starkers starkers

So I've Started On a New Build

So I've Started On a New Build

that's not only sexy but kicks major ass

Yup, it's that time of year again, but this time it's not a PC upgrade but rather a complete new build... starting with a real sexy case...

     

Now this is a full tower and has oodles of room inside for lots of fantastic shit... accommodating extra big graphics cards, enormous CPU coolers and even a magical leprechaun who can fix stuff when it's broken.  Orright, maybe not the leprechaun, but it is fechin' huge inside.  And what's more, to make it even more fancy, it has keys to get into it... so nobody's stealing my graphics card in a hurry... the innards of the beasty are quite secure.

Orright, so maybe it's not that secure, but there are lots of things to like about this case. For example, the 'hot swap' hard drive bays and the 'daisy chained' power connecters so that only one SATA plug from the PSU is required. Then there's the great ventilation, easy access to everything and the sexiest appearance ever.

Anyhow, enough of all that, let's talk about the innards...

PSU....   Silverstone 1200w 80 Gold

Mobo.... Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD5H [has 10 SATA 3 ports and 10 USB3 ports]

CPU....   Intel i7 4770K @ 3.5ghz [but highly overclockable]

Cooler... Corsair H60 Liquid CPU Cooler.

RAM...   G-Skill Trident DDR3 2400mhz x 32GB

SSD...    Samsung 840 Evo series 512Gb

GPU...    Gigabyte Radeon 7970 GV-R797WF3- 3GD.

Well that's all I got in it for now, but it has been a long, hard day and I've had enough, it's bedtime and the rest will have to wait 'til tomorrow.

625,201 views 261 replies
Reply #101 Top

Chapter 6 of the manwell has error codes... but they're led, not audio [beep].

Reply #103 Top

Here's the compatibility list from the motherboard manufacture:

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_ga-z87x-ud5h.pdf

and the list from Intel:

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/datasheets/core-i7-memory-suppliers-datasheet.pdf

I don't see your ram on either list and read somewhere that G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory operating voltage of 1.65V exceeds the Intel Haswell CPU recommended maximum of 1.5V+5% (1.575V). This memory module may run at a reduced clock rate to meet the 1.5V voltage recommendation, or may require running at a voltage greater than the Intel recommended maximum.

Did you enable XMP(extreme memory profile). That should set everything up for you automatically. Your board only supports 1600 with out doing this.

Motherboard manual: http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-z87x-ud5h_e.pdf

 

Reply #104 Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 102
Graphic card error.

Reset the Graphic card, if it doesn't work try a different slot or another card if have one.

Reply #105 Top

Yeah, I can see the LED error code when booting...have written them down and will eck against the list when I either find the manual or download a copy.

Quoting Jafo, reply 102

Ah....1 long and 2 short?

Graphic card error.

Found this link....

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=13603.0[/quote]

Yes, I believe this answers my query and the issue may be reloved easily with a simple reseat of the graphics card.  I have been researching on the net, but I'm either looking in the wrong places or asking the wrong questions.  Anyway, thanks for the heads up, I just tinkered with it and it seems to have resolved that particular issue..... touch wood.

Now to the RAM and LAN adapter

Quoting ernie, reply 103
I don't see your ram on either list and read somewhere that G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2400 Memory operating voltage of 1.65V exceeds the Intel Haswell CPU recommended maximum of 1.5V+5% (1.575V). This memory module may run at a reduced clock rate to meet the 1.5V voltage recommendation, or may require running at a voltage greater than the Intel recommended maximum.

Hmmm, that's a pain in the arse... not compatible?  According to the mobo overview this 2400 RAM is compatible with Haswell CPUs, and on the RAM packet it states it is compatible with Z87 and Haswell series CPUs.  I purchased it on the basis of what I read, and I saw no conflicts at the time.  Thing is, Gigabyte lists G-Skill F3-2400C10Q-16GTX as being compatible, and I have G-Skill F3-2400C10D-16GTX, a difference of one letter. However, I will have to check into any differences, if any, and make appropriate chances... plus put a hold on the other 16gb until I can ascertain what I need.

Quoting ernie, reply 103
Did you enable XMP(extreme memory profile). That should set everything up for you automatically. Your board only supports 1600 with out doing this.

