Unemployeed, Baking bread, and building a New Computer... For the Geeks!

[Revlis]

Well like the title said, Still unemployed, but I'm enjoying it for the most part and there is a chance I may not go back. I dunno, I've been enjoying the freedom. Did a lot of riding while the weather was warm and I've been busy around the house since it started cooling off.

Anyway, one of my projects was to build a PC for myself. Not having the workstation at the office anymore meant that I was without a powerful PC... No Longer.

I decided to build my own, it's the only way to go if you want a powerful PC. When you compare the performance for the price you cannot touch it with any off the shelf computer. You get a lot more computer for your money and being able to select your components is key.

So anyway, Here's what I did.

(Build is from a post over on extreme overclockers.com, I didn't feel like re-posting all the details again.)

1 COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - RetailItem #: N82E16811119160 $159.99

1 ZALMAN ZM1000-HP 1000W Continuous @ 45°C (Maximum Continuous Peak: 1250W) ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Modular Heatpipe-Cooled SLI Pow - RetailItem #: N82E16817379009 $219.99

1 ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - RetailItem #: N82E16813131284 $288.99

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W
Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - RetailItem #: N82E16819115041 $319.99

2 mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996599 - RetailItem #: N82E16820146785 $249.98($124.99 ea)

1 ASUS EAH4870X2/HTDI/2G Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - RetailItem #: N82E16814121269 $559.99

1 Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEMItem #: N82E16822136260 $279.99

1 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEMItem #: N82E16822152102 $129.99

1 LOGISYS HC102 Aluminum alloy HDD Cooler - RetailItem #: N82E16835999002 $6.49

1 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD322HJ 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEMItem #: N82E16822152096 $54.99

1 ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - RetailItem #: N82E16827135156 $39.99

1 SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEMItem #: N82E16821103203 $7.49

1 ENCORE ENLWI-N PCI 2.3 Wireless Adapter - RetailItem #: N82E16833180052 $30.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD for System Builders - OEMItem #: N82E16832116493 $174.99

1 Flight Simulator X Gold Edition PC Game Microsoft - RetailItem #: N82E16832116553 $46.99

1 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEMItem #: N82E16835100007 $5.99

1 Crysis PC Game EA - RetailItem #: N82E16832130014 $36.99

1 XTRAC Ripper Optical Mouse pad - RetailItem #: N82E16817114174 $13.99


Subtotal $2,627.81
Tax $0.00
UPS 3 DAYS $50.57
Rush Processing $2.99
Order Total $2,681.37

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From Xoxide:

1 11372 Thermaltake CL-P0391 Ruby Orb CPU Cooler $34.99

2 16015 Red Lazer LED Light Kit $3.99

1 11124 Thermaltake X-Ray $14.99

1 16503 Logisys 15in Cold Cathode w/ Sound Module - Red $6.99

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Last few tidbits from Amazon.

1 "Saitek X52 Pro Flight System Controller"
Electronics; $150.26

1 "Cables Unlimited ACC-1450 19.5 x 23-Inch Anti Static Grounding Pad"
Electronics; $17.95

1 "Logitech G9 Laser Mouse"
Electronics; $77.65

1 "INTUOS3 Grip Pen Accessory Kit"
Electronics; $24.59

1 "Belkin Anti-Static Wrist Band with Adjustable Grounding"
Electronics; $5.99

1 "ArctiClean kit 60ml Kit includes 30ml ArctiClean 1 and 30ml ArctiClean 2"
$4.99

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Monitor From Dell The Monitor was a ***** of a decision, and it will go back if it doesn't fit the bill, the monitor must be sharp...
Dell UltraSharpTM 2707WFP



Grand total, All said and done, $3,813.23

Christmas indeed!

 

[Revlis]

Group Shot... Friday 10-09 the UPS man way my friend. Yeah...

Yeah That's not a Monitor... That's a Spacestation...

