I would like to ask you for help (advice) with choosing comp
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 11:18 am
Dear SPCR Collective,
I would like to ask you for help (advice) with choosing components and with building setup of two silent computers.
Before I decided to post this topic, I tried to do my "homework" as best as I possibly could. I read many articles on SPCR and other places as well but there are too many of them and to be honest sometimes I got overwhelmed with the information, or simply confused.
Background:
Back in 2010 I had to buy some hardware for my diploma thesis and I ended up not using that hardware for some time. Recently I remembered that I have these components, I decided to make use of them:
1)
Motherboard: K9A2 CF
CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9650 64-bit
Graphics card: Gainward GeForce 9600GT
2)
Motherboard: GA-G31M-S2L
CPU: Core2Duo E7300
Graphics card: Gigabyte Radeon x1600
The Goal:
The goal is to build two new computers using these parts, so that
- the computers are silent
- the parts are reusable (except motherboard, cpu, gpu ...). I know these components are a bit old, but for now I think they will do. When I want to upgrade the computer later, let's say in two years, I will have to replace the motherboard, cpu, memory, gpu and maybe heatsink,
but the important parts like PSU, case and fans, etc... will stay the same.
CASE:
After reading the review, I decided for the Fractal Design Define R3 case. But recently a new version, R4, has come out.
And I don't know (even after reading the post in forums and the linked articles) whether the R4 is an improvement over R3 or at least as good as R3 in the field of "silence". I read that the fans shipped with the case on R4 are more noisy than in R3.
Could you please recommend me either one of these cases or some other case provided you think it would suit me better (in a max. +50% price range)?
POWER SUPPLY:
I spent a lot of time trying to make a decision about this component. But I am still not sure which one to buy.
The PSU needs to be strong enough to support future upgrades. If I understand it correctly, the most power hungry component is supposed to be the GPU, that means the PSU needs to be able to handle even the most modern/up to date GPUs or average GPUs in 2-3 years. The idea is that I might just upgrade a GPU for a newer/higher one that is compatible with the current motherboard & etc... but I still would like to have the option to buy a newest GPU along with new hardware in the future. I thought that the PSU, if chosen correctly, could last even 5 or more years without replacement (due to hardware update).
If I understand it correctly, the dillema is: If I buy too low Watt power supply, it might not support a better hardware (GPU).If I buy too high Watt, the PSU will not be efficient and thus more noisy, etc. Therefore I think we should aim for a golden or at least bronze PSUs, is that correct? From the list of recommended PSU's, this is what I can possibly buy:
= Enermax =
Enermax Modu87+ (product number EMG600AWT) http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/ ... 1=26&no=71
Enermax Pro87+ (product number EPG600AWT) http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/ ... 1=54&no=68
There is very little price difference between these two in the shops where I could get them.
Kingwin is absolutely unavailable.
= Seasonic =
SS-750AM-F3
SS-750HT-F3
SS-850HT-F3
SS-860XP
SS-650KM
SS-650RM
S12II-520
M12II-520
M12II-620
M12II-620W
X-560 (SS-560KM Active PFC F3)
X-660 (SS-660KM Active PFC F3)
X-760 (SS-760KM Active PFC F3)
X-850 (SS-850KM Active PFC F3)
X-650 (SS-650KM3 Active PFC F3)
X-750 (SS-750KM3 Active PFC F3)
X-850 (SS-850KM3 Active PFC F3)
X-750 (SS-750KM Active PFC F3)
= CoolerMaster =
CoolerMaster Silent Pro M2 720W
= beQuiet! =
Be quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 550W
the Whole Dark Power Pro line
BN200 550W model
BN201 650W model
BN202 750W
BN203 850W model
For example, I was really impressed with the review of Dark Power, but it's only 550W.
What if I will buy the newest GeForce in the future, will it be enough? "Well, the product line includes a higher Watt model as well", says a little voice in my head. Well, it does, but it wasn't reviewed by SPCR, maybe it is noisy as hell or maybe there is another reason why it wasn't reviewed... Simply put, even with the Seasonic X line, I am not sure which one to go for. I would like to ask you for help - could you please give me advice about which PSU(s) you think would suit me best for the two computers?
HEATSINKS:
Before I found out about SPCR I thought that i'd go with Gelid Tranquillo Rev.2, because one seller recommended me this product for the AMD processor. Also someone wrote on SPCR forums that in conjunction with this fan "Scythe_SY1225SL12M_Slip_Stream" it is a good heatsink. However, I found out that recently this product was reviewed on SPCR and that it's not that good (i.e. there are better alternatives). So I am looking for two heatsink, one for AMD and one for Intel processors.
