Computers I’ve Built

The first computer I ever built was supposed to be used for a Counterstrike server for my kids.

MSI K7T Turbo 2 (KT133A)
Athlon XP 2000
Stock HSF
1 GB of PC133 RAM (generic)
40 GB Maxtor 7200 RPM HD
Generic CD ROM & Floppy
Radeon 8500 128 MB
Santa Cruz audio card
Generic case
Generic 350 Watt PSU

I ended up using the computer myself – for almost a couple years – upgrading the processor to an XP 2400, and overclocking it to a FSB of about 147 MHz.

Towards the end, I replaced the video card with a Radeon 9500.

The second comp I built was for my son Trav. It replaced an aging Compaq 5WV254 that’d been upgraded to a 1.2 GHz Athlon T-bird (which I later ended up re-building out of spare parts and giving to his then girlfriend).

Asus A7N8X Deluxe – v.1.04 – 1004 Uber BIOS
Barton 2800 (unlocked)
1 GB Corsair Twinx 3200 LLPT (2, 2, 2, 7)
Thermaltake Volcano 7+ HSF
Maxtor Diamond Max 9 40 GB HD
Radeon 8500 64 MB
Enermax 350 Watt PSU
CD R/W
Thermaltake Xaser II Case with lots of fans and lights
IBM 21 inch monitor

I went through a bunch of upgrades on this comp and tried a bunch of different CPUs before we got the Barton 2800.

The best overclocker was an Athlon XP 1700 JIUHB, which ran comfortably at about 2,250 MHz – almost a 500 MHz overclock!

The highest FSB I was ever able to get stable was around 177 MHz – these old v.1.xx boards had a problem with Southbridge voltage and wouldn’t usually go over 180 MHz or so without a voltage mod.

I now use this board for my comp (to replace my K7T Turbo 2). I’ve got the T-Bred B 2400 in it, running at 12.5 X 177 MHz (vcore 1.72).

So my current comp is:

My son Trav, I upgraded to:

Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe (1007 BIOS)
Barton 2800 (11X200 MHz) Stock vcore
1 GB Corsair Twinx 3200 LLPT (2,3,2,6) vdimm 2.8
Thermaltake Volcano 7+ HSF
Maxtor Diamond Max 9 Plus 60 GB HD (8 MB cache)
Maxtor Diamond Max 9 Plus 40 GB HD (8 MB cache)
MSI CR52-M CDRW
52X CDROM
Radeon 9700 Pro (O/c 330/310)
Thermaltake Xaser II case
Enermax 430 Watt PSU
Altec-Lansing 4.1 surround
IBM 21 inch monitor

This board will go higher - the FSB seems to top out at around 210 MHz. And I had his 2800 up to a top of around 2350 MHz - but backed it off because of thermal problems (too damned hot!). The version 2.0 boards are much better overclockers than the early boards.

The best I've got is around 17,000 3DMarks (3DMark2001se).

Not long after that build, I upgraded my son Mason’s comp. He’d had a Compaq 7001 with an Intel 850 chipset – 1.7 GHz P4 with 640 MB of RDRAM, with a Radeon 9700 Pro, and a slow 80 GB HD.

My latest Build:

MSI K8N Neo Platinum bios 1.4 (socket 754)
ADA3200AEP5AR CAAPC 0347 TPMW @ 10x 225 = 2250 MHz, HTT 4
Tt K8 Silent Boost HSF (40c idle, 52c load)
Tt Extreme Spirit NB fan
Gigabyte X800 Pro (525/563)
2x512 MB OCZ PC3700 EB Platinum @ 1:1 (vdimm 2.8 - CAS 2.5, 3, 2, 10, 1T)
2x36 WD Raptors in RAID 0
WD EIDE 200 GB HD (8MB cache)
MSI CR52-M CDRW
52X CDROM
Enermax Noisetaker EG 425P-VE 420 W PSU
Logitech Z-560 4.1 Surround
Thermaltake Xaser III case with a bunch of fans
Viewsonic P-810 21 inch monitor

I’m really pleased with the K8N Neo. As soon as some BIOS problems get worked out by MSI, I’m gonna do some serious overclocking. It should be capable of running at 250 MHz 1:1 HTT on air.

