Hi, Im considering the Zotac ZBOX CI320 as an HTPC. Seeing as it now comes in a plus version including SSD, RAM and Windows 8.1 it seems like the perfect option for a small PC to connect to the TV. I'm mainly going to be using it for streaming Netflix, HBO and possibly running XBMC. Does anyone have...
I'm putting together a new system with an i3-4130 could use a little advise on which cooler to get. I'm looking at Scythe because they seem to offer good value for money. Alternatively the Cooler Master 212 Evo seems like a really good deal as well. However it seems to be just a bit too tall for the...
Been looking for a small (and decent looking) case and just spotted the Xigmatek Nebula and Aquila cases. Especially like the looks of the Nebula. What do you guys think about these for a small basic desktop build with: - Single SSD - i3-4130 CPU - Scythe Big Shuriken cooler - Corsair RM series (or ...
So I decided to ditch the Intel NUC for a desktop replacement and build my own. I don't know that I'll need it but I do like the idea of being able to upgrade :) I pretty much decided on the parts, but could use som input regarding a case. So far my short list is: - Aerocool DS cube - Bitfenix Pheno...
I'm considering the Intel NUC D54250WYK2 as a replacement for my old desktop. Does anyone have any "real life" experience with these things? I've read all the reviews and it't a bit mixed. How quiet is it during normal use (casual office work)? How fast does it heat up (get noisier)? What sort of pe...
Planning on building a new system and can't quite decide om whether to go with Intel or AMD. It will be used for office work and web browsing. Building with gaming in mind makes no sense seing as the games I bought in the last two years are still collecting dust on the shelf :) Quite frankly I'm not...
Thanks for the advice guys, but I already made my decision :) I put together the new system over the weekend and I ended up getting the Radeon 4850 from Asus. Still have yet to try and really push the card though. The stock cooler is surprisingly quiet though. I don't expect to do any cooler/fan mod...
Well I ended up going for Intel. The final specs are: Mobo: Asus P5E-VM SE CPU: Core 2 Duo E7200 RAM: 2 X 1 GB Kingston HDD: WD 320 GB DVD: Donor drive GPU: Asus Radeon 4850 Case: Coolermaster Elite 333 PSU: Corsair 450W CPU cooler: Scythe Ninja Mini w 92mm fan I chose a cheap coolermaster case afte...
Anyone else!? The gigabyte mobo + 4850e cpu seems a popular combo as they are now on backorder. The price difference is not that big a deal for me. My main concern is noise/heat/performance issues. I know the Intel is the faster CPU by a good margin, but will the AMD CPU be too much of a bottleneck ...
The case is one of the items where I'm quite fixed in my decision. The solo for example is just too big, plain and simple. My current rig sits in a thermaltake dragon case. The Elite 340 is basically as big as I'm willing to go.
Well my revised (Intel) parts list would look like this: Mobo: Asus P5E-VM SE CPU: Core 2 Duo E7200 RAM: 2 X 2 GB Kingston HDD: WD 320 GB DVD: Donor drive GPU: Asus Radeon 4850 (onboard for starters) Case: Coolermaster Elite 340 PSU: Corsair 450W CPU cooler: Stock Intel cooler for starters I will be...
BUMP Just as I thought I had made my final decision I started considering AMD vs. Intel. My initial idea was the Asus M2A-MX paired with an Athlon64 X2 4850E. However I'm considering pairing it with the new 780G board from Gigabyte instead, the "GA-MA78GM-S2H" (as the reviews seem to favor it over t...
DOes anyone have any real life experience with the new 45w chips from AMD? I'd love a little info before i hit the order button for my new rig. I'm considering this chip basically for the low power consumption features, but any test I've seen is solely based on pairing it with a 780G chipset for HTP...
Well passive graphics might be pushing it. But how quiet is the Antec 380W actually?
Would the Corsair be a better/more quiet option? Well seing it's on the recommended list I assume it should!? The price difference of a Elite 340 + Corsair vs the ANtec 3480 is insignificant.
BUMP Just going to try and revive this thread. The comments so far are much appreciated. I've essentially got it down to the NSK3480 and the Coolermaster Elite 340. How much difference in silence is there between the Corsair 450W and the stock Antec 380W ? My plan is to get a mini Ninja and run it f...
Well I'm running a 19 inch widescreen monitor with a 1440x900 native resolution, so by what you're saying neither of those cards would be a good choice?
I'm not planning to upgrade the monitor in the near future.
I'm building a new system, and was planning to use a Radeon 4850 for the GPU. However it seems I can actually get a passively cooled 3850 or a regular 8800gt for half the price. I will be playing some Crysis, NFS series, GTA4 etc. But nothing at max res/quality. Would either of the above cards be a ...
I'm going to build myself a new small budget gaming rig. For now I picked out the following parts: Mobo: Asus M2A-MX CPU: Athlon64 X2 4850E RAM: 2 X 2 GB Kingston HDD: Samsung 320 GB DVD: Donor drive GPU: Asus Radeon 4850 Case: Coolermaster Elite 340 or Antec 3480 PSU: Corsair 450W or Antec stock CP...
Hi guys, I haven't been writing here for quite a while, but I'm looking into a new system build so I'm sure I'll be catching the quiet bug again in the near future. Anyway, I'm building a new system, and I want to get rid of my old huge TT Dragon case and go for something smaller. For the hardware I...
I've had 2 PSU die on me with no prior warning signs when it happened. In both cases it happened when I pressed the start button. The first one blew with a loud bang and flames actually shot out the back... no damage to any other hardware though. I replaced it and everything was fine. The second one...
I think I pretty much scrapped the idea of the stock retention bracket. Looking around it seems that the options are limited, to say the least. It's only because I'm lazy. I can't be bothered taking the mobo out of the case :) They should make a case where the backside was accessible without unscrew...
Thanks :) Well if it's going to bring my temps up then I doubt I'll be going for the AMD heatpipe cooler. I managed to find the TR SI-120 from a danish vendor, but it costs an arm and a leg. I'm not surprised though. I seem to recall having this problem the last time I caught the bug :) I think at l...
I "need" to get a different cooler for my A64 (socket 939). I'm currently running the stock heatsink with the 70mm fan (not the heatpipe one). I was considering the thermalright XP-90, but amazing as it may sound I can't get it anywhere around here. THe only thermalright I can get is the XP-120 and ...