I am a bit cofused here as well, because when i searched my usual sellers I sometimes got multiple products for the recommended heatsinks. Because I know that products sometimes change (although advertised as a guaranteed improvement) can make the product much worse I'd like to ask you for your opinion here as well.
= Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme =
only non C revision available.
= Prolima Megahelms =
Only Revision C is available for me.
= Prolima Armageddon =
Available.
= Scythe Mugen 2 =
Only these products available
SCYTHE Mugen 3 PCGH Edition (product code: SCMG-3PCGH)
SCYTHE Mugen 3 Rev. B (product code: SCMG-3100)
By 'Scythe Mugen 2' did you mean any of those? Could you please give me a product code?
= Thermalright HR-01 Plus =
Unavailable. Only 'Thermalright HR-02 Macho revA' available.
= Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 =
Available.
= Zalman CNPS10X Quiet =
Unavailable.
= Noctua NH-U12P =
Only NOCTUA NH-U12P SE2 available. Is it the same product perhaps?
I am planning on using up all of the four dimm slots on both of the computers. I know that it's hard to guess whether a particular heatsink will collide with some dimm slots, but if you have a suspicion that this heatsink might cause trouble with any of the motherboars, please let me know, so that I can try to write to the manufacturer or my usual seller perhaps.
If it's possible, please recommend me a heatsink that would
- fit both the current and a newer kind of the same type of processor
- would fit the setup in the case that you'd recommend for me
- would not block the dimm slots
If you'd recommend to change the fan that is shipped with that particular heatsink, could you please tell me which one should I use as a replacement?
I really liked the review of Scythe Mugen 2 - particularly the possibility of adding a second fan. Which fan would you recommend with this heatsink?
Would you recommend a different fan when two fans are deployed?
To what RPM would you advice to slow it down (both in single fan, and two fan mode) for the current processors?
Do you think that in general i'd have to go with higher RPMs if I change for a newer CPU? Or you'd recommend a completely different fan(s) for a newer cpu? (if yes, couldn't I use the second fan in the first case scenario with the cpus that i currently have?)
HDD:
Which SSD disk would you recommend to buy?
For normal (3,5") hdd, do you think that this
http://s8498340.shoplite.de/shopdata/go ... ipt?a=3888
might be a good alternative to
this http://www.silentpcreview.com/article39-page1.html
?
FANS:
Question: I read a guide http://www.dansdata.com/fanmaint.htm and they suggest to put a drop of machine oil into the fan.
Do you suggest to do this with a new fan? Or do you think it's not a good idea to do at all ?
SETUP:
Because I've had very little experience with building computers lately and a lot of things changed since I last did, I don't feel confident to make decisions about where to put the PSU, how to orientate it given a certain case and a certain PSU, how to orientate the heatsink, where to put the components for optimal airflow etc... .
Given the other components you (hopefully) will recommend for me, could you please tell me how to acutally set it up inside?
Which fans, how many, would you recommend for the given case? Where should I put them etc..
Could you please draw me a picture of the setup for optimal airflow?
I would like to make myself a bit more clear (because my english is obviously terrible, I have difficulties expressing myself) - this is, vaguely put, the 'kind' of answer I am looking for:
===
For PC1, given the components you wrote, we recommend you this case, this psu, this heatsink and these fans (perhaps provided with an alternative and maybe a short discussion why).
You are going to set it up in the following way: put psu here, with the intake positioned 'so'. Rotate the heatsink this way so that the airflow flows like this.
You should use these two fans for the heatsink, this is how you orientate them (i honestly cannot tell which way the fan blows by looking at it). From the rest of the fans you puy this into this case position that one there etc... . You should slow the fans down so and so (*) for this many RPMs (or voltage).
Then, in the future, if you change for a better gpu, employ other fans, or increase the voltage/rpms... if you change for different hardware, change the positions or the number of fans perhaps...
Analogously for PC2.
===
You know, something like that.
(*)
Which fan bay would you recommned for the cases?
Would you recommend Zalman ZM-MFC1 Multi Fan Controller over the fan controller that comes with the Fractal Design Define R3/4?
I also noticed that Zalman produces some other multi fan controllers as well, like ZM-MFC3 or ZM-MFC1 Combo. I looked at them and i noticed, that both of them offer one additional PWM fan. I don't know, but I thought that this is reserved for the cpu fan - is really a good idea not to let the motherboard regulate the cpu temperature?
Do you think, that given the current graphic cards that I have i'd need to deploy 'Arctic Cooling Accelero S1' / 'GELID Icy Vision'?
Do you have any experience with deploying dust filters with your fans? If yes, which manufacturer do you have experience with? Doesn't the filter increase the noise a fan makes?
Finally I would like to thank the SPCR team and the community for the great work that you guys are doing. I think that the approach you have and the quality of information that you provide is just fantastic.