He’s getting over 27,000 on 3DMark 2001se.

The OCZ 3700 EB is really awesome, too – I’m getting over 3,400 in Sandra mem b/w.

Update 5/31/5:

Mason's K8N Neo Platinum (s754) board up and died about a month ago, so I sent it off for an RMA. When it returns, it will be the basis for my new comp. But for Mason - and Trav - I got both of them brand new K8N Neo 4 Platinum SLI boards! For processors, I got them both new Venice 3200's and for GPUs, I got them new Gigabyte X800 XL's. Here are the systems:

Mason's New Comp:

MSI K8N Neo 4 SLI Platinum – Bios 3.0
ADA3200DAA4BP LBBLE 0516 EPGW (Venice) @ 2450 MHz (HTT 4, FSB 245 X 10) 1.55 vcore (38c idle, 47c load - with a case temp of about 26c)
2x512 MB OCZ PC3700 EB (vdimm 2.85) running 1:1 @ 245 MHz, CAS 3, 2, 4, 7, 12 Command Rate 1T, Aggressive timing disabled, in slots 1 & 2
Thermaltake Silent Boost K8
XFS 7800 GT (468/1.12)
2 X Western Digital 36 GB Raptors in RAID 0 on SATA 1 & 2 using the Nvidia controller
1 WD 8 MB cache 150 GB PATA storage drive
DVD ROM
MSI CD R/W
Thermaltake Xaser III case with lots of fans and lights
Enermax Whisper II 460 Watt PSU +3.3V@35A, +5V@35A, +12V@33A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2.2A

Trav's New Comp:

MSI K8N Neo 4 SLI Platinum – Bios 3.0
ADA3200DAA4BP LBBLE 0516 EPEW (Venice) @ 2600 MHz (HTT 3, FSB 260 X 10) 1.525 vcore (30c idle, 40c load - with a case temp of 18c)
2x512 MB Corsair Twinx 3200 LLPT (vdimm 2.5) on the 150 MHz divider, running @ 195 MHz, dual channel, Command rate 1T, CAS 2, 3, 4 7, Aggressive timing disabled, in slots 1& 2
Thermaltake Silent Boost K8
Gigabyte X800XL 256
1 Maxtor 60 GB 8 MB Cache
1 Maxtor 80 GB 8 MB cache
DVD R/W
MSI CD R/W
Thermaltake Xaser II case with lots of fans and lights
Enermax Whisper II 460 Watt PSU  +3.3V@35A, +5V@35A, +12V@33A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2.2A

The new Venice processors overclock like a dream, going 500-600 MHz with hardly a problem - on air!

The only problems I've had concern the stabilty of the vcore on Trav's machine - it fluctuates as much as .06 v, plus the settings in the bios don't jibe with the actual voltage produced (the highest vcore I can get is about 1.54 v even with the CPU VID set on 1.55 and the Trim voltage set at +8.3% - which should be 1.678 volts).

I'm hoping this can be solved with a bios update.

I also have to get Trav some new RAM - the old Corsair PC 3200 just isn't cutting it - it won't go higher than about 210 MHz or so, and it won't take any voltage past about 2.6 vdimm.

I'm thinking I'll get some of the new Corsair PC4400 C25. At AnandTech, they were able to get it to run at 318 MHz, 1:1 with a MSI K8N Neo 2. That's pretty damned impressive.

When Mason's old board comes back from RMA, I'm gonna build a new comp for me. Same basic configuration as what he previously had - the 3200 Clawhammer, X800 Pro and his power supply. I'm gonna have to my myself some new RAM, too - I'll probably get more of the Corsair if I can afford it.

