UPDATED–Building a new Quad Core computer

Posted by comhack | Filed under Archlinux, Linux, Uncategorized

Well I have been wanting to upgrade my machine for a long time and I finally decided that it was time to upgrade my Core2Duo with 8gb ddr2 800 ram. I decided to go with the new Intel i5-series of processors. The i5 processors use the Intel 1156 chipset, so I had to upgrade my my motherboard as well. And since I am upgrading my motherboard and processor, I have to upgrade my ram to ddr3 as well. Now you know why I have waited to upgrade. To begin with, here are the specs on my old machine:

–XFX nForce 750i SLI Extreme Motherboard FSB @ 1333mh/z
–Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E7300 @ 2.66GHz overclocked to 3.0ghz
–NVIDIA GeForce 7050i GPU, on board graphics memory shared Up to 768MB
–2 x SLI EVGA GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0
–3 x WD Caviar Black 1TB SATA HD 7200/32MB/SATA-3G
–Fantom G-Force 2TB USB 2.0 / eSATA External Hard Drive GF2000EUC
–A-DATA 4 x 2GB SDRAM DDR2 800-PC2 6400 @ 1066 OCd
–Acer H203H 20″ LCD Monitor @ 1600×900–16:9
–AOC 2236vw 22″ LCD Monitor @ 1920×1080–16:9
–Acer X203H 20″ LCD Monitor @ 1600×900–16:9
–Logitech EX 100 Cordless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse
–Cyber Acoustics CA-3602 Platinum Series 30W 2.1 Speaker System
–Ultra LSP1000 1000w Power Supply
–Samsung SH-S223L/BEBS DVDRW Internal Drive – DVD+R 22X, DVD+RW 8X, DVD-RW 6X, DVD-RAM 12X, CD-R 48X, SATA, LightScribe
–ArchLinux 64 Core– XMonad WM /Win 7 Ultimate 64—Games only

I have already received the cpu, cooler, and the ram:
Intel DP55SB Motherboard
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB DDR3 1333
Intel BX80605I5760 Core i5 760 Processor – 2.8GH
Cooler Master RR-B10-212P-GP Hyper 212 Plus CPU Cooler

I ended up having to return the motherboard because it was DOA but I ended up ordering a better motherboard anyway so it worked out. It cost $80 more but is features:

-7 sata 3Gb/s and 2 sata 6Gb/s
-USB 3.0
-2 PCI Express 2.0 x16
-Gigabyte ethernet
-Built in OverClock utility with stability testing

and a whole bunch of other features. The first motherboard was an openbox purchase and I guarentee you I will not be doing that for a motherboard again. The new one is $80 more but it is worth it. I am actually glad that this happened even though I had to wait two more weeks for my build.

ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX MB

Also, the processor runs at 2.8ghz but while researching the processor, it seems that Asus provides a bios utility that can easily OC the processor to 3.8ghz. So in about a week a couple of days, I will have a smoking fast machine to play with. I will write a followup after I set up the new machine.

Permalink | March 11th, 2011

14 Responses to “UPDATED–Building a new Quad Core computer”

  1. V. T. Eric Layton Says:
    February 22nd, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Hmm… can’t login again. Didn’t we have this issue before?

    Anyway… NICE system! I’m jealous. :(

  2. comhack Says:
    March 1st, 2011 at 11:25 pm

    I think I fixed it again for ya.

    Well the processor and cpu cooler showed up but after I built the system. I kept getting an error 21 on the board’s debug lcd. I looked up the error and error 21 is the MRC memory point. So I tried out different DIMMS and no matter what the MB would flash 21 and then turn off. I am pretty positive it is a faulty motherboard since the motherboard was the only component not bought new (Newegg openbox). Although the ram was brand new, I tried both sticks of ram in all slots to make sure it was not bad ram. It could be possible for one stick to be bad but I doubt both sticks would be bad.

    I also tried turning the motherboard on without anything attached except for the ram and I also tried without the ram but I got the same error each time. I called and setup a RMA for the motherboard and will be sending it back tomorrow or the next day. I have picked out an even better motherboard than the one I have previously ordered http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621

    It is an ASUS P7P55D-E Pro Sata 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard. The specs are much better than the other motherboard but it is also cost $80 more. I do not get paid till next Friday so by then I should have my refund and the new motherboard will only cost me $80.

    So here I sit with a i5 quad core processor, 8gb of 1333 ddr3 and a kickass cpu cooler with no motherboard :(

  3. comhack Says:
    March 11th, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Ordered motherboard, it should arrive Tuesday sometime. I am off that day so it works out.

  4. V. T. Eric Layton Says:
    March 17th, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    Well? How’s the new toy doing? Hmm?

  5. comhack Says:
    March 21st, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    Sorry I have been busy setting up the new build, building a machine for my roommate with the old components and doing some packing for the big move.

    So far I am loving the new build. The motherboard I bought is really nice. It has a built in overclock module in the bios and I chose stable clock and managed to OC the cpu from 2.8 to 3.66GHz with no heat increase at all. The cores run at a cool 86F which is considerably lower than my Core2Duo was with the stock speed. So needless to say I am quite happy with my purchase and new build.
    This thing is smoking fast!!!

  6. V. T. Eric Layton Says:
    March 25th, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    The BIG MOVE coming up pretty quickly, huh? YAY! :)

  7. comhack Says:
    March 25th, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Yes it is, I cannot wait!!!

  8. comhack Says:
    March 28th, 2011 at 1:31 am

    I ordered another 8gb of ram Friday. So today or Tuesday, I will be up to 16gb of ddr3 1333mhz ram. WOOT!!!!

  9. V. T. Eric Layton Says:
    March 30th, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    You have an addiction, son. You need to seek some counseling. ;)

  10. comhack Says:
    March 31st, 2011 at 1:05 am

    Yeah probably but at least its not crack lol

  11. V. T. Eric Layton Says:
    March 31st, 2011 at 10:13 am

    Yeah… crack is probably cheaper. ;)

  12. comhack Says:
    March 31st, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    Nah, at least I can pay my bills and have money for food lol

  13. V. T. Eric Layton Says:
    April 1st, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    You wouldn’t need to bother with food if you were using crack. ;)

    Geek addictions are much less harmful, though, as long as you don’t count all the pizzas consumed, the high caffeine drinks, and the lack of sleep caused by them. ;)

  14. comhack Says:
    April 2nd, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    Yeah right lol

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