Xross

What specifically are you concerned about? It looks to me like a stock 2.4Ghz processor (Q6600 maybe??) with a 1066 Mhz FSB and DDR2-800 RAM. The 3 volt on the RAM reported by nMonitor is WAY high but that s/w isn't much good so I'd check it with something else.....Everest like Mutililater recommended is excellent. Keep in mind I've got my rig so twisted around it doesn't know which end is up....but post the specifics and someone will help you out I'm sure. Good luck...

Earth 458 Million Years Ago

I use the 3M gel type mouse pads for both of my meeces (mX518/G9) and guarantee I wouldn't use them if they weren't very comfortable. Give 'em a try .......(as always search for best price) 3M Mouse Pads I had just read Viiper's review of the G9 before I went into the local PC shop. The mX518 has now been relegated to the back up machine!! Great mouse (better with the 3M pad) Peace, X-Wind

Thanks Mutilater, That's exactly the info I was looking for and I appreciate you taking the time to detail it for me. Heading out to pick up the Raptor this morning........... Cheers, X-Wind

I currently have the OS (WinXP Pro-32) installed on a 500 MB HDD that also holds programs/data (I know...foolish). My question is how can I 'move' the OS to a new Raptor without losing any settings while maintaining the integrity of the code that will remain on the existing drive. I'm trying to avoid a completely new install of the OS onto the Raptor. My second question regards cooling the drives. My CM830 case is setup for 4 HDDs and with the existing two installed there is plenty of room between them for adequate airflow. When I add the new Raptor (and maybe second on for Vista) the HDD bay will be full and cooling/airflow significantly compromised. I've seen HDD cooler fans that appear to mount onto the drive but I'm not convinced there will be enough room in the bay for 4 HDDs plus coolers for each. If anyone has some ideas on how best to resolve this situation I'd appreciate hearing from you. Thanks in advance, X-Wind

Durka, If you want to try the 9500 I'll be glad to send it to you once I find the installation tool for it. I have the unit and the backing/mounting plates plus the mounting strap/screws. Here's a link showing the dimensions and clearance requirements for the 9500 Since Thanksgiving is on Thursday it will be next week before I can send it off to you unless it's a crisis. If it is I'll do all I can to get it out by week's end. Mutilater has some very good points so just let me know how you want to proceed. The price of the 9500 will be a donation to SPARTA (and maybe a statue bearing the likeness of a Spartan Queen). If it doesn't work out for you then just send it back (...of course the statue is non-refundable ;-) I'll wait to hear from you or better yet catch you on TS. Cheers, X-Wind ps: Send a PM with your Ship To' information if you decide you want to try this cooler.

Both are fairly good size coolers (the Gemini holds 2 120mm fans) and actually can slide on rails a bit to get airflow onto your RAM. The Eclipse uses a duct to direct air onto the the RAM or voltage regulators depending on how it's installed. And yes there is liquid in all heat pipes as Zeno described (supposed to be anyway). Here's an extract from a page which explains the principle: "Heat pipes, which are small, sealed, and curved copper tubes, offer perhaps the most effective way to increase the thermal performance of a conventional heatsink at a reasonable price. They are self-contained, phase-change cooling devices that take advantage of changes in heat to convert a liquid ? called the ?working liquid? ? into vapor and then back again. When a liquid changes phase to a vapor, the vapor absorbs heat, is transported away from the heat source, and then releases heat when it condenses back into liquid. The heat released is dissipated and the cycle repeats. The easiest way to explain heat pipes is to break them into three sections, the evaporator section, the adiabatic section, and the condenser section: In the evaporator section, the working fluid is heated to its boiling point and converted into a vapor that travels along the adiabatic section and on to the condenser section Because the vapor holds almost all the heat while moving from one end of the pipe to another, the adiabatic section is named for a process in which little heat is gained or lost In the condenser section the vapor is condensed back into liquid form, the heatsink dissipates the released latent heat, and the capillary wicking surface returns the working fluid back to the evaporator section" If you decide to go this route we'll need to take some measurements to verify the fit. If you're not really pushing that processor then the Zalman 9500/9700 will help you considerably over the stock HSF. In all honesty the two CoolerMasters are probably overkill. Let me know what you think. Cheers, X-Wind

Durka, I'm not sure exactly what you're after but I've got a CoolerMaster Gemini II and a CoolerMaster Eclipse that are brand new in the box and never installed. They wouldn't fit in my rig due to the size of the RAM modules I'm using. CoolerMaster Gemini II Review CoolerMaster Eclipse Review I also have a Zalman 9500 that was installed for a couple months but was replaced with a 9700. I would need to check to make sure I have all of the piece parts on that one. If you're interested let me know and we can work something out. Cheers, X-Wind

Durka what are you using as a heat sink/fan (HSF) on your processor now?

These competitions are getting more difficult all the time.... How can these not make the list