Construct Full Core 2 Quad Q9650 Retro Rig Build
Construct Full Core 2 Quad Q9650 Retro Rig Build
I have been driving these components daily for years before passing them on to a family member who could no longer play the newest titles. Now this person has a completely updated modern system, and these parts are once again with me. I chose to organize them and put them together into something visually appealing and enjoyable to own. To date, I've marked it with 3DMark, tested some old games, and enjoyed music through its classic Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro. Presently, most of the time it remains on and actively runs the BOINC volunteer computing program. The projects involved are einstein@home, milkyway@home, and climateprediction.net.
https://imgur.com/d5wxOJB
View: https://imgur.com/d5wxOJB
https://imgur.com/o9C1VN4
View: https://imgur.com/7j8xIBR
Current setup includes a Core 2 Quad Q9650, Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo, Asrock G41-C GS 2.0 mATX, G.Skill 8GB DDR3 1333, EVGA GeForce GTX 980 ti SC, and Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro. It runs Western Digital Blue 1TB SATA SSD, Corsair CX 650M, 8x bequiet! 120mm Shadow Wings 2 fans, a Zalman 10-port PWM fan hub, Montech Heritage mATX case.
https://imgur.com/bd0lcqb
View: https://imgur.com/bd0lcqb
https://imgur.com/p7eOErK
The setup is mounted on a desk I personally designed to fit my specific height and reach. Both the computer and the main workstation are connected to a LG UltraGear 34" 21:9 Curved 3440x1440 monitor. My mouse, keyboard, and speakers are linked via a Level One 4-port KM switch, allowing seamless switching between devices with a single button press.
https://imgur.com/NVYI8au
And for those curious, the answer is clear—yes, it works.
https://imgur.com/wgDq9AF
Great build! I still have my Q9550+Asus Rampage Extreme X48 but kept it on a shelf just for nostalgia. I miss that time when Creative soundcards dominated everything.
Which Heritage version did you choose—Standard or Pro?
Also, what other case were you considering before settling on the Heritage chassis?
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Thanks! I chose the standard Heritage since I didn't want any extra fans. I was also thinking about the Lian Li A3 mATX with its wooden front panel—it really resembles a mATX Fractal North. In the end, I went for leather instead of wood, even though it was a challenging choice!