Realizing my childhood dream [LGA775 / Nvidia SLI]

[Dinnercore]

Hi there. I started working with some older GPUs and had so much fun reliving all the memories that came with it, that I decided why not realize a childhood dream system of mine.

[EDIT: The build part of this project is complete, currently busy with finding stable OC settings. You can find a component list and pictures of the system at the end of this post!]

So I started with a mainboard I found in classified ads and began planning out what I want to get in there. So far I only have the case and the board.

XFX nForce 780i

Silverstone Temjin TJ10 WNV

I plan to use liquid cooling with my external 'Mo-Cu-Wa-Lo' ™:

Since the pump, res and rad are all external I can just route tubing to the tubing ports on the back of the case and use quick release fittings to connect it.

Where possible and plausible I will try to stick with parts that are from ~2008. I´m not sure yet on the GPUs that will run in there, I´ll see about that when I calculate the budget for the PSU...


EDIT: Photos of the finished build:


The parts:

Mainboard: XFX 780i SLI
CPU: Xeon X5470
GPUs: 2x GTX 295 for quad-SLI
RAM: 4 x 2GB DDR2 (G.Skill 1200MHz CL 5-5-5-15 + Geil 800 MHz CL 4-4-4-12)
Cooling: Single-loop watercooling with a Mo-Ra3 radiator for CPU + GPUs
PSU: EVGA Supernova 1600W T2
Case: Silverstone Temjin-Series TJ-10 Nvidia edition

 

[coonbro]

when you go cpu shopping keep this in mind as well

https://www.delidded.com/lga-771-to-775-adapter/

everything should still be easy to find and get like off ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-LGA-771-...th-2-Intel-Xeon-Inside-stickers-/231293020634

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=LGA+771+&_sacat=0

of course all ways check your boards compatibility for the mod / bios/ microcodes for supporting xeon

maybe a good solution in cpu choices

 

[Durvelle27]

If you decide to do above I have some Quad Core Xeons and a EVGA GTX 260 that can be SLI’d

 

[coonbro]

one more thing is memory

a lot of todays memory may not work in that board better do some good homework on what still available that will work in a 775 / yours - lot of guys find this out the hard way should be plenty of posts on it like here in this one for a example

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3032790/lga-775-motherboards-memory.html#17848493

775 if funny to build / upgrade now a days

pretty bad when these guys don't list you board there pretty good for older stuff memory still in stock / sale when the rest don't . maybe the xfx 790i stuff may work


http://www.crucial.com/SearchDispla...showResultsPage=true&searchSource=Q&pageView=

 

[agent_x007]

Unless you want to put a 4GB DDR2 stuff in there (which is usually quite expensive for Intel/nvidia compatibility), I say, there can't be a DDR2 memory that won't work in LGA 775 (if you update BIOS to latest version).

 

[coonbro]

maybe I just wanted to point that out .i don't know anything much on a xfx board or its support .

unless he got the working memory in his deal along with that board it could come down to you buy, you try ,and hope it don't make you cry .

you got to know your dealing with obsolete stuff and memory manufactures aint getting the same ic densities or the ones they only want to deal with is for the later maybe better supported boards that will take them .

the last ones I got that did work aint even sold anymore when there stocks ran out it was a done deal and a goner out side of crucial memory in house ordering that i'll assume wile supplies last with them

heck when I looked up that board I don't recall xfx coming up in a result for a support page to even get support like a bios ? this kinda build is a near full at your own risk deal. its a shame cause it can be a fun side project for a legacy build

 

[Dinnercore]

Thank you all for the good advice.

when you go cpu shopping keep this in mind as well

https://www.delidded.com/lga-771-to-775-adapter/

Yeah I know about this mod and was thinking to use it. I can get a pretty tough Xeon for around 40€ while the QX CPUs or even a Q9650 is more expensive.

If you decide to do above I have some Quad Core Xeons and a EVGA GTX 260 that can be SLI’d

Thanks for the offer, if shipping to Germany wouldn´t be so expensive maybe. But the way it is I think I´ll be cheaper buying local. Besides, I have a waterblock ready for a GTX 280. Don´t think it will fit a 260.

a lot of todays memory may not work in that board better do some good homework on what still available that will work in a 775 / yours - lot of guys find this out the hard way

That´s why I don´t buy new or modern memory. I´m hunting used parts currently. And my mainboard compatibility list and the manual explicitly mention what should technically work. 8GB is the total maximum it supports, so 4 x 2 GB is what I´m trying to find. I hope to get something with atleast 800 4-4-4 or 1000 5-5-5. My board supports up to 1200, but says it would have to be the SLI-Ready memory (a strange marketing stunt back in the day with Crossfire and SLI-Ready memory that are just XMP-Profiles...).

Unless you want to put a 4GB DDR2 stuff in there (which is usually quite expensive for Intel/nvidia compatibility), I say, there can't be a DDR2 memory that won't work in LGA 775 (if you update BIOS to latest version).

