Mary Shelley's Frankenbox

[Maxwell]

And before I go further, yes, joker, you may interpret that in a dirty manner...

Ok - I have dubbed this new project "Frankenbox" because I have gotten parts from at least four different people. As this moves forward, I'll post updates. First, though, is the prequel.

Episode 0: Maxwell's Experimental Build
A long time ago (a year, about) in a living room far, far away (at least 6 steps), and intrepid Maxwell bought a cheap-ass kit to build a computer. It was his first build, and he learned much from it. The time has come, though, to perform some upgrades to that box in preparation for the Frankenbox.

Our very own MMer extraordinaire, zombie67, has been kind enough to donate two PSUs to the Frankenbox. Because they are good enough, the larger is going to be put into the "Experimental" box to power a 570, while the 240 is pulled out in possible preparation for the Frankenbox.

We now join our hero, Maxwell, on his quest...:cool:%%-

[YoDude9999]

So Frank is in Mary's box and a zombie gave you a Jokers Mom Power Supply, sweet!

Yo-

[Maxwell]

Continuation of Episode 0: Harvesting Organs

A couple hours later, having destroyed some parts and changed some others, I have the Silver Hammer back to full-ish strength and the "Experimental" box to new heights.

The Before of the "Experimental" box:
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa369/mborneman82/2011-05-24234848.jpg

What did I do? I murdered the damn thing. Swapped the 450W PSU for an 1000W PSU (thanks, zombie67). Moved the HDD down to the bottom. Removed the optical drive. Cried at the cable management. Took out the GT240. Put in the GTX570. Bent the hell (literally destroying) the hard drive bay to create room for the 570. And since the screws don't want to fit, it's laying on its side so the 570 doesn't hurt the PCIe slot.
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa369/mborneman82/2011-05-25005017.jpg

Only two shipments away from Frankenbox...

[Maxwell]

Frankenbox case options: I need a case. ATX form factor.

Unless someone has a mid-tower case with a couple fans in it, I need to buy a case. I'm leaning towards the HAF 932 (to future proof for future builds), unless someone can convince me to buy a cheaper better case. Thoughts?

[Duke of Buckingham]

http://www.funfluster.com/images/images-funny-pictures-computer-1.jpg

[Duke of Buckingham]

Did you call for Frankenbox.

http://www.funny-potato.com/images/computers/box.jpg

[Bryan]

I am really learning stuff from this build. I didn't know they made graphics cards that only took 1 slot :) I thought they were all double wides!

[Maxwell]

I am really learning stuff from this build. I didn't know they made graphics cards that only took 1 slot :) I thought they were all double wides!
I'm going to assume you're mocking me... >:)

Though if you want a nice single slot card, I'm sure you can fit eight of them (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130601) in this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130595) board. :-bd:cool:

[Bryan]

Actually I was being a smart a$$ but that is a really cool link (literally). ;)

[Maxwell]

Actually I was being a smart a$$ but that is a really cool link (literally). ;)
Good - my smart a$$ font detector is functioning properly!:cool:

[Fire$torm]

Frankenbox case options: I need a case. ATX form factor.

Unless someone has a mid-tower case with a couple fans in it, I need to buy a case. I'm leaning towards the HAF 932 (to future proof for future builds), unless someone can convince me to buy a cheaper better case. Thoughts?

The HAF-X would be a better choice for "Future Proofing"

[Maxwell]

The HAF-X would be a better choice for "Future Proofing"
I was wondering if anyone was going to say that... I started having the same thought today.

[Mike029]

I was wondering if anyone was going to say that... I started having the same thought today.

I also regret not getting the X. I was choosing between the 932 and the Azza Hurrican 2000. I went with the Azza because it was cheaper than the X or the 932 The HAF X beats both of them hands down. I've seen it as cheap as $150.00 at Micro center and they match NewEgg/Tigerdirect prices.

[Fire$torm]

I also regret not getting the X. I was choosing between the 932 and the Azza Hurrican 2000. I went with the Azza because it was cheaper than the X or the 932 The HAF X beats both of them hands down. I've seen it as cheap as $150.00 at Micro center and they match NewEgg/Tigerdirect prices.

Sweet!!! When did Micro Center start doing that?
This is something I will need to keep in mind.

