My new machine

Here's a list of everything for my new rig

Case Corsair 650D
MOBO Asus P8Z77-V DELUXE
CPU Intel Core i7 3770K
CPU Cooler Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro BK016
Memory 16GB (4x4GB) Corsair DDR3 Vengeance
GFX Card Asus 4GB GeForce GTX 690 NVIDIA
SSD Crucial M4 256
HDD 1TB WD 10EALX Caviar Blue
Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D
PSU Corsair AX850
Blu Ray Writer Pioneer BDR-S06XLB
DVDRW 2* Pioneer DVR-S19LBK
TV card COMPRO E750
Wireless Adapter Edimax EW-7722In 300Mbps Wireless 11n
Headset Coolermaster CM Sirus
5.1 Speakers Logitech Z506
Monitor Dell U2711
Laser Printer Samsung ML-1865
UPS APC BACK UPS PRO 1500
USB 3.0 Internal adapter Akasa USB 3.0 Internal header
Acoustic Foam Akasa AK-PAX-2 PaxMate

Have most of it already, should have everything by a week on Monday (690's not in stock yet)

Going to document the build of my new PC. Have started by putting the soundproofing foam in the case.
Have to say I'm disappointed that the 650D still comes with external plugs for the USB 3.0 and not internal headers (also really crappy instructions & get zapped with static when I take it out of the box (blame the black bag that covers it)

Started really neatly with the side panels



Not 2 bad in the inside, but had a lot of small pieces & just stuck them where there was exposed metal (no can see them, so don't care)









Not sure about these pieces behind the MOBO, don't look like they will touch it, but might be close enough that heat could be a problem. If anybody knows something speak up.

Crappy pictures on some of these caused by me dropping my phone earlier in the day, cracking the glass on the phone cover & not retaking the photos on some after I discovered the problem

Got a delivery of the MOBO, CPU & ram today so have started the build. Lots of piccys to come.

1st job was to remove the foam from behind the MOBO, was expecting a bitch of a job, but it was really easy


No markings on the PSU so have no idea what plug goes where, if I get stuck I'll look in the manual i guess.


To get the PSU in I had to unscrew this bracket, but leave it near where it will finish (found that out the hard way). I put the PSU in, pushed the bracket back (don't think I scratched the case) & then screw it in.


Plugged it power (but left it switched off) to earth (maybe I'm getting a bit anal describing/showing this picture).


MOBO screwed in (very easy as there is a but sticking up to locate it on). I have taken 1 drive cage out (for now will only have 1 SSD and 1HDD in the machine)


Main and CPU power cables in (i'm guessing they are right cos they fit, but it could all blow up when I switch on)


Guess it'sgoing to get messy behind the MOBO

Didn't get much done tonight as I had to spend about an hour looking for the smallest screw in the build (dropped it on the carpet)




Installed the ram, I know that I won't see it through the window as it will be facing the wall, but I was happy that it's the same blue as the metal on the MOBO.




Also put the SSD in a cage.




That's enough for 1 night for me

Didn't do much yesterday except a bit of tidying, not that I've even used a firewire device it's strange that the MOBO doesn't have connector so I tied it up.

Today had a nice delivery waiting for me.

Started by putting in the optical drives


Really like the locking system in the case


Also like the the way the HDD fits in the cage, you just flex it & line up the lugs to the holes


I had to remove the middle cage to fit the power cable as it's not very flexible


Next went in the internal USB3 header, you can't really see but it tight against a capacitor


Able to connect the top two drives with the cables supplied, but as you can see they are angled & wouldn't fit in the bottom drive, lucky I had a spare from my old machine


Most of the power cables and the GFX card installed, look neat from this side


Not quite as neat from the back, some sorting to do


After sorting ot the cables, just the sound & TV card to install, the it's time to start reading the manuals & get installing.

Nice one matey looking good great spec you wont be upgrading for quite some time with that

Been a bit quiet here so I'll post what been happening.

