I just bought...

[General Septem]

I just bought myself an Opteron 165 and an XFX nVidia 7950 GT :D

Well what happened was I'd received an HR-03 video card cooler in appreciation for some remodelling work I'd helped with around the house (we're not done yet but I came up with a drawing in a CAD program that proved to be invaluable). My dad's pretty awesome like that. But anyway it came in the mail and I find out it's not going to fit my 6600GT.

I was a little disapointed but not terribly as I knew I'd eventually get a new video card. I knew it wouldn't be long. But at the time I was thinking like a few months, after I got settled into my new job.

I should've known it would've been not even a week later before I got the card. :D

So I went to Newegg in search for a 7900GTX. I might have opted for the 8800GTX except the HR-03 won't fit that card which would kind of defeat the purpose. I knew the 7900GTX was $500 so that's what I was prepared to spend. I got to Newegg and the only 7900GTX they were selling was out of stock. However, the 7950GT, which is honestly almost as good as the 7900GTX, was $300, so I got that instead.

So having saved myself $200, but still having been more than prepared to spend $500, I bought myself a new processor. A Socket 939 Opteron 165. There isn't a better Socket 939 processor out there for overclockers. They say these processors, which come 1.8 GHz stock, can easily overclock to 2.6 GHz, and in many cases they can even reach 3.0 GHz and higher. And it's dual core besides. :D

It's not going to be here until at least Monday. I don't know if I can wait that long. T_T

Opty 165: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103588

[freakazoid]

I just bought myself an Opteron 165 and an XFX nVidia 7950 GT

Well what happened was I'd received an HR-03 video card cooler in appreciation for some remodelling work I'd helped with around the house (we're not done yet but I came up with a drawing in a CAD program that proved to be invaluable). My dad's pretty awesome like that. But anyway it came in the mail and I find out it's not going to fit my 6600GT.

I was a little disapointed but not terribly as I knew I'd eventually get a new video card. I knew it wouldn't be long. But at the time I was thinking like a few months, after I got settled into my new job.

I should've known it would've been not even a week later before I got the card.

So I went to Newegg in search for a 7900GTX. I might have opted for the 8800GTX except the HR-03 won't fit that card which would kind of defeat the purpose. I knew the 7900GTX was $500 so that's what I was prepared to spend. I got to Newegg and the only 7900GTX they were selling was out of stock. However, the 7950GT, which is honestly almost as good as the 7900GTX, was $300, so I got that instead.

So having saved myself $200, but still having been more than prepared to spend $500, I bought myself a new processor. A Socket 939 Opteron 165. There isn't a better Socket 939 processor out there for overclockers. They say these processors, which come 1.8 GHz stock, can easily overclock to 2.6 GHz, and in many cases they can even reach 3.0 GHz and higher. And it's dual core besides. :D

It's not going to be here until at least Monday. I don't know if I can wait that long. T_T

Opty 165: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103588
Whoa..now that sounds like some way cool upgrading. One of my video cards is a nVidia (the nVidia Riva TNT2 Model 64 Pro). Works great. Your AMD Opteron 165 will prove to be a bad ass CPU I bet. I presume you are going to over-clock the hell out of it? :D Awesome! Is all of this going into a new case? http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

[General Septem]

Whoa..now that sounds like some way cool upgrading. One of my video cards is a nVidia (the nVidia Riva TNT2 Model 64 Pro). Works great. Your AMD Opteron 165 will prove to be a bad ass CPU I bet. I presume you are going to over-clock the hell out of it? :D Awesome! Is all of this going into a new case? http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

I'll overclock it as high as I can on stock cooling. I would've gotten the SI-128 while I was at Newegg but it was out of stock. It'll go in a case once I build it but in the mean time it'll just stay where it is, on my desk.

Actually the case won't be hard to build, I just need to figure out how I'm going to dovetail it all.

[freakazoid]

I'll overclock it as high as I can on stock cooling. I would've gotten the SI-128 while I was at Newegg but it was out of stock. It'll go in a case once I build it but in the mean time it'll just stay where it is, on my desk.