[Mike029]

Sweet!!! When did Micro Center start doing that?
This is something I will need to keep in mind.

I noticed it a few months back. I walked into the store with their flyer in hand and saw a stack of HAF X's on the floor with a final price sign of $149.00. These were new in box not referbs or open box items. I was sooo tempted. But my wife was there and I thought better of it. :-o No ad in the flyer or the paper about the sale. Very interesting.

[Maxwell]

Since I'm lazy and cheap, it's taken me this long to get back to this. But I finally ordered the case today. HAF-X. Boo-Yah!

Here's what I have:
Case: Maxwell
Mobo: c303a
CPU: Mumps
RAM: Mumps
PSU: zombie67
Cooler: Fire$torm
HDD: rgathright
GPU: (not sure what I'm going to put in there)

Six people have contributed to this build, and I only got one new part. Awesome work, team! As soon as the case arrives, I'll put pics up.

[Fire$torm]

Sweet! Can't wait to see the result.

BTW, I found some mod ideas for Frankenbox........

From the Steampunk website

Steampunk Frankenstein Computer (page link (http://hackedgadgets.com/2009/03/10/steampunk-frankenstein-computer/))
http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/2/dana_mattocks_steampunk_frankenstein_computer_12.j pg

Steampunk Mouse Hack (page link (http://hackedgadgets.com/2011/03/26/steampunk-mouse-hack/))
http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/steampunk-mouse-hack_2-500x348.jpg

Steampunk Computer Mouse (page link (http://hackedgadgets.com/2010/02/15/steampunk-computer-mouse/))
http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/steampunk_computer_mouse_3.jpg

And for the heck of it take a gander at these. (http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/top-20-most-creatively-designed-pc-case-mods/)

[c303a]

About the only thing missing was a telegraph key to send the results back.;););)

[Maxwell]

Ok. All my stuff arrived today. But I need to do some rethinking.

My 2x5970 setup is in my main computer (Silver Hammer) I use for surfing, working, playing, etc. It's running Moo. But because of how Moo is coded, I can lose several hundred thousand credits if I spend significant amounts of time watching YouTube videos, pr0n, random hilarity that comes across my StumbleUpon, etc. I'm thinking credits would be best served by moving these cards...

I now have four (potential) boxes: 1. Silver Hammer. 2 Experimental Box. 3 Frankenbox. 4 zombiebox.

The HAF-X arrived today for Frankenbox. However, I think that's not going to be the most effective way to run my setup here. So here's what I'm thinking (I'm typing it out to organize my thoughts, and for y'all to tell me if I'm doing something stupid):

1. Remove the guts from zombiebox (Q6600, two PCIe slots, triple spaced) and put them in the HAF-X
2. Take the PSU and the 2x5970s from the Silver Hammer and put them in the HAF-X and put it in the living room where it can live plugged into the TV.
3. Take the 295 (currently in zombiebox) and the 240 (sitting idle) and put them in the Silver Hammer along with the PSU from zombiebox.
4. Take the parts from Frankbox and put them into the zombiebox case, along with the idle 9500GT and (potentially) the 9800 that may or may not be broken.
5. Leave experimental box alone (570), save for the fact that I'd move it to the back bedroom.

Does this sound reasonable? Or am I doing something stupid?

[Fire$torm]

It all sounds good except for connecting the Exp. Box to the TV. Not that it wouldn't work, but having a crunching video card to stream video where it might have to transcode on the fly may tank the whole system. Sorta like trying to pore molasses from an aluminum can at 1am while in Antarctica on the coldest night of the year.........

[Maxwell]

It all sounds good except for connecting the Exp. Box to the TV. Not that it wouldn't work, but having a crunching video card to stream video where it might have to transcode on the fly may tank the whole system. Sorta like trying to pore molasses from an aluminum can at 1am while in Antarctica on the coldest night of the year.........
Hah! I was unclear. By "attach it to the TV" I mean "use the TV like a monitor on a dedicated cruncher and only look at the computer if I need to mess with something"

[zombie67]

Hah! I was unclear. By "attach it to the TV" I mean "use the TV like a monitor on a dedicated cruncher and only look at the computer if I need to mess with something"

That's what VNC is for.