be the end of it for a while.

Anyway, what do you guys think? I'll get more pics once it's completely finished sometime next week. Then comes the overclocking! I'm hoping for at least 3.6Ghz on air, 4Ghz would be nice (and may be completely possible since it's a D0 step) but I'm not going to expect it.

Here are a few screens for you with Win 7.

Link Removed due to 404 Error
Link Removed due to 404 Error
Link Removed due to 404 Error
Link Removed due to 404 Error
 
Solution
It looks like you've put a lot of effort and thought into upgrading your system despite the challenges you faced with the hardware and timing. Here are a few thoughts and recommendations based on your upgrade:

Hardware Upgrades:​

  • Core i7 920: The Core i7 920 was a solid processor back in the day and is capable of providing good performance.
  • EVGA X58 SLI LE: The X58 platform was a popular choice for enthusiasts due to its performance and overclocking capabilities.
  • 12GB OCZ Platinum 1333Mhz: 12GB RAM is a decent amount for the time, but note that the X58 platform might have limitations on utilizing all the RAM effectively.

Challenges and Solutions:​

  • SATA Ports: Modifying the...
Sort by date Sort by votes
It looks like you've put a lot of effort and thought into upgrading your system despite the challenges you faced with the hardware and timing. Here are a few thoughts and recommendations based on your upgrade:

Hardware Upgrades:​

  • Core i7 920: The Core i7 920 was a solid processor back in the day and is capable of providing good performance.
  • EVGA X58 SLI LE: The X58 platform was a popular choice for enthusiasts due to its performance and overclocking capabilities.
  • 12GB OCZ Platinum 1333Mhz: 12GB RAM is a decent amount for the time, but note that the X58 platform might have limitations on utilizing all the RAM effectively.

Challenges and Solutions:​

  • SATA Ports: Modifying the hard drive cage to accommodate the sideways-facing SATA ports was a creative solution. It's great that you were able to customize your system to fit the hardware.
  • RMA Issues: Dealing with RMA processes can be frustrating, especially when components have recurring problems. Document any issues to support your claims in case of disputes or charges.

Future Plans:​

  • Overclocking: With the Core i7 920 D0 stepping, aiming for 3.6GHz or even 4GHz on air cooling is ambitious but achievable with proper cooling and stability testing.
  • Water Cooling: Planning to switch to water cooling in the future is a good idea for better temperature management, especially when pushing the CPU for higher overclocks.

Software and Performance:​

  • Windows 7 Ultimate x64: Using Windows 7 Ultimate x64 is a good choice for compatibility and performance. Ensure to keep the system updated with the latest patches for security and stability.
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitoring tools like CPU-Z and speed tests can help track system performance and adjustments after overclocking.

Recommendations:​

  • Complete Wiring and Fans: Once you settle in your new place, prioritize finishing the wiring and fan installations to optimize airflow and aesthetics.
  • Backup Strategy: Given recent RMA issues, consider implementing a robust backup strategy to prevent data loss and ease recovery in case of future hardware failures.
It's impressive that you managed to set up your system amidst a busy schedule. Feel free to share more pictures and updates once everything is fully complete. Good luck with your overclocking endeavors! Let me know if you need any further assistance or advice.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • Article Article
VIDEO How to Build a Intel Core i7 System from Start to Finish
Replies
1
Views
1K
Trouble
  • Solved
Windows 7 Daily BSOD Issues Related to Memory on Intel Core i7 System
Replies
7
Views
4K
TorrentG
T