New Enix system, putchase mistakes, etc.

One day ago I received a new Enix system; Here's the as purchased specs:

System Configuration:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - Black OPS Enix Edition
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz (Unlocked CPU for Extreme Overclocking) (Quad Core) <b></b>
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67-M PRO (Intel P67 Chipset) (New & Improved B3 Revision Without SATA 3G Issue) <b></b>
System Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested) <b></b>
Power Supply: 800W Corsair GS (Dual SLI Compatible)
Expansion Bay: Hard Drive Hot Swap Bay (EZ-Rack) <b></b>
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (120GB Solid State (By: Corsair) (Model: Force GT Series CSSD-F120GBGT-BK) (SATA 6Gbps) <b></b>
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) (Slim Slot Loading Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti 1GB (Includes PhysX Technology) (EVGA Edition) <b></b>
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 2: Asetek Liquid CPU Cooler (120mm Radiator) (Great Value) <b></b>
H20 Tube Color: - Not Applicable, I do not have a FrostChill or Sub-Zero LCS Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Noise Reduction: - No Thanks
CPU Boost: FREE: Overclock the processor between 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz
Graphics Boost: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Memory Boost: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
OS Boost: FREE: Yes, Disable and tweak all of the non-crucial services on the operating system <b></b>
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Recovery Tools: Windows Recovery Toolkit (Bundled with Windows 7 CD)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Pre-Install Game: - No Thanks
Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks


First here's the BIG mistakes I made in configuration.

1. The power supply. This system is so tight on space, which is why I wanted it, it screams out for a modular power system as my box is filled with power cables that I will never use, simply no place to put all the possible drives, etc. that this power supply provides cables for.

DS should not offer this power supply with this case, ONLY modular systems make sense for this case, I should have research this more. don't make my mistake, get a modular power supply if you order a Enix system.

2. I did not tell DS what I planned to add to the system as soon as I got it. I ordered it bare bones for drives as I planned(and am still working on it - more later) a RAID 0 swap set from either HDD or SSDs. So, DS put the single SSD in the order in a full 3.5 inch slot and did not use the Silver Stone target slot for 2.5 inch drives. They also connected the SSD to one of the two grey sata 3 ports instead of the onboard Marvell port. By my lack of understanding and communication this means I had to move the SSD to the only slot to max out the internal drive slots loaded and since I want to use RAID 0 for swaps, move the SSD connection to the Marvel onboard connector. This required a visit to the local computer store to get a sata 3 cable as only two were supplied which is I'm sure a ASUS standard.

So, these are my two big mistakes, not quite enough research on the case (relying on DS to do the only smart thing in this case :) ) and not communicated what was the planned ultimate configuration once it got to me.

A bit more backstory. I'm using this system for image editing period. No gaming, that's why the graphics adapter is so reduced. So far I've found DS to be good and a bit lacking.

The Good;

they shipped before their estimate, and noted (perhaps just a bit too much - two different progress stages within 3 minutes) - overkill.
     
They noted a double component I ordered and reduced the invoice when it as removed - integrity.

The product arrived in very good shape, with all the component added options from original vendors with DVD's, manual, etc. - complete.

The Bad;

I just can't stress enough how wrong a non modular power supply is for the Silver Stone F103 enclosure. It simply should not be an option, certainly NOT the default. BIG mistake, margin over quality and care of the customer will never win over the long term. DS is the expert, I'm simply a customer looking to them to make the right decision. In this case, they let me down.

Lack of questions from DS and lack of my communication. This is a tough one. If you order a product on the internet and the vendor calls you to discuss you'r probably dealing with a "crooklind" electronic dealer where you tried to purchased a deal just too good to be true and it is. :) And now it's out of stock and they need to add a 1 gigabyte memory card for $200, etc.

By placing the SSD in one of the 3.5 inch slots on a regular system is no big deal, but in a Enix, it is. It's also much easier to do given all the power cables crammed into the limited space. And why it was connected to the only on board RAID possible connections is also questionable.

And just a bit of polish. the windows and DS serial numbers should NOT be placed on the side of the tower. The Enix (Silver Stone F103) system is a beautiful art object every bit as drop dead wonderful as any MAC, it should NOT be interrupted by some need ever once in a few years labels. At least add them to the back, or even better yet just stick them on the inside of the same panel.


OK, now on to some current issues.

I've added two WD Black 1TB drives for swap. Used the standard "control-I" option to set them as a RAID 0 set and then I get nothing but blue screen. Why?

These drives were reset to ACHI drives, partitioned and they both work fine. Any ideas as to why the RAID 0 set fails, they are both attached to the grey sata 3 connectors.

I moved the SSD to the onboard Marvell controller and by default it was set to IDE mode. I changed this to ACHI and then I spent the next couple of hours "repairing" Windows. After numerous Windows Repair restart/cold reboots, even having to use the original Windows 7 CD I'm back to a relatively stable system. But the SSD is still set to IDE - whats up with that? Does the onboard Marvell controller support ACHI ?

