gpu: why not just use the integrated gpu in the CPU for now? Nearly every mobo ships with DP, HDMI, and DVI-D. eg: Asus P8Z77-V or the LE version you listed below. HDD: Is all the data in-play going to be on the SSD?/ Do you need the speed of the WD Black? Maybe the much quieter WD Red would work. ...

I agree on that case, very nice. Did you use Streacom's Nano150 PSU for the build? I can't quite make it out in the pictures. I'm curious about the efficiency of brick+internal board PSUs, couldn't find anything from googling this specific one, but I know my laptop bricks (Dell and HP) all feel warm...

After doing some testing last night, it turns out using a piece of cardboard on each side of the case lowered temps by 2-degrees. Using the left side fan as an exhaust made no difference during the tests. Not much effect, but like I said, it didn't cost much either. :) Keep us updated on your solut...

Is remixing a problem? In your diagram, the upper right corner looks to me like you could be recirculating hot air back from the exhausts into the top fan. How about getting some 2-3" blocks of foam a foot or two long and blocking the flow between the exhausts and intakes to see if that reduces the ...

To add another candidate to the PSU mix, I've had the Kingwin AP-550 Absolute Platinum at the top of my build lists for a while. I read a review somewhere (techpowerup?) testing it at over 85% efficiency down around 40w, and it's apparently very quiet due to the temperature controlled fan (it runs f...

It's just the noise factor that seems to be very well taken care off in the brand units. Now my experience has been just the opposite. We bought Dells (Precision T3xxx desktops) for the past 6-7 years and now are an HP (Z8xx) shop, and both brands are friggin' jets compared to what we build (typica...

edh wrote:

Happy Hopping wrote:what does a regular PSU do that a passive PSU Cannot do?

Blow.

Or suck. Depends on your perspective.

I got a CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD for my son's recording studio and he's been very happy with it. His machine is pretty low power (i5-2500 with no video card), so the power draw rarely exceeds 100w, but even when he's doing big mixes, the UPS's fan has never come on. Oh, I should mention why I got thi...