ASUS Xtreme Design contest: stage 2 build-"KLsi"

12/4/2009

Pick up from last blog, sleeving still not done, didn't expect it will took a long time to sleeve each cable. In order not to fall behind on my blogging i used by old cosair 750 as my psu and started to put the hardwares together and begin my overclocking and folding.

As my original idea that, i talk about i will be using gpu to fold and do my school work at the same time (cpu). Here i am, i just joined folding@home  and start folding using 260 GTX. This card is very efficient in doing calculation of folding. The link below show the score that i archieved using 260 GTX,
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=userpage&username=KLsi

OVERCLOCKING !

I did some stock analysis before i start overclocking the cpu, so i can compare before and after.
Here is a before clock temperature and cpu speed.

23-27c stock temperature @ watercool i think it is a good start for overclocking

With 100% load the temperature went from 25  to 45~

Right now i overclocked the cpu to 4.0 ghz @ 73C. and priming in prim 95 to find out stable or not.

Looks awesome. yummy.

12/6/2009

WOOT HOOO PRIME STABLE ! 4.0 ghz @ 72C. Today however i didn't to much of overclocking instead i decide to mod my Antec 1200 side panel.

Moding Plan
Cut out a square and removing the stock fan spot and acrylic, to give a cleaner look and SHOWOFF the watercool :D
I used masking tape to tape all over the panel to prevent scratch. If you look carefully in the image you will see there is 2 cuts, the inner cut i fail to cut straight :( so i have do another cut. P.S this is my first time modding a computer case, so error margin should be considered. :) im also under my friend supervision, and teach my how to cut with jigsaw. LOL

"Shaking" cutting in the garage in -1.5c... very cold.

all 4 side is straight WOO HOO !! first time cutting with a jigsaw !! feel so proud of myself. the white panel that is under, is my friend sponser me for praticing my first 2 cuts and teaching my how to cut a straight line with a jigsaw.

12/7/2009 Mini update and about me
In previous post that i promise you guys that i will tell what i do in my program, Architecture Science. Here some graphic representation that i did for my project in year 3 Studio. Right now I'm year 4, graduating this summer. This is what i do everyday and with this system, i can do my work more efficiently, shorter time on rendering = more time on designing = better building designed.

3D Front elevation created in Autodesk Revit Architecture

Here some 3D rendering of my design ! i hope you guys like it.

Some more rendering ... :D                                                                                      The Nissan R35 just modeled for fun and end up in my other course assignment


So what i'm hoping to achieve with this system that, i hope with the speed of Core i7, it will help me speed up my rendering process of my work and while doing rendering i can also do folding@home at the same time. And hoping i can put this computer into good use.

Awesome update!

If you guys haven't notice, those pictures are all rendered (on CPU).

Yes ! Thank you Otto :D. All 3D work i done is in CPU, so i hoping that i can fold while i work !

Nice to see another 3d person around here as well.... I learned on 3ds max 3....lol

12/8/2009 - Acrylic test fit.

Today afternoon went to a "special Acrylic" store to cut some piece for my design. Black acrylic is very very rare to find in Toronto. However, with lot of online searching, i finally found one who carry black acylic. It took me an hour drive to the shop, which is kinda far, however after the test fit i believe the work is worth it. IT LOOKS AWASOME.... very clean, i like it very much

12/15/2009 1:15 AM

Exams are finally done today... FULL STEAM AHEAD for blogging.
Today, i clocked the cpu up to 4.1 and achieved 1.5 hr stable. I will prime more tonight to prove it is stable. I don't want to lose my work during rendering. If the system fail in stress test  = fail during rendering = lost all the work i done. Here some picture for the prime.

12/15/2009 2:15 AM

Benched mark my cpu in PCMarks. The score are indicated below. Once my 4.1 ghz cpu is prime stable for 6 hours i will try to push it some more. The i will overclocked the graphic card as well. Why am i so eager on overclocking?  Faster system = render faster = more productive = better quality assignment = attend to good graduate school.

12/15/2009 2:30 AM

Remeber a week ago, i said that i join the Folding@home as part as my original design. Here some score that i achieve using the 260 GTX GPU sponser by Nvidia. I will keep on folding and keep you guys update. Nvidia GPU not just only for gaming, it also can help speed up the disease cure research in Standford. I believe every little help counts.

12/15/2009 -3AM

Did a Super Pi 1 Mill calculation, only took 10.7 sec !!!! This is a beast that is unleashed by intel. :O

Some quick discovery that intel just released a interesting Window 7 Widget on Turbo Technology Monitor. Is a simple display of increase in processor frequency when applications request the Intel Turbo Boost Technology delivers more performance.

