ASUS Xtreme Design Contest!

Darn shame this isnt for AMD as well.

It's on!

Good luck to all of you creative puppies out there!

You'll have some fun with this and win some cool stuff too!

HotHardware has done it again, it seems. Just like they said they would.

My Entry thread.

Almost tempted to order parts now to save time. Nahh, that would be crazy. 

I'm lost, is this an HH contest? or is this an ASUS contest for anyone in the general public, not associated with this site?  If this is for the HH community, when does stage one end and entries need to be in, also where do the entries get posted?

Mental, this is an Asus contests sponsored specifically at HotHardware.com, for HH readers and participants only. There will be other sites involved but you can enter here and we'll be assisting in picking a winner for stage 1. Stage 1 winner selection is set for 11/4.

Post all your entries HERE in this thread! :D

Thanks for clearing that up for everyone Dave.

I hope that every eligible HH user takes up the opportunity to enter such a great contest!

The gear packages to build your Xtreme Design system are awesome!

Who wouldn't want a Core i7 CPU, an ASUS P55 Mobo, an ASUS nVidiaGTX260, an Antec Quattro PSU, some G.Skill Trident RAM, a Razer Deathadder and Lycosa and best of all a 128GB Samsung SSD to work with? And 20 people will get the opportunity to build a system with these....that's CRAZY!

If I were eligible for the contest I'd already be trying to think of some ideas and possibly posting some of them up by now. I have a CM Storm Scout case holding my old rig and I'd love to upgrade it from P4 to i7. It even has a 2.5" Drive bay converter ready for the Samsung SSD As most of you know I've never actually built a complete rig from start to finish, the most I've ever done is transfer my old rig to a new case. I'd love to have a chance at getting the opportunity to build a rig (which would be a huge learning curve for me) by myself. (Sorry if it seems like I'm writing an entry, but I feel quite distraught that I'd love to enter a contest like this but my location doesn't allow me to )

I cannot stress how great I think this opportunity is for all you HHers out there. Get thinking and get designing as your fingers are literally touching $1800 of great hardware to create a masterpiece with!

Thanks to Dave and Marco and ASUS for setting up this opportunity for HH Users so please guys don't let it pass you by!

PS: I hope ASUS decides to hold a contest like this in the Asia Pacific Region in the near future!

Those are some kick-ass components. I'd enter, but I don't think I have the time to build anything worthy at the moment. I really hope that the winner creates something unique and special.

Folks, this contest is HUGE. I'll sum it up for you simply.

1 - Send in your ideas for an "Extreme System" based on Asus Xtreme Design features. (see link above) and post it here.

2 - Sign up on Asus' Facebook page and post a link to this thread on your idea.

3 - Get chosen and win some KILLER gear to build that system with and win a chance to go to CES and show your rig off in the Asus booth!

I'm confirming a few more things on this but start thinking now. You could win some pretty sweet stuff or more!

Is it possible to create a forum section for this contest to allow each entry to be its own thread?  I have a feeling this single thread will get messy and impossible to read once entries and comments on the entries start pouring in.

My proposal is already six pages long with blueprints and a 3D simulation and I'm just getting warmed up, j/k

Hmm... actually yes. I think that's a good idea! Let me see what we can do.

Excellent!  I'll add this to the flow chart for my entry's purchasing and production schedule. 

eunoia:

Excellent!  I'll add this to the flow chart for my entry's purchasing and production schedule. 

 

Wait, maybe you're not clear on this.  You don't have to buy anything!  Just detail your ideas (pics, words, video whatever) and list in the forum.  If we/Asus pick you, Asus will send you the products to build it!

I would build a multi use PC/server. This unit would consist of two operating systems. The first would be Windows 7 Ultimate; the Second would be Ubuntu 9.10. The reason for this is as stated this PC would be a multi use station. I would use it as a gaming desktop, a workstation for my current schooling @ University of Phoenix, and an Ubuntu cloud media communications server, and as a home music studio, and media server.

     I would most likely use either an Antec 1200 full tower, all fans would be changed to green or purple using model Cooler Master R4-L2R-20CG-GP for 120MM fan duty because of the high output combined w/low noise level. The 200mm fan on this tower would need to be modified to green lighting as well for which I would use 2 more of the pre-mentioned fans to modify lighting from into the existing 200mm fan. I would also save the fans themselves after the removal of the lights for backup units.

     My cooling for the I5 860 CPU would be a Scythe Mugen 2 with 2 of the aforesaid 120mm fans blowing towards the upper cooling exhaust fan. This would also help with any heat left over from the PSU (heat automatically rises, and with two 120mm fans blowing in tandem towards a 200mm exhaust over a gpu ) the larger amount of system produced heat would blow directly out of the system. Any residual heat from my 3 GTX 260 units would also be assisted through the rear exhaust 120mm fans as well as with air being automatically drawn over them by the CPU cooling fans.

     For storage I would use 3 2TB Black WD serial ata2 drives in raid 5, these units would also handle backup files, all media storage and Ubuntu. Windows and games would be on the 2 Samsung 128 GB SSD running in raid 0 through serial ata3. My home media/music studio and cloud server would run exclusively from the sata 2 drives. This would also work well with my Wireless N Trendnet router broadcasting to my TV's on the 5 GB spectrum.

     The Antec PSU which is very reliable would be critical to 24/7 operation for their reliability as well as stable power. The whole unit (memory and CPU would be clocked to 3.2 or 3.4, depending on the stability), and the GPU units would also be oc'd to 275 unit specs, which may require liquid cooling for two units running in SLI. I would like to double the memory to two of the Gskill memory kits for 8GB as well.