Actually the case won't be hard to build, I just need to figure out how I'm going to dovetail it all.

Desktop "open cooling?" LOL, that works! http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif:D I have a friend that never uses a case, he just builds his computers spread out on his desk ... that way "he can tweak the freaking thing much faster." He used to be an electrical engineer for Hughes Aircraft and can't stand to leave any electronic device alone.

[beelzebub]

Whoa..now that sounds like some way cool upgrading. One of my video cards is a nVidia (the nVidia Riva TNT2 Model 64 Pro). Works great. Your AMD Opteron 165 will prove to be a bad ass CPU I bet. I presume you are going to over-clock the hell out of it? :D Awesome! Is all of this going into a new case? http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif


How significantly does overclocking improve the efficency of your microprocessor? I have read that overclocking is dangerous because it overheats the microprocessor. I also read that the increase is minimal. Is the increase in efficiency significant enough to outweigh the risk? Do you have to install extra cooling fans?

Inquiring minds want to know.;)

[General Septem]

Desktop "open cooling?" LOL, that works! http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif:D I have a friend that never uses a case, he just builds his computers spread out on his desk ... that way "he can tweak the freaking thing much faster." He used to be an electrical engineer for Hughes Aircraft and can't stand to leave any electronic device alone.

Yes, I don't have a case I can really use, that's why I'm building one :D

It can be nice to have it open, but it creates clutter, there's nothing to block the noise, and it's also somewhat dangerous to the system if something falls on it. Actually my case will probably ultimately have just about the same accesability as it does when it's open on the desk, which would be nice.

[General Septem]

How significantly does overclocking improve the efficency of your microprocessor?

It depends on the system. For example, the Opteron 165 uses the Denmark core, which is the same core used in all other dual core socket 939 Opterons. The only difference between these processors is their stock clock speed.

The reason I and many other overclockers bought the 165 is because, with the exception of it being clocked at 1.8 GHz, it is identical to the 2.6 GHz Opteron 185 for roughly $300 more.

There may be a very slight difference in stability between the 165 and 185 as the most stable chips are chosen for the higher clock speeds, but when we're talking about the Opteron line they only use the most stable chips to begin with. The others are labeled as Toldeo cores and put in Athlon X2s.

So coming back to the Opterons, the reason I got the Opteron 165 is because, being identical to the Opteron 185, I can overclock the 165 to 2.6 GHz and basically own a $400+ chip for only ~$150. But on top of that, they are more than capable of going even beyond this.

My current processor is 2.2 GHz stock, and I currently have it overclocked to 2.4 GHz. I definitely notice a difference in performance although I was not pleased with the poor speeds I was limited by.


I have read that overclocking is dangerous because it overheats the microprocessor. I also read that the increase is minimal. Is the increase in efficiency significant enough to outweigh the risk? Do you have to install extra cooling fans?

Higher clock speeds and higher voltages (increasing voltage is sometimes necessary to achieving stability at higher speeds) usually cause an increase in heat within the processor. However, letting a processor overheat is more often than not due to negligence. Monitoring temperatures and only increasing values in small increments will prevent any damage due to excessive heat from occuring, because the user will prevent the processor from getting too hot.

Processors generally won't burn out until they get very hot, but most smart overclockers (as opposed to the ones that are willing to crank up anything they have to in order to gain speed at any cost) will not let their processor get much above 50C, especially in the long term. It would have to get much hotter than that to cause damage.

Cooling fans are important to keeping temperatures down as airflow is crucial to carrying heat away from components, but greater measures often have to be taken to get temperatures down even further. Generally this means more robust heat sinks over heat generating components, but another common method of cooling is watercooling, similar to how car engines are cooled but on a smaller scale.

So to answer your question, is it worth the risk, well the answer is that it's worth the risk because those who are smart will not take risks, but rather avert the risks.

