I want it all...but how to get there?

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hozer2k
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:51 pm

I want it all...but how to get there?

Post by hozer2k » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:02 pm

New to the board, but not new to a silent pc. I have had my pc noise less than ambient for 10+ yrs (engineers love to fiddle with stuff).

Here is my criteria, most important first:

1 - Power (I really want a core 2 duo or something close in performance)
2 - Size (Ideally something small, a microATX would be best)
3 - Ultra quiet, near silent (think I can get there with good heatsinks, fans, fan controller)
4 - Sleek, something very sharp!

I need a pretty good video card, but nothing specatular (its not a gaming system, but I do have some graphics apps). Id like to get this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814125025m but not sure if its going to work with a microATX too well. Any other thoughts?

So....what is a good case, mobo, vid card, and power supply (I would guess modular for me)? Will I have problems with hd and heat? It has to be ultra reliable. I think I just need a single optical drive and single hd (although room for a second would be nice). I think the case is going to be the big sticking point for me...as always (great looking, compact, cool)

Money isnt too much of an object, I want the best stuff (within reason!). If I can put it together for ~$1,000-1,500that would be nice though!

EDIT : This looks like it may be a winner :)
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products- ... lution.htm

jackylman
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Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Post by jackylman » Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:13 pm

How much storage do you need? You can make your system a lot more quiet by using a 2.5" drive.

hozer2k
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:51 pm

Post by hozer2k » Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:39 pm

Thats a good point, but I will take the hit on the hard drive cause I really need the performance and size.

Problem with these small microATX form factors is getting a decent vid card in there I think? Even if you can fit, it will prob block a pci port...leaving you down to just one pci.

The other major prob is a lot of them come with their own power supply and I fear it will either be too loud or underpowered? For example, I like this one...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811163070, but worried about the PSU. Also, I think there is a new power connector for some mobos and not sure about compatability with that too...such a pain.

Can anyone shed some light on how to deal with this?

jaganath
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Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:55 am
Location: UK

Post by jaganath » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:45 am

EDIT : This looks like it may be a winner
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products- ... lution.htm
OK, IF everything will fit in that case, here is your build:

Case: SG01-E
CPU: C2D E6300
RAM: ?Corsair?
GFX: 7600GT SilentPipe
HDD: WD 5000KS
M/B: Asus P5L-MX (subject to change)
PSU: Seasonic S12-380

hozer2k
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:51 pm

Post by hozer2k » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:33 am

I would pretty much agree with all of that :)

Only problem is...I really want this case now!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811163070

Problem is...dont know if it will get too hot for a core 2 duo and if I get it quiet enough with the stock propriety size fan. Maybe that is too much of a PITA and I go with the suggestion about. Cept I was leaning towards the foxconn board since the reviews were a little better on newegg.

jaganath
Posts: 5085
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:55 am
Location: UK

Post by jaganath » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:42 am

Only problem is...I really want this case now!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811163070
Doesn't accept ATX PSU, also questionable if standard GFX card will fit.

hozer2k
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:51 pm

Post by hozer2k » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:33 am

Exactly. I think I can find a graphics card for it...but the PS is a real problem since I dont have many options if its too loud (does this have the 8pin CPU connector). My major concern is heat for a core 2 duo.

jaganath
Posts: 5085
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:55 am
Location: UK

Post by jaganath » Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:59 am

does this have the 8pin CPU connector). My major concern is heat for a core 2 duo.
AFAIAA the Core 2 Duo only needs the 4-pin +12V connector? You shouldn't be concerned about the heat from the C2D, the E6300 will probably top out at 44W which is pretty low really.

hozer2k
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:51 pm

Post by hozer2k » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:40 pm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813186103

That is the board I was considering, and it has a 8 pin CPU connector. Also, I was considering the E6400, but that should be pretty similar to the E6300. How do you know if the stock PS on the ML01 has an 8 pin connector?

If I run this system I would suspect its pretty low power...in that case can I just turn the the PS fan down very low or even off?

jaganath
Posts: 5085
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:55 am
Location: UK

Post by jaganath » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:56 pm

How do you know if the stock PS on the ML01 has an 8 pin connector?
If you look at the images of the ML01 on newegg showing the inside, you can see that it doesn't have the 8-pin connector. The stock PSU is likely a cheap ATX2.0 unit.
If I run this system I would suspect its pretty low power...in that case can I just turn the the PS fan down very low or even off?
Very few good power supplies have a user-controllable fan. No fanned PSU should ever be used without its fan.

hozer2k
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:51 pm

Post by hozer2k » Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:39 pm

What I do is open it up and splice into to adjust the fan on the PSU. My current system has the PSU fan disabled completely (wires cut)...and has run 24/7 for a couple years. Of course, I dont have a high end vid card and is extremely efficient from a cooling perspective. While I cant say its for everyone, it can be done.

Thanks for the help on the ML01, my eye is not as good as yours for catching these things.

jackylman
Posts: 784
Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 8:13 am
Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Post by jackylman » Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:10 pm

jaganath wrote:
How do you know if the stock PS on the ML01 has an 8 pin connector?
If you look at the images of the ML01 on newegg showing the inside, you can see that it doesn't have the 8-pin connector. The stock PSU is likely a cheap ATX2.0 unit.
This might be a relevant link.
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/EN-US/ser ... -gb0000067

hozer2k
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:51 pm

Post by hozer2k » Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:01 pm

Good find....according to that, the core 2 duo certainly does not qualify as requiring the 8 pin connector. So maybe I can still consider the ML01 after all. Still a big question as to whether on not the PSU will be workable from a noise standpoint.

dnoiz
Patron of SPCR
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Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Belgium, Europe

Post by dnoiz » Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:15 am

You might have a look at the C2D systems from Shuttle.

Else a pretty decent mATX motherboard is the AsRock ConRoe945G-DVI. You can always add a GFX card later on (especially if you think about gaming :) ). There're several positive reviews around and for the price you can't go wrong.

Cheers.

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