o k guys i have 1,500 GBP to spend on a new machine i have all the main parts rattled but need help on the following:

CASE
CASE FANS
PSU
CPU FAN
SOUND PROOFING

I want the works and i can afford to spend over my budget if needs be, but my main goal is to get a near silent machine that still runs like a beast. Its going to be used in a recording studio so silence is damn important, but then again so is performance, lol. oh and incase you need to know what my decided parts are :

CPU: P4 northwood 3.2GHz 512K or prescott 3.2GHz 1Mb L2 (i knw these are hot but u gotta have the power)

RAM: 1GB Kingston DDR400

HDD: 1x 80GB IDE SAMSUNG
2x 120GB SATA SAMSUNG
DD: NEC DVDRW
FLOPPY (even though ill never use it)

Graphics: Matrox millenium g550

Also is it better to have larger server case, that i can dampen more and use more fans and controllers to have good temps too.

thanx in advance

p.s dont worry im not a complete novice, just been out the game for awhile so feel free to post different voltage settting ect...

Case: D8000 from Coolcases.com. I don't think a server case would really be needed...The D8000 has plenty of space for what you need and two 120mm fans, which have the probably the best airflow-to-noise ratio, so heat wouldn't be much of a problem either. Dampening wise though, I'm not sure.

Case fan: Evercool Aluminum 120mm or a Globe 120mm. These are probably best price wise, but since you don't care about that, you may have luck with a Papst 4412FGL. However, there are reports that these don't have the most consitent quality: some click when undervolted.

CPU HSF: Thermalright SP97. It's got heatpipes for some good cooling, and a separate fan which is easy to replace with the one of your choice.

Sound Proofing: Black Hole 5 should work fine. I Yet, agian I am forgetting that you have money to spare, so might as well go an Acoustipack kit. If you're going with the D8000 case, then you should get the AP C6607 set.

As for PSU's, I am yet to venture into that area of slient computing myself, so someone else will have to help you with that. Good luck on your quest!

thanx dude that was really helpfull, a lot of the parts you listed where really new to me and have given me a few more thoughts. Although im not so sure about the case, its just that its so damn ugly, now silence takes priority over beuty but i just wouldnt want to be sat next to that for 3yrs long... Also what about lian cases they seem to be good. I have seen alot of silent DAW outlets build there machines in the Lian Li PC 7, PC 60 and PC 71. Is there a reason to why there all opting for this case or is it simply one that works out well over price. i mean it really cant work out cheap cos it doesnt even come with a PSU.

As for a PSU, I highly recommend the Nexus NX-3000 for quiet - and it is relatively inexpensive.

I have the Papst 4412F/2GL undervolted and it works like a dream.

nice 1 m8 ill check that out. But anyideas on silent powerfull PSU's, i ask this as im having a last minute change of heart and considering building a dual xeon system.

You won't get it quiet (25 dBA/1m idle and <30 dBA at full load) with any combination of stock parts. Guaranteed. Even the P4-3.2 NW and esp Prescott will be a challenge to make really quiet.

Generally, aluminum cases tend to resonate (hummm) considerably more than steel -- just the nature of the material. You want a large well-built steel case with very good venting. The Chenbro Ralf Hutter recently reviewed is probably a pretty good bet -- if it is available. And given that you are in the UK, the AcousticProduct case is a decent option (same as D8000). The Fong Kai FK330 is even more solid but will need a bit of modding for HDD suspension.

IF you have the money, get a zalman resorator. It is a watercooling kit with a silent beutiful blue 30cm tall resevoir/radiator tower. Its more silent than any fan an can handle any cpu that intel makes, even the hot ones. I like AMD but intel is better at encoding.

One question on the graphics card, if I may.

I take it this isn't supposed to be a games rig, but rather "professional" worky stuff (rendering, and so on)?

Why not get a Matrox Parhelia if you're already going for high-ish end? . Seems somehow a waste all that nifty stuff and then a "not so new" graphics card? .

(Or, of course, whatever Matrox comes out with next, which I don't know when it is, as I don't follow Matrox's products that much).

Be sure to flip through the recommended section. It's on the left side of the home page.

Some in here seem to like the Athlon 64.

nice 1 guys ill check all that out...Now just to let you know that this going to be an audio workstatio for a professionla studio so power is important. As for thr graphics card, well its silent and really good for what im gonna be using my system for. I dont need pin point accurate graphics, im not playing games! Also whats the nexus 3500 or the ixtrema 520w... The ixtrema has been know to be running at 14DBA on full load. thanx again

just an update guys...

i have shortlisted my case down to one the following:

Lian Li pc60, 61 or 70, 71

these cases are build with pure precision and quality and brilliant for moding. I have all my other issues sorted too, the only thing that i need help on is the fans that i should use with this case. I have no probs with undervolting i just dont wanna have to waste money on trying loads of fans. Any help would be much appreciated

thanx again

twister

To make it easier - what size fans do you want?

I (personally) quite like the Evercool Aluminium fans.

for 92 mm, Panaflo L1A is pretty much the defacto standard .

Be prepared to deal with the "aluminum hummmm" from any of those cases. Just a "heads up". I wouldn't recommend an aluminum case for someone looking for a very quiet system. My 2¢.

Even with dampening material on the side panels? Wouldn't that eliminate any resonating hum?

Damping materials will certainly lower it, but if you applied the same damping material to a steel case, you'd have even lower levels of vibe-induced noise. Or -- with a good steel case, you don't have to spend the $ and effort to have the same noise level as an alum case with damping.

Well im gonna go all out on the case. Im gonna be soundproofing it and also purchasing zalman silent hard disk caddies, which should help with hum and vibration. But hey if anyone else kas a good idea on the case shout up. As for the fans well this were i need more knowledge. Ive been thinking of using 2 120m fans undervolted and seeing how the keep the case cool, but i know people that only use one. The case itself comes with 4 stock fans, im not sure but id reckon these would need replacing to what and what voltage is anyones guess. Ive heard lost of goood things mentioned about papst and panaflo fans but im not sure what fan would actually best fit this scenario. Although ive been told to try and go for larger fans over smaller ones...ANY IDEAS!!!

thanx again

oh yeah i could also use a series of fan with a controler to optemise tempratures if thats a good idea

They won't do anything for you. Trust me. I avoided doing the review thus far... because... they're almost useless.

Go for NoVibes or similar (there's another almost identical one -- a brand called Genware?) and find ways to mount them on the bottom of the case. Check the sticky in the Storage section about HDD silencing methods.

If you are willing to mod, then the FongKai FK330 is about the most solid steel case ever. Check review and Recommended Cases article.

I'd still stay away from aluminum cases. They're are NOT ideal for quiet PCs. SPCR Reviewers are pretty united on that position.

cheers mike c, you have certanly opened my eyes to some new gear there. So speak to me about this FK-333 case. Whats the best way of going around modding this case. You know what fans, volts, psu's that sorta thing. Remember im not arsed about how much it costs , i just want an exeptionaly quite system that doesnt melt my parts

thanx