Friday May 25, 2012 12:46 AM AEST

And the beast roared...one last time

By Justin Robinson
14:33 Oct 19, 2010 | 23 Comments
Tags: And | the | beast | roared
And the beast roared...one last time
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Labs Update: Our beast has had a good run, but like all good things, it's time to put it to pasture...

What began as a dream (to build the most awe-inspiring over-the-top system possible), was fully realised in Issue 117 of Atomic magazine, and we ran it through its paces.

It took quite literally months to assemble enough components to flesh out our impressive monster system, where we first ran it on a humble block of foam, and finally had a chance to pack it into a compatible case in time for Atomic Unlocked Sydney.

Though it stretched its legs, growled and belched flames, and wiped the floor with most of the benchmarks we threw at it, every creature eventually has its day.

Such a shiny machine.
Such a shiny machine.

For the beast this came perhaps sooner than we had hoped, so in preparation for our mourning we've taken photos to reminisce, which you can see in this very article. As a refresher course, here's the specifications for the hardware that ran inside the beast:

Component Description Atomic Analysis
Processor Dual Intel Xeon X5670 @ 2.93GHz Two shit-hot hexa-core processors from Intel; the dual-socket version of Gulftown. Expect them to be overclocked as far as we can push them!
Motherboard EVGA SR2 The most insane motherboard on the face of the planet, fitting into its own case-breaking XL-ATX form factor, and handling all the tech we can throw!
Memory Corsair CMG6GX3MA2000C8 x 10
We've got ten 2GB DDR3 modules for a total of twenty gigabytes rated at 2000MHz with tight 8-8-8-24 timings. Expect huge bandwidth and flexibility.
Graphics EVGA GTX480 x 3
ASUS GTX480 x 1
Four of NVIDIA's top-end graphics processors, churning through a theoretical fucktonne of power and ripping through workloads.
Power Supply Antec TruePower Quattro 1200W x 2
We're hoping this power supply can handle the heat of a fully-loaded system - this truly is the ultimate stress test.
Storage OCZ Vertex 2 100GB x2
WD Velociraptor 600GB x2
Two of the fastest SSDs in RAID0 for the OS and fave games; two fast 600GB drives for the rest and storage. Aw yeah.
Heatsinks Noctua NH-U12DX-1366 The only serious air cooling for server boards, and we've made it double.
Cooling Fans Antec Tricool LED 120mm x4
Noctua NF-S12B 120mm x6
Four red LED fans for the heatsinks in a push-pull config, and plenty of creamy Noctuas for general system cooling duties - all are essential.
Disk Drive LG Super Blue Multi BH10 If you've gotta have the best of everything, why not throw in a Blu-Ray drive while you're at it?
Case Lian Li V2120 The only case compatible with the SR2 available in Australia.

As for what's next in the high-performance computing world? Well, we've caught wind of a potential system floating our way very soon, so you may not have to wait too long to get another hit of truly Maximum Power Computing.

For now though, just head into our gallery of photos, and leave a note for the beast below.

RIP, Atomic beast.

 
 
Aliens: Colonial Marines in depth; Z-77 Motherboard round-up; strategy gaming special; Home Server tutorial. PLUS MUCH MORE - ON SALE NOW!
23 Comments
nesquick
Oct 19, 2010 2:50 PM
whats wrong with it? are you just taking it apart for the sake of taking it apart?
TheFrunj
Oct 19, 2010 2:53 PM
Yeah, I do things like that all the time :P
Fabian2k
Oct 19, 2010 2:56 PM
AMEN!
UberPenguin
Oct 19, 2010 2:58 PM
Beast.... In awe of your performance, warmed by your heat output and stunned by your power bill.
Hawkeye
Oct 19, 2010 2:58 PM
Hey, parts have to go back eventually...
fredzfrog
Oct 19, 2010 3:35 PM
Rest in Pieces, beast.. :(
SceptreCore
Oct 19, 2010 3:39 PM
"Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.”

"Latest components... for a short time they are. Latest and greatest, always will there be . In time a new beast, arrive it shall. Then so much previous beast will you miss."
jdog
Oct 19, 2010 4:02 PM
everything needs to move on.....now we wait for comming of the 2nd beast......

RIP
jdog
Oct 19, 2010 4:03 PM
any chance you can bring it up to brisbane? for one last hoorah?
Hawkeye
Oct 19, 2010 4:12 PM
It's already in bits and part sent back :(

Only Sydney got to really see it, anyway. We couldn't get permission to travel with the thing south of the border!
nukejockey
Oct 19, 2010 4:57 PM
Siiiiiick.
GeekyTalon
Oct 19, 2010 5:16 PM
Hey wheres the next kit log coming in?
Hawkeye
Oct 19, 2010 5:19 PM
Funny story there... it's kind of on hiatus :)
RaRaDawg
Oct 19, 2010 10:01 PM
Can you keep the V2120 and take it for shopping at Coles? It has wheels! :D
I like it where the 2nd Power Supply was put, I lol'd. :D
Sparky
Oct 20, 2010 8:12 AM
Well Beast, have fun calculating the rate of decay of someone's nuclear arsenal.
n00bz0r
Oct 20, 2010 8:55 AM
What's the total figure on all that gear if you wanted to get it retail? I'm estimating about $20,000+
Hawkeye
Oct 20, 2010 10:22 AM
You don't have issue 117?

:P
Meowkitty
Oct 20, 2010 1:59 PM
I have Issue 117. but I have to keep 3 house bricks on it lest the pages open and the awesome inside cause doors to slam, books to fall off shelves and the lights to dim and brighten randomly (even when switched off).
TheFrunj
Oct 20, 2010 2:59 PM
^^^ :D
Tonsil Cheesecake
Oct 20, 2010 8:55 PM
what happens to the poor Devil now, burial, cremation.... [*plays 'Last Post']
Tonsil Cheesecake
Oct 20, 2010 10:51 PM
http://www.blackfive.net/main/images/taps.jpg
Jacko_XD
Oct 21, 2010 7:09 AM
RIP ='[
danin316
Oct 21, 2010 10:56 PM
RIP Beast there was only 1 that could surpass your power, brutality and size, although she is my wife so that dont count i guess lol LONG LIVE THE BEAST !
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Atomic Magazine

Issue: 137 | June, 2012

Atomic is a magazine aimed squarely at computer enthusiasts, gamers, and serious PC upgraders.

Every month we bring you the latest reviews of new technology and PC components, in depth features on everything from overclocking to console hacking, and gaming previews and interviews.
 
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