Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: TilDeath on August 09, 2009, 06:23:00 PM

Title: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 09, 2009, 06:23:00 PM
Some pics and stats of The Mage

Case: NZXT Beta
MB: Gigabyte
CPU: E8400
Mem:  OCZ Blade series 2 x 2gb (upgrade)
PGU: EVGA 9800GTX+
HD: WD 640Gb (upgrade)
PSU: OCZ StealthXStream 700w
HSF: OCZ Vendetta
DVD: Samsung 22x DVD Combo drive

3DMark06 Score: 13368 base score no overclocking
AH2 new release FR: 59 -60 running Hires at 1680 X 1050 (32bit color) with AA on "Most" "1024 textures", Object Detail set to "Full Detail", Ground Detail set to "3 miles", everything in advanced checked except "Object Self Shadow" and "Smooth Shadow"

(http://www.tdcomputersystems.com/builds/the_mage/1.jpg)

(http://www.tdcomputersystems.com/builds/the_mage/2.jpg)

(http://www.tdcomputersystems.com/builds/the_mage/3.jpg)
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: batch on August 10, 2009, 12:21:24 AM
Are we allowed to advertise now?
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Masherbrum on August 10, 2009, 12:24:16 AM
Are we allowed to advertise now?

I see no "price"?   He posted a system, no different than "piecing" a system via Newegg on here, with prices.   
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Infidelz on August 10, 2009, 05:48:45 AM
See Rule #2
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: RTHolmes on August 10, 2009, 05:55:39 AM
See Rule #2

wth?  :confused:


btw the system looks good, I have same but with a 9800GT, 3Dmark ~12000, runs AH great :aok
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: druski85 on August 10, 2009, 12:15:16 PM
 :aok 

Can't wait TD, thanks again man.   :salute
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 10, 2009, 12:26:19 PM
:aok 

Can't wait TD, thanks again man.   :salute
It will ship tomorrow, waiting on a box to place the system box into.  They are out for delivery today, if I can ship today I will but bank on tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Dragon on August 10, 2009, 12:28:47 PM
How does it handle with self and smooth shadow ON?  Inquiring minds want to know.  I run mine (both of them) with them enabled and have no issues, 59-60
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Getback on August 10, 2009, 01:23:45 PM
How does it handle with self and smooth shadow ON?  Inquiring minds want to know.  I run mine (both of them) with them enabled and have no issues, 59-60

I was testing mine a bit last night. I set details to about 1.5 miles out and was pegged at 60 fps, my refresh rate. System is an e8500 Oc'd to 3.5 with an ATI 3850 oc'd. As soon as I have time I'm installing Ray Adam's Tray tools, and switching cases for better cable management, cooling, and access.

BTW, received my Tempest case from TD in 3 days, was shipped on Tuesday and arrived on Friday morning, all intact hehe and with a bit better shipping cost. Always enjoy working with a fellow AH'er.(Sorry TD, couldn't resist, btw ever get those resolved)
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: AirFlyer on August 10, 2009, 02:02:45 PM
If I had to guess it should do self-shadowing fine. I use an 8800GT that delivers steady 59 - 60fr with all settings maxed, a 9800GTX should have no issue.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 10, 2009, 02:51:26 PM
I was testing mine a bit last night. I set details to about 1.5 miles out and was pegged at 60 fps, my refresh rate. System is an e8500 Oc'd to 3.5 with an ATI 3850 oc'd. As soon as I have time I'm installing Ray Adam's Tray tools, and switching cases for better cable management, cooling, and access.

BTW, received my Tempest case from TD in 3 days, was shipped on Tuesday and arrived on Friday morning, all intact hehe and with a bit better shipping cost. Always enjoy working with a fellow AH'er.(Sorry TD, couldn't resist, btw ever get those resolved)
They, NZXT are making me my own Rebate form.  It is taking a few days longer, as soon as I have it I will email you one and post it on the site for customers to use.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Denholm on August 10, 2009, 03:47:02 PM
Looks great TilDeath. One question on the pictures. Do you now have a photo studio or are you photoshopping the images to generate the white background?
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 10, 2009, 04:05:43 PM
Looks great TilDeath. One question on the pictures. Do you now have a photo studio or are you photoshopping the images to generate the white background?
I do both.  When I can steal MY camera from the kids I have a white background I use but also do some photoshop for some shots.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: AirFlyer on August 10, 2009, 04:28:19 PM
Looks great TilDeath. One question on the pictures. Do you now have a photo studio or are you photoshopping the images to generate the white background?

If you look close, you'll actually notice that it isn't white through the air vents and such. :aok
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 10, 2009, 06:27:37 PM
If you look close, you'll actually notice that it isn't white through the air vents and such. :aok
LOL these pics happen to be a photoshop trim LOL
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Getback on August 10, 2009, 06:42:06 PM
LOL these pics happen to be a photoshop trim LOL


 :rofl :rofl :rofl


Oops, Nice pics though.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 10, 2009, 08:56:41 PM
If I had to guess it should do self-shadowing fine. I use an 8800GT that delivers steady 59 - 60fr with all settings maxed, a 9800GTX should have no issue.
Everything turned on all the way up including shadows (both checked) holds steady at 57 had a lowest of 41 for a split second.  If I had to say an average it would be 57 or 56fps
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: AirFlyer on August 10, 2009, 09:20:46 PM
Odd, I don't think I ever noticed that with mine, but it's very possible I just didn't notice it. Do you OC your GPUs by chance?
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Denholm on August 10, 2009, 10:05:34 PM
If you look close, you'll actually notice that it isn't white through the air vents and such. :aok
Just noticed it. Simply curious since I've been interested in the video business (Yes, cameras and backgrounds are included).
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Delirium on August 11, 2009, 12:16:02 AM
I've bought from TilDeath before, I've sent him people in the past and I would do so again in the future.

