New Rig

[Hoffa]

Ok, I got my new rig up and running (though I still can't seem to master RAID 0+1). 

A few things I wanted to pass along that might save others some tribulations.  If you are planning on upgrading to a GeForce 8800 series card (GTS, GTX, or Ultra), do yourself a favour and buy a full tower.  To say that these cards are large, is quite the understatement.  My Ultra is so long that it actually extends past the MB by over 2 inches.  While I used to be of the school of thought that mid tower or micro was the way to go, I have since changed that view.  If current trends continue (i.e. SLI up to 4 vid cards), gamers will have no choice but to use full towers.  The power supply needs to be beefy as well, especially if you are planning on going SLI (1000W min recommended for 2 8800s in SLI).

Another tid bit I came across, was that BFG Tech has a lifetime warranty on their 8800 cards.  EVGA only offered 1 year for the same card (this may vary by card type).  Since these cards do get quite hot (mine idles at 61 deg C, with only the built in fan, and 57 deg C when the 120mm fan blowing on it, this is normal from what I have found on the net), so burning them up is a real possibility.  Considering that the card was the single most expensive component of my entire system (36% of the total system cost), I'm glad i knew about the BFG warranty.  In addition, BFG throws in a stylish T-shirt with the Ultra as well, so now I look almost as good as the graphics the card delivers 

Anywho, just some FYI, hope you find it useful.

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

When we getting a picture of your new mainframe?   

-- JT

[Hoffa]

There is a link with a picture of the case and monitor on the other thread..... what more would a picture show you 

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

... that somehow with your assembly methods the mobo didn't wind up on the outside of the case!

-- JT

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

Now JT, just because your jealous, isn't a reason to mock Hoffa.

[Currahee]

Ok, I got my new rig up and running (though I still can't seem to master RAID 0+1). 

A few things I wanted to pass along that might save others some tribulations.  If you are planning on upgrading to a GeForce 8800 series card (GTS, GTX, or Ultra), do yourself a favour and buy a full tower.  To say that these cards are large, is quite the understatement.  My Ultra is so long that it actually extends past the MB by over 2 inches.  While I used to be of the school of thought that mid tower or micro was the way to go, I have since changed that view.  If current trends continue (i.e. SLI up to 4 vid cards), gamers will have no choice but to use full towers.  The power supply needs to be beefy as well, especially if you are planning on going SLI (1000W min recommended for 2 8800s in SLI).

Another tid bit I came across, was that BFG Tech has a lifetime warranty on their 8800 cards.  EVGA only offered 1 year for the same card (this may vary by card type).  Since these cards do get quite hot (mine idles at 61 deg C, with only the built in fan, and 57 deg C when the 120mm fan blowing on it, this is normal from what I have found on the net), so burning them up is a real possibility.  Considering that the card was the single most expensive component of my entire system (36% of the total system cost), I'm glad i knew about the BFG warranty.  In addition, BFG throws in a stylish T-shirt with the Ultra as well, so now I look almost as good as the graphics the card delivers 

Anywho, just some FYI, hope you find it useful.

you got more than just one 120mm dont ya?
mine has 2 80mm in the front ,2 in the rear, one in the top blowhole and the psu vents thru the case as well.
on my rebuild i bought the newer silent fans and you can hardly tell the thing is running.

[Hoffa]

fans? who needs those?  Well besides the Philly Iggles   Oh, you mean the kind that move air 

The GPU has its own exhaust fan (exhausts through a rear slot, as the card takes up 2 of them).  The PS has its own exhaust fan as well.  The case has 4 x 120mm (1 in front, 1 in back, 1 in blow hole, and 1 in side fan rack).  The case has 3 more 120mm holes in the side rack, and optional mounting racks are available.  My case will hold 9 120mm fans in all.  Coolermaster makes a (optional) cross flow scroll type fan that runs from the top of the case to the bottom to provide a breeze over the entire board.  I had considered buying this, but its not compatible with 8800 GPU's as they extend past the MB so far. 

I keep adding 120mm fans one at a time, and seeing what the temp does.  Everything is staying relatively cool at the moment, but i keep adding fans anyway.  This is my first case with LED's and each fan has 3 more.  You can't quite see my case from space yet, so I need more LED's, therefore I need more fans  .  I may add 3 more, as that is the limit without buying extra racks to hold them.  I guess I should point some of them fans at me, as I seem to keep overheating each time I discover a new Windows "feature", you know, like if you install your vid card drivers before you patch SP2, it over writes them and causes all videos to play in black and white (Thanks Bill for delivering a well designed and tested product  ).

... that somehow with your assembly methods the mobo didn't wind up on the outside of the case!

-- JT

Sure... I know you are really hoping I will put up a picture of me wearing my stylish new BFG shirt

[Currahee]

hehe, cold cathodes dude

say no more