All in all, I believe the greatest reason behind overclocking is not performance gains, although they are great, but rather the human instinct to want to improve things. What I love the most about overclocking is that I'm taking something and making it run better and faster than it originally did. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. Is a 3GHz processor more than I need? Possibly, but having a 2.6 GHz processor and knowing it could run at 3.0 GHz would keep me up at night if I didn't do it. ;)

I hope that answers your question. :D

[freakazoid]

How significantly does overclocking improve the efficency of your microprocessor? I have read that overclocking is dangerous because it overheats the microprocessor. I also read that the increase is minimal. Is the increase in efficiency significant enough to outweigh the risk? Do you have to install extra cooling fans?

Inquiring minds want to know.;)
You can burn out a CPU, but in most cases your computer will (based on your internal temperature gauge) just shut down. As far as cooling methods, most "over-clockers" (commonly known as "crazy speed freaks" :D) use water cooling systems that work pretty well.

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8201/newriglv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9423/hangingwallcomputercasemodcustompicturecooluniquem olq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[General Septem]

You can burn out a CPU, but in more cases your computer will (based on your internal temperature gauge) just shut down.

My board actually has a setting in the BIOS that determines at which temperature it will shut down, but I shut mine off. :D


http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9423/hangingwallcomputercasemodcustompicturecooluniquem olq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

That's pretty awesome, what kind of case is that?

[freakazoid]

Yes, I don't have a case I can really use, that's why I'm building one :D

It can be nice to have it open, but it creates clutter, there's nothing to block the noise, and it's also somewhat dangerous to the system if something falls on it. Actually my case will probably ultimately have just about the same accesability as it does when it's open on the desk, which would be nice.

You need a "Hood" like a race car! :D How about a "hinged panel" that can be opened easily? http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon3.gif

[General Septem]

You need a "Hood" like a race car! :D How about a "hinged panel" that can be opened easily? http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon3.gif

Actually it has more to do with the design. The side panel will probably be very easy to remove, but what makes it acessible is that the design is very open, so you don't have to try and fight with everything else in the case to get something to fit. In fact, the motherboard tray will actually look more like a grid than a single sheet of acrylic, like this:

http://www.dangerdenstore.com/files/images/cases/wood/case1/side_800w.jpg

[freakazoid]

My board actually has a setting in the BIOS that determines at which temperature it will shut down, but I shut mine off. :D



That's pretty awesome, what kind of case is that?

Not sure, General, I saw it here...

http://www.sachsreport.com/archive1.8.htm

(Bottom of the page)

Also, check this out, aquarium cooled!!!... :eek:http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/4742/watercoolingaquariumht9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://nalug.interferenza.net/drupal/?q=node/view/104

[freakazoid]

Actually it has more to do with the design. The side panel will probably be very easy to remove, but what makes it acessible is that the design is very open, so you don't have to try and fight with everything else in the case to get something to fit. In fact, the motherboard tray will actually look more like a grid than a single sheet of acrylic, like this:

http://www.dangerdenstore.com/files/images/cases/wood/case1/side_800w.jpg

Nice! I like it! Lite up, that case would look way cooL! :D

[General Septem]

Also, check this out, aquarium cooled!!!... :eek:http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/4742/watercoolingaquariumht9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://nalug.interferenza.net/drupal/?q=node/view/104

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1104341&page=1


Nice! I like it! Lite up, that case would look way cooL!

That's actually where I got the inspiration for the one I'm building. Those cost like $800 though. XD

[freakazoid]

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1104341&page=1



That's actually where I got the inspiration for the one I'm building. Those cost like $800 though. XD

What's the Laptop version of it? :D

[General Septem]

What's the Laptop version of it? :D

What, the oil computer or the wooden one from DangerDen? :D

[freakazoid]

What, the oil computer or the wooden one from DangerDen? :D

The oil computer :D

[General Septem]

The oil computer :D
I hear Dell makes one similar in performance. :D

[freakazoid]

I hear Dell makes one similar in performance. :D

LOL, good ole' Dell! :D

[General Septem]

LOL, good ole' Dell!

