Amiga.org
Coffee House => Coffee House Boards => CH / General => Topic started by: the_leander on May 25, 2004, 04:52:55 AM
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I've modded the case, I've watercooled the CPU and overclocked it as hard as the motherboard will allow, I've got more fans in the thing then I care to think about, its loud, its obtrusive.
OS wise I have BeOS, Linux (Morphix) and Windows 2000pro for gaming. Still I'm bored.
Can it be that I have come to the end of the road with regards computers? Quite frankly, even with as much work as I've put into this new rig, I just don't feel the attachment or look forward to using it in the way I used to with my Amigas. That said I'm happy not have have to deal with the crap I had with them either.. But even so.
Its just... there.
Damnit I need inspiration on where to go from here!
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I've watercooled the CPU
:nervous: Bad idea...Damnit I need inspiration on where to go from here!
Latex...
:-P
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Hum,
[i suspect he may prefer Lycra.]
Have you tried `under-clocking` the cpu just to see how slow you can take her?
Perhaps you could install Hal Assistant with the `alice` chatterbot brain, and ask the computer that question?
[i use mine with via voice to launch programs and automatically reply to A.org threads]
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Maybe you could get one of those motor controller boxes, and some Lego Technics, and build... well, I dunno. Something awesome, anyway! :-)
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iamaboringperson wrote:
I've watercooled the CPU
:nervous: Bad idea...Damnit I need inspiration on where to go from here!
Latex...
:-P
Why do you feel watercooling is a bad idea out of curiosity? I've ran this rig with the current cooling system for... about 2 years without incident regarding water and electronics (Though I did manage to burn out an ECS K7S5A whilst overclocking... But thats another story).
As for Latex... not my scene, though thats not an admission of trying it out :-P :lol: ;-)
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blobrana wrote:
Hum,
[i suspect he may prefer Lycra.]
Have you tried `under-clocking` the cpu just to see how slow you can take her?
Perhaps you could install Hal Assistant with the `alice` chatterbot brain, and ask the computer that question?
[i use mine with via voice to launch programs and automatically reply to A.org threads]
LOL!
Underclocking? 1200Mhz is the slowest I can get her to go - because the motherboard wont allow anything slower, currently my AMD AthlonXP 2000 (1645Mhz stock) is running at 1925Mhz with the ram running at 154Mhz (133Mhz stock - SD-Ram... Ok I admit at the time I was just being cheep).
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I got a new Packard Bell PC yesterday. It has 256mb RAM, 80gig Hard Drive, 15" TFT Monitor, DVD R-W and loads of other decent things. I am really happy with it!!! :-D
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Good for you, I hope it works out for you :-) I don't know much about Packard Bells kit, so I can't really help you or warn you of any potential pitfalls (such as some motherboards not liking certain adsl modems etc etc) but if they are any good such things shouldn't worry you.
I tend to build my own systems, partly because BeOS is so picky with the hardware its prepaired to play with, and partly because I know my own system in a much more direct way then if I had just bought a pre-built one.
Then of course, theres the mods... all that overclocking produces a heck of a lot of heat... so along with the water cooling system, I also have in the case, 2x 40mm fans 2x 60mm fans (One of which blows air through the radiator) and 3x 92mm fans... building your own system means you know down to the last inch what you can and cannot fit in your case.
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interesting cooling concept:
http://www.cooligy.com/micro_channel_cooling.html (http://www.cooligy.com/micro_channel_cooling.html)
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the_leander wrote:
blobrana wrote:
Hum,
[i suspect he may prefer Lycra.]
Have you tried `under-clocking` the cpu just to see how slow you can take her?
Perhaps you could install Hal Assistant with the `alice` chatterbot brain, and ask the computer that question?
[i use mine with via voice to launch programs and automatically reply to A.org threads]
LOL!
