[HowTo] Building an overclocked Core2Duo box for OSx86.

[bofors]

Scythe has a new monster cooler on the market, the Infinity. I can not find any reviews of it yet, but it should be comparable to the Tuniq 120.

 

[EDIT] Here is a review in German, the test is not exactly the put extrapolating it appears that the Scythe Infinity is better the Tuniq 120: http://www.hardwareoc.at/Scythe_Infinity_H...CPU_Kuehler.htm

 

$52.95 Scythe SY-SCINF-1000 Infinity http://svcompucycle.stores.yahoo.net/sy-scinf-1000.html

 

[mifki]

So your goign for air instead of water?

[bofors]

Several of the "tower" style coolers, like the Scythe Infinity, have the ability to mount an exhaust fan as well so that they look something like these Xeon coolers:

 

 

http://store.orbitmicro.com/commerce/catal...roduct_id=38506

 

 

Apple something like with air cooling in the G5 PowerMac, for this to be beneficial the right fans have to used. I mean, this is not just as simple as slapping two fans on. I read a review which tried this on the AeroCool HT-102 (which I can not find now), using 1k RPM fans on both the back and front was much worse than using just a 2k or 1.5k RPM on the front. Basically, make the dual fan configuration work the exhaust fan should not in anyway block the intake fan.

 

This seems to indicate that one wants a very high RPM fan with a small number of fins for the exhaust, while the intake uses the opposite, a lower RPM, high fin number (for pressure) fan. This is basically what Verax did with their Xeon cooler, the exhaust fan is goes up to 3.7k RPM while the intake is only 2k RPM. Furthermore, the exhauast fan blades are twist so they do not block the intake fan's output.

 

So, something like beastly Nidec fan might perfect for exhuast at 3.25K RPM and open/three fin design, at almost 50 dB this is probably going to be ridiculously loud so it looks like some kind of controller is want to tone it down (and Zalman's does not appear to be strong enought):

 

13.99 Nidec Series TA450DC, Model #B31256 http://www.xoxide.com/120mm-nidec-fan.html

 

On the intake side, AeroCool makes some high pressure, lower RPM fans (950 and 1800 RPMs are availible) with 16 blades in a double layer:

 

17.99 Aerocool Xtreme Turbine 2000 http://www.xoxide.com/aerocool-xtreme-turb...2000-black.html

 

It should be noted that part of the Tuniq 120's high performance steems for the use of a 9 blade, 2k RPM fan, replacing it lowers cooling power. So, it seems to be that the really issue is pressure, pumping air through the fins is major drag on flow. Hence, the highest pressue fan is wanted, whether it has 5, 7, 9 or 16 blades. Furthermore, given the space constraints in a case, it simply may not be possilbe to place an a exhaust fan on the cooler. Moreover, given the likely proximity of the cases rear exhaust fan, it seems quite redudant. Finally, it is desirable to have a fan with built in temperature sensor, so it will not be ridiculously loud at idle.

 

This lead to the conclusion that simply replacing the stock Scythe Infinity fan with ThermalTake's A2029 "Smart Case Fan II" which generates up to 6.57mm of static water pressure at 3.5k RPM, but idles at 25.5 dB is probably the way to go (it also come with a PCI-bracket mounted manually speed controller):

 

$14.99 A2029 Thermaltake Smart Case Fan II http://svcompucycle.stores.yahoo.net/a2029.html

 

[Conroe Mac]

Bad Axe is overpriced.

[mifki]

Bad Axe works

[sheepdog43]

Ok, all of you, do NOT get a 965 board. IT does not work for os x as far as i have heard

Depends on the board and how many compromises you are willing to make.

 

Sounds, works on some.

IDE does not seem to be working on any.

Networking is working.

 

So basically you may or may not get sound, and you have to use a USB drive (dvd) to install, and may not have a working rom drive once installed, but it does work.

 

975 is just way easier. My A8WD works fine. Too bad it does not support Conroe.

 

May go Bad Axe as well soon. or one of the Asus boards.

 

As far as coolers go, the Thermaltake Typhoon is pretty nice, though it does make the case a bit cramped.

 

People can say all they want, it kept an 805 at 3.7 within reasonable range and a Conroe runs cooler than an 805.

 

TheDguy is using one on his system.

[bofors]

As far as coolers go, the Thermaltake Typhoon is pretty nice, though it does make the case a bit cramped.

 

People can say all they want, it kept an 805 at 3.7 within reasonable range and a Conroe runs cooler than an 805.

