Well one batch of parts arrived this week. The new processor, the new motherboard, a new set of memory modules, a new sound card, and the new CPU Cooler. In order to really test the new cooler I decided to install it on my current setup, in place of the Zalman CNPS9900LED.

So here's a few pictures: First, a shot of the system with the Zalman 9900. The case used is a Cooler Master HAF 932. The motherboard used is an Asus P6T (vanilla). And the Memory is a set of Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D, which is a 6GB set of triple channel memory designed to run at 1600MHz.

Next we have a picture of the new Prolimatech Megahalems CPU cooler, fresh out of the box.



And now one of the cooler installed with 2 Xilence Red Wing 120mm fans.



You'll notice that when I installed the new cooler I removed the memory fan module. Having it in place would have blocked almost 1/3 of the one CPU Cooler Fan. Also of note: these fans were selected on three criteria - first, they are both PWM fans (so their speed could be controlled by BIOS, even though I have that feature turned off atm), second they are rated to move 57CFM which is what the cooler was designed for, and third they are rated to only produce 21.2 dB of noise at 1500RPM.

Since I'm using Artic Silver 5 thermal interface material, I need to let the heatsink compound "cure" before it gives the best performance. Basically this process consists of putting the paste through 4-5 thermal cycles, where you heat it to ~40°C then let it cool down completely (which usually requires leaving the computer off over night). So far I'm on day 3 and my average temps have dropped by about 2-4°C at Idle and 4-6°C under Load. Now part of this difference is probably due to the fact that these fans run at a, more or less, constant speed. Where the Zalman was set to "Turbo" mode in BIOS. The result was that the Zalman's fan would get pretty loud under full load, and the cooling effect of the fan is not constant. For "testing" and comparison purposes I may set the one fan to Turbo mode and remove the second fan.

But that, and more will be included in my next installment after more parts arrive...

Intel's Core i7... a Victim of it's own Success?

Today's a good day! My new Core i7 920 (D0 stepping) processor should be delivered this afternoon. I already have a C0/C1 stepping 920 in my Main rig, but I my success at overclocking has motivated me to "upgrade" my secondary system as well. So this time I'm going all out.

First, I bought my CPU from Antares Digital Inc. who, for a nominal charge, will assure me delivery of a D0 stepping 920 (more on that later...). Second, I'll be getting a new motherboard. EVGA's best overclocking board - the X58 Classified SLI. Third, for the time being, I'm getting the highest rated Air Cooling solution - the Prolimatech Megahalems. And fourth, I'm getting some 1866MHz Corsair Dominator memory, so I can run with tighter timings at just above 1600MHz. Overall my goal is to have a system that runs day to day at just over 4GHz. And, after I do more research, I might even install water-cooling for the motherboard and processor.

Now you might be wondering, if I'm "going all out", why not get the fastest possible processor? And the answer is because I don't need to spend $990, when a $285 processor will run at practically the same speed. And that's the main theme of today's rant. You see by the end of this year, all but the very fastest (Most Expensive!) Core i7 processors will be discontinued. So basically, the Core i7 920 will be a victim of it's own success...

See the D0 stepping of the 920 is special for two reasons. Primary is the fact that they will generally run at the same speeds with less voltage, and the fact that many of the processors architectural errata have been corrected. Second is the fact that none of the other initial models will feature this stepping. So the Core i7 940 and 965EE will be replaced by 950 and 975EE models respectively. Net result is that the 920 D0 is really great deal!

However, Intel has a long history of not giving it's customers "great deals", and they sure don't like selling chips that over-clockers love. Despite the fact that doing so helps elevate them in the minds of enthusiasts. I personally wasn't terribly interested in the Core i7 at first. Honestly I tend to be skeptical about radical stuff like the new "Turbo Mode" of the Core i7. And it's because I tend to feel that it's not really needed. Seriously, I was quick to adopt multi-core processors, and I like the way they allow me to multi-task. So why would I want a processor that will throttle 3 of it's cores to boost 1 core's speed? Things might be different if most software really required more speed, but they don't!

Now these circumstances, combined with the fact the performance of the Core i7 isn't that much greater than the Core 2 Quads, led me to conclude that I should wait for whatever they make next... That is until, I found out what "next" was going to be, the Core i5. I then decided to try Core i7, and I wanted to overclock it from the start. In short, I got the processor, motherboard, and memory as part of a combo deal to save money. And I was immediately able to get to 3.6GHz without significant changes. Part of this sucess is due to the motherboard, an Asus P6T. And part was the processor, because although it was not a D0 stepping, it still has alot of headroom for overclocking.