 

[300Busa]

very nice

 

[Revlis]

Then it was time to build this thing... I was concerned that it was going to be really difficult, but it was pretty easy, the physical build is tinker toys, the wiring was a bit more complex, and the software was surprisingly easy, Vista 64 Ultimate FTW.

First, Mount the Power supply in the Gynormous Case...

Then added the Drives...

And the Cupholder... Yeah a cupholder and cigarette lighter...

Then it's on to the Motherboard mounted...

The Socket775 This is where the processor goes.

Intel Quad Core

Tool less H-D mounts.

Getting the wiring under control and all the pieces mounted up.

 

[Revlis]

All wired up...

And the big moment... Will the Board recognize the 8 Gigs of ram and all the rest????

Yes!

Up and running...

Up and running Vista installed, all in Two Days...

I highly recommend it, it's a good feeling knowing exactly what is inside your computer and that it was built well...

Hope you all enjoyed the shot, sorry they aren't up to my usual...

 

[HillsRider]

good to here that you are staying busy. Sweet build!

 

[greyrocket]

nice set up i built my machine a few months back just not that high end. AMD 2.5ghz dual core overclocked with 2 gigs ram pc6400 with 3tb of hard drive space
i'am waiting till AMD has a 3.0ghz quad core

 

[runeight]

Very nice! I have built a few back in the day but so out of touch now.

Looks bad azz to me.

r8

 

[TXBusa05LE]

What does it do?

 

[WWJD]

You are NOT using that blue analog wire to hook up your monitor! ... are ya? surely you can so strait to HDMI or at least DVI? ? ?

 

[VaBusa]

Well, I'm glad you've found something to keep you busy Rev!! Sounds like you're doing pretty well

Enjoy some downtime

 

[Revlis]

Thanks folks...

Lesse...

The Computer is going to be my primary source of income (Photoshop Box), and a kick butt gaming machine.

WWJD, Heck NO, only temp, I am currently hooked into DVI.

Yeah M, Doing great. Starting to get over the feeling like I am ditching school though I still find myself nervous for no apparant reason. Hard to unlearn the 9-5 routine... We'll see though, I have a feeling that I'll be getting back into my career after Christmas though. Just little things like enjoying spending money and liking fancy toys will most likely have me out there in short order. UNLESS, I start getting enough freelance work. The wife doesn't want me to go back to work, she's been enjoying all the cooking, cleaning, and baking...

We will see, in the meantime, I've got a new fgancy computer.

 

[roadthing]

I like your version of QUALITY CONTROL

 

[WWJD]

Free Graphics Testing software
Demo Versions: MotoGP: Ultimate Racing Technology 3 Demo

 

[mymaster]

Very cool, nothing compared to yours but heres a shot of an older one that won't be seeing any more money, well maybe a DirectX 10 card.

 

[jefferycarman]

That's one kick arse machine! Glad to see you are enjoying the time off. It can be nice, but drive you nuts. Freelance work? Hmmm I think I need to gett a lance and start doing that on the side

 

[99'busa]

Dude that thing is SICK

No way would I go back to work with that thing sitting at home

Very neatly down. Good job.

 

[Revlis]

Very cool, nothing compared to yours but heres a shot of an older one that won't be seeing any more money, well maybe a DirectX 10 card.

Nice, I suspected there were more than a few out here that had built there own. There seems to be a Sportbike/Computer correlation. I mean other than the obvious "dude we're on the Internet" correlation.

It was a lot of fun actually. I expected it to be more work than it was. I have some additional Red Geek lights that need to be installed though so I do get to go back in. Might need a different CPU cooler as well when I start overclocking.

 

[Pinky Winky]

What does it do?

Thats alot of shiny stuff you got there. Pretty lights too. Are those 6000k HID?

 

[shawnski]

great job man.
hey i noticed in middle pack of pics that you had an assistant
then went to sleep! you got him working hard!