Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb

mikeygdamadman · 02-05-2009, 02:13 PM

Just wanted to follow up on another thread where I was looking to fix my XPS 700 mobo that went down. After some checking and some help from krisb

and wrench97

, I decided to build my own (first one) and just move over the hard drives and DVD writer.

It was great...easy...no major issues (almost left the plastic film on the cpu fan..THAT would have been bad

)...took one day to build...another to test things... and now have been running for a good week.

Followed the procedure that is stickied above...thank you!

Got a couple of quick questions...looking for guidance on temperatures on GPUs and CPU cores. GPU has stayed around 50-55 on one and 40-45 on the other. CPU has stayed in the 40s and 50s. What are some max values that I should get concerned about.

Here is what I used...cost about $1800 give or take....

Case: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129043
*Excellent case...although the two GPU cards took up a lot of space. Great fan control on front and back. 3 fans on front, 1 on top, two on back and one added for CPU cooler. Running all of them at low speed and keeping good temps, I think.

PSU:CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139007

MOBO: EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188039

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115202

Cooler Fan: Thermaltake V1 Max-Performance CPU Cooler with Massive 110mm Blue LED Full-Range Variable Speed Fan CL-P0401
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106102

GPU: EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130434
*2 of these for dual SLI

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145221
*6GB of this

Extra LED Lighting: LOGISYS Computer LT405BL Computers Blue LED Acrylic Case Feet
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16800888015
*did not fit the case but used inside for more lighting as if I needed that

AGAIN...thanks for all the help from this forum!!!

krisb · 02-05-2009, 03:19 PM

looks really nice. congratulations. Concerning your temps everything seems normal and even more to the low end. for me there is what is acceptable and what i prefer. i dont mind if my gpu's get into the 80's but if ever i were to hit 90's id shut her down. cpu i dont like to see in the the 50's but even that is still fine. Go into your BIOS and you'll find a place where the default temps are set to the max value before your computer shuts down. that'll give you a good idea of where you want to be. Good job

mikeygdamadman · 02-05-2009, 03:36 PM

Thanks krisb....notice the old XPS 700 in the background of the pix. I made it watch while I built the new one. Mean? Yeah.

Might look for a replacement mobo if it is cheap...or if anyone needs spare parts, let me know!

A specific question...am using SpeedFan to monitor temps...what temps to I watch...I understand the GPU ones but there are 8 cores which I figure are the CPU temps...but there another three that say ISA...

see attached word file...

**wrench97** · 02-05-2009, 03:52 PM

CPU might be a touch warm, give it some break in time and keep an eye on them. From memory I think the thermal limit on the i7 is around 82c and they run a touch warmer then the C2Q's.

Are you using the VR control with the Heat sink fan or is the MB controlling it?

What thermal paste does the thermaltake cooler come with now?

mikeygdamadman · 02-05-2009, 04:03 PM

The thermal paste that came with it was some generic white stuff. I bought and applied the Arctic Silver 5 paste.

The heat sink fan has a manually pot on it....which is set to low right now. I will probably ramp that up. Plus, remember the other fans had been initially set to low...I am trying to find the right balance since I know the room gets warm (upwards of 80F...which is nice now that it is 15F outside).

Also, the case has the ability to add another fan on the side...that should help with getting the heat out of the box.

**wrench97** · 02-05-2009, 04:53 PM

Turn the CPU fan up a little at a time and see if the temp changes, or if the connector is a 4 pin hook it directly to the MB and see how well the MB controls the temp.

**grimx133** · 02-05-2009, 05:06 PM

Careful when you clean the filters for the front intakes, you need to slide the drive bays out a bit, if there's no slack in your cables, could unplug some without noticing. I unplugged a couple of my fans that way one time. I also stuck a tricool on the top of the three drive bays with the midfan clip on mount, pushes air right at the cpu's hsf. Only problem there is that you can't have any drives in the bay that you use the midfan on. Still leaves room for six though. When you turn up your cpu fan, try turning it up until you can hear it, then back it down a tad. Then see what the temps are, quieter the better IMHO.

krisb · 02-05-2009, 05:06 PM

the optional fan slot on the side is for "Intake". it will help cool your GPU's. If you made it an exhaust it would hinder the airflow design of the case and thus be less efficient at cooling. I know when i built with this case adding the side fan helped alot. in the meantime turn your front 3 on a bit faster then your back 2 and top. this will prevent negative pressure. you need to bring air in as fast as you are taking it out. i use a TEC for my CPU and i have it OC'd from 2.66 to 3.5 and it has never hit 43 C. and i am a heavy gamer. they are expensive if you want a good one that wont cause condensing but if your still running warm after you do as wrench said it might be a good idea. I have the ultra brand though i am not sure if they have made a socket 1366 mounting plate yet. but probably not necessary.