Nah, I already know that will not work. Would have been cool to have 16GB DDR2 system, but no game that I would play on GTX 280s will ever need that. 8GB is still plenty for Windows 7.

I´m a bit worried about ordering 4 x 2 GB, because XFX only tested up to 4GB and claimed that 2GB modules have to be used in specific slots, so maybe the other slots are not capable of 2GB... However if that is true, why do they say the board supports 8GB?

As for bios, I can´t check the version yet, but in case I brick it I can still buy a new chip that will be flashed with the version I want for 10€ on ebay.

I´m trying to make up my mind about the PSU I put in there. This will be a new part, because getting a PSU from 2008 is a bit ridiculous. Considering my tests with a modern PC and different GPUs where I saw 300W+ with Furmark, so no real CPU load, I think 3-way-SLI could get me over 1000W fast. I need some quality part for this. Really like the 1600W Supernova from EVGA I have in my threadripper 4 work build, but that thing is a bit to expensive I´m afraid.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I'll speak to a friend who bought my old Q9550. I remember giving him ALL my old ddr2 OCZ reaper 8500 ram.

I think he sold the machine on again to a friend and I don't know what happened to it after that sort of thing no promises that anything will be in good condition but I'll ask for you

 

[Dinnercore]

I'll speak to a friend who bought my old Q9550. I remember giving him ALL my old ddr2 OCZ reaper 8500 ram.

I think he sold the machine on again to a friend and I don't know what happened to it after that sort of thing no promises that anything will be in good condition but I'll ask for you

Thank you very much, regardless of the result!

I really like the look of those OCZ heatsinks they had on the reaper series.

 

[agent_x007]

I use A-Data red stuff (800MHz CL4), as my go to 8GB RAM (4x 2GB).
OCZ ones can be a bit of a pain when you try to use all RAM slots (on some MBs, slots are simply too close to each other for 4 DIMMs to fit at the same time).

 

[coonbro]

sounds like a plan.. thing is that 775 today like a same time period AMD don't have the issues as the intel .. seems just in the 775 line ..

I like a nice legacy build . slap some XP and Linux on it and play around . I got a msi k7n2gm2 with a AthlonXP 1800+ and agpx8 with a msi gt6600

''´m a bit worried about ordering 4 x 2 GB, because XFX only tested up to 4GB and claimed that 2GB modules have to be used in specific slots, so maybe the other slots are not capable of 2GB... However if that is true, why do they say the board supports 8GB? ''

pages 21 -22 I don't see that ?

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/703982/Xfx-Nforce-780i-3-Way-Sli.html?page=21#manual

maybe tested a single stick

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Description=4GB ddr2 ram&Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007611 600006067

seems as long as you got one slot occupied and don't exceed the 8gb limit in one or total of 4 sticks should be fine so 4x2gb should work

 

[Dinnercore]

I use A-Data red stuff (800MHz CL4), as my go to 8GB RAM (4x 2GB).
OCZ ones can be a bit of a pain when you try to use all RAM slots (on some MBs, slots are simply too close to each other for 4 DIMMs to fit at the same time).

Good point you mention there, could be an issue. Well I´ll have to try tho, if not I´ll shave something off of that cooler.

sounds like a plan.. thing is that 775 today like a same time period AMD don't have the issues as the intel .. seems just in the 775 line ..

I like a nice legacy build . slap some XP and Linux on it and play around . I got a msi k7n2gm2 with a AthlonXP 1800+ and agpx8 with a msi gt6600

''´m a bit worried about ordering 4 x 2 GB, because XFX only tested up to 4GB and claimed that 2GB modules have to be used in specific slots, so maybe the other slots are not capable of 2GB... However if that is true, why do they say the board supports 8GB? ''

pages 21 -22 I don't see that ?

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/703982/Xfx-Nforce-780i-3-Way-Sli.html?page=21#manual

maybe tested a single stick

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Description=4GB ddr2 ram&Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007611 600006067

seems as long as you got one slot occupied and don't exceed the 8gb limit in one or total of 4 sticks should be fine so 4x2gb should work

I had this list: https://www.nvidia.com/content/nforce700i/nForce_Intel_Memory_List.pdf
And under ddr2 for the 780i chipset it always says "max 2 modules supported". That was what had me worried.

But I will test it anyway. If only 2 slots work, then I still have 4GB working and I can fiddle with it later. It´s only luxus at that point to have 8GB.

 

[coonbro]

Good point you mention there, could be an issue. Well I´ll have to try tho, if not I´ll shave something off of that cooler.




I had this list: https://www.nvidia.com/content/nforce700i/nForce_Intel_Memory_List.pdf
And under ddr2 for the 780i chipset it always says "max 2 modules supported". That was what had me worried.

