Motherboard.

**RawrrrFace16** · 15-04-2008

I realise the dangers which are involved in water cooling systems. Are fans etc powerful enough to cool down these components i am thinking of getting? I thought water cooling systems are the 'best' way to cool it down? or doesnt it really matter?

**RawrrrFace16** · 15-04-2008

Just to add something else into the equation. If i was to change the motherboard to Nvidia nForce 790i Ultra SLI chipset would i be losing or gaining anything? Will the components what have been told be good enough for this board. For example, will the CPU need upgrading to something else and im guessing power supplies, graphics and other components stay the same.

Just give me strong words if i should stick with ASUS.

With ASUS i just looked to see if i can get my hands on the components said:
Just to double check these components.

Mobo - ASUS P5E3
CPU - Quad Core Q8700 [i think]
Graphics - 2 X 8800GT 1GB

But this at the moment is fine until i can get the harddrive, case, screen, optical drives etc etc.

**jephree** · 15-04-2008

I suggest you read online reviews as to the chipsets etc.

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...tf8&q=790i+x48

I am not a technician myself just one of those "enthusiasts" I guess.

As to cooling I enjoy the building process. I also work in the "real world" as both an electrician and plumber and carpenter and etc. so I am often mixing plumbing and electricity. I also live in a very hot environment and do not use air conditioning. This was a key factor in my first liquid cooling project. I lowered that CPU (idle) from 50c to 30c which was just about room temperature.

Those 8800's will run 60c stock and mine now run 40c liquid cooled.

I do overclock and I also think it adds to the overall life span and happiness of the hardware.

That being said I am also perhaps insane. First off you void all warranties. My 8800's were $600 a piece when I bought them and the first thing I did was take them apart! Bit risky I guess.

Cooling the graphics cards will run at least $100 per card. Swiftech makes an 8800 block now for about $80.

You can always set up your machine with stock/standard cooling and see what temps you get. You can always add a liquid cooling system afterwards if you want. This hardware was designed with it's own cooling devices so it should run fine as is.

That CoolerMaster case is certainly big enough. Hopefully with front and rear 120mm fans?

That Enermax PSU I listed also has in intake 120mm fan on the bottom inside the case and an 80mm exhaust out the rear.

**RawrrrFace16** · 15-04-2008

I have just read some reviews of the NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI and liked it very much indeed.

This is what i believe is the system:

Mainboard = NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI Intel eVGA
Processor = Core 2 Quad QX9770
Graphics Card = GeForce 9800 GX2 1024 MB [Im not sure whether 2 or 1 is appropriate]
Memory = 2048MB (2x1024MB) DDR3 Crucial 2000 MHz
Power Supply Unit = Tagan 1100W
Monitor = Around 24"

Now this is what i believe to be the system on this review site. I will now tell you the other components stated.

Mainboards =

NVIDIA NFORCE 680i SLI Intel eVGA mainboard
NVIDIA NFORCE 780i SLI Intel XFX mainboard
NVIDIA NFORCE 690i SLI Ultra Intel eVGA mainboard
Intel X38 P5E3 Deluxe Intel ASUS mainboard

Processors =
AMD Phenom 9700
Core 2 Duo X6800
Core 2 Quad Q6600
Core 2 Quad QX9770

Graphics Card = stated above
Memory = stated above
Power Supply = stated above

Monitors - 2 X Dell 2405FPW

All related software also.

Now the system i picked from the top, i just want to know if that is even possible or will not work. Obviously ive paired them up very quickly from the review site. I cannot imagine it to be using all those components inside one computer with only a 1100W power supply [now i bet you can lol].

Is this system good?
Could it be better with ASUS etc etc?

**Digerati** · 15-04-2008

I am not a technician myself just one of those "enthusiasts" I guess.

Hey! That's not a cut down - my apologies if I implied otherwise. it's enthusiasts, gamers, and overclocker that push the envelope, and drive R&D. I like to say I keep my main systems on the scabbed-over edge, you stay on the bleeding edge. And that's great, as long as the consequences are understood, and any necessary precautions have been taken (backups, regular checkups, and the like). With you, I know it is done right. Sadly, too many people don't research first or seek help from those like you who have cut the path already - so they make critical, but preventable mistakes - and the PCs end up on the workbench - never with a current backup, and often with critical school or work papers that are needed "tomorrow". And certainly, if an overclocked motherboard destroys a CPU, or RAM - that will not be covered under warranty.

And as a technician, I don't care which is better - I only care that the product meets designed specifications, are operated safely, and that I don't cause further damage when I attempt to fix something.

I have no problem with overclocking or alternative cooling, if the user fully understands, and meets or exceeds, the cooling needs of all the heat sensitive components at all times, and they understand and accept consequences and responsibility for lost data/backup needs.

So, just as NASA and NASCAR pioneers have driven advances in our everyday lives, there too are the hobbyist, enthusiast, and overclockers doing the same for the computer world.

**the_patriot2008** · 15-04-2008

yeah, Ive noticed in the past Intel has used far lower power usage, u got me there. though reading the newest specks, the latest quad core uses 130 watts, but considering thats only 5 watts more then my dual core thats actually pretty good power consumption. and I dont know if its still true, but in the past intels have always run cooler then AMDs, though I havent owned any of the core2s, only dual core ive owned and operated constantly (ive used core2s occasionally just never long enough to be able to monitor temps) is my amd, and it runs cool. I love it, only wish I had enough money for a quad.

**jephree** · 16-04-2008

Originally Posted by Digerati

Hey! That's not a cut down - my apologies if I implied otherwise.

Not at all. I am an enthusiastic enthusiast. It is a strange term. The only time I found it offensive was with the debate over Vista's EULA when MS was set to limit the number of motherboard transfers for a particular license. One spokes person claimed that only a very few "enthusiasts" would ever change their motherboards.

Anyway: yes and so on. My next build I want to try a Peltier block on the CPU.

Here the issue is not leaky plumbing but condensation.

Chilling the liquid in the system creates the by-product of liquid outside the system.

This then of course is a major concern.

But an interesting challenge.