I found some pics of it:

http://gadgets.elliottback.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/dell%20explode.jpg

http://www.danaquarium.com/galleryalbums/macoddities/pbfire2.jpg

http://www.wgrz.com/imagepool/images/06815122244_DELLBATT8.jpg

Guaranteed to fry anything. =D

[beelzebub]

.... Generally this means more robust heat sinks over heat generating components, but another common method of cooling is watercooling, similar to how car engines are cooled but on a smaller scale.

So to answer your question, is it worth the risk, well the answer is that it's worth the risk because those who are smart will not take risks, but rather avert the risks.

All in all, I believe the greatest reason behind overclocking is not performance gains, although they are great, but rather the human instinct to want to improve things. What I love the most about overclocking is that I'm taking something and making it run better and faster than it originally did. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. Is a 3GHz processor more than I need? Possibly, but having a 2.6 GHz processor and knowing it could run at 3.0 GHz would keep me up at night if I didn't do it. ;)

I hope that answers your question. :D

Yeah that answers my question and more. You really do know your stuff.

I never heard of water cooling systems until now. While I would love to see one I know that I would mess it up myself and since I use my computer for more mundane things it would be unnecessary.

Very, very interesting. Its like chatting about cars with guys into hotrods hooked up on nitro.:)

[freakazoid]

I found some pics of it:

http://gadgets.elliottback.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/dell%20explode.jpg

http://www.danaquarium.com/galleryalbums/macoddities/pbfire2.jpg

http://www.wgrz.com/imagepool/images/06815122244_DELLBATT8.jpg

Guaranteed to fry anything. =D

Holy shit!! :eek: Could you imagine that happening on a plane while in your lap? Damn, they might think you were a terrorist trying to blow the plane up!!

[freakazoid]

Yeah that answers my question and more. You really do know your stuff.

I never heard of water cooling systems until now. While I would love to see one I know that I would mess it up myself and since I use my computer for more mundane things it would be unnecessary.

Very, very interesting. Its like chatting about cars with guys into hotrods hooked up on nitro.:)

Computers are basically the hot rods of the 21st century; just like having a bad ass rod in the fifties and a bad ass stereo was in the 70's and 80's. http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

[General Septem]

Holy shit!! :eek: Could you imagine that happening on a plane while in your lap? Damn, they might think you were a terrorist trying to blow the plane up!!

And they'd probably laugh at you for blowing yourself up instead. :D

[freakazoid]

And they'd probably laugh at you for blowing yourself up instead. :D

LOL, yup!! :D:D

[General Septem]

Well I managed to reach 2.8 GHz. Not too bad, I was hoping for more, but then again there's still hope for watercooling, and when I do that I may even remove the IHS to reduce temps a few more degrees (providing it's not soldered on). That's still a 56% overclock though. :D

[freakazoid]

Well I managed to reach 2.8 GHz. Not too bad, I was hoping for more, but then again there's still hope for watercooling, and when I do that I may even remove the IHS to reduce temps a few more degrees (providing it's not soldered on). That's still a 56% overclock though. :D
Way cool, keep me posted. http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif Going to buy the water cooling system soon? How goes the custom CPU case?

[General Septem]

Way cool, keep my posted. http://forum.bullshit.com/images/icons/icon14.gif Going to buy the water cooling system soon? How goes the custom CPU case?
Well, things are pretty hectic around here at Thanksgiving time, so I won't be able to work on the case until after then. When it's done I'll probably install the watercooling right when I install the rest of the computer, and I'll probably buy the parts I'll need just before I finish because I'll need to know measurements so I can mod the case for it.

[freakazoid]

Well, things are pretty hectic around here at Thanksgiving time, so I won't be able to work on the case until after then. When it's done I'll probably install the watercooling right when I install the rest of the computer, and I'll probably buy the parts I'll need just before I finish because I'll need to know measurements so I can mod the case for it.

Hey cool. Sounds like it will be an ass kicking system when finished. :D