Underclocking? 1200Mhz is the slowest I can get her to go - because the motherboard wont allow anything slower, currently my AMD AthlonXP 2000 (1645Mhz stock) is running at 1925Mhz with the ram running at 154Mhz (133Mhz stock - SD-Ram... Ok I admit at the time I was just being cheep).
mo'slo (http://www.hpaa.com/moslo/)
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sumner7 wrote:
I got a new Packard Bell PC yesterday. It has 256mb RAM, 80gig Hard Drive, 15" TFT Monitor, DVD R-W and loads of other decent things. I am really happy with it!!! :-D
Packard Bell????
I thought they went out of business? You don't see them here anymore.
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Moslo.
Cool program when you need to run some old borland compiled crap. Cetain borland compiled programs will crash if run on anything faster than a Pentium 200, and literally MUST be run with moslo, (one program that comes to mind is ATTterm, used by many Pager shops for pager programming.
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I've always wanted my PC (http://www.mikeymike.org.uk/mikes/mypc.txt) to run cooler/quieter, the strange thing is, if I underclock it by 400MHz the operating temperature is identical.
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mikeymike wrote:
I've always wanted my PC (http://www.mikeymike.org.uk/mikes/mypc.txt) to run cooler/quieter, the strange thing is, if I underclock it by 400MHz the operating temperature is identical.
Wierd!
Maybe lower the voltage slightly in combination with underclocking?
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Then of course, theres the mods... all that overclocking produces a heck of a lot of heat... so along with the water cooling system, I also have in the case, 2x 40mm fans 2x 60mm fans (One of which blows air through the radiator) and 3x 92mm fans... building your own system means you know down to the last inch what you can and cannot fit in your case.
U sure all those fans are needed? If thats the case, one would assume your running a Palmino core, cause I have my 2500+ running at 212 x 11 on air with 4 low rpm case fans, system is pretty quiet overall and I am yet to see the diode record above 50°C at 100% utilisation. You might wanna try and pick up a T'bred 1700+, you can get em real cheap now.
@mikeymike
Are you sure your temps are right? Did you drop the vcore at all?
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adz wrote:
U sure all those fans are needed? If thats the case, one would assume your running a Palmino core, cause I have my 2500+ running at 212 x 11 on air with 4 low rpm case fans, system is pretty quiet overall and I am yet to see the diode record above 50°C at 100% utilisation. You might wanna try and pick up a T'bred 1700+, you can get em real cheap now.
@mikeymike
Are you sure your temps are right? Did you drop the vcore at all?
Yes those fans are needed, the cpu operates between 25C and 45C depending on ambent temperature and is totally stable (I ran this system non stop with each OS installed running non stop for 2 weeks each and used it heavily with each one - not one freeze or crash), but the main hassle is running 133Mhz SD Ram at 154Mhz, which is about as fast as you'll ever push it (Which is the real achilies heal of the system, and did occationally get so hot as to lock up - hence the extra fans). Sadly, the board although utterly reliable, is limited in what overclocking you can do with it, you can't for instance adjust the clock multiplier, only the FSB, which is now at the boards absolute maximum.
Another problem is the case, because the front of it has no facility to accept a large size fan at the bottom, airflow has to come through the back, and out of the front via a couple of 90mm fans in a 5 1/2 ins bay at the top. The two 40mm fans help blow cool air onto the ram, with another 90mm on the back to help reduce the vacuam in the case and cool the motherboard.
But before anyone says it, I'm not adding or changing anything more on this system as it stands, its an end of line system, which means when it dies thats it, end of story.
What I am pondering is to what to do after this system goes. TBH PC's bore me, the OS's available do indeed work, and work well, but are utterly uninspiring to use (Even BeOS, with all it has going for it, has so few apps in key areas as to make it an annoying experience). I gotta be honest I'm looking for a change, something different. Does that make sence?
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Buy an Atari ST and try and do something usefull with it...
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bloodline wrote:
Buy an Atari ST and try and do something usefull with it...
I had one of them once, I broke the connector to the mouse (which as we all know is underneath pointing forwards). It was a nice little rig, but I much prefered the miggy.
