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Looking back on an old journal entry, I saw that I hadn't updated by build log for the PC I'm using - deadly important to a comp-u-geek like me!
I finally moved over to Intel this January, building a machine around a Core 2 Duo e6600 I bought from a friend. It was always my intention to overclock the chip, and have had no difficulty in taking it to 3Ghz by only changing the FSB. Running on a DFI Lanparty p45 motherboard and cooled by an Arctic Freezer 7 pro, I'm pretty happy with performance right now, but I know the chip will clock to at least 3.2 should I need some extra headroom.
I knew I would be using Vista so I thought 4gb of RAM and a 64bit version would be the best way to go, and the Corsair XMS2 DDR2800 RAM I installed has proven quite overclockable, reaching around 980mhz.
For graphics horsepower, I'm using an ATi HD3870 512mb, which is the perfect match for my 19" widescreen monitor. Even Crysis has proved playable on maximum settings, a feat that proved impossible on the last build (admittedly this was to be expected, but it's still nice to finally play it the way it was intended).
Reusing my trusty X-FI xtreme music, DVD burner, 580w Hyper power supply and 500GB Hard Drive, I build the machine in my Antec 900 case in a few hours, spending extra time on cable management. Although I only have a 2nd generation 900, the two precut holes still proved very useful in hiding the mess of wires. Two UV cold cathodes now illuminate the motherboard, which has UV-reactive connectors.
The PC has been up and running for around a month now, and is proving 100% stable. I'm extra happy that I managed to balance the overclock with the fan speed of the freezer 7 pro, only spinning up when launching full 3D apps and idling around 45 degrees (centigrade).
As well as being my main work machine, handling image editing, web design and file hosting, the build now has enough grunt to handle editing HD video, allowing me much more creativity with my camera. Game-wise I've managed to keep most of my previous installs by being clever with partitions, and I've also added Fallout 3, STALKER clear sky, Dead Space, Red Alert 3 and Burnout Paradise to my collection - all of which the rig can play on ful settings.
NEW BUILD
Intel Core 2 Duo e6600 3GHz
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 pro
DFI Lanparty p45-t2rs PLUS motherboard
Corsair 2x2GB DDR2-800 RAM
ATi HD3870 512mb
Hitachi Desktstar 500GB SATAII Hard Drive
Creative X-FI Xtreme Music
Antec 900 case
Hiperpower 580w modular PSU
I finally moved over to Intel this January, building a machine around a Core 2 Duo e6600 I bought from a friend. It was always my intention to overclock the chip, and have had no difficulty in taking it to 3Ghz by only changing the FSB. Running on a DFI Lanparty p45 motherboard and cooled by an Arctic Freezer 7 pro, I'm pretty happy with performance right now, but I know the chip will clock to at least 3.2 should I need some extra headroom.
I knew I would be using Vista so I thought 4gb of RAM and a 64bit version would be the best way to go, and the Corsair XMS2 DDR2800 RAM I installed has proven quite overclockable, reaching around 980mhz.
For graphics horsepower, I'm using an ATi HD3870 512mb, which is the perfect match for my 19" widescreen monitor. Even Crysis has proved playable on maximum settings, a feat that proved impossible on the last build (admittedly this was to be expected, but it's still nice to finally play it the way it was intended).
Reusing my trusty X-FI xtreme music, DVD burner, 580w Hyper power supply and 500GB Hard Drive, I build the machine in my Antec 900 case in a few hours, spending extra time on cable management. Although I only have a 2nd generation 900, the two precut holes still proved very useful in hiding the mess of wires. Two UV cold cathodes now illuminate the motherboard, which has UV-reactive connectors.
The PC has been up and running for around a month now, and is proving 100% stable. I'm extra happy that I managed to balance the overclock with the fan speed of the freezer 7 pro, only spinning up when launching full 3D apps and idling around 45 degrees (centigrade).
As well as being my main work machine, handling image editing, web design and file hosting, the build now has enough grunt to handle editing HD video, allowing me much more creativity with my camera. Game-wise I've managed to keep most of my previous installs by being clever with partitions, and I've also added Fallout 3, STALKER clear sky, Dead Space, Red Alert 3 and Burnout Paradise to my collection - all of which the rig can play on ful settings.
NEW BUILD
Intel Core 2 Duo e6600 3GHz
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 pro
DFI Lanparty p45-t2rs PLUS motherboard
Corsair 2x2GB DDR2-800 RAM
ATi HD3870 512mb
Hitachi Desktstar 500GB SATAII Hard Drive
Creative X-FI Xtreme Music
Antec 900 case
Hiperpower 580w modular PSU
New camera on the way
After a month of selling my old DVDs and games on ebay, I've bought a new camera - the Kodak Z1285. It's a 12 megapixel compact with plenty of features, so hopefully it will be a worthy replacement for my ageing Fuji s5000.
On paper it looks like a real step up, considering the Fuji only had 3MP (allegedly 6 with "CCD optimisations") and as it's a compact camera I plan on keeping it with me a lot more than I do right now, the Fuji's SLR shape isn't the best for fitting in a pocket!
The other selling point that swayed it for me was it can record video in 720p high definition at 30fps - the Fuji was only capable of QVGA at 10fps, so combined
Recycled PC up and running!
I've finally got round to rebuilding my PC - I've been using a laptop for the last year at University and the PC has stayed at home. The laptop has been great but the graphics card is starting to show its age, struggling with my new favorite, Call of Duty 4.
I wanted to rebuild the PC but I also wanted to stay on a tight budget, so I was going to recycle as many parts as I could while preparing the system for future upgrades. The old PC consisted of:
Athlon 64 3000+ (Newcastle core)
stock AMD cooler
Foxxconn motherboard (broken onboard sound after lightning strike hit the house :D)
Corsair 1GB DDR400 PC3200 RAM
nVidia 6600GT AGP
Hitach
Has it really been this long?
The last time I updated my journal was almost a year ago - in that time I've been at university, sat exams and got up to all kinds of stuff! I'm finally winding down now after a pretty busy exam period, I'll find out in a month if I've got the grades to come back for the second year - Here's hoping!
On the art front, I've upgraded to photoshop CS3, and I've expanded into Quark express for desktop publishing and proffessional copy production. I'm still using the same camera, a fuji s5000, but I haven't had the time to take many decent photos - now I'm finished I'll have the time to go and check out some of Bournemouth's more picturesque locat
Off to university!
Well, A Level results have come and gone, and despite only being 20 points away from my first choice, I didn't get it, but luckily my Insurance choice was a similar course at the same university, so I'm still happy. I've got a house lined up, and freshers week starts on the 25th of September. Hopefully I will be able to aquire a copy of Photoshop for my Laptop before then, as i've lost my copy that is currently running on my desktop, which will be staying at home. Otherwise, there will be fewer and fewer digital contributions to my site. Fingers crossed then!
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