I just (FINALLY) got my new comp built: I ended up splurging and got myself a 3700 Clawhammer.

MSI K8N Neo Platinum (S754) bios 1.7
ADA3700AEP5AR CAAZC 0440 WPMW @ 2520 MHz (HT 3, FSB 240x10.5) vcore 1.50 +5% (which works out to about 1.53 volts - 38c idle, 51c load)
2x512 MB OCZ PC3200 EL Platinum Rev 2 - 2.85 vdimm, 2, 4, 4 10 (running 1:1), Command Rate 1T
Thermaltake Venus 12 (usually on medium - about 4000 RPM)
Gigabyte X800 Pro (525/560)
Maxtor 200 GB SATA HD - 6L200SO
Western Digital 200 GB PATA HD - WD2000JB-OOGVAO
CD R/W
CD ROM
Enermax Whisper II 460 watt PSU (33A on the single 12v rail)
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream case with lots of lights and fans

I've gotten up about 25,000 on 3D Mark 2001 SE. The highest I've been able to get this processor was 2625 MHz (250x10.5) - but it wasn't stable on Prime 95 - errored after about 18 minutes, even with the vcore jacked up to 1.55 +10% (which worked out to a vcore of about 1.66 volts - way high).

My RAM's not working as well as it should - yeah, it's running at CAS 2 at 240 MHz 1:1, but I have problems above about 245 MHz, regardless if it's at CAS 2.5 or even CAS 3. And that's at the board's max vdimm - 2.85 volts.

My old comp (or most of it, anyways) ended up as Mason's second (guest) computer.

Here's the stats:

A7N8X Deluxe v.1.04 (1004 Uber BIOS)
Athlon XP 2400
Thermaltake Volcano 10 HSF
1 GB Corsair Twinx 3200 LLPT (2, 2, 2, 7)
Maxtor 4Y040LO 60 GB HD
Generic floppy
CD R/W
CD ROM
Radeon 9700
Enermax 430 Watt PSU
Same old cheap generic case with 2 fans

The A7N8X Deluxe were really good boards. With the R9700, it still gets up above 15,000 on 3D Mark 2001SE.

Update on 9-29-5:

I RMA'd Trav's K8N because the vcore wouldn't go above about 1.53 volts. That's way, way below what the advertised voltage is - you oughta be able to get 1.7 volts (1.55 volts + 10 %).

The low vcore was really holding back any overclocking.

Following that, I made a decision: I'm done with MSI.

I've bought two MSI K8N Neo Platinum boards and two K8N Neo 4 Platinum SLI boards in the last 2 years.

My original K8N ran great without problems for nearly a year, then one night just died.  I'm not sure what the problem was – it just wouldn't power up.  I RMA'd the board.

The board I got back from RMA (which I'm using now) runs great but has some problems with reporting temps – the temps reported fluctuate by as much as 10c.  I learned a trick where if I go into the bios and change something, and then save and exit, the temps run 5-6c cooler (which I think are accurate temps).

This board also has a problem in the bios – the spread spectrum is enabled and I can't turn it off – it's grayed-out in the bios – I can't change it.  I've reached a plateau with my RAM (running 1:1 at 240 MHz) and I figure this is why it won't go further (even at CAS 3 – the RAM is OCZ 3200 EL Platinum Rev 2 which should go above 300 MHz, easily).

My second K8N Neo Platinum has weird USB and ps/2 problems (detailed here: http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=61832.40 ).  Plus it has a problem where the HT multiplier is not adjustable (you click on the HTT Multi, and nothing comes up – it's blank).  I sent this board back on an RMA early last week (9-26-5). And another link.

My first K8N Neo 4 Platinum SLI (Trav's) had problems with the vcore – no matter what voltage and VID adjustment you selected, the highest voltage you could get was about 1.53 volts – which screws any chance of overclocking the Venice CPU I have for it (which is just dying to go at least 2600 or 2700 MHz, but probably needs at least 1.6 volts to do it).  I just RMA'd this board.

