Build Refresh (Lots of Pics!) - 3930K, R9 290X, Watercooled, EKWB

[paulsterio]

Alright, time for a personal rig refresh! 

 

--Table of Contents here--

• Part 2 - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/190624-build-refresh-lots-of-pics-3930k-r9-290x-watercooled-ekwb/#entry2571125
• Part 3 - http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/190624-build-refresh-lots-of-pics-3930k-r9-290x-watercooled-ekwb/#entry2579602

 

To be honest, I don't think I should pour more money into this rig because it's already expensive as is and i don't think there's much to do that will increase its performance. For everyone who's unfamiliar with my personal machine, the specifications are:

• Intel Core i7 3930K 
• Gigabyte X79-UP4
• 4 x 4GB Patriot Signature RAM
• Gigabyte R9 290X w/ EK Waterblock
• Corsair RM550
• NZXT Phantom 410
• 2 x 240mm Radiators
• 2 x Noctua NF-F12
• 2 x Noctua NF-P12
• 1 x NZXT Stock Fan
• 2 x LG 27" 1080p Monitors

Anyway, here's a look at what it looks like now, then I'll fill you all in on the upgrades I'll be doing. Just as a spoiler and all, this is more of a "productivity" upgrade than a "performance" upgrade. I'll be upgrading my monitor and desk setup and mainly the silence of the PC. So enough of the talk and off with the pictures right?

 

 

I hate acrylic, it's not clear at all. I think this needs a bit of work, so I'll replace the acrylic with real glass some time soon. Also, I know it's not the best case in the world, but I like the Phantom 410 because my girlfriend and I picked it out together, we got two of them and built our systems together, so I guess that's why I still have it. I'll talk about her specs soon, but she's on a i5 3570 and an R9 290, pretty baller in itself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my custom mounted 2 x 2TB WD Greens in RAID1 for my personal storage. I took a hard drive bracket and drilled some holes and mounted it to the case where the 5.25" bays should have been. 

 

 

Need to sleeve! D:

 

 

 

I want to replace that block with an EK one to match the graphics card. Talking of EK...

 

 

EKWB...ft. Noctua NF-F12! Gee the colour is bad But I like their fans!

 

 

That's the X79-UP4, such a pretty colour scheme. Also, I want to paint those PCBs black. Note to self!

 

 

 

Hey there 3930K!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely blue accents!!

 

 

Almost there! On the side is the Lenovo T420, which is my daily driver whilst this guy isn't together. 

 

 

Well that's all for today guys. Next time will be about the changes I'll be making to my desk setup. Then I'll be talking about the upgrades I'll make to the computer. 

 

Anyway, I'll probably write up the list of upgrades. Thanks for checking this out guys.

 

Also, the camera is a Nikon D5100 with a 35mm f/1.8, for the photographers out there

[TinoXtreme]

Nice man

[Jobbe03]

Looks nice! With that Res had somewhere else to go though!

[SAV1OUR]

don't see the point in water cooling a 280x because it doesn't get that hot but defiantly looks nice 

[paulsterio]

Nice man

 

Thank you I appreciate it!

 

 

Looks nice! With that Res had somewhere else to go though!

 

 

Yep, sure does, I'll be getting a res-pump combo, so it'll all be one unit, that's on the upgrade list. 

 

 

don't see the point in water cooling a 280x because it doesn't get that hot but defiantly looks nice 

 

It's a 290X And 290X gets quite hot!  

[Phoenix70]

550 WATT

[SAV1OUR]

550 WATT

550w's more then enough you could run a 290x with a over clock on both cpu and gpu with a 450w

[paulsterio]

550 WATT

 

Yep, doesn't hit above 500W under load even with GPU under Furmark and CPU under Prime 95 You'd be surprised what a good quality, reliable power supply can do!

[paulsterio]

Part 2 - List of Upgrades (1)

 

This is a changing list of the upgrades I'll be doing. 

 

The first upgrade I'll be doing is my desk. I want to change my monitor setup to allow me to work more efficiently. With my PC, I game, I do video editing, but as much as I love that, it's not the primary use of this machine. My primary use for this machine is word processing, reading text and statistical work. I'm currently in my final year at university, doing a degree in Finance and Statistics (Econometrics). Landscape monitors just aren't suited to text. You can't see a whole A4 page on a landscape screen comfortably and 27" is very big. When you turn the monitor into portrait mode though, it's a completely different story. You can see a full A4 page easily and it's huge, makes all that stuff so much better. 

 

So in the next week I'll be buying a stand mounting my 2 x 27" panels in portrait mode side by side. Then I'll be getting a smaller 24" monitor which will be next to the two portrait panels for gaming, watching videos and browsing the web, stuff that don't work well on portrait panels. 

 

I'll have some pics up soon when I go and pick up these things. I'm planning it in for Wednesday.

[paulsterio]

Part 3 - Surprise!

 

I had some spare time today (Sunday) so I thought what the hell, I'll go grab my monitor stands and an extra 24" monitor and make this happen Nicer pics will come soon. It's hard to take pics at this time (it's like 8PM) even with an external flash. 

 

Still in the process of adjusting and making it look decent whatnot. 

 

 

This was what it once was

 

[austin541]

very cool setup.