Yes, I now have that set.  Hopefully ithe RAM issue is too now resolved.  I have the page on screen now [over on the beast] and I see the RAM voltage is set to 1.500v while the parameter is set to auto. I could set it to 1.150v or 1.155v, the only settings within the recommended parameters, but I think I'll leave it at Auto for the time being and see what difference there is now I have enabled XMP.... thought I had before, but obviously it didn't take.  I notice that when making changes in the BIOS one has to double click on the particular entry for that change to take effect, and it would seem I didn't click properly to enact the XMP change, and plain missed that it had failed.  Anyway, there are two profiles and I currently have it set to the 1st one...will try the 2nd should I need to later.

Again, thanks to you, Paul, and to you, Ernie, for the help, I appreciate it very much, particularly as it helped lift my spirits on what would otherwise have been a completely miserable day. This vertigo is getting me down some and the medication I have been prescribed does little or nothing to relieve the symptoms, so having a couple of things go right/well has been a blessing.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Oh WOW, just looked over to the Beast, which is still in BIOS, and my 3.500mhz CPU is consistently running at 3.891mhz... and I havent touched/overclocked it... yet.

Reply #106 Top

[Sorry, I wasn't on the last page of the thread, hate it when that happens.  You're all way ahead of me again.] 

 

Reply #107 Top

Good to see we've been a help.

I had a beeping beep of a beeping computer once....beeping annoyed me for yonks...so I got fairly good at hunting down BIOS's codes....[mine was a ram issue].

Playing with old hardware is much more of a challenge though....harder to find the info.

My $6.40 machine has 2gig...but can take 6 ...so I'll be running the gauntlet of compatible ram myself soonish...;)

Reply #108 Top

Hehe, well I'm on the big beasty now. I finally got the wireless network adapter working, and thus the internet.... woohoo!  The 11" laptop is a more than useful device when nothing else is working right, but there's nothing better than a 27" screen when yer eyes are 60 years old and not seeing so well anymore.

Bit by bit I'm getting out the kinks and hiccups to have this sexy beast running like clockwork, though for a while I thought I may have to rewrite Windows.   While Acronis True Image allowed me to reinstall Windows to dissimilar hardware, I'll admit that I had some doubts about the success of transferring from an AMD machine to an Intel one. Well it worked okay, but I'm still stripping out drivers and other stuff related to that installation, just in case there's a potential for conflict.  Better to be safe than sorry I always say.

Anyway, this old fart has lost too much beauty sleep over the years, insomnia, being a dirty stop-out and all that, so I'm off to bed. :zzz:

 

 

Reply #110 Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 109

Mark...dunno if this might help? http://www.gcsdstaff.org/roodhouse/?p=2206

 

Thanks, Seth, that article is quite interesting, so I've bookmarked it for future reference.  I don't need to worry about it this time because Acronis ported Windows for me, which then installed the appropriate Intel drivers for me... well except for the network adapter ones.  I pretty much cleaned out any residual AMD drivers and reg entries, but according to the article it's no longer necessary as ImageX does this automatically during/after the transfer. 

Nice find, matey. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: |-)

Reply #111 Top

I'm still finding bugs here and there.  Today I attempted to convert some video and moments into the task I get this high pitched beep that turned into a high pitched hum.  Now I did a search and came up with a possibility it is the sound card reacting to something in the process, possibly analogue issues.  The thing is, it doesn't sound like it is coming from the sound card directly, but rather from the sound card's front panel, which essentially provides additional connectivity options to those at the rear..  I'm going to check all the connections and drivers, etc, to see if the problems lies somewhere there, but if anyone else has any experience or knowledge of this kind of fault, I'd be pleased to hear your thoughts.

The graphics card is a Gigabyte Radeon 7970 HD with the most recent drivers, and the sound card is a Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatality Championship... here, also with the most recent drivers. 

Anyway, think away and see what you come up with. |-)

Reply #112 Top

Quoting starkers, reply 111
I'm going to check all the connections and drivers, etc, to see if the problems lies somewhere there, but if anyone else has any experience or knowledge of this kind of fault, I'd be pleased to hear your thoughts.

Nope, no experience or knowledge of this kind of fault, you've done the drivers, now I would remove the sound card and see if the issue goes away, at least it might help pinpoint where you need to concentrate your efforts.

Reply #113 Top

Quoting ernie, reply 112
now I would remove the sound card and see if the issue goes away

That and disconnect the front panel to see if either have any bearing on it... then reinstall, reconnect them to see if the noise is still there.  I have used the graphics card and sound card together before without issues, but that was on another motherboard, which leads me to think it isn't too serious and has a relatively simple explanation and fix.