The bad part is that it probably won't take long for these 920s to be sold out. An example of how popular the 920s are can be found by looking at how many reviews there are at NewEgg, compared to the 965EE. Which roughly indicates a ratio of 10:1. Still Intel doesn't really care. They'll cut back on production of Core i7. It's just one of the things a company with monopoly power can do.

I'll post more in the coming days, as part trickle in... And hopefully I can document this build with pictures. :D

When Reviews shouldn't really count...

I buy the majority of my computer parts online. One of my favorite sites is NewEgg - but one of the features of this site is that they encourage "Customer Reviews". Now this is ultimately a good feature, which allows Users to share their experience with potential customers. However, there are lots of times when these "Reviews" really should not count when making a decision about what product to purchase.

I'll give an example here. I recently built a new Core i7 computer. Since I wasn't convinced of the superiority of the new chip, I wanted to build a "less expensive" system with which I could gain experience. That means I knew I wanted the least expensive of the processors - in this case the "920" model. And I also wanted mid-range motherboard, which was a much harder choice to make... (All of my other components are higher end gear, from companies that I'm very familiar with already.)

So I did my "homework"... read lots of X58 chipset motherboard reviews. Compared motherboards based on features and layout. And finally settled on an Asus P6T. But, please, let me explain! There are certain basic features I look for in a motherboard. First I want to be able to run SLI, and since Nvidia graphics card now have PhysX processing capability, a third PCIe x16 slot is desireable. Second I like to have at least one eSATA port on the backplane as that is how I prefer to connect a Backup Hard drive. Third I want at least 5 SATA connectors, placed at an angle so they line up with the edge of the board. Asus boards also have two other features that are notably attractive. One is called the Asus Q-Connector, and is a small block to which you can plug in your front panel wires, and then more easilly connect this "block" to the motherboard (and trust me, ... one of the least fun things about setting up a computer is connecting those wires individually!).

But that "feature", indeed almost all other features, pale in comparison with the final basis for my decision to buy this motherboard... it's a BIOS based Flash Update Utility. One of my favorite motherboards was an Abit BH6 (a socket 370 Intel 440BX chipset motherboard) , which met an untimely end during a flash attempt using a bad floppy disk. Since the day that happened I have allways been afraid of flashing a motherboard's BIOS. I've had to do it alot, but it was always accompanied by a sense of severe anxiety. But with this utility that is a thing of the past! All you have to do is copy your BIOS update to a USB drive. Restart and enter BIOS. Start the utility and show it which drive the file is on... and you're soon finished. (Yes! there is still some risk, but it's minimal... and I don't have to burn a special CD, or attach a USB floppy drive.)

So I feel like I made a "quality decision" in buying the P6T. And my experience with it has generally been stellar! But when I read NewEgg's reviews of this product you might get the impression they got a different product. Some of the "reviewers" almost admit that they didn't read the manual. Most reviewers seem hesitant to admit that they don't have much experience either, though their comments make this point clear. Other "customers" obviously are looking for board with a different layout; for example they want it to fit in a smaller case. So why did they buy "this board"?

My Intuition would lead me to believe one of the following reasons. 1. They read a favorable review, then followed an advertising link. 2. They were told by a friend to buy this board, and they didn't pay much attention to the details. Or 3, they are familiar with the Asus brand name and this is the best they could afford. None of these scenarios represent a basis for a quality decision.

Now please don't assume that I'm just trying to justify my purchase! I really don't need other reviewers to agree with me per se. I'm very happy with my new system. But some of these "reviews" are really wild, ... as in they lack credibility. Like the one who claims that his particular motherboard just snapped in half for no apparent reason!?! Or the one who claimed his system would not startup the first time because there was "too much room" for his processor to move around in the CPU socket!?! (If you read the manual... it's perfectly clear there is exactly One Way to install a processor. And if you follow those directions you will realize that there is just enough room to install the processor - there is no freeplay!) The end result is that I feel sorry for the Customer Service Representatives at NewEgg.

It's obvious to me that some of these people could mess Anything up! But they refuse to admit the same to others, or even to themselves... And I tend to believe that their opinions in the matter should not count! So NewEgg if someone did not buy a product from you: They should not write a review of that product! And if they did not keep a product purchased, they should not be allowed to post a review of that product. But that's just my 2¢ worth... You will have to do as you see fit.