 

Yes, the Thermaltake Big Typhoon is a good cooler, so are some of the other coolers which direct the air flow towards the motherboard. These "perpendicular" coolers also tend to cool the NorthBridge which is an important issue that I plan to get into next.

 

Eva2000 had a Big Typhoon on one of his Bad Axe rigs:

 

 

 

But he replaced the stock fan with the ThermalTake A2003 (high pressure, 3k RPM). Here were his results for the Big Typhoon with the E6600:

 

Load into bios at stock 2400Mhz 9x266fsb at 1.242v vcore showed much better temps. Same goes for in windows

 

Thermaltake Big Typhoon + TT 120x25mm 81cfm fan

CPU bios idle = 38-40C idle in bios (that's 5-7C hotter than H20 cooling but a full 12-18C cooler than the stock 920D heatsink!)

CPU windows idle = 32-33C (that's 20-24C cooler than stock 920D heatsink and comparable to H20 cooling!)

CPU load = 47-48C dual stressprime small FFTs load (a full 25+ C cooler than stock 920D heatsink and only 9-12C hotter than H20 cooling)

 

http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?p=44978#post44978

[Conroe Mac]

I've got a successful install on Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3. This install is from DVD (not USB.)

 

The board is $150, a great overclocker, and obviously Conroe compatible.

 

More info to come soon.

[mifki]

he i just got a P150 case, its wonderful

[bofors]

Now, I am going explain where I am at with NorthBridge (aka NB, Memory Controller, MCH, 975x). In research CPU cooling systems, several more enlightlened reviewers have commented that the "tower" style, like Scythe Infinity that I am considering, fails to direct any air to the NorthBridge and surrounding motherboard area.

 

Here is want Eva2000 has to say about the subject:

 

Decided to change the stock northbridge (MCH) heatsink as it appears better MCH/NB cooling = higher FSB

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpo...mp;postcount=64

 

Okay can confirm, with 975x motherboards at least the key to both high fsb and memory clocks and tighter memory timings is all in the NB/MCH (memory controller hub).

http://i4memory.com/showthread.php?p=44983#post44983

 

I also should note that Eva2000 and others has made several reports that CPU temperatures may be inaccurately reported to very high (like by as much a 20C) on the Bad Axe board and E6600. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpo...mp;postcount=88

 

So, it does not look like the stock Bad Axe NorthBridge cooling is going to cut it for me and I would also like to generate some "perpendicular" airflow as well. Unlike the smorgasbord of CPU air-coolers, there are perhaps less the aftermarket twenty chipset coolers availble. Two stand out, one which Eva2000 has been using, the ThermalTake Extreme Spirit II (a copper "tower" with 40 mm fan):

 

 

$19.99 THERMALTAKE CL-C0034 EXTREME SPIRIT II http://svcompucycle.stores.yahoo.net/cl-c0034.html

 

The other is the iconic Zalman ZM-NBF47 which has a passive aluminum design:

 

 

$9.95 ZALMAN ZM-NBF47 http://svcompucycle.stores.yahoo.net/zm-nbf47.html

 

Although it has no fan, the Zalman performed in a review by MadShrimps, but the ThermalTake Extreme Spirit II was not considered: http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticl...amp;articID=473 However, ThermalTake Extreme Spirit II very similiar to the Jing Ting JTS-0005 that was considered. Furthermore, as far as "towers" go, the Zalman beat the Cooler Master Blue Ice, which is essentially a smaller version of the Tuniq 120 (but with a 40mm embeded fan. Finally, this review of the Zalman provides additionaly of its merit: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?optio...mp;limitstart=1

 

Alternatively, I do not see any reason why one could simple attach one or two 40mm fans to the top of the stock NorthBridge heat sink:

 

 

$4.99 SUNON KD1204PFB2-8 40mm Fan - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811999015

 

 

So, although it is going to a tight fit with the Scythe Infinity, I want to go with Zalman, in part because I am planning to add a "perpendicular" fan with the Sunbean "Wherever" PCI rack (or something similiar that I build myself) to blow down on the NorthBridge, SouthBridge and RAM:

 

 

$13.99 Sunbeam Wherever PCI Rack http://www.xoxide.com/sunbeam-wherever-pci-rack.html

[bofors]

I have just figure out which PSU supply I am going to get (I hope). I am not no intention of running a high power graphics, let alone two, so my needs should easily be satisfied by a quality PSU of less than 500W. Here is an excellent PSU review by JonnyGuru (and this guy really know his trade): http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1487_1.html This is ExtremeOverclockingForum's PSU guide and among great information provides lists of the top PSU's in several categories: http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/show...ad.php?t=136602