I would like to thank you in advance for your reply and help.
Best Regards,
Karol
I would like to ask you for help (advice) with choosing components and with building setup of two silent computers.
Before I decided to post this topic, I tried to do my "homework" as best as I possibly could. I read many articles on SPCR and other places as well but there are too many of them and to be honest sometimes I got overwhelmed with the information, or simply confused.
Background:
Back in 2010 I had to buy some hardware for my diploma thesis and I ended up not using that hardware for some time. Recently I remembered that I have these components, I decided to make use of them:
1)
Motherboard: K9A2 CF
CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9650 64-bit
Graphics card: Gainward GeForce 9600GT
2)
Motherboard: GA-G31M-S2L
CPU: Core2Duo E7300
Graphics card: Gigabyte Radeon x1600
The Goal:
The goal is to build two new computers using these parts, so that
- the computers are silent
- the parts are reusable (except motherboard, cpu, gpu ...). I know these components are a bit old, but for now I think they will do. When I want to upgrade the computer later, let's say in two years, I will have to replace the motherboard, cpu, memory, gpu and maybe heatsink,
but the important parts like PSU, case and fans, etc... will stay the same.
CASE:
After reading the review, I decided for the Fractal Design Define R3 case. But recently a new version, R4, has come out.
And I don't know (even after reading the post in forums and the linked articles) whether the R4 is an improvement over R3 or at least as good as R3 in the field of "silence". I read that the fans shipped with the case on R4 are more noisy than in R3.
Could you please recommend me either one of these cases or some other case provided you think it would suit me better (in a max. +50% price range)?
POWER SUPPLY:
I spent a lot of time trying to make a decision about this component. But I am still not sure which one to buy.
The PSU needs to be strong enough to support future upgrades. If I understand it correctly, the most power hungry component is supposed to be the GPU, that means the PSU needs to be able to handle even the most modern/up to date GPUs or average GPUs in 2-3 years. The idea is that I might just upgrade a GPU for a newer/higher one that is compatible with the current motherboard & etc... but I still would like to have the option to buy a newest GPU along with new hardware in the future. I thought that the PSU, if chosen correctly, could last even 5 or more years without replacement (due to hardware update).
If I understand it correctly, the dillema is: If I buy too low Watt power supply, it might not support a better hardware (GPU).If I buy too high Watt, the PSU will not be efficient and thus more noisy, etc. Therefore I think we should aim for a golden or at least bronze PSUs, is that correct? From the list of recommended PSU's, this is what I can possibly buy:
= Enermax =
Enermax Modu87+ (product number EMG600AWT) http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/ ... 1=26&no=71
Enermax Pro87+ (product number EPG600AWT) http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/ ... 1=54&no=68
There is very little price difference between these two in the shops where I could get them.
Kingwin is absolutely unavailable.
= Seasonic =
SS-750AM-F3
SS-750HT-F3
SS-850HT-F3
SS-860XP
SS-650KM
SS-650RM
S12II-520
M12II-520
M12II-620
M12II-620W
X-560 (SS-560KM Active PFC F3)
X-660 (SS-660KM Active PFC F3)
X-760 (SS-760KM Active PFC F3)
X-850 (SS-850KM Active PFC F3)
X-650 (SS-650KM3 Active PFC F3)
X-750 (SS-750KM3 Active PFC F3)
X-850 (SS-850KM3 Active PFC F3)
X-750 (SS-750KM Active PFC F3)
= CoolerMaster =
CoolerMaster Silent Pro M2 720W
= beQuiet! =
Be quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 550W
the Whole Dark Power Pro line
BN200 550W model
BN201 650W model
BN202 750W
BN203 850W model
For example, I was really impressed with the review of Dark Power, but it's only 550W.
What if I will buy the newest GeForce in the future, will it be enough? "Well, the product line includes a higher Watt model as well", says a little voice in my head. Well, it does, but it wasn't reviewed by SPCR, maybe it is noisy as hell or maybe there is another reason why it wasn't reviewed... Simply put, even with the Seasonic X line, I am not sure which one to go for. I would like to ask you for help - could you please give me advice about which PSU(s) you think would suit me best for the two computers?
HEATSINKS:
Before I found out about SPCR I thought that i'd go with Gelid Tranquillo Rev.2, because one seller recommended me this product for the AMD processor. Also someone wrote on SPCR forums that in conjunction with this fan "Scythe_SY1225SL12M_Slip_Stream" it is a good heatsink. However, I found out that recently this product was reviewed on SPCR and that it's not that good (i.e. there are better alternatives). So I am looking for two heatsink, one for AMD and one for Intel processors.
I am a bit cofused here as well, because when i searched my usual sellers I sometimes got multiple products for the recommended heatsinks. Because I know that products sometimes change (although advertised as a guaranteed improvement) can make the product much worse I'd like to ask you for your opinion here as well.
= Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme =
only non C revision available.
= Prolima Megahelms =
Only Revision C is available for me.
= Prolima Armageddon =
Available.
= Scythe Mugen 2 =
Only these products available
SCYTHE Mugen 3 PCGH Edition (product code: SCMG-3PCGH)
SCYTHE Mugen 3 Rev. B (product code: SCMG-3100)
By 'Scythe Mugen 2' did you mean any of those? Could you please give me a product code?
= Thermalright HR-01 Plus =
Unavailable. Only 'Thermalright HR-02 Macho revA' available.
= Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 =
Available.
= Zalman CNPS10X Quiet =
Unavailable.
= Noctua NH-U12P =
Only NOCTUA NH-U12P SE2 available. Is it the same product perhaps?
I am planning on using up all of the four dimm slots on both of the computers. I know that it's hard to guess whether a particular heatsink will collide with some dimm slots, but if you have a suspicion that this heatsink might cause trouble with any of the motherboars, please let me know, so that I can try to write to the manufacturer or my usual seller perhaps.
If it's possible, please recommend me a heatsink that would
- fit both the current and a newer kind of the same type of processor
- would fit the setup in the case that you'd recommend for me
- would not block the dimm slots
If you'd recommend to change the fan that is shipped with that particular heatsink, could you please tell me which one should I use as a replacement?
I really liked the review of Scythe Mugen 2 - particularly the possibility of adding a second fan. Which fan would you recommend with this heatsink?
Would you recommend a different fan when two fans are deployed?
To what RPM would you advice to slow it down (both in single fan, and two fan mode) for the current processors?
Do you think that in general i'd have to go with higher RPMs if I change for a newer CPU? Or you'd recommend a completely different fan(s) for a newer cpu? (if yes, couldn't I use the second fan in the first case scenario with the cpus that i currently have?)
HDD:
Which SSD disk would you recommend to buy?
For normal (3,5") hdd, do you think that this
http://s8498340.shoplite.de/shopdata/go ... ipt?a=3888
might be a good alternative to
this http://www.silentpcreview.com/article39-page1.html
?
FANS:
Question: I read a guide http://www.dansdata.com/fanmaint.htm and they suggest to put a drop of machine oil into the fan.
Do you suggest to do this with a new fan? Or do you think it's not a good idea to do at all ?
SETUP:
Because I've had very little experience with building computers lately and a lot of things changed since I last did, I don't feel confident to make decisions about where to put the PSU, how to orientate it given a certain case and a certain PSU, how to orientate the heatsink, where to put the components for optimal airflow etc... .
Given the other components you (hopefully) will recommend for me, could you please tell me how to acutally set it up inside?
Which fans, how many, would you recommend for the given case? Where should I put them etc..
Could you please draw me a picture of the setup for optimal airflow?
I would like to make myself a bit more clear (because my english is obviously terrible, I have difficulties expressing myself) - this is, vaguely put, the 'kind' of answer I am looking for:
===
For PC1, given the components you wrote, we recommend you this case, this psu, this heatsink and these fans (perhaps provided with an alternative and maybe a short discussion why).
You are going to set it up in the following way: put psu here, with the intake positioned 'so'. Rotate the heatsink this way so that the airflow flows like this.
You should use these two fans for the heatsink, this is how you orientate them (i honestly cannot tell which way the fan blows by looking at it). From the rest of the fans you puy this into this case position that one there etc... . You should slow the fans down so and so (*) for this many RPMs (or voltage).
Then, in the future, if you change for a better gpu, employ other fans, or increase the voltage/rpms... if you change for different hardware, change the positions or the number of fans perhaps...
Analogously for PC2.
===
You know, something like that.
(*)
Which fan bay would you recommned for the cases?
Would you recommend Zalman ZM-MFC1 Multi Fan Controller over the fan controller that comes with the Fractal Design Define R3/4?
I also noticed that Zalman produces some other multi fan controllers as well, like ZM-MFC3 or ZM-MFC1 Combo. I looked at them and i noticed, that both of them offer one additional PWM fan. I don't know, but I thought that this is reserved for the cpu fan - is really a good idea not to let the motherboard regulate the cpu temperature?
Do you think, that given the current graphic cards that I have i'd need to deploy 'Arctic Cooling Accelero S1' / 'GELID Icy Vision'?
Do you have any experience with deploying dust filters with your fans? If yes, which manufacturer do you have experience with? Doesn't the filter increase the noise a fan makes?
Finally I would like to thank the SPCR team and the community for the great work that you guys are doing. I think that the approach you have and the quality of information that you provide is just fantastic.
I would like to thank you in advance for your reply and help.
Best Regards,
Karol