**grimx133** · 02-05-2009, 05:14 PM

I just read a review yesterday on a TEC hybrid that was just put out by CoolerMaster and works on socket 1366.
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/173...ler/index.html

**wrench97** · 02-05-2009, 05:28 PM

That wasn't very impressive for the price 3 degrees?

**grimx133** · 02-05-2009, 11:38 PM

Yep, the concept sounded good, until the results showed up.

02-05-2009, 03:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
krisb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 93 OS: Vista Ultimate 64/Windows 7 64 My System	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb looks really nice. congratulations. Concerning your temps everything seems normal and even more to the low end. for me there is what is acceptable and what i prefer. i dont mind if my gpu's get into the 80's but if ever i were to hit 90's id shut her down. cpu i dont like to see in the the 50's but even that is still fine. Go into your BIOS and you'll find a place where the default temps are set to the max value before your computer shuts down. that'll give you a good idea of where you want to be. Good job

02-05-2009, 03:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb CPU might be a touch warm, give it some break in time and keep an eye on them. From memory I think the thermal limit on the i7 is around 82c and they run a touch warmer then the C2Q's. Are you using the VR control with the Heat sink fan or is the MB controlling it? What thermal paste does the thermaltake cooler come with now? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-05-2009, 04:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
mikeygdamadman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb The thermal paste that came with it was some generic white stuff. I bought and applied the Arctic Silver 5 paste. The heat sink fan has a manually pot on it....which is set to low right now. I will probably ramp that up. Plus, remember the other fans had been initially set to low...I am trying to find the right balance since I know the room gets warm (upwards of 80F...which is nice now that it is 15F outside). Also, the case has the ability to add another fan on the side...that should help with getting the heat out of the box.

02-05-2009, 04:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb Turn the CPU fan up a little at a time and see if the temp changes, or if the connector is a 4 pin hook it directly to the MB and see how well the MB controls the temp. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-05-2009, 05:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,165 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb Careful when you clean the filters for the front intakes, you need to slide the drive bays out a bit, if there's no slack in your cables, could unplug some without noticing. I unplugged a couple of my fans that way one time. I also stuck a tricool on the top of the three drive bays with the midfan clip on mount, pushes air right at the cpu's hsf. Only problem there is that you can't have any drives in the bay that you use the midfan on. Still leaves room for six though. When you turn up your cpu fan, try turning it up until you can hear it, then back it down a tad. Then see what the temps are, quieter the better IMHO. __________________

02-05-2009, 05:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
krisb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 93 OS: Vista Ultimate 64/Windows 7 64 My System	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb the optional fan slot on the side is for "Intake". it will help cool your GPU's. If you made it an exhaust it would hinder the airflow design of the case and thus be less efficient at cooling. I know when i built with this case adding the side fan helped alot. in the meantime turn your front 3 on a bit faster then your back 2 and top. this will prevent negative pressure. you need to bring air in as fast as you are taking it out. i use a TEC for my CPU and i have it OC'd from 2.66 to 3.5 and it has never hit 43 C. and i am a heavy gamer. they are expensive if you want a good one that wont cause condensing but if your still running warm after you do as wrench said it might be a good idea. I have the ultra brand though i am not sure if they have made a socket 1366 mounting plate yet. but probably not necessary.

02-05-2009, 05:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,165 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb I just read a review yesterday on a TEC hybrid that was just put out by CoolerMaster and works on socket 1366. http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/173...ler/index.html __________________

02-05-2009, 05:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb That wasn't very impressive for the price 3 degrees? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-05-2009, 11:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,165 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Replaced XPS 700 with this config...THANKS to krisb Yep, the concept sounded good, until the results showed up. __________________