Hi Tom(Down Under)As Howard has stated, that Antec 300 is a very good case and has been a recommended case for many months in the CPC mags. Alternatively, and I do not know if you can obtain this in Oz, you could look at the Silverstone TJ08-E which retails here for around £79-£ ,another excellent case.Personally, I opted for the Antec 900/2 as I was future-proofing for my proposed Intel i5-2500K based system. For cooling that o/c'd CPU I'll be using a Be Quiet! Dark Power Advance and may at a later stage depending on the o/c stability,opt for the excellent Corsair H80 liquid cooling.

Yes we can get the Silverstone here - reduced to $100 I see...http://www.i-tech.com.au/products/96847_SilverStone_Temjin_series_TJ08E_Black.aspx but I do like the idea of something with lots of cool internal lights and stuff...just to be really nerdy. Okay, mid-life crisis, I know. There was a good post some time ago comparing the Corsair H80 with the Noctua NH-D14 as I recall and both systems got a good rap.

Hi Tom, I know I'm going to sound like a newbie nerd, but I don't know the cooler :( 'cos the rig was built by Overclockers UK. As for coolers, the only thing I would say is don't spend a whole load of dosh on water cooling, or some fancy overpriced bit of kit, as it is not necessary. The new SBs can run cooler than their predecessors and so a moderate air cooler should be good to get you to 4.6Ghz, maybe even more, with no problem. I previously had an i7950 which I OCd to 4.2. It ran beautifully stable for over twelve months being cooled on air by a Hyper 212 plus, which is a great cooler at an even better price!

I recently put in the Hyper 212 Plus...went to CentreCom planning to buy the NH-D14 and when I told the shop assistant what case I had he just laughed, went out back and returned with the 212. He knew better as I probably would have needed to get the jig saw out to fit the D14. But Howard, I definitely agree with you on case flow thru and I can't get any more fans into my current case, which I recycled anyway, so time for a new one. :( More suggestions...anyone?

I previously had an i7950 which I OCd to 4.2. It ran beautifully stable for over twelve months being cooled on air by a Hyper 212 plus, which is a great cooler at an even better price!

Howard, do you recall what your max CPU temps were back then?

Hey Craig, sounds like a fantastic price. However, just as an option... it may well be you are an aficianado of overclocking, but if like me you have limited experience with OCing, you could consider Overclockers UK. They sell systems already OCd. If you are running FSX then you want to get the absolute most from your CPU. My rig is only a couple of months old and came with the i5 2500K OC'd to 4.6Ghz, which is a big difference from the factory setting of 3.3Ghz!

Hi Chaps, I have to agree with Howard...Overclockers are a great company for getting a "sim spec" pc built, I told them exactly what case/components and overclock I wanted and they put it together for me and at a fair price. My next system will be getting built by them shortly...Actually my psu burnt out after 6 months (was the only weak element of my build at 650w) so I drove over to them on spec (2 hours!) and the guy on the desk was great, he had it in the back with a techy and replaced the psu on rma..foc and I paid an extra tenner for an upgrade to a 750w corsair psu...can't say you would get pc world doing that...lol, customer service and after sales support is key to repeat business this day and age.

Howard, do you recall what your max CPU temps were back then?

Hi Tom, mm, don't quote me but I think it ran at about 78c under stress test. I now use the PC for my office and Photoshop work as I have a dedicated SB rig for FSX. Because of that I dropped the OC back down to 3.8Ghz and the voltages are significantly lower than the accepted max.

Edited January 11, 201214 yr by Rockliffe

Hi Tom, mm, don't quote me but I think it ran at about 78c under stress test. I now use the PC for my office and Photoshop work as I have a dedicated SB rig for FSX. Because of that I dropped the OC back down to 3.8Ghz and the voltages are significantly lower than the accepted max.

Ok thanks Howard, that gives me something to work with. Just did a flight (into SBRJ - yikes) and got max 72c so I have some more research to do I think.

Ok thanks Howard, that gives me something to work with. Just did a flight (into SBRJ - yikes) and got max 72c so I have some more research to do I think.

That sounds a bit high Tom if you're getting that in FSX. I think my temps in FSX were down in the top 50's! What core voltage are you using?

Just a suggestion. The Cooler Master HAF922 is an excellent mid priced case with super cooling and space. I use it on my 3d graphics rig.

That sounds a bit high Tom if you're getting that in FSX. I think my temps in FSX were down in the top 50's! What core voltage are you using?

Howard, below are my settings. I think I can drop my Vcore but can't understand why I don't get anywhere with Prime95 torture, blue screen almost immediately. I'm on high 40's right now (basically idle) so I'm wondering whether the fact that I have enabled the AMD Graphics Overdrive (using the ATI Catalyst Control Centre) is related. I think I'll just set this back to default until I get my voltages sorted. No problem passing MemTest btw. I'm giving you ALL the settings here as I'm not sure may be relevant...and the DRAM voltage should be 1.65 (per Kingston specs) but my BIOS only allows me to set it to 1.64 and then it fails MemTest.BIOS Version = FJLoad-Line Calibration = DisabledCPU Vcore = 1.325VQPI/Vtt Voltage = 1.175VCPU PLL = 1.8VIOH Core = 1.3VDRAM Voltage = 1.5VCPU Clock Ratio = 21XIntel Turbo Boost Tech = DisabledCPU Cores Enabled = AllCPU Multi-Threading = EnabledC3/C6/C7 State Support = DisabledCPU Thermal Monitor = AutoCPU EIST Function = AutoBi-Directional PROCHOT = AutoQPI Clock Ratio = AutoQPI Link Speed = 7.2GHzUncore Clock Ratio = x16Uncore Frequency = 3200MHzBCLK Frequency = 200PCI Express Frequency (MHz) = AutoC.I.A.2 = DisabledCPU Clock Drive = 800mVPCI Express Clock Drive = 900mVExtreme Memory Profile = DisabledSystem Memory Multiplier = 8.0Memory Frequency (MHz) = 1066 1600Performance Enhance = StandardChannel Interleaving = 6 (Auto)Rank Interleaving = 4 (Auto)Channel A, B & C Timing Settings: CAS=9, tRCD=9, tRP=9, tRAS=27Channel A, B & C Turnaround Settings = Auto