But I will test it anyway. If only 2 slots work, then I still have 4GB working and I can fiddle with it later. It´s only luxus at that point to have 8GB.

ya, but xfx may of improved there bios over NVidia ? like how a NVidia aftermarket card like from evga say a classy is far improved over the NVidia reference evga tweaked there bios

that's just something under try and see what works out and don't -shrug shoulders move on

I don't know look up things as this and see whats been said

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/273175-30-nforce-780i-question

kinda funny on that
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/267907-30-nvidia-nforce-780i-board

seems the evga is the same board under there brand ? , but it also says

System memory support:


Supports dual channel DDR2 533/667/800, and up to 1200 MHz SLI-Ready


Memory. Supports up to 8 GBs DDR2 memory.


I cant find there test sheet on any of that ?

manual says the same as far as population of the slots

https://www.evga.com/support/manuals/files/132-CK-NF78.pdf

 

[agent_x007]

I never look at QVL : LINK (Vantage score : LINK)
Just FYI : 4x4GB is not possible on official BIOS for ^that board (It takes 2x4GB) :/

Also, you may not find a QVL with 2x2GB because those QVLs are simply too old to include that kind of configuration (when QVL was made, those capacity kits weren't available yet).

 

[coonbro]

I never look at QVL : LINK
Just FYI : 4x4GB is not possible on official BIOS for ^that board :/

Memory. Supports up to 8 GBs DDR2 memory. should be the first clue to that? if I said 4x4 it was by accident / typo and I'm sorry

 

[agent_x007]

No. I meant it as "does support 16GB, IF you mod EVGA/XFX BIOS onto it"
Example thread : LINK. I DID NOT tested this myself.
Not sure if 780i can support it "out-of-the-box" as well...

 

[Dinnercore]

I never look at QVL : LINK (Vantage score : LINK)
Just FYI : 4x4GB is not possible on official BIOS for ^that board (It takes 2x4GB) :/

Also, you may not find a QVL with 2x2GB because those QVLs are simply too old to include that kind of configuration (when QVL was made, those capacity kits weren't available yet).

If only I could find waterblocks for 295s... I have one of those on air and getting a second one would be easy, but for overclocking those I need water.

 

[agent_x007]

Getting those to work is a pain, becase of this - I don't recommend doing QuadSLI for anything other benchmarking. Stick to regular SLI, or buy something newer.
NV cards from 2007-2009 era like to cook themselves to artifacting (and then require "baking adventures", to not fall apart... works for some time).
Consider getting something newer with SLI support.
My Striker II Ex. works with GTX 1080 no problem : LINK (valid : LINK).

 

[Dinnercore]

Getting those to work is a pain, becase of this - I don't recommend doing QuadSLI for anything other benchmarking. Stick to regular SLI, or buy something newer.
NV cards from 2007-2009 era like to cook themselves to artefacting (and then require baking adventures to not fall apart for some time). Consider getting something newer with SLI support.
My Striker II Ex. works with GTX 1080 no problem : LINK (valid : LINK).

No I want my childhood dream pc, and that involves the GPUs from that era being used in real work conditions. I will tame the cards if I have to. Gave my current 295 a refresh, see this thread. Compared to other cards, that 68°C is not to bad for air cooling a system that eats 300+ W.
And with water it should be better. Any card can degrade over time or cook a solder joint. Depends more on how much it was used and how it was used before I got it. It´s a bit like a lottery. And I had my share of experience with the wonky SLI-Support from that time. You need very specific driver versions. And it never was a perfect solution I know, but it is exactly what I want.

 

[agent_x007]

I see... Well, if you that sure about it (and know about the up hill battle ahead) - go for it

But can you a least NOT get a 10Y old PSU though ?
It would be a shame if PSU died and took something with it

 

[RealNeil]

Too bad you're so far away from me. I have four GEIL DDR2-800 2GB sticks here. (PC2-6400)

 

[Caring1]

Too bad you're so far away from me. I have four GEIL DDR2-800 2GB sticks here. (PC2-6400)

Same here, I have a couple of sticks in storage, too good to throw away.

 

[AlwaysHope]

This semiconductor industry is...... amazing. How can 2 big vendors ever get together & create a motherboard like the one OP has demonstrated, especially in light of legal squabbles in 2008 & 2010?

@20:17

& this....
Intel V Nvidia, the tech behind the legal case - 2010:

https://www.cnet.com/news/intel-vs-nvidia-the-tech-behind-the-legal-case/

 

[hat]

Well, XFX "makes/made" a bunch of stuff... graphics cards, motherboards, power supplies and more. They simply used one of nVidia's chipsets (which were not uncommon) on a 775 board "they" (more likely Foxconn or something make them to their specs) made.

 

[coonbro]

back then I liked NVidia chipset boards my old NVidia 590 sli was a good solid board and this older nforce 2 still going well today . but back then I built nothing but AMD and they did not have there own chipsets as they do now , so ?? ypu my buddy had a sis chipset board that worked well .

NVidia dropped out of the chipset business and AMD and Intel were left to develop there own in the end from that . amd better boards in my opinion were the ones with NVidia chipsets and there first amd brand chipsets did not impress me at all [still don't today ]