Mason's SLI rig is running just fine – but it's vcore tops out at about 1.55 volts, which for his processor, maxes out at about 2450 MHz.

That's not a real great track record:  3 out of 3 socket 754 boards from MSI were screwed up (or died); and one out of two SLI boards (okay, really two out of two).

That's four out of five total that were screwed up one way or another. An eighty percent failure rate.

Not real great quality control here, apparently.  This is completely unacceptable.

Add to that, the recent fiascos they've had with their new bios releases, and it makes me wonder if anyone's home at MSI.

To their credit, MSI has been very cooperative – every time I've asked for an RMA, I've gotten it right away, and the service on the RMA's has been great – average turnaround was 3-4 weeks, total.

But I'm tired of dealing with problems like this.  I'm done.

I've bought a new DFI LanParty SLI board to replace the SLI board that is screwed up.  I'll see if I can sell the replacement board when it comes back from RMA (for a fraction of what it cost me - I'm not going to deliberately screw someone).

I will not be buying any more MSI products.

Here's Trav's new setup:

DFI LanParty nF4 SLI DR (3/10/05 bios)
ADA3200DAA4BP LBBLE 0516 EPEW (Venice) @ 2500 MHz (HTT 5, FSB 250 X 10) 1.55 vcore (30c idle, 44c load - with a case temp of 18c)
2X512 MB Patriot XBLK (vdimm 2.7 running 1:1, dual channel, Command rate 2T, CAS 2.5-3-3-10
Thermaltake Venus 12 with AS5 - lapped and polished (usually on medium RPM)
XFS 7800GT (486/1200)
1 Maxtor 60 GB 8 MB Cache
1 Seagate 120 GB 8 MB Cache
DVD R/W
MSI CD R/W
Thermaltake Xaser II case with lots of fans and lights
OCZ Modstream 520 Watt PSU +3.3V(28A), +5V(52A), +12V(28A

Yeah, I bought new video cards as well. The XFX 7800 GT's were irresistable...

Update on 4-24-6

The northbridge fan on Mason's K8N Neo 4 quit, and he's been having problems with soundloops in-game, so I retired that board in favor of a Lan Party rig like I got for Trav. I'm not even gonna bother RMAing the board.

Mason's new rig is:

DFI LanParty nF4 SLI DR (6/23/05 bios ADA3200DAA4BP LBBLE 0516 EPGW (Venice) @ 2500 MHz (HTT 3, FSB 250 X 10) 1.55 vcore (38c idle, 47c load - with a case temp of about 26c)
2x512 MB OCZ PC3700 EB (vdimm 2.85) running 1:1 @ 250 MHz, CAS 3, 3, 4, 7, 12 Command Rate 1T, in slots the orange slots
Thermaltake Venus 12 HSF
XFS 7800 GT (468/1.12)
2 X Western Digital 36 GB Raptors in RAID 0 on SATA 1 & 2 using the Nvidia controller
1 WD 8 MB cache 150 GB PATA storage drive
DVD ROM
MSI CD R/W
Thermaltake Xaser III case with lots of fans and light
OCZ Modstream 520 Watt PSU : +3.3V(28A), +5V(52A), +12V(28A)   

Below: Mason's Room (Computer Parlor)

Mason gave his old Compaq (with one of the Radeon 9700 vid cards) to Nick; for his guest computer, he's now using my old K8N Neo Platinum (socket 754) with a Clawhammer 3200 and Radeon 9700. He uses this for when his friends come over (basically, he has his own internet café).

Below: Trav's computer room

All our computers (Mason’s two, Trav’s two and my one) are hooked up on a gigabit Ethernet network using Cat 5e cable, with a Linksys BSFX41 router and a Linksys 8 port Gigabit switch (an EG008W). The kid's Xbox is also hooked to the LAN.