Description

This is my first non-AMD machine (for personal use) since 1996.

NOTE: New parts (January 2014) are the CPU, Motherboard, SSD, CPU Cooler. Other parts date back to older builds - I tend to do a rolling build, upgrading a bit at a time until the architecture no longer allows it.

I replaced a tri-core Athlon-II X3 440 that was unlocked to 4 cores and 3.45 ghz. So while obviously the new chip (i5 4670) is much faster on paper, seat of the pants feel isn't that much bigger.

I was going to re-use my OCZ Vertex and a "new" OCZ Agility SSD, but it turns out both are incompatible with Haswell! So I had to drop for a Crucial M500.

The case is an elderly but tough Dell XPS 730 case. It has "nvidia ESA" which I can't access without an nVidia card (I have an ATI in there now) but the current settings are fine as far as color and front fan speeds. CPU fans are motherboard controlled.

It works well except that I'm getting some audio interference which is preventing me from using my speakers at higher volumes. I've tried re-routing wires but it persists... :(

Comments

  • 71 months ago
  • 1 point

How is that cpu? I was going to buy it.

  • 71 months ago
  • 2 points

Good.

If you want to overclock, do as a previous commenter suggested and bump up to the K version. But for not overclocking, it's great.

If you have money to blow, get an i7.

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Love the case, did you ever get an Nvidia card in there? If so were you able to control the LED's? I got all my parts ordered for my 730 build, cant wait! I just hope the MSI heatsink fits in there... It's kinda big.

  • 29 months ago
  • 1 point

Hi, sorry for the long delay in responding - I don't get notifications from this website.

I did experiment with an NVidia card (8800 gts I think) and it allowed me to change the LEDs.. It's been a long time ago though!

I tried to sell the case, but nobody wanted it, so I gave it to a friend of mine who needed to build a new system.

I'm still using the rest of the setup to this day, though the hard drives have changed around a little.

[comment deleted]
  • 71 months ago
  • 1 point

yeah.. also i would of gone with the unlocked 4670, but wahtever

edit: you might want to dust out the case a tad bit.

  • 71 months ago
  • 1 point

At the time I bought it, the price on the unlocked was about $20 to $30 more.. since I'd already talked myself up from a lower priced CPU I refrained from just going for broke. I don't intend to overclock, although I used to, so I didn't really see a need for the unlocked CPU.

As far as the dust.... I used an air duster and wiped things out a bit, but it really needs washed to get some of that dust off. Didn't take the time for that. There's no loose dust, however.

  • 71 months ago
  • 1 point

I debated zero'ing out the cost of older parts.

To prevent confusion, I just updated and removed prices for any parts that I already owned.

[comment deleted]
  • 71 months ago
  • 1 point

The January 2014 purchases are the new CPU, motherboard and SSD. Converted from an AMD system to an Intel system basically.