 

JonnyGuru's reviews are so much better than anything else I have seen, that I after reading them I found it hard to consider PSUs that he did not review. This is his review of the 500W Silverstone ST50EF-PLUS: http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/Element500/ JonnyGuru rates both its performance and value as "10". This SilverStone goes for $100, but is also availble as the Enhance ENP-5150 (same PSU different brand) for only $67 at eWiz and is the ExtemeSystems PSU "Deal of the Month": http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112326

 

This 500W Silverstone/Enhance PSU is probably a little more than I need but is only about $10 more than what I would otherwise feel comfortable with:

 

$67.00 Enhance ENP-5150GH 500W ATX12V Rev.2.2: http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=PS-E5150G...ea9cc771c8ad72#

 

[Sabr]

Well, you'll want a PSU which can keep the voltages steady when you're OCing. May I suggest you look into Antec's line of PSU's?

[bofors]

May I suggest you look into Antec's line of PSU's?

 

Check out JonnyGuru's review of the Antec True Power 2.0 550W: http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/TP2-550W/ Then compare it to his review of the Silverstone ST50EF-PLUS: http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/Element500/

 

Note that the Silverstone has 432W on the 12V rails (which I believe matters most here), while the Antec has only 420W. Moreover, the discounted Enhance re-branded SiliverStone is $67 while the Antec is $90+.

[Sabr]

Nice choice there bofors. I own the Antec TP-II 550Watt PSU, and can say I have had no problems with it at all. However, that silverstone looks very good too! Very good choice

[thedguy]

Ok, all of you, do NOT get a 965 board. IT does not work for os x as far as i have heard

 

Interesting...

 

I just used it on a gigabyte DS3 with the 965 chipset?

 

As I've mentioned before, as long as you use an SATA HD and USB-DVD (only one confirmation that sata DVD's don't work), it will run fine. SATA native mode has to be disabled though.

 

 

Anyway...

 

I'm running a Big Typhoon, keeps my cpu plenty cool with na 850mhz overclock, I'm still below factory temps with the factory cooler. And my Fan's not even running at full speed.

 

Also I like Antec PSU's, but compaired to some other PSU's they don't have they don't push the current thru the 12v lines like some others. Many PSU's are still only Dual rail 16amp each. My bro recently picked up a PSU with Quad rails on the 12v at 18amps each. A bit overkill but he won't be running out of juice for a long time.

 

Bofors, I've tried all sorts of voltages on my board and it just refuses to overclock higher than 2.69 (385fsb). I'm not complaining but I was wanting 3ghz.

[Sabr]

Interesting...

 

I just used it on a gigabyte DS3 with the 965 chipset?

 

As I've mentioned before, as long as you use an SATA HD and USB-DVD (only one confirmation that sata DVD's don't work), it will run fine. SATA native mode has to be disabled though.

 

........................

 

Bofors, I've tried all sorts of voltages on my board and it just refuses to overclock higher than 2.69 (385fsb). I'm not complaining but I was wanting 3ghz.

 

Wait, so you are saying an IDE to SATA isn't going to work? Some people have said it has...

 

Also, on your overclock, what CPU is it? An Allendale/Conroe? I have an E6300 in there up to 3.4 Ghz - stable. What are your settings? Have you updated the BIOS to F4? It is my RAM which is preventing my from going higher than 3.6 Ghz - what RAM do you have?

[bofors]

Bofors, I've tried all sorts of voltages on my board and it just refuses to overclock higher than 2.69 (385fsb). I'm not complaining but I was wanting 3ghz.

 

Well you may be doing nothing wrong, as we know there is significant variabiliy in these parts. In particular, I have read about different boards of the same model (which implies NorthBridge quality) and CPUs to overclock much differently. There certainly is a random factor here. Wherever it is true or not I do not know, but I have also read the "retail" versions are better than OEM CPUs and that there is some related issue with "ES" designated CPUs. Finally, I have read that the DS3 board is itself "quirky". On the other hand, you have already achieved an overclock greater than 50%, my goal is "merely" 50% (i.e. taking the E6600 from 2.4GHz to 3.6).

