Linux/Windows powerful and quiet PC

[Hammond]

Hello,

I'm going to buy a new PC for work and gaming. I use Linux for work and other stuff; Windows is just for gaming. From what I've read, I won't be able to use something like Fan Xpert 3 on Linux, so it's important to build a system, whose fans can be fully controlled from the BIOS (especially start at very low rpm). Main components are: CPU – i7-6700k with some overclocking, but nothing extreme; GPU – gtx 1070. The rest should make cooling those two as quiet as possible, I'm willing to pay some extra for the silence. So far this is what I came up with:

CPU: i7-6700k
Motherboard: Asus Z170 PRO GAMING
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 GAMING X
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4, 2x8GB, 3200MHz, CL16
Storage: SSD Crucial MX200 500GB SATA3
PSU: Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro P11 650 Watt
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Macho Rev. B
Case: Fractal Design Define R5
+ probably three quiet, low rpm, pwm fans (pwm would make them easier to control from the BIOS, right?) as case fans.

Is there something I should change to make this system quiter? What fans would be good for this build? This GPU should be passive at idle and light load, but again – Linux – will it work as it's supposed to? Looking forward to your advice.

[quest_for_silence]

Is there something I should change to make this system quiter? What fans would be good for this build? This GPU should be passive at idle and light load, but again – Linux – will it work as it's supposed to? Looking forward to your advice.

Your list is basically a good one.

With reference to your questions, my personal preferences go to:

• an ASRock motherboard, more granular fan control (for Linux) but just two auto-sensing headers (if you go for PWM case fans, it won't be a problem). I mean somethink like an ASRock Z170 Extreme 4/Fatal1ty K4 in the same price range, or like an ASRock Z170 Pro 4 for a tad less money;
• a Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro P11 550 Watt, as it sports a slower (1200rpm vs 1500rpm) fan than the 650W sibling;
• if you want fans that will stop at idle, you may look at the Noctua NF-P14R (or S?) PWM Redux;
• take also note that the Macho B's fan won't stop and it idles at a relatively high pace: better picks in this respect would be the ones with the various TY-147A/TY-147B/TY-140 fans, which offer a lower 300rpm min, like the various Macho Direct, True Spirit 140 Power, Le Grand Macho RT, or the different Macho X2 (2x 800rpm fans) and Macho Zero (no fan): check them out;
• if all fans were the same PWM ones, maybe some PWM splitters in order to tie the rear fan to the CPU fan, and/or the two front fans together (albeit probably I didn't think enough about that);
• a Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB Kit (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 UDIMM, but just because I usually prefer memory specialists over Corsair (Crucial, but also G.Skill, Kingston, Geil and so on).

[edh]

Under Linux fan control for the graphics card should work the same as in Windows. My biggest caution would be that just because it is idle does not mean it will be passive. It may be passive but temperature and what the driver is doing may start the fans up. Sometimes you open a program up and unexpectedly the graphics card fans kick in, same under Windows too fan any cards that say they are passive at idle. You may also find times when it just won't go back into idle after gaming use for a long time.

If the card doesn't turn out to be quiet enough you could swap the standard fans for a pair of 120mm fans and a PWM adaptor.

Also, I would suggest cheaper RAM. Unless that RAM is pretty much the same price as 2133/2400MHz DDR4, the performance benefits will be too small to justify the outlay.

[Hammond]

Thanks for the replies.

if you want fans that will stop at idle, you may look at the Noctua NF-P14R (or S?) PWM Redux

What about regular Noctua NF-A14 PWM? Is the redux version better for this build?

take also note that the Macho B's fan won't stop and it idles at a relatively high pace: better picks in this respect would be the ones with the various TY-147A/TY-147B/TY-140 fans

Actually, according to Thermalright site, Macho B is equipped with TY-147A fan.

Also, I would suggest cheaper RAM. Unless that RAM is pretty much the same price as 2133/2400MHz DDR4, the performance benefits will be too small to justify the outlay.

It's around 12$ difference between 2133 and 3200 on 16 gb kit, maybe something will use it.

___

I somehow forgot that fans can stop at idle completely. What do you think about semi-passive build? Are there any downsides to such approach? Let's say Super Flower Leadex Platinum 850W, Noctua NH-D15 and Noctua PWM fans as case fans. I know that it would cost a little more, but I'd rather pay more and be happy with the system, than regret not doing so.

[Abula]

I somehow forgot that fans can stop at idle completely. What do you think about semi-passive build? Are there any downsides to such approach? Let's say Super Flower Leadex Platinum 850W, Noctua NH-D15 and Noctua PWM fans as case fans. I know that it would cost a little more, but I'd rather pay more and be happy with the system, than regret not doing so.

With AsRock and its bios you can do a semi passive with any fan stopping at your desire, this taking in account that the fan can stop, not all PWM fans can stop, for example Noctua NF-P14S 1200PWM can stop, while the NF-S12B 1200PWM can't, but the AsRock motherboard can go as low as you want on all headers, this means that its up to you and your setting the fans and temps on the bios for you to have a semi passive setup, this i already tested with H170 Pro4 and works wonderful, although personally i dont see much of point, all my fans are driven to inaudible levels so i dont have a noise penalty for them moving some air, and with AsRock you can plan your graphs with 4 breakpoints so you can ramp the fans very easily and to your own liking.

But remember speically for linux, go with a brand that will give you full control on bios for your fans, and chose correctly the fans for each spot, specially that can be stopped if thats what you wish, and then its just a matter of setting it up, this takes some time as you always have to boot into the bios to make changes, but its very easy and well worth the time. A last suggestion, as lucas pointed out, its best to go full PWM on AsRock as you only have 2 autodect headers (that can control 3pin), so a safer bet is to go pwm as all headers should be controlable (with a very few exception like on my h170 pro4, the CHA_FAN3 is a 3pin full 12v not even seen on the bios).

Good luck,

[mikeb]

I would avoid AsRock Z170 boards with Linux based systems based on personal experience. The BIOS bug described below is still not resolved for some AsRock boards as of last week. The linux mint link mentions you can email their support for a custom internal linux build of the BIOS, which they use internally and don't publish on their site. I wish their support had mentioned that when I contacted them, and before I returned it and got an Asus.

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=105491
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=223180