If you are interested in this Widget you can download the link below :D

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18353&lang=eng

12/15/2009 - 11:00 AM

Just wake up and benchmarked some more for the cpu since i overclocked and compare to other cpu performance here are some result. The result are awsome. The red is my sponsered Core i7 860 overclocked. The benchmarking result consisted of cyptopgraphy, multicore efficiency, processor arithmetic, processor multi media.

.
[above] Cryptopgraphy Result- how fast can decode a encryption.
result are higher the better

[above] Multicore Efficiency
result are higher the better the bottom one is lower the better.


[above] Processor Arithmetic
result are higher the better

[above] Processor Multi Media
result are higher the better

That a real nice project you got going on there!! Good job it looks like its going turn out to be a nice Rig. I,ve got the Coolermaster Storm Sniper case and I love it to me its one of the best! I also like your Antec case and the Cosmos. I was in a local comp store where I live and seen that Antec case its a real nice looking case.Like that big fan and just the overall look like mine its got that Heavy Medal look to it thats what sets it off. Even though my case is fairly new I,ve got some ideas on some side panel mods and a mod on the front panel fan inlet.Not that Im not satisfied with the look of the case the mods Im going to do arent going require me physically cutting my case but making add on mods which can be swapped out and to change the look and then if I choose change them back! You got some choice hardware going in your rig also.What kit is that you got for your cooling? Also your keyboard is like mine nice Razor.Anyway good luck on your Rig be looking for the end result!!!

Thank you ! My cooling is posted on the top, you can see what i ordered from ppc and the component choice i made. The watercool i use im still testing out the limite and how good it cool the system. For sure i will keep you guys updated.

12/15/2009 4:40 Pm

Good News!!! 4.0 ghz (correct from previous about 4.1) 6 hours prime stable, so now im going to push a little harder. I was too excited... and forgot to take a screenshot. Sorry guys....

12/15/2009 - 8:40 PM

WOW GREAT NEWS GUYS !!!! 5 Hours prime stable @ 4.2 Ghz this CPU IS PURELY AWSOME. !!!!!

After this result i even try to push my CPU higher and see what are the limits are. Right now still priming @ 4.3 Ghz
Voltage are very high CPU V1.45. SEEM TO BE GETTING HOT IN HERE

the time abit mess up since i changed during prime.. therefore sorry for the weirdness.

12/16/2009

After 1 hours prime stable of 4.3 ghz.. operating temperature is 98 - 99 C that is way TOO HOT for normal usage. Therefore i tune back down to 4.2ghz, so i stop here for cpu tunning and if i still have time i will try tune it once more. To stable this BEAST is hard :D

10.07sec calculation 1 M

Forgot compare from 4.0ghz to 4.2 Pcmarks score. The stock 860 score is 12,446. Therefore from 2.8 to 4.2ghz is 34% increase in score

12/16/2009

Today finished overclocking the cpu. And now i shall start overclocking the GPU GTX 260

I used MSI backburner to tune my GPU, is the only tuner i used before.  If there is any improve on this overclock please suggest. I still a new comer to this.and the picture on the right show you can tune your fan speed curve, this a quit neat feature.

Used furmark to stress the GPU and test for stability. As i researched, all Nvidia gpu max recommand temp is 85c. I think pushed the GPU the maximum temp and it actually stay at 85c

This is the stock 3D mark score which is 11064. And using GPU z to show exact spec of the GTX 260

The overclocked score is 12376 and this is a 10% increased in score. In performance from 576 Mhz to 690mhz is 16% increase !!!! overclocking this gpu is quick simple and easy, which this jump in performance, the card is still very stable.

More will be coming soon.

12/17/2009
Here is a product comparsion.

[above] is the stock GTX 260 comparsion.
[Below] is the overclocked comparsion. You can see the core performance is close to GTX 280. You may notice that the gpu memory clock is a bit low , cause i leave it at stock. when i try to overclock the memory the gpu become a bit unstable i should try to work on that and stress it a bit more.

A quick respond to me post above. Successfully clocked the memory. to 1170. I think 1170 is the max after that it became unstable. for some reason the gpu became 60c. Previously is @ 85c before clocking memory. This is some kind of mystery i kind figure out ... hmmmm.. Maybe the i updated the newest driver.. still not sure..

update for sandra and 3D Marks Score

The memory gpu is increase almost double in performance however is still abit low, however as a GTX 260 it is doing very well

3D Marks: 13870 !!! THIS IS AWSOME !!!!! from stock to OC is total  20% increase in score and almost double the stock perfomance !!

12/17/2009 95% complete just wait for the gourment wrap

I just took a walkaround video of my Xtreme system. I'm so excited that this beast is on the video and came alive.