FFXIhealer
New member
Ok, so since it looks like I'll actually get this thing done over the next few months, I'm gonna start a log that everyone here can ignore.
I put together what I think would have been considered an ultimate gaming rig back in 2010.
CPU: Intel Core i7-860 "Lynnfield" 2.8GHz (4x core + HyperThreading)
Motherboard: MSI Big Bang Trinergy LGA1156
RAM: 16GB (4GBx4) DDR3-1600 (timings set manually in BIOS)
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 256GB (SATA II interface throttles speeds around 250MB/s)
HDD: Western Digital 1TB 7,200RPM
OD: Pioneer BD-RW (Blu-Ray burner)
Video: 2x nVidia GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB (2-card SLI)
PSU: Laser 1000-watt modular
I originally had one eVGA GTX 480 card, then I got a 2nd GTX 480 from Gigabyte. Then the eVGA card started having errors and crashing Windows 7. I sent it in and got a refurbished replacement from eVGA, but a year later THAT card started crashing Windows (10 at this time). So I removed the eVGA card for over a year.
Well, that computer got repurposed for general household use after I built my 2015 gaming rig using Skylake and a GTX 980ti. The video cards all sit in their original boxes on my shelf and that system now has an old 8400GS card.
A few months ago I inspected the eVGA GTX 480 up close and lo and be hold....well, see for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoGBoLggxq0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4RYR-Ouuas
So now the card is fully re-assembled and works perfectly fine from what I can tell. I used my modern rig and just swapped out my GTX 980ti for the eVGA GTX 480 and it worked perfectly fine, even in a game. So I will assume FOR THE MOMENT that both of my GTX 480 cards work perfectly fine and will work in SLI again.
My plan is to fix up this old Dell Vostro 230 and let my mom use THAT instead, and get my gaming rig back. I want to water-cool the whole thing and overclock it to see what I can milk out of a 2010 system. I know Fermi cards are stupid-hot, but that's why I got these...
Paired with a 40mm thick 360 radiator, that should cool these things down. I plan to use this loop:
The 360mm rad on top will exhaust the hot air from the graphics cards, then cool the CPU. The front rad sucking in cold air will cool the CPU heat before returning to the res/pump. I already have the 240mm radiator for the front of the case. I'm thinking I should be able to hit 3.6GHz easily on the CPU.
I will eventually complete this rebuild. I'd LIKE to use PETG tubing, but I'm a water cooling noob and will just stick with the flexible tubing for now. One day later, I'll get the balls to try PETG bending.
I put together what I think would have been considered an ultimate gaming rig back in 2010.
CPU: Intel Core i7-860 "Lynnfield" 2.8GHz (4x core + HyperThreading)
Motherboard: MSI Big Bang Trinergy LGA1156
RAM: 16GB (4GBx4) DDR3-1600 (timings set manually in BIOS)
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 256GB (SATA II interface throttles speeds around 250MB/s)
HDD: Western Digital 1TB 7,200RPM
OD: Pioneer BD-RW (Blu-Ray burner)
Video: 2x nVidia GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB (2-card SLI)
PSU: Laser 1000-watt modular
I originally had one eVGA GTX 480 card, then I got a 2nd GTX 480 from Gigabyte. Then the eVGA card started having errors and crashing Windows 7. I sent it in and got a refurbished replacement from eVGA, but a year later THAT card started crashing Windows (10 at this time). So I removed the eVGA card for over a year.
Well, that computer got repurposed for general household use after I built my 2015 gaming rig using Skylake and a GTX 980ti. The video cards all sit in their original boxes on my shelf and that system now has an old 8400GS card.
A few months ago I inspected the eVGA GTX 480 up close and lo and be hold....well, see for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoGBoLggxq0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4RYR-Ouuas
So now the card is fully re-assembled and works perfectly fine from what I can tell. I used my modern rig and just swapped out my GTX 980ti for the eVGA GTX 480 and it worked perfectly fine, even in a game. So I will assume FOR THE MOMENT that both of my GTX 480 cards work perfectly fine and will work in SLI again.
My plan is to fix up this old Dell Vostro 230 and let my mom use THAT instead, and get my gaming rig back. I want to water-cool the whole thing and overclock it to see what I can milk out of a 2010 system. I know Fermi cards are stupid-hot, but that's why I got these...
Paired with a 40mm thick 360 radiator, that should cool these things down. I plan to use this loop:
The 360mm rad on top will exhaust the hot air from the graphics cards, then cool the CPU. The front rad sucking in cold air will cool the CPU heat before returning to the res/pump. I already have the 240mm radiator for the front of the case. I'm thinking I should be able to hit 3.6GHz easily on the CPU.
I will eventually complete this rebuild. I'd LIKE to use PETG tubing, but I'm a water cooling noob and will just stick with the flexible tubing for now. One day later, I'll get the balls to try PETG bending.