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but the main hassle is running 133Mhz SD Ram at 154Mhz
Yeah, that is a real feat in itself, thats a real effort, cheers to you :pint: :-D
I gotta be honest I'm looking for a change, something different. Does that make sence?
Sounds like you need a new hobby...besides computers I find tinkering with my car amusing...or you could just follow the sound advice of iama :lol:
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adz wrote:
but the main hassle is running 133Mhz SD Ram at 154Mhz
Yeah, that is a real feat in itself, thats a real effort, cheers to you :pint: :-D
I gotta be honest I'm looking for a change, something different. Does that make sence?
Sounds like you need a new hobby...besides computers I find tinkering with my car amusing...or you could just follow the sound advice of iama :lol:
Thanks!
New hobby... interesting...
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At 3:12AM on friday, whilst feeding my newborn son, the PSU in my rig suffered a "terminal electrical fault" in which one of the lines of molex connectors along the 12V line ignited causing a plume of black acrid smoke to be vented into the room curtesy of the twin 92mm fans sat in the top most 5ins drive bay.
the computer itself lost power, and the drives span down for a moment before spinning back up again, the fans however took the brunt of the spike going much faster then their rating.
All this happened in under 3 seconds before I pulled the plug - the 3amp fuse didn't blow...
I don't know how badly damaged the drives or the motherboard and associated addons got hit, but I doubt very much either survived.
The PSU was 3 months old and as such I'll be phoning up Ebuyer to ask for a replacement rig - the reasoning being that had I not been up feeding my son, I and everyone else in the house could quite possibly gone up in smoke along with the PSU.
As you can imagine that I'm none too pleased about this state of affairs, and am pretty shaken up over the incident.
I guess that new hobby will be badgering Ebuyer for replacement kit.
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:-( Hopefully they won't act like *rses in trying to weasel out of their obligation. Who are Ebuyer anyway? Hardware selling outfit I assume?
PS: If you don't have a surge protect 4-way mains socket, I'd strongly advise getting one. I know it has saved my PC at least once.
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mikeymike wrote:
:-( Hopefully they won't act like *rses in trying to weasel out of their obligation. Who are Ebuyer anyway? Hardware selling outfit I assume?
PS: If you don't have a surge protect 4-way mains socket, I'd strongly advise getting one. I know it has saved my PC at least once.
Mine was on a 6 gang surge protect mains adapter, which is possibly why the fuse never blew.
Ebuyer are here (http://www.ebuyer.co.uk), they are just about the cheepest online computer hardware store out there, and their UK operation is on the other side of this very city (sheffield) so should they try to weasle out of it, I will do two things 1: Go in person to try to make them see sence and if that doesn't work 2: Go to the local press regarding their lack of moral backbone, not to mention slashdot them.
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i'd like to add www.scan.co.uk they're very cheap too
ebuyer can be dodgy on the descriptions :-?
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sir_inferno wrote:
i'd like to add www.scan.co.uk they're very cheap too
ebuyer can be dodgy on the descriptions :-?
Yeah tell me about it, I thought I was buying a 550 watt PSU, not a fire hazard...
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the_leander wrote:
Yeah tell me about it, I thought I was buying a 550 watt PSU, not a fire hazard...
550W? Are you sure that isn't overkill? Bear in mind it will produce more heat, do you actually need the extra power?
My PC (http://www.mikeymike.org.uk/mikes/mypc.txt) ticks along fine with a 350W PSU.
My preference in hardware suppliers is CCL Computers (http://www.cclcomputers.co.uk/).
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I was running a lot of stuff at the limits of their capabilities, it wasn't for the extra watts that I bought it but for the greater stability of not pushing the psu anywhere near its theoretical limits. It never ran anything more then warm to the touch, even after a thorough thrashing of the system.
Or at least that was the theory. My 350W PSU was getting tired and really couldn't maintain the voltage when everything was running at flank, so I decided that getting a much higher wattage PSU would mean that it would still be ok should I ever get a more power hungry system.. sort of an investment so to speek.