My system (a little bit beefier than the Mage) runs everything remarkably well and it doesn't even break a sweat in AH.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: guncrasher on August 11, 2009, 12:32:43 AM
I am building my own system and once I am done screwing it up I will buy one of TD's computers.  After all why have only one when u can have two for twice the price.   :x :x :x


semp


Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Denholm on August 11, 2009, 10:40:37 PM
Why only have one? Less heat. ;)
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: OOZ662 on August 11, 2009, 10:48:28 PM
Why only have one? Less heat. ;)

Bah. Two summers ago I turned on this "beast," the Playstation 2, old CRT TV, stereo, and N64 and got my room up to about 120 degrees F. :D I loved it, but mom couldn't stand to come through the door.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: AirFlyer on August 11, 2009, 10:50:35 PM
Bah. Two summers ago I turned on this "beast," the Playstation 2, old CRT TV, stereo, and N64 and got my room up to about 120 degrees F. :D I loved it, but mom couldn't stand to come through the door.

Lucky, without A/C I can do that with just my computer and PS3.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: OOZ662 on August 11, 2009, 10:51:32 PM
I don't get much help from the environment here, though. :)
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Denholm on August 11, 2009, 10:53:43 PM
 :mad:
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: oboe on August 14, 2009, 05:24:28 AM
Isn't there supposed to be a ribbon cable between the DVD drive and the IDE header on the mobo?    IS it removed for the pic or is there another method for connecting the DVD?   I dislike ribbon cables....
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: humble on August 14, 2009, 09:22:23 AM
Isn't there supposed to be a ribbon cable between the DVD drive and the IDE header on the mobo?    IS it removed for the pic or is there another method for connecting the DVD?   I dislike ribbon cables....

It's got a sata connector, you can see the red one for the HD and black for the DVD very clearly in the 2nd picture. If you look closely you can see the sata cable in the 1st pic also...
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: OOZ662 on August 14, 2009, 10:15:45 AM
Yup, optical drives are coming in SATA now. I have one that's so fast it's crazy. What used to take hours to munch through burning copies of data CDs takes a few minutes.

oboe, you do know there are other forms of IDE cable than the traditional ribbon ones, right? Wires are wires, so many people have formed them into all different, more economical shapes. It's certainly worth looking into, since they cost maybe $2.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Masherbrum on August 14, 2009, 11:42:38 AM
It's got a sata connector, you can see the red one for the HD and black for the DVD very clearly in the 2nd picture. If you look closely you can see the sata cable in the 1st pic also...

Both of my SATA cables are Black.   Only thing that should matter are the port colors on the MB.   I have a DVD Burner on a Black port (Slave) and RaptorX on a Red (Master) port.   
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 14, 2009, 12:44:04 PM
Both of my SATA cables are Black.   Only thing that should matter are the port colors on the MB.   I have a DVD Burner on a Black port (Slave) and RaptorX on a Red (Master) port.   
I always use the SATA Port number.  SATA 0 = Main HD SATA 1 = Secondary HD or DVD.   The "Red" SATA connectors on the EVGA, Asus, Gigabyte are usually the SATA connects that have the eSATA and use JMicron chipset controlers.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: oboe on August 14, 2009, 09:45:40 PM
Yup, optical drives are coming in SATA now. I have one that's so fast it's crazy. What used to take hours to munch through burning copies of data CDs takes a few minutes.

oboe, you do know there are other forms of IDE cable than the traditional ribbon ones, right? Wires are wires, so many people have formed them into all different, more economical shapes. It's certainly worth looking into, since they cost maybe $2.

I did not know that!   The drives I bought are bare drives - no box or instructions.    Will have to check into other shapes of IDE cables, thanks!   
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 14, 2009, 09:51:54 PM
I did not know that!   The drives I bought are bare drives - no box or instructions.    Will have to check into other shapes of IDE cables, thanks!  
If you happen to have an open SATA port on your MB, a DVD with a SATA interface starts at 25.00 and go up
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Dragon on August 15, 2009, 01:58:24 PM
Quick question, aren't all the sata ports the same?  I thought they were.  I didn't ever notice that they were numbered.  Does it really matter what gets plugged in to which one?
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: Denholm on August 15, 2009, 02:28:24 PM
I'm inclined to answer, "Yes!" However, I haven't worked with SATA enough to know for certain.
Title: Re: The Mage specs and performance
Post by: TilDeath on August 17, 2009, 12:01:12 AM
Quick question, aren't all the sata ports the same?  I thought they were.  I didn't ever notice that they were numbered.  Does it really matter what gets plugged in to which one?
If you are just using 1 or 2 HD's and 1 or 2 DVD / CDs then for the most part it does not matter.  There are SATA ports that are for specific use, eSATA for one.  It has separate controller's that are controlled by the BIOS and chipset.  All SATA ports are numbered.  If you refer to the users manual it will show you how they are numbered.  Here are a few examples

(http://www.tdcomputersystems.com/builds/sata/evga_sata_sm.jpg)

(http://www.tdcomputersystems.com/builds/sata/gigabyte_sata_sm.jpg)