A bit more backstory. I'm using this system for image editing period. No gaming, that's why the graphics adapter is so reduced. So far I've found DS to be good and a bit lacking.

And I've called DS, talked to a tech support "filter" person who told me I was a VIP customer and should expect a call back soon, that was about a day and a half ago.

Keeping the system, but not really impressed.

Cheers,

Robert

Thanks for the input, but I'm not looking for a return.

Let's face it, every high perforamce Windows system has birth-thing pains.I've purchased well over 30 computers and custom built five of them over too many years. I know there are almost always problems in a OC system at the start and any changes can create a reunion with you're blue screen friend.

The Enix box is a work of art, and works for me as a "laptop." Yea, perhaps hard to understand for 99% of users, but I'm a mobile person with high power needs. The small form dimensions with OC power and killer looks sold me. I'm looking for a suitable hard cover travel case with wheels :)

On upgrading. DIY, this is what IBM PC's have always been based on, if I was satisfied by a complete and closed system I would have gotten a MAC ( and I have a few of those too.) the changes I've been making are not anything close to rocket science, not even any OC bios changes, just simple drive reconfigurations.

On customer service, there are NO excuses that are worth one lost good customer(.) On call back, do it, work overtime, leave a message, no excuses, text if need be, email response to a call does NOT work..

And please note, if DS is smart, and want s to increase their customer retention and adoption rate they would be reviewing this thread and making any needed adjustments.

That's simply why I'm making the time to post this, I think they are on the right track, but everyone can use a bit of honest and direct feedback.

Cheers,

Robert

you're not getting what I'm posting about, customer service is 100% about expectation, nothing more,. If you can't deal with the volume from one source you note that and offer others.

In working with clients there are NO viable excuses if you fail to perform to expectations.

If DS wants to grow to their expectations they need to exceed their customers expectations first..

 

thanks RiceEatin,

The onboard Marvell port is suppose to be a 6 gb/s port, but you are saying it's not or that it's just a bad port to use?

I wanted to use the grey ports for a RAID 0 setup. When I had the SSD plugged into the sata 2 ports I got a windows spped index of 5.9 on that drive, from the Marvell port I'm getting a index of 7.2.

Do you think I would get a faster system if I plugged the SSD into a grey port and used the sata 2 ports for a HDD based RAID 0 ?

Or I guess perhaps the only good answer here is to buy a RAID add-on board.

Can anyone recommend a good one, not too expensive, but that supports sata 3.

Cheers,

Robert

Originally posted by image360 thanks RiceEatin,The onboard Marvell port is suppose to be a 6 gb/s port, but you are saying it's not or that it's just a bad port to use? I wanted to use the grey ports for a RAID 0 setup. When I had the SSD plugged into the sata 2 ports I got a windows spped index of 5.9 on that drive, from the Marvell port I'm getting a index of 7.2.Do you think I would get a faster system if I plugged the SSD into a grey port and used the sata 2 ports for a HDD based RAID 0 ?Or I guess perhaps the only good answer here is to buy a RAID add-on board.Can anyone recommend a good one, not too expensive, but that supports sata 3.Cheers,Robert

the reason i say this is even though its advertised as sata 6 they severely limit through put. My ssd came plugged into these ports and was limiting roughly a third of performance due to the marvel ports. Like DST said Raid 0 on sata 2 ports(your black drives even though they advertise 6g the speeds arent close to needing it).

Originally posted by image360 OK, thanks Guys, found a good review that shows pretty much what your saying about the Marvell port, slow compared to the intel ports.But now I have to get a real RAID 0 board that uses Sata 3 as budget allows, and one highly recommend one? Guess I could look at the ones DS suggest :)Cheers,Robert

that mobo wont do raid 0 on the sata 3g ports?

Thanks again, and yes you are all correct, the WD Black "Sata 3" drives are not even close to maxing out on the Sata 2 ports, best hdtune test shows about 255 max MB/s in a kind of RAID - both drives configured as one logical volume but stuck in ACHI.

So no need for a RAID 0 add-on board until I replace these with a couple of new SSD's for swap.

And at the moment it's a bit irrelevant anyway since if I change the bios to RAID vs ACHI I get immediate BSOD.

I'll work with DS to get that figured out.

And for those with a possible choice between using the Marvel Sata connection verses one of the Sata 2 ports, I would go with the Marvell, at least the short test I did comparing the three options came out like this, Windows experience test,

Sata 2 port - 5.9
Marvell connection - 7.1
Intel Sata 3, grey connector - 7.9

Cheers,

Robert

Originally posted by image360 Just wantd to say thanks to all those that helped and to let others know that I did get a call from DS support today, got the RAID 0 working and all is fine.Very good support group there!Cheers,Robert

very cool so whats the final set up for the drives?