It's a review of Commell's P4-based mini-ITX integrated motherboard. Big computing power in a small package, but limited VGA. What's it for? Industrial computing? Any good for us silencers? Find out. The word counter says "14359 total words in this text" but don't be scared. Software lies sometimes. ;) It'll go much faster than you think.

The Samsung SyncMaster 173T is essentially a slim-bezel version with digital input of the 173B LCD monitor reviewed several weeks ago. The 173T is even sleek and handsome in black (also in silver), with the modern minimalist look that Samsung has cultivated in all of its products lately.

The Samsung SyncMaster 173B is the first monitor to be reviewed by SPCR. A monitor with sleek style, the 173B is silent. No hum, buzz or whine. How is it to actually use? In short, perfectly fine for most folks and applications, and its landscape / portrait pivoting fuction is great. But do read the review, please.

Antec, who bring us the Sonata and the SLK3700, among the most popular cases for SPCR readers, have announced two new quiet-oriented cases. One is the SLK3700BQE ("Basic Quiet"... Edition?), which integrates the side-mounting hard drive rack from the Sonata into a black finish version of the original SLK3700 case. But not, it appears, the open grill exhaust design of the Sonata.

The second is the Overture, described as a Piano Black Quiet Media Case. This looks like a horizontal ATX desktop case with a full complement of normal height PCI slots, outfitted with the same single-fan 380W version of the TruePower PSU used in the Sonata.

Aphonos' long post about an alternative HDD suspension is now an article in the SPCR Storage section. Using his ingenious technique, you can bring the noise reduction benefits of HDD decoupling to almost any PC case.

The Seasonic Super Tornado 300 is the subject of a SPCR review. The Tornado is one of the new Super family of high efficiency power supplies by Seasonic to which the previously reviewed Super Silencer 400 also belongs. How does the Tornado fare? Well, we have a new fan-cooled quiet PSU king. Here also is Mikhailtech's review on the SS Tornado 300. He likes it a lot too: "The Super Tornado is one of the best power supplies I have had the pleasure of testing... recommend it without reservations."

The Seasonic Super Tornado 300 is the subject of a SPCR review. The Tornado is one of the new Super family of high efficiency power supplies by Seasonic to which the previously reviewed Super Silencer 400 also belongs. How does the Tornado fare? Well, we have a new fan-cooled quiet PSU king. Here also is Mikhailtech\'s review on the SS Tornado 300. He likes it a lot too: "The Super Tornado is one of the best power supplies I have had the pleasure of testing... recommend it without reservations."...

Intelforums has a review and comparison of Artic Silver's Ceramique thermal grease:

"We were very impressed with Arctic Silver's Ceramique overall. It is defiantly an improvement over previous Artic Silver offerings in that it offers slightly improved thermal conduction, and is non-conductive, meaning a lessened risk of shorting your processor (esp. an Athlon processor). As with previous Arctic Silver TIM offerings, it is heads and shoulders over the competition, once again showing us that they are the market leader in this field."

The Inquirer has an article on how choosing power supply is no longer as easy as it once was, specially when you're building a high-end Pentium 4 system. It's a useful, practical and informative article, particularly for those who are upgrading systems and wondering about the suitability of older power supplies for the latest CPUs and motherboards. One thing it does not tackle are video card requirements, which can also be heftly these days.

Overclockers.com has posted an article called "Step-by-Step: Building a Quiet PC From The Ground Up" by Chris McQuistion. It's his second article in a series of 3 on building quiet systems. The first was about an AMD dualie, this one is about a single CPU system. This installment and the original are both good, though much of it has already been covered extensively here at SPCR. What is significant that the article is in Overclockers.com, which has traditionally valued computing speed & power (at min cost) over all other issues. Expanding the audience for quiet computing will help the cause.

A few quibbles:
- Reliance on storagereview.com's HDD's noise data due to their questionable "nearfield" approach
- Quiet PSU choice limited to a single recommendation
- No clear acknowledgement of SilentPCReview as an info reference source.

The Fortron-Source Aurora 350W ATX12V FSP350-60PN / LED Fan / non-PFC is the first 120mm fan power supply to be reviewed by SPCR. With its cool blue LED fan and nickel-plated exterior, it's one that's meant to be seen but not heard -- well not heard much, anyway.

The second of a 3-part article on "Bluefront's Lanboy" describes the very heart of the computer, a solid aluminum duct made out of a Smart Choice Dryer 90 Degree Close Elbow that allows passive cooling of the CPU about 90% of the time. The first part covered the intake muffler and filter.

Intelforums.net has just compiled a thorough review of the Kingston KHX4000K2/1G kit (HyperX 4000): "For those users looking for a very overclockable memory solution, and aren't afraid to do a little tweaking, Kingston's HyperX 4000 memory is a good choice, with our HyperX 4000 reaching 260MHz stable 1:1. For those users unable or unwilling to make the aforementioned adjustments, there may be better memory solutions available. " -- Peter Giencke

The D.Vine5 Home Theater PC case reviewed here has been sponsored by ExoticPC as their prize for Silent PC Review's Summer 2003 Promotional Giveaway. It's more than just a pretty face; it really can work as part of a high end audio / video system. The case is supplied with two additional extremely quiet Ahanix-SilenX brand 60mm fans (retail value of US$20 for the pair).

Part one of a 3-part article about the theory, construction, and misc. aspects of an Antec Lanboy, complete with an intake muffler/filter, an exhaust muffler box, an aluminum duct to the Alpha heatsink on a P4-2.66. Carl Bohne takes his clean air very seriously; SPCR readers will be interested in the details of the air filtration system devised for this Lanboy.