     This will be my home server, which will provide all me and my families digital needs as a cloud server for the den computer and other units in my House of which with this unit there will be 2desktops/1media and 1 laptop. The media unit will be this unit the rest already exists although one of the desktops will be converted to a TV connected media unit and this unit will be the server to the multimedia files for it, and music.

     The 1200 will serve as my Windows 7 gaming desktop through the 2 SSD's. The raid config's will benefit windows 7 and gaming as well as personal desktop use on the sata3 side of things where 6 TB's running on the three 2 TB units configured in raid 5 through the sata2 connections will be the media server backup and home music studio running in Ubuntu(cloud)/windows7.

     This would actually also be a dream come true as my current desktop is not doing so well, and I doubt it will last longer than six months if that!

From what I understand, the idea is to design a build using the eight components listed ASUS will provide.  What they're providing is insanely generous, don't get me wrong, but I still have quite the shopping list.

Here we go!

My Xtreme Design is a personal arcade machine.  Ok maybe some of you think its a waste of money, but I dont!  I Love StreetFighter 4.  So here is my contraption!

I would build the custom case around the sponsored products!  I want the most out of my SF4! and this game actually requires quite a bit of power to run everything on High!
With the Core i7 + P7P55D Premium it should be the perfect setup to run this with max settings.  I haven't overclocked since the amd xp days so Im a bit rusty but there seems to be good reviews on the Turbo V Evo feature with Auto tuning.  I should get in the 4GHZ easy!.  This would be great for me because it will do the real time stress testing which really is relieving the stress for me.  I dont have to  brush up on my OC skills.  From the reviews on all the sponsored products, they seem to be badass and topnotch, so i will definitely appreciate these.  So here is the twist of what makes my system a Xtreme Design...  i probably dont need hybrid OS since ill use win7.  Ive been hearing a lot about phase wars on motherboards.  T probe seems to be a pretty smart idea. especially if im OCed and i have a SF4 tournament.  I dont want my Rig blowing out on me.

I will have a see through window to display the board, fan, and GPU to be shown.  I might use a riser card/ribbon to display the card nicer, but we shall see.  I hate messy wires so everything will be tucked underneath or behind it.  Maybe some clean white LED to show off the system.  On top of all this, I will setup the fighter sticks, and a 120HZ LCD with 3D vision!  SF4 in 3D would look dope.  The blue and red buttons will be power and powerLED.  2 USB ports at each corner for the glasses and maybe Xbox controllers or the razer keyboard and mouse for other games. Sound will be placed inside / behind the screen or i will make ports for them. I may even consider upgrading to 8GB of ram and SLI the GTX260.   Am i missing anything?  Any inputs would help!

Oh yea, and now that i think about it, since this will be in my living room, it will be placed in the corner and i can double it for my HTPC.   

Thanks ASUS + nvidia + intel +gskill + antec +samsung + razer +hothardware!  I havent seen a contest like this in.... I dont know when...

Sfanatics threw down the gaunlet!  Come on now, get to it all!   

Good evening everyone.... and there goes the neighborhood. A quick introduction, ny name is Craig Tate, and I go by tech-daddy online. I came here from the contest post up on Facebook, and I hope to not only participate in this contest, but add a bit of content/post/spice in other places as well. This contest looks to be interesting and fun, and being that I have been out of the modding scene for a while... I think it's time to jump back in and have some fun!

I'll be posting up my idea and sketches in a bit... taking the tape measure out top the garage right now... hehehhe, see y'all around!

-=TD

ASUS rocks

I been a ASUS fan for a long time and this contest will be for the extreme designer, which I will surely try do my best.  My case mod will be built from the ground up and The name of the case DUO +.  It will be a test bench\ gamer\home theater pc and it will consist of two pc into one, each computer will serve its purpose, one pc will be the test bench\gamer and the other will be the HTPC.  So my extreme design will accommodate ASUS “Xtreme Design Technology” first of all the P7P55D will surely be utilized in my testbench\gamer pc by utilizing the Hybrid Technology especially in overclocking and fps in gaming.  The following sketch is My testbench\gamer pc:

My HTPC will also utilize the P7P55D.  The Hybrid Technology and the unique features will surely be used.  Hybrid Processor will be used in faster video encoding and the 10-channel audio will be utilized in a true surround sound experience.  And the SATA 6Gb/s will be very helpful in hard drive performance. The following sketch will be my overall computer including the HTPC:

Most of the “DUO+” will be watercooled to keep thing quiet and cool, hard drives (8 total), cpu (2 total), and video cards (3 total).  The testbench\gamer will have 2 hard drives and the HTPC will have 6 hard drives.  On video cards, the testbench\gamer will have 2 video cards in SLI and the HTPC will have one. The whole build will be custom made, so the watercoooling system will be custom configured.

Now there are two things that I added to my build that has nothing to do with performance and that is I’m adding a mini refrigerator that holds 6 12-ounces cans of soda.  Now I don’t have to go to the kitchen for a drink.  I’ve added trays for tools, like screwdrivers, LED lights, and a tray for my USB drives and flash drives or any other accessories that I have for storage.

I also will use one LCD monitor, one mouse, and one sound system for both computers through a KVM switch or VMware, not for sure which one.  I will also have a network hub to network the two computers.  And a UPS will be included for electrical backup and surge protection.

The sketches that I provided was a ruff draft without the watercooling included and actual lighting of the whole system, and a place for the KVM switch, network hub, or the UPS. 

Thank You, ASUS

SFanatics, rapid1,and duoplus, those are awesome drawings and great descriptions.  Prime example of what we are looking for.  Keep them coming!