New silent rig (hopefully)

Takie · Post by **Takie** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:49 am

Hi all

I'm planning on buying the following rig,be free to give any comments.

CPU: AMD athlon 64 3200+ socket 939 (winchester core)
VGA: Nvidia 6600 GT PCI-E
Memory: prolly 2*256 mb Corsair pc 3200 XL
Mobo: prolly Asus A8N-E premium Nforce 4 ultra
Case: Antec sonata
Hard disk: Seagate 7200.7 sata 160 GB
Dvd: Nec 3500A dvd-writer
Sound: Creative Audigy 2 ZS

Case fan: Nexus 120mm with verax rubber mounting (in the back,no front case fan)
Cpu cooler: Thermalright XP 120
Thermal paste: Artic silver 5
Cpu fan: Papst 4412 F/2GLLL - IBL 120 mm 1000 rpm
Vga cooler: Thermaltake Schooner

So that's about it. Hopefully the asus nforce 4 ultra will come out soon because I don't want the SLI one's. They have little anoying fans that can't be replaced because of the layout

About the hard drive,should I consired taking a hd silencer? If yes,what brand and model would be best?

Bye

Takie

HammerSandwich · Post by **HammerSandwich** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 10:27 am

You'll want to do something about the Sonata's PSU. Definitely not silent.

As you noted, the HD will be a problem too. I don't have experience with store-bought HD silencers, but suspension will help. The key is keeping motor vibration and seeks from reaching the case.

BTW, why not use a Nexus on the XP120?

Takie · Post by **Takie** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 2:36 pm

Thx for you reply

The sonara unfortunately will stay for a while,i don't have any real alternative options that cost about the same + I like the case design.

For the nexus on the xp-120,I don't own a dremel so it's going to be really difficult i guess to cut out the corners.

As for the HD silencer I plan on buying the zalman hd silencer, ive read a good review about it here:
http://www.tweakers.net/reviews/545/8
it's in dutch but I think everyone can understand the graphics,looks like it silence your hd and cool it at the same time pretty well!

burcakb · Post by **burcakb** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 3:07 pm

Does that mean you already have a sonata? If not, it'd be wise to look at the Antec 3000B which is also a nice black but without a PSU and is pretty cheap it seems. You really want to change out the Sonata PSU anyway so why pay for one?

I didn't try to cut it but the Nexus plastic didn't seem that tough. A nice modellers knife should be enough to clean the corners.

Takie · Post by **Takie** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 3:19 pm

Let's suppose I will take the Antec slk 3000B,what power supply should I get than accept from the seasonics because they aren't available here in Belgium.

x1m · Post by **x1m** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:38 am

Looks like a fairly powerful pc. With the amount of detail you could run games in, why arn't you sticking a gig of ram in? 512 wont be enough for that 6600...

teejay · Post by **teejay** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:34 am

I've cut out fan corners using various tools; it's easy to do, e.g. with a fine-toothed saw and a file. Just saw into the "tubes" connection the front and back of the fan a few times, break out the remaining plastic and file down.

2 Compute is located in Belgium and has the 3000B for less than 54 euro's. They do not sell decent psu's though

I cannot give you good psu advice because I haven't decided myself for myself yet. From what I've gleaned from the forum: Nexus 4090 is good but seems to have coil whine issues, Zalman is good efficiency-wise but needs a fan swap IMO (I have one), Enermax Noisetakers seem to be OK but I don't like dual-fan setups or Enermax fans. Personally I am leaning towards the new Coolermaster that got reviewed on the main site, modded with a Nexus fan connected to my T-Balancer thus circumventing the two shortcomings of that cpu: the fan and its controller network.

Takie · Post by **Takie** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:29 am

Thx for the advice

It's hard though to find the right power supply. Mayble I'll also take a look at the new fortron blue strom. It's got nice cable sleeving and high effiency but I don't really know if the fan is quite enough.

teejay · Post by **teejay** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:01 am

Takie wrote:I don't really know if the fan is quite enough.

Enough for what? To cool the PSU? Usually the cooling capacity of a stock psu is way more than needed in an intelligent setup, to make sure the unit even works in very low airflow situations. The Antec 3000 has a 120mm case fan so you won't really need the psu fan for case airflow anyway... or are you worried about something else?

Cams · Post by **Cams** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:53 am

I'm in a similar position and plan to go for the 3000B case with a Nexus NX 4090. The Seasonics are just too difficult to come by in Europe and, when you do find one, they're rather highly priced (simple supply and demand, I presume). I have a Nexus NX 3000 in my present system and have been happy with that.

Takie · Post by **Takie** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:39 pm

Ok i've changed the setup a bit:

CPU: AMD athlon 64 3200+ socket 939 (winchester core)
VGA: Nvidia 6600 GT PCI-E
Memory: 2*512 mb Corsair XMS 3200 cas 2
Mobo: prolly Asus A8N-E premium Nforce 4 ultra
Case: Antec SLK 3700 QBE
PSU: Fortron blue storm 350W (I can sell the antec psu to someone)
Hard disk: Seagate 7200.7 sata 160 GB NCQ
Dvd: Nec 3500A dvd-writer
Sound: Creative Audigy 2 ZS

Case fan: Nexus 120mm with verax rubber mounting+ silicon gasket (in the back,no front case fan)
Cpu cooler: Thermalright XP 120
Thermal paste: Artic silver 5
Cpu fan: Nexus 120 mm
Vga cooler: Thermaltake Schooner
Hd silencer: Nexus disktwin
Psu mod: swapping fan for Papst 4412F/2GL 120 mm + rubber mounting + silicon gasket
Case dampening: Nexus damptek

Looks better right?

Is 350 watt going the be enough?

Thx

Takie

Tibors · Post by **Tibors** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:57 pm

This may sound repetitive but... get an Antec SLK 3000B.

The Antec SLK 3700 BQE has (almost) the same drivecage as the Sonata. This makes creating a drive suspension difficult (impossible?) without cutting pieces out of the drivecage. The Antec SLK 3000B has the same drivecage as the Antec SLK 3700 AMB. Creating a suspension with that is as simple as using some pieces of elastic string. See "Thor's Hammer" in the sig of burcakb some post above this one.

With the Nexus Disktwin you have to put the HD in a 5.25" bay. The case temp up there is higher and there is no ventilation over the HD. This combination can result in drive temps that are easilly 5°C higher.

Cams · Post by **Cams** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:02 am

And the Antec 3000B comes without a PSU so no need to sell the one from the BQE!

Takie · Post by **Takie** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:45 am

The antec slk 3000B isn't bad but it's got the annoyoing air guide and stamped grill in the side panel. I don't want those things. And since i'm not going the use the hard drive cage there isn't any advantage. About my hd temps i'm pretty certain about it that it wouldn't get to hot. I'm perfectly satisfied with a hd temp of maybe 50C.

Edward Ng · Post by **Edward Ng** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:30 am

Then consider the SLK2650-BQE.