After installing Windows I spent a lot of time going through a backup drive & deleting programs that I didn't need (have an awful habit of backing up everything, just in case) copying over everything else. This was going fine, but after a while I noticed that the HDD occasionally made some noise & decided to swap it over for one of my backup drives that doesn't make noise (strange thing is that that the black (both WD) make less noise than the blue).

This caused no end of problems as I couldn't reinstall windows (I put some unimportant programs on it as I don't want to fill up the SSD). It would unpack to about 70% then hang, giving me a error code. Internet told be it was probably the ram & memtest crashed testing every stick. I though it was strange that all 4 would suddenly break & after some fiddling with cables (and hearing a click) it was fine again.

After I installed Windows I decided to pack everything up & put the PC in my office

Guess I wasted £17 on the wireless card as the MOBO's seems to work better (white rings)


Due to the monitor also working as a USB2 hub (it's also a card reader on the left hand side) I can keep it quite neat to the left


Proof that it's working, still getting used to the size of the monitor (it's not also bigger but the screen is much closer), fuck me it gives of some heat though.
Was really disappointed when I cleaned the screen (microfiber cloth soaked in warm water, don't waste money on anything else) that the panel is not held as well as my old monitor and mode back slightly when pressure is applied.


Had it up and running since Saturday, most software installed, just goot put games on.

Hoping this machine will be good for around 7 years

found a problem last night, the Sub Woofer doesn't work. Seems to be a common problem & have raised a question on the Logitech forums, but will probably have to take it back.

Took it back to Comet & I now have a sound system with a working sub

Glad you got the speakers working matey sounds like you've been not having much fun with this must admit I had some teething problems when I had finished this build damn thing kept bsoding on me sussed it though I had installed windows twice one over the other causing a conflict. anyhow hows things matey all ok I trust

TBH it's been quite easy, spent most of the time waiting for answers to my probs, if I had just done these thing in the first place it would of been finished quicker.

We Live and learn matey its always a learning process,you've done a great job looks awsum, no point upgrading this it does what i need and more. may go to windows 8 sometime in the future all depends on what others think of it ie:if theres any benefit Im thnking more security updates than anything else although microsoft has pledged to keep updates for 7 for the next 5 years or so

I'm not going anywhere near Win 8. Not only has it got a tablet interface & removed the start button, but they are taking standard features out & charging for them (latest 1 is the ability to play DVDs has been removed)

Wtf that sucks just put me right off windows 8 how the hell are you supposed to render and edit your own videos if you cant play them back after youve rendered the files and sent them to dvd if you cant play the dvd to check if its ok stinks to high heaven

From what I gather MS are pushing a storefront with it, assuming that it's really cheap to buy in the first place (bollocks it will) it's ot a bad way of going, just pick and choose what you want.

I hate the look of it tbh & find Win7 very good & have no desire to change.

I must admit windows 7 to me is the best os microsoft have ever coded at least theres no you have commited an illegal operation message

Well the the machine's up and running & playing games.
Overclocked to a stable 4.5. easy as the software on the MOBO does it for you, either a low oc of 4.2 just by pressing a button or flicking a switch on the mobo or an auto tuning that does by upping and testing it till it gets a good stable speed.

The CPU even when playing seem to be running around 40C

Nice sounds good

nice set up how are you spank?

Not coping with the heat very well, but not bad.

I've made some changes since I last posted.

after a while I found the fans noisy when watching TV/films so changed all the fans.

The front 200mm is now a Coolermaster Megaflow (had to move the HDD cage to get it in) & the top 200mm has be replaced by 2 140mm Corsair Airflow & a 120mm Airflow at the back.

They make the same amount of noise when on 100% than the others had at the lowest speed.

I also got a NZXT Sentry 2 fan controller as I have no nails & opening the top cover was a pain in the arse.

Hows you m8?