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Was it a branded PSU?
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Its branded Cy - Cyber Power.. Made in China
its rated as follows
3.3v - 27A
5v - 34A
12v - 22A
So I doubt very strongly that even with 7 fans (spread across all three lines of molex), a cold cathode, 2 hd's and a dvd rom are going to stress that.
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its rated as follows
Rated is one thing. What it actually delivers can be very different. There's been a few articles about PSU comparisons, some delivered way below their specification.
Did you buy the PSU as a branded one or did it come in the case?
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At 3:12AM on friday, whilst feeding my newborn son, the PSU in my rig suffered a "terminal electrical fault" in which one of the lines of molex connectors along the 12V line ignited causing a plume of black acrid smoke to be vented into the room curtesy of the twin 92mm fans sat in the top most 5ins drive bay.
Man that sucks :-(
A while back I worked in a shop that sold off a heap of "Hyena" brand cases, I reckon 8 out of 10 ended up surging the entire system, rendering the entire rig useless, real dodgy, however, being the "honest" business that it was, they neglected to inform the customer of the other mishaps and blamed the power company. Subsequently these people had to shell out for a complete new computer.
Hope it all works out for you.
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define "branded"? I bought it as a replacement for an earlier 350W psu that couldn't keep up.. the case itself came with no PSU.
ebuyer psu (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=44665) thats what I bought, and in retrospect getting one of ebuyers own branded psus was rather silly, however it was at a good price and reasonable performance (aparently it was in acuality closer to a 400-450W psu in performance). I just wish that they'd bothered to check for things like dry solders (which I don't think a single molex conector doesn't have at least in mine).
Funnily enough since I bought it one person has put up that theirs went tits up, though not as dramatically... perhaps a bad batch... I guess I'll never know.
Oh and their telephone customer support? forget it, I was waiting in their cue for over 30 minutes with no responce in one of the 6 times I've tried so far.
I'll try email but tbh I don't think that I'm gonna get anywhere with them. looks like that rig is a dead parrot for good.
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Although I am (or was, until the bank changed my card and I found out eBuyer don't accept Electron) a regular eBuyer customer, I wouldn't touch eBuyer branded (i.e. generic relabeled crap) stuff with a bargepole, especially critical things and potential fire-hazards such as PSUs. They're cheap for a reason and they have the bad reputation to match.
I have an Enermax in my PC. I can't remember how much I paid for it (back when I had a job and wasn't worrying about these things as much), but it's solid. A PSU is an odd thing to get dewy-eyed about, but anyway... ;-)
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you know its information like this that could have saved me several hundred pounds worth of equipment...
Regardless I can't find any way short of ariving at their warehouse doorstep to get in contact with them. So I think its pretty much a lost cause, shame, it was a damned fine rig with a lot of use in it. I don't think I'll be replacing it any time soon or perhaps even at all because this whole episode has left me rather fed up with the industry and computing as a whole.
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So after much head scratching, some hunting around, a lot of luck and more then a little intestinal fortitude, I remembered that I hadn't ditched the old psu! (well I figured it was a quick and cheep way of finding out just how extensive the damage was)
I've been running the big rig for about 30 minutes, tested out a few games (which with the newer motherboard do not lock up as they did with this psu and the old k7s5a). Everything seems in tact, looks like the pereferals took the brunt of it afterall...
What I have lost however is a couple of the 92mm fans, the tower temp gauges, a cold cathode (it seems to have exploded inside its glass tube...).
a total repair bill of about... £30 all inc. I think however I'll be sticking with this PSU for as long as its prepaired to dish out the juice. oh and the side of the case is staying off until I get around to replacing the fans.
So who's the lucky {bleep}! :-D :-D :-D :-D :-o :-o :-o :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Regardless I can't find any way short of ariving at their warehouse doorstep to get in contact with them.
Write them a letter telling them the reasons why they have lost you as a customer for life.