Howard, below are my settings. I think I can drop my Vcore but can't understand why I don't get anywhere with Prime95 torture, blue screen almost immediately. I'm on high 40's right now (basically idle) so I'm wondering whether the fact that I have enabled the AMD Graphics Overdrive (using the ATI Catalyst Control Centre) is related. I think I'll just set this back to default until I get my voltages sorted. No problem passing MemTest btw. I'm giving you ALL the settings here as I'm not sure may be relevant...and the DRAM voltage should be 1.65 (per Kingston specs) but my BIOS only allows me to set it to 1.64 and then it fails MemTest.BIOS Version = FJLoad-Line Calibration = Disabled <---EnableCPU Vcore = 1.325VQPI/Vtt Voltage = 1.175VCPU PLL = 1.8VIOH Core = 1.3VDRAM Voltage = 1.5VCPU Clock Ratio = 21XIntel Turbo Boost Tech = DisabledCPU Cores Enabled = AllCPU Multi-Threading = EnabledC3/C6/C7 State Support = DisabledCPU Thermal Monitor = AutoCPU EIST Function = AutoBi-Directional PROCHOT = AutoQPI Clock Ratio = AutoQPI Link Speed = 7.2GHzUncore Clock Ratio = x16Uncore Frequency = 3200MHzBCLK Frequency = 200 <------ Back this down to 180-190.PCI Express Frequency (MHz) = AutoC.I.A.2 = DisabledCPU Clock Drive = 800mVPCI Express Clock Drive = 900mVExtreme Memory Profile = DisabledSystem Memory Multiplier = 8.0Memory Frequency (MHz) = 1066 1600Performance Enhance = StandardChannel Interleaving = 6 (Auto)Rank Interleaving = 4 (Auto)Channel A, B & C Timing Settings: CAS=9, tRCD=9, tRP=9, tRAS=27Channel A, B & C Turnaround Settings = Auto

Tom, if you're at 4.2GHz on a Hyper 212 with an i7 930, I'd say you're pushing the limit. I told you that last night. You're asking too much of that chip, let alone with that cooler.CPU Clock Ratio 21 X BCLK Frequency 200 = 4200MHZ. It was hard for me to reach 4.0GHz on my old i7 960 rig (higher clock ratio than your 930)! And I had a superior cooler to yours with a better ventilated case.It surprises me you're even getting the computer to boot with these settings!

Edited January 12, 201214 yr by ZachLW

Tom, if you're at 4.2GHz on a Hyper 212 with an i7 930, I'd say you're pushing the limit. I told you that last night. You're asking too much of that chip, let alone with that cooler.CPU Clock Ratio 21 X BCLK Frequency 200 = 4200MHZ. It was hard for me to reach 4.0GHz on my old i7 960 rig (higher clock ratio than your 930)! And I had a superior cooler to yours.

Yep, just replied to the other post, thanks for the heads up, appreciate it. Lots of aviation stuff around where we live btw, I may even take some lessons sometime since it's all so accessible and not too pricey. A Tiger Moth scenic tour perhaps - flying over our place all the time!

Yep, just replied to the other post, thanks for the heads up, appreciate it. Lots of aviation stuff around where we live btw, I may even take some lessons sometime since it's all so accessible and not too pricey. A Tiger Moth scenic tour perhaps - flying over our place all the time!

Caught it. Sorry I missed that. Just back the BCLK down a bit and it should be fine. Shoot for 3.9 GHz. ~186 BCLKI've got about 10 hours in a Moth at a local flying community. Most fun one can have with clothes on! Get in one while you can!

Edited January 12, 201214 yr by ZachLW

Caught it. Sorry I missed that. Just back the BCLK down a bit and it should be fine. Shoot for 3.9 GHz. ~186 BCLKI've got about 10 hours in a Moth at a local flying community. Most fun one can have with clothes on! Get in one while you can!

I'm going to do it http://www.tigermothjoyflights.com/ Heck you only live once! Now I'm going to share something with you...RAAF Point Cook is just up the road from us and is the first RAAF base in Australia. My mother's father (mum is just here visiting us from the UK) was the Commandant there from '53 to '55 so there is a personal connection of sorts. There's a really good museum there (free entry!) and they're restoring various old birds http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/ There's more...but this forum is probably not the best place to share personalfamily stuff....I'm still discovering things I never knew actually. Oh, I'll wind back the clock meantime. I mean the BCLK....damn, sorry.

Does anyone use any of the Gladiator PC's, more specifically this PC here. Just wondering how FSX and more importantly the NGX holds up? Any feedback would be great thanks in advance.

Hi CraigTake a peek at the latest issue of Computer Shopper. You will see that the Gladiator PC rates a Best Buy.

Hi CraigTake a peek at the latest issue of Computer Shopper. You will see that the Gladiator PC rates a Best Buy.

Thanks for that, yeah I'll go have a sneak peek and see what it's saying. Thanks