Low budget high performence!

I just upgraded from a AMD 6400+ x2 to a Phenom II x4 945(110$)(Open box NCIX ebay)
and I upgraded from a 9800GTX to 2 GTX 460 1gb in SLI(330$)(Palit 165$ with MIR and MSI 165$ open box from NCIX ebay)

my Extreme vantage score went from X2441 to X12841 :)

no intel because I am semi poor and I didn't want to change motherboard(which I orginally got because it was cheap and bundled with a 3.2Ghz dual core) but the phenom II isn't too bad, certainly the weakest link with the 800mhz DDR2 ram

But ya, SLI everything running max(some drops in processor intensive stuff and cept for some DX11 stuff) tons of AA decent 1920x1200 resolution. i love metro 2033

Check out my custom cooling job ;)

[gingerbee]

wicked you can start to overclock those gtx 460 since they clocked pretty good adn see that score rise but very simple and affective upgrade :)

[_dangtx_]

nice.

may i suggest improved cooling around the processor area? that board wasnt really meant to keep filtering duties crisp and clear with relatively high juicy cpus .

well on paper it did :)

it's the c3 rev 95w version of the 945 and I have the heatsink from the 6400+ on it.(stock one is pathetic) it runs a lot cooler than the 6400+ actually.(which was 125w and not supported(still ran though)) I worry about the north bridge if anything it's under both cards and the palit card power inputs prevent a fan on top.

and I got the GTX460s up to 810mhz stable(1620mhz shader) I'm done screwing with the memory clocks, all sorts of stability problems even moving it up 10mhz(not immediate but still crappy). Voltage increases still scary, although I'm not even sure if I can with the palit card.

notice the horrendous choice in audio cards? I got a used Audigy 2 ZS for 30 bucks! but it's a full length card and almost completely blocks the intake on the 2nd card.

but I can't put the side panel on, those cards just put out too much heat, I have a 120mm fan in front as well but the heat just builds from the bottom up until it's a oven in there.

[Reyzac]

Nice fan suspension technique

Originally Posted by Reyzac

Nice fan suspension technique

lol that fan makes a 20 degree difference on sustained max load! I've been looking for a bracket but as it is it's working awesome, it's exactly where I want it.

[_dangtx_]

cool. then add a brother to that fan on the right there to blow the chippie too. well by the time it gets there itll be warm air already but better than before i guess.

when space permits, i like to have the pci-e etc connectors in the classical spot, i.e. at the end of the card. sure sideways its easier to remove and fit into tighter places/cases,

but in cases liek this its like shooting yaself in the proverbial foot.

overall, you did a good jobbe man!

[bf1]

that fan suspension technique is the most creative thing i have ever seen LOL seriously

[mo' power]

I vote it cooling mod of the month!

[bf1]

Originally Posted by mo' power

I vote it cooling mod of the month!

+1! XD