Anyway, I shall investigate it in the morning... it's that time again were I call it a night. So I'll thank you for your help and bid you adieu for now.

|-)

Reply #114 Top

Quoting starkers, reply 111
Today I attempted to convert some video and moments into the task I get this high pitched beep that turned into a high pitched hum

So, you get the sound when the CPU is under load, I would check the CPU temps, maybe the cooler isn't working correctly.

Reply #115 Top

Quoting ernie, reply 114


Quoting starkers, reply 111Today I attempted to convert some video and moments into the task I get this high pitched beep that turned into a high pitched hum

So, you get the sound when the CPU is under load, I would check the CPU temps, maybe the cooler isn't working correctly.

I currently have the side off and the sound is not coming from the CPU... the temps are okay and I have an alarm set to go off when the CPU temp reaches 58c, which it didn't.  It is loudest at the front of the case where the sound card front panel is.  Now what I read was that it is likely a conflict between the graphics card and analogue sound under certain conditions, and the front panel has an adjoining cable to the sound card that carries analogue sound.  I feel the source of the problem lies there, perhaps a cable or connection out of place or touching something it shouldn't, but I've not taken a look as yet because of vertigo causing my day to be unsettled, etc.  It usually passes later in the day so I shall investigate then and report back with whatever.

|-)

Reply #116 Top

Well I tried removing the sound card and front panel and the noise disappeared, but when I reinstalled them the noise returned.  It obviously requires further investigation, and I will get to the bottom of it because I'm a stubborn old fart who doesn't like to be beaten by a PC that should be behaving itself.

Anyway, all the other issues [booting and the RAM, have been resolved and the machine is running very well.  It boots 1st time every time now, but it wasn't that the graphics card needed reseating, as I discovered shortly after telling Jafo it had resolved the issue.  However, I knew it to be graphics card related so I checked my drivers to see if they were up to date.  It turns out that was the issue, It was running with the drivers Windows installed once I got the internet up and running, so I tracked down the most recent software from AMD/ATI, installed it and viola, the issue was resolved.  I think what may have been happening is that I had fast boot enabled in the BIOS, and the graphics card wasn't enabling quickly enough with the generic driver, hence the PC not starting on the 1st attempt.

All in all I am very happy with the build and do not regret for one moment switching from AMD to Intel.  It is a bit faster than my AMD FX8350 build and it is quite responsive when opening, closing programs, etc.  I still have a few little things to adjust and tinker with to have everything the way I like, but those are mostly unimportant software items that I'll sort out when I next use them.  However, I do want to rearrange my drives, starting at D: for my most used, and in descending order to the least used/important. 

Yes, I'm an organisational and tidy freak who has to have everything in its right place... which means I should get my A into G [arse into gear] and properly set up my new man cave, even if it is upstairs.... did like downstairs better, but oh well....

Reply #117 Top

Oh, and I'm still so totally loving this case.... hinged left side panel, hot swap drives.. oh, I'm so being spoiled with convenience and easy PC living that it might be criminal... but I hope not.

Anyway, the main reason for posting so soon again is that I just discovered the source of the high pitch hum.  It was the onboard speaker [which is in close proximity to the sound card and its front panel] sounding an alarm.  It turns out that my CPU fan alarm was mistakenly set to 48c, not 58c... the extra click in the tens column when setting it in the Bios obviously didn't register.  Doh!  But all's well that ends well.

:blush:

Reply #118 Top

 Rig looks great. Sorry to hear your having so many problems. Hope your better soon.

Jafo, I got 2 of the Vantec enclosures. They are sweet. I had never even heard of them till you mentioned them here earlier.

Reply #119 Top

Quoting Kinger, reply 118
Rig looks great. Sorry to hear your having so many problems. Hope your better soon.

thanks, mate, I appreciate the thought.  With the arthritis I can often work around it and get by, but the vertigo just turns my whole day upside down and i get little or nothing done... and sometimes it can last for days, weeks at a time.  I have an appointment with an ENT specialist early next month and I'm hoping he/she will get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later. 

I know it has something to do with my right ear because I can feel pressure and discomfort there all the time, and some days I have this nagging pain in the side of my neck just below the ear, which suggests to me it may be an inner ear problem deep in or on the ear canal.  My sister had a similar problem and it was discovered she had a tumor on the outer side of her ear canal, for which she had surgery to remove.

