CPU Cooler: Scythe Samuraii ZZ
With approximately 110 mm of clearance between the processor and the power supply above it inside the Lian Li PC-Q08, the Samurai ZZ is a lock as the CPU heatsink. Of the coolers we've tested that can physically fit in our chosen setup, the Samurai ZZ is the best performing and has a high quality stock fan. The ZZ also offers cross compatibility with AMD and LGA775 motherboards if that's your preference.
|
°C rise Comparison
|
|
Heatsink
|
16 dBA
|
12 dBA
|
|
|
23
|
27
|
|
|
24
|
30
|
|
|
25
|
31
|
|
|
24
|
33
|
|
|
27
|
36
|
|
Tested on an AMD Athlon II X4 630 in an open platform.
Compatible coolers in yellow.
|
Total Cost Breakdown
|
Cost Comparison: SPCR vs. Budget Build
|
|
SPCR Build Components
|
Street Price (US)
|
Budget Build Components
|
|
Intel Core i3-530
|
$115
|
$50
|
Intel Celeron E3300
|
|
Scythe Samurai ZZ
|
$30
|
$30
|
Samurai ZZ
|
|
Zotac H55-ITX-C-E
|
$140
|
$100
|
Intel DG45FC
|
|
4GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3-1333
|
$70
|
$40
|
2GB DDR2-800
|
|
6 x WD Caviar Green 2TB
|
$660
|
$440
|
4 x WD Caviar Green 2TB
|
|
Lian Li PC-Q08
|
$110
|
$110
|
Lian Li PC-Q08
|
|
Cooler Master Silent Pro M700
|
$110
|
$75
|
Nexus Value 430W
|
|
TOTAL
|
$1,235
|
$845
|
TOTAL
|
The total cost for our server came out to over US$1,200 but there are a few places we could have skimped without much impact on system performance. If we had opted for a Pentium G6950 processor, 2GB of RAM instead of 4GB, and a Nexus Value 430W power supply, the total price would've been shaved down to US$1150 (US$490 without any drives).
A four drive build based on the Intel DG45FC would have lowered the cost to approximately US$845. In comparison, a pre-built WHS box from a manufacturer like HP equipped with a single 1TB retails for around $500~550. Bringing the total capacity up to 8TB would put the cost up a little over our SFF home server, but that would be the current capacity limit with all four of its drive bays filled.
Discuss this article in the SPCR Forums.
Hard Drives, CPU & RAM
Assembly & Modifications
