The Official PC building thread - 4th Edition

That helps a lot thanks as it should help me make the right decision on what tab to get. For sure speed will be an issue as some of the tabs out there are very slow.

Thanks again Ripper,
Stevo

@Kevin,

I was going to mention that back when you brought the subject up but I knew it wouldn't make a difference as you had to try a new modem/router first anyway. I'm not thrilled with my Actiontec but my real problem is the same as yours, my lines/interconnects suck coming up to the house. I'm constantly having to reset my system due to dropped or froze connections.

So I'll probably just leave my Actiontec as my DSL modem and upgrade to that ASUS router I posted earlier. I have a friend that only has WiFi-G and could use my DIR-655 to upgrade to WiFi-N, they need the extra speed as they only use WiFi to connect to the internet.

 

Looking for some genuine advice on how I can tidy this up a bit:

http://i.imgur.com/MQQSx.jpg

Front drive bay area is a no-go as it's pretty much all cables, but doesn't look too untidy, although I might hide the white molex connector behind the braided cables for neatness. The biggest bugbears are the plethora of rigid power cables at the top, and most of all, the split pairs of SATA cables.
Front USB header cable has already been cleaned up, so no need to worry about that one

 

Not much to offer for advice there unless you feel like making some mods to the case. It looks generally clean anyway, not like it's a rats nest.

IMO cable tying everything in a neat bundle looks better than just tucking them into random spots(like above the PSU).

Other than that it could use a cleaning. Lots of dust on those cards

 

Believe it or not that's AFTER the cleaning. I'm just a bit wary of making lots of physical contact on the PCB of cards like that. The dust is only going to re-accumulate to that level in a matter of days anyway.
Given what it cost, I'm leaving this case well enough alone

More shoddy camerawork of the new server here:

http://i.imgur.com/cQGU2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e5W6l.jpg
(these two taken before the extra cards were installed, so only the first 8 drives in use)
http://i.imgur.com/wIhxU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tqcxX.jpg (earlier picture before I did a bit more tidying up)

 

Nice work Sam If I were running that much equipment, I would certainly be running my power saving scheme!

 

Harvardguy,

Present for you. Opening number for Jackie's new PBS special!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV9YO_XuSZk

Enjoy,
Russ

 

Sam, I would put something under the front bezel on the rackmount case. Looks like it could cut into the carpet with that much weight on it...

BTW I make skin contact with my hardware often. Just be sure to ground yourself first. I always touch an exposed screw before even reaching into the case. You would be safe to wipe that card off with a paper coffee filter wetted in alcohol. Static-free, lint-free.

 

It gets messy pretty quick in the bay area as you don't have much space with the fan assembly right on top of it. It also doesn't help that the cabling is sleeved (in-cased). You would have to build or buy some special chaining cables to clean up the power for the hotswap bays but it would be worth it as your airflow would be better. If you can keep most of your loose cabling in the mainboard area you'd be better off, if? I always tie my SATA/SAS cables together uniformly chaining from the bottom of the case up the drive bays vertically. I bring the power from the top and drop down vertically in the same fashion. This keeps the airflow mostly unrestricted and looks nice too. The SATA/SAS cables have a bend radius of 2 inches (50.8mm) so any slop would be left in the MB area close to the controller(s).

Sure wish I had that setup very nice Sam, way to go!

 

Thanks for the comments

I shared the concern about making a groove in the carpet, as you imagine the system is very heavy with 15 disks installed. Not sure yet what I'll put there.

 

This might sound stupid, but a good 1' ruler that has a ridge down the middle might do the trick nicely and cheaply.

 

Well looking at the inside of other people's dust-free cases made me feel bad about mine, so I cleaned it. Here's a terrible pic of afterwards. It's not much but I didn't build it "for me".

http://i49.tinypic.com/2qk8e1v.jpg

The wiring is messy but it idles below 30C and goes through a few Prime95 tests without going over 50C, so I don't really care!

 

My wiring is similar Ripper. If it works, I say hell with it My temps are better than most, thanks to the HAF932. And nobody but myself sees the inside of my case. One day, I may elect for a semi-transparent or fully transparent system. Until that time, my wiring means little to me, where everything works fine.

I may be due to blow mine

 

I would die if my PC were blown up Especially since I'm near broke right now. Even if I had the money to replace it, the HAF932 is invaluable. I'd hate to lose it!

 

I use an air compressor to clean out my PC though we do have a somewhat specialized set-up for painting. Pressure regulator and moisture collector...

 

I use a compressor too. I don't worry about the moisture. And it's due to be bled. I blow at my skin for a time. Plus it's not an old compressor. Perhaps I should be more concerned though, eh?

 

Moisture comes from compressed air cans not an air compressor. My 60 gal air compressor blows dry, relatively. If I use compressed air cans it's just the opposite as there is great condensation. Messy isn't good either though, it's better to be neat and uniform, not cables all over the place.

 

I've seen air compressors blow moisture. Though fairly rare. It was at the last place I worked. This compressor fed the entire work space. They do need bled. Some of the areas where hoses were hooked up, had the ability to bleed the line.