And yeah, it is a nice rig, isn't it! :grin:

|-)

Reply #120 Top

Quoting Kinger, reply 118
Jafo, I got 2 of the Vantec enclosures. They are sweet. I had never even heard of them till you mentioned them here earlier.

They ARE good....though one of mine mostly refuses to spin up its fan...so the fan icon flashes...and I get the 10 beep warning every hour or so.

If I leave it going it 'eventually' [days/weeks] remembers to spin up and all's good.

Fan's not all that important anyway....venting is OK....;)

Reply #121 Top

starkers....the last 2 principal builds I did simply ran with the onboard Audio.  I see little benefit with after market ones....;)

 

Afterall...mostly the 'computer music' limiter is MP3 itself [unless your dealing with high-end formats]...;)

 

Silk purse out of the proverbial...;)

Reply #122 Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 121
starkers....the last 2 principal builds I did simply ran with the onboard Audio. I see little benefit with after market ones....



Afterall...mostly the 'computer music' limiter is MP3 itself [unless your dealing with high-end formats]..

Yes, I do have a few MP3s, usually at the 320 quality, but many of my music files are of the OGG format and are lossless.  Besides, I have a digital 5.1 speaker system that sounds so much better when connected to a dedicated sound card... the digital output is far superior to the on-board versions I have tried, and the Creative apps to enhance sound adds greater enjoyability to my listening experience. 

This new motherboard had on-board sound provided by Creative Labs, and there are software controls to enhance and make adjustments, but overall it is inferior to the add-in card.

So essentially, then, my sow's ear is akin to a pair of high-priced silk stockings. ;P

Reply #123 Top

There's a new digital recording format coming out....infinitely superior to CD .... will utilize Blue-ray as the disk format....

Still a square sound wave [I assume - as it's digital] so uber-purists will still sniff their noses.... them with the 400 kilo turntables and $50,000 valve amps......;p

Reply #124 Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 123
There's a new digital recording format coming out....infinitely superior to CD .... will utilize Blue-ray as the disk format....

Oh yeah, that sounds interesting... and I have a Bluray player hooked up to a 500w Pioneer 5.1 receiver that pumps out the nicest sounds.  It's older tech of the analogue variety but it still sweetly plays digital audio... picked it up for a song [pun intended] some years ago at a garage sale. 

Quoting Jafo, reply 123
them with the 400 kilo turntables and $50,000 valve amps

I like my audio to be good, but I'm not that fanatical, besides 50 grand for such things always being well out of my league.

Reply #125 Top

Just to refresh things prior to continuing further.....

Quoting Jafo, reply 50

Vantec EZ Swap 4 SATA hotswap...fits standard 5.25...lockable...variable fan speed and temp monitor ...trayless ....just push the drive in....groovy lcd display to 'trick your rig'....got those on mine now...and the next one will too.....with or without hotswap racks inside the pop-off sidepanel....

Given that I have 5 hot-swappable drive bays built into the new case, it did not seem needed or even worthwhile to consider one of these front loading drive caddies at the time.  However, being a tidy and clutter free freak, it occurred to me that one would serve as the perfect solution to the clutter of multiple external drive cables

Now being several extended family members have multiple external drives and media players to watch home movies on their TVs, and I'm the one charged with all the editing, converting, transferring, etc, I've decided that I want a uniform system that eliminates external drive enclosures, cable clutter and multiple power packs, and this piece of equipment fits the bill precisely.

I've already sent out emails to all concerned that (a) they internal drives to replace their externals, or (b) strip out their external drives from their current enclosures, and (c) purchase only internal drives in future, and (d) purchase hot swap HDD docking stations so they can still connect to their media players/TVs, and everybody has agreed it's a good idea.  I've already converted all my externals to internals and have been using the docking station/hot swap method for a while now and it is just so much better this way.... fewer cables and power packs to make a nuisance of themselves and I can still work with up to 7 or 8 drives at a time when the larger family group wants the latest edition of the starkers family follies.

Brilliant!!  Thanks, Paul, for planting the seed that eventually became this great solution.  Best of all, a couple of nephews [brothers] will pay for it, telling me to consider it payment for services rendered. 

:thumbsup: Okay!

EDIT

Oh yeah, it takes up two 5.25 drive bays, so I will have to remove the DVD writer to accommodate when it arrives next week, but no worries there as I'll still have the Bluray combo drive to cover all my CD, DVD and Bluray disc needs.