 

There are a couple of issues that I have picked up on that might be relevant here. First is, of course, NorthBridge cooling. It is very likely that your NorthBridge is limiting your overclock (as opposed to the the CPU or the RAM). Cooling your NorthBridge should make it clear if it is the limit or not. So, I would certainly at least try an open-case experiment with using a fan to directly cool the NorthBridge. The other issue is that using 1 GB DIMMs seems to be a disadvantage, for some reason smaller memory banks (e.g. 256 MB) can clock much higher. So, if you had some other RAM to work with you might be able to isolate that variable as well. While it is certaily possible, I think it is unlikely that your E6300 is limiting your overclock.

 

An Allendale/Conroe?

 

On a personal n00b note, I have learned that the 2MB "Conroe's" are technically Allendale's.

 

EDIT: Actually, not. The 6300/6400 are Conroes with half their cache disabled. The real Allendales will the be the E4300 and appear in January (should be a good deal too! Perhaps like the Pentium D 805, set with a lower FSB and high multiplier which will yield higher overclocks).

[bofors]

he i just got a P150 case, its wonderful

 

Ya Kiko, the Antec P150 (which come with the Neo 430 modular PSU) looks great. I think it is ideal for many people building hackinstoshs here and I would trade my Antec Sonnata II (which isn't bad) for one anyday. But for this build, I want the "perfect" PSU and I think I found it.

 

Now, I have to try to decide what case I am going get and this is perhaps the toughest decisions for me personally. For reference, here is my (incomplete) thread on "slick" hackintosh cases: http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=24145

 

Here are my working case requirements:

- "slick" like Apple's cases, not obnoxious and no glowing {censored} (like the cheap "silver" IO port cover with glowing blue lights on my Sonatta II).

 

- no "front door" (I hate when my burner ejects a disk with the door closed on my Sonatta II).

 

- no permenantly exposed floppy disk port (I will only use a floppy disk as necessary for OSx86 developement work).

 

- minimum of the four internal hard drive bays.

 

One the hand, I recognize that cases are simply boxes and that it is rational to only get the cheapest one which satisfies my minimal requirements. The Cooler Master Centurion 5 does just this at a price that is unbeatable:

 

$33.99 (after rebate) COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811119068

 

 

However, I could live without the holes in side planel:

 

EDIT: I changef my mind about this issue, I now want to use a CPU cooler that is perpendicular to the motherboard (not a "tower") like the ThermalTake Big Typhon or ThermalRight SI-128 and set it up to suck fresh air in directly through a side panel hole.

 

 

On the other hand what I really want, especially now that Apple is keeping the basic design with the Mac Pro, is just a PowerMac G5 case. But until somebody sells an ATX mod. kit for it, I do not what to spend my time on such a project: http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=4525

 

 

Where does this leave me? Apparenlty, looking at some expensive alumimun cases. While I fell guilty purchasing some that costs some 5x as much as the Cooler Master Centurion 5, I think it is clear that cases pretty much last forever (and unless Intel falls flat on its ass again, even these new Core 2 Duo CPUs and motherboard should be obsolete within three years if not much sooner).

 

So, I am considering the Lian PC-V1000 series:

 

$204.99 LIAN LI PC-V1000APlus II: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811112057

 

 

[EDIT] Note, Lian Li is a little strange, they design their cases with the rear fan as a ducted intake (which is why they also sell PSU exhaust ducts to prevent the hot air from being sucked in from the rear of the case), so the orientation of a "tower" cooler's fan could be reversed to draw air directly in from the outside of the case which could be a major benefit. Most newer Lian Li's are designed to use a side fan for exhaust (but again I am not thrilled about having holes in the side of my case), while some older "Plus" models use a rear blower instead.

 

 

Lian Li's flow could be reversed so that the side fan (which is mounted on adjustable bracket) intakes and blows almost directly on the NorthBridge. This is probably what I will do because I want some "perpendicular" airflow onto motherboard as well.

 

 

The floppy drive cover can be dealt by buying a bay, but is with those wheels?

 

$3.99 Lian Li 5.25" Drive Bay Cover http://www.xoxide.com/lian-li-drive-bay-cover1.html

 

[mifki]

Good on you bofors (especially about Allendale/Conroe ), the Neo PSU is actually quite a good PSU, its Modular, its Stable, its Efficient and its Quiet. The whole case is Quality, i finally have a Side panel on my case now . The Tri-Cool fan is a very good deal, My ASUS X1600XT is silent, and all i need now is a E6600 which i will be gettign next week and a watercooler, then my PC willl be totally Silent. And I mean totally, the HDD's are suspended on Elastics in the case, this may sound pretty flimsy but it is strong as and extremely quiet, the DVD is also on a slide which is padded, i couldnt even hear it while burning at 16x.

