SD37P2 + 8800GTX test!!!

Sadly i'm typing this from my spare computer right now and not my shuttle
My shuttle SD37P2 recently was acting up and not booting to windows completely unless in safe mode. This started happening about last week sometime. As of right now the 8800GTX is in the shuttle, it fits.... barely, like.. as in barely with maybe 1-2 mm of clearance on the mobo powersupply to video card resistor. It was in an awkward spot so I couldn't get a good picture of it. The heatsink cover actually is up against the power supply. I couldn't get the back screws in to hold it down and tried to move it over... then realized some of the power supply cables were between the power supply and the video card, moved those out of the way, and it barely had enough room to move it over (the 2mm required) to get the back screw in. I got a picture of this on my camera... soon to be uploaded. The clearance between the heatsink and the northbridge heatsink is about a centimeter, possibly less, didn't really measure. But its enough room.

BTW... I got the black-board eVGA, not one of the newer green-board ones. And it has the correct 40C resistor in it.

So... back to the shuttle issue.
I'm doing a memory check on the shuttle right now, to see if it is possibly a memory issue using "Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool" in bios - since I also have Vista 32bit and 64bit installed on two other partitions. Once I get the damn thing booted to windows and the drivers installed I'll do a full test for everyone w/ the shuttle de-tuned to stock, and also overclocked.

One other note, right now I'm using the PCI-E 6pin splitter that came w/ the shuttle. The 8800GTX came with two - two molex-6pin adapters. I have an extension to my molex powered NEC dvd/cd burner w/ the splitter on it, so if need be, I can use the two molex connections to power the second PCI-E 6pin connector to have a better power supply to the 8800GTX.

Look forward to pictures and updates in the next few hours! W00t!

8800GTX in that case is pretty extreme I am curious on what the temps are when you are done.

These are all the pictures i've taken so far. Still running the anti-virus scan in safe-mode through windows. Unfortunately, that seagate hard drive can hold a lot of files... so scanning is trudging along.





.... The 8800GTX compared to the POS x600 that was temporarily in the shuttle (below)



.... Empty... begging to big crammed full of 8800GTX goodness (below)


.... The power supply that is going to hate me in a few hours (below)


.... Any bigger (litterally, by a millimeter almost in any direction) and this thing probably wouldn't fit (below)


.... This is up against the outside of the power supply, well... at least the little part that is holding the wires (below)


.... The shuttle 6pin splitter that hopefully should hold up to the GTX (below)


.... Clearance to the motherboard power connection - you can't see it, but there is about a millimeter clearance between it, and a resistor on the GTX (below)


.... And not much room on the inside either, probably the same, a millimeter or two from hitting something important (below)



HOPEFULLY the damn computer will work, and I'll be able to get that virus off of it. If not, i'll just reformat the computer and start new

Cool. Good luck with the virus, those things suck. I just reformat every time I get one, they aren't even worth scouring for.

Shuttle PSUs are little beasts. Shuttle ftw.

Alright everyone - after all is said and done... IT WORKS! Unfortunately, mishaps to happen - so everyone, say goodbye to my extension cord.


This is partially the reason why this is took a lot longer than it should.
FYI - Do not plug too many things into an extension cord... let alone a much longer and thinner extension cord than you really need.

... benched most of it last night - Stupid me, I didn't check for a newer version of 3dMark06 until I did these runs - but they should be the same with the newer 1.1.0.
Completely stock computer settings at 5-5-5-12 memory w/ stock video settings =


Stock video settings w/ OC'd e6600 to 320FSB @ 4-4-4-12 memory =


The last test consisted of overclocking everything. ALL fans on high - 320FSB, 4-4-4-12 timings @ 667mhz, 8800GTX @ 640/995 using RivaTuner2 RC16.2
And these are the results:
Old version of 3dMark06 ,
New 1.1.0 3dMark06
NOTHING changed. I didn't even reboot the computer after the patch. Unfortunately I have to upload them online, and don't get the little overview window with the 1.1.0 version now
I'm thinking about overclocking it using xpctools a little more to see what it maxes out at... seems like this thing just loves a higher clock on the cpu.

OVERCLOCKING NOTES - I am now using the regular 6-pin PCI-e connector and a double-molex to 6-pin PCI-e as the two power supplies to the video card. I thought this would be the difference in getting it to run @ 650/995, but to no avail, it seems to be the max limit, at least on the SD37P2 is around 640mhz core for the 8800GTX. I dropped the memory down to 995 as anything higher will produce missing red/blue/black polygons, I could have ran it at an even 1000, but took it down 5 more just for more stability.

Temperatures:
On the last test with all fans on high (case is on) the 8800GTX's readings were:
Idle - 49*c
Ambient Idle - 36*c
Load - 63*c
Ambient Load - 46*c

CPU
Idle - 32*c
Load - 44*c

Thank you for sharing this.

I just recently built a SD37P2 too. While I debated getting a 8800 GTX (or GTS) I worried that the size of the video card would block pretty much the only intake vent in the Shuttle's case. So I ended up with a X1950 XT but your post gives me hope that I'll be able to upgrade to a beefier video card someday without worry that the PSU would be insufficient.

FYI, I also bought a E6600 and was only able to overclock it to 320 mhz FSB (2.888 ghz) ... 321 or 322 mhz results in the system hanging at post with the Shuttle splash screen. I suspect it is the SATA crapping out. But still a pretty alright overclock, and I run it with the Smart Fan speed on... much quieter, although my temps are significantly higher than yours at full-load Orthos Blend (75C) and down to low 60's in singlethreaded applications (eg. games). But it works, and it is stable! Hell of a machine.

My condolences to your extension cord. Good thing that it apparently happened on a concrete floor and not your carpet or an expensive rug!

Shuttle sells the power supply that comes with that case as a requirement for the 8800GTX so it should power that card fine.

Jalidi, try raising the PCI-E bus frequency to get your OC higher.

Actually, I would drop it down to stock, with those temps. What are you using to measure?

To use the smart fan, you have to have the XPC Tools installed, Also, this is the only way to overclock the SD37P2 past 320fsb.

XPC tools is basically a tool to adjust the fans, voltage, and fsb through windows. I did a test after the previous ones with 340fsb - tried to do 350fsb, but it crashed a couple minutes into 3dMark06.
My new best score:


You can get XPC tools here: http://global.shuttle.com/XPCTools/overview.asp

Also, while you are there, make sure you have the latest bios.

Thank you for the link to XPC Tools, I hadn't installed it yet but it's already looking to be quite useful. Although with the kind of heat that the processor is already putting out, it's doubtful I'm going to push it any further than where I've finalized the overclock at.

Sleepeeg3: I use a couple of temperature monitor programs: http://jalidi.dyndns.org/orthosstable.jpg

I'll have to update the bios, I just noticed that I'm a few months behind the latest version.

Nice system, Omaharacer! Now go play some games.

How many hard drives are you running in your case? I have an sn26p and i'm planning on replacing the power supply with the one in your system, but i'm running 3 hard drives and a swiftech micro watercooling system. I'm not quite sure the ps would be up to the task.