 

Once i get my E6600 i will Overclock first to the specs on My signature then hopefully to 3.5 ghz as i will have a Peltier watercooling system and this is extremely cold as well.

 

Oh, and me and you have the same Board

[Conroe Mac]

965 boards DO work! ICH8 DOES work too!

 

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=26858

[mifki]

YES BUT ITS A {censored} TO INSTALL

 

Ok, well ive been looking into Watercooling for my board and i have come across Silverprop, http://www.silverprop.com/watercooling.aspx, their prodcuts seem to be of high quality and they also have TEC compatible waterblocks, i have a Peltier lying around so i think i might get one of these, the only problem is that there seems to be no LGA775 support as of yet. im sure i have seen these being mounted on a BAd Axe board b4, I will look into it.

 

EDIT: Yes they can be mounted on LGA775 boards, looks liek im getting one

[Conroe Mac]

I have Centurion 5. Good case. Very inexpensive, quality made, and does everything I want. My only gripe is that the LEDs are very bright.

 

I can't see spending $200 on a case. The difference in price could be some much nicer hardware inside the case.

 

Oh and don't count on Newegg mail-in rebates. A lot of times they just don't surface.

 

 

My 965 install has gone really smoothly thus far. It doesn't work right out of the box like the Badaxe, but it's nothing that can't be fixed in 15 minutes or less if you know what you're doing.

[Sabr]

Bofors, there is a smaller, cheaper version of the V1000A:

 

Lian-Li PC-600: http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/Mid...V_C_PC-V600.htm

 

It is a Mid ATX tower, standard size if you know what I mean.

[bofors]

Bofors, there is a smaller, cheaper version of the V1000A:

 

Lian-Li PC-600: http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/Mid...V_C_PC-V600.htm

 

It is a Mid ATX tower, standard size if you know what I mean.

 

Ya, I was just looking at the V600, but the PSU mounts directly over the CPU, so there is no way a "tower" heat sink like the Tunig 120 or Scythe Infinity will fit:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811112505

 

Here is a nice review of the V600 with some comparison to the V1200: http://www.systemcooling.com/lian_li_pcv600-01.html

 

 

Also check out the V800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811112082

 

 

And the V300: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811112112

 

[bofors]

I can't see spending $200 on a case. The difference in price could be some much nicer hardware inside the case.

 

While I know you are absolutely right, I still have an irrational desire for a shiny aluminum case. I also feel like one of biggest mistakes that I made in building my first box was selecting a case, an Antec Sonatta II, that I knew I would not be fully satisfied with. Finally, I think the life span of high end aluminum case will be very long, so it can be viewed as more of an "investment". I can easily pick up a cheap case and PSU to dump obsolete hardware with, while retaining a high quality PSU's and cases over the longer term.

 

I have Centurion 5. Good case. Very inexpensive, quality made, and does everything I want. My only gripe is that the LEDs are very bright.

 

I am going to go look at the Centurion 5 in person (again) at CompUSA. It is a great case at a great price, everything that I want, minus the holes in the side panel. If I get a discount case, it will certainly be the Centurion 5.

 

Oh and don't count on Newegg mail-in rebates. A lot of times they just don't surface.

Yes, I know about rebate (fraud) game and try to "discount the discounts" in my decisions.

 

My 965 install has gone really smoothly thus far. It doesn't work right out of the box like the Badaxe, but it's nothing that can't be fixed in 15 minutes or less if you know what you're doing.

I expect the 965 to be fully supported by Apple, perhaps as soon as Monday (but not necessarily for months). My decision to go with the Bad Axe is based on my personal needs. System stability is a major issue for me. Although I think that the Asus boards are very stable, this is a good reason to buy an Intel board.

 

Moreover, my commitment to the MacEFIx86 project, which has made tremendous progress lately, and my expectation the EFI will be supported on Bad Axe so that I will be have dual display support with somekind of an x1600 card, is also a major factor in my decision to go with a Bad Axe. The lack of dual display support is huge for me and without its prospect, I might be better off going with a Mac Pro. So, next I will consider exactly which graphics card to get for this build.

 

[EDIT] There is another reason to consider a Bad Axe board over the others, it has 3 PCIe 16x slots. That is almost as many as the Mac Pro, which has 4, and means that people interested in using Mac Pro cards will have more slots for them on the Bad Axe than competing boards: