The lowest end FirePros are what I went for (reference V3900/V4900): then I strapped an Accelero S1 Plus on them. Although I've built my own PCs, I've previously been nervous of modding a graphics card, but I've had a look at the V4900 and the Accelero S1 Plus, and this combination certainly looks ...

I am about to purchase a single 10-bit 2560x1440 monitor for use with Photoshop, and I understand that the only graphics cards that support 10-bits are Nvidia Quadro and ATI FirePro. The card needs to have a displayport output. Other than Photoshop, I used the PC for office applications. I do not us...

The other option is just install a very low rpm fan, and connect it to the CPU header, Asus motherboard have the option to switch the CPU_FAN header from PWM to Voltage Controlled (in the Q_FAN, in the past was just to switch it from AUTO to ADVANCED). Btw i though the new Z170 asus mobos had a Fan...

I am building a PC with passive CPU and graphics coolers, based on an Asus 170-deluxe motherboard, but I have hit an issue with the BIOS: unless a CPU fan is installed, the BIOS refuses to boot the PC. I have tried a work around, by connecting a fan to the CPU fan header, with the intention of switc...

edh wrote:(or better still, an open fire!)

I love the image! Thanks very much for the confirmation and reassurance.

I would like to use a Seasonic SS-520FL (or its clone, the Silverstone Nightjar NJ520) in an FT02 build. This would require the ventilated side with the power cable socket to face upwards (a little below the ventilated top cover of the FT02). Instructions for the PSUs state that the side of the case...

Using any type of file system "sync" or disk imaging for real-time backup would make absolutely no sense. It's effectively the same as trying to use RAID for backup, and every bit as bad. Accidentally delete a file? Oops... it's immediately deleted from your "backup". True backups account for state...

Das_Saunamies wrote:my approach to data is that unless there is an original, a dynamic backup and a static backup, that data does not exist.

Well said. I think we're of one mind!

Thank you very much for your comments. They have been very helpful. I followed Das_Saunamies's suggestion, and looked into TLER in more detail. For the benefit of future readers, I will summarise what I see as the main points: The TLER setting implemented on RE and Red drives (that limits the time t...

Thank you very much for the response. I take your point regarding the problems that may arise due to frequent head parking etc.. I had seriously considered a WD Red drive, but was concerned that it might not be suitable for a desktop operation. Some of the special features of Reds appear to be for t...

I'm building my first PC for 5 years, for general use and also for photo-editing in Photoshop (with large files). Cooling will be totally passive: Core i7 3770 processor with passive cooler, Seasonic Platinum Fanless PSU and Nofan CS-80 case. Storage is the only outstanding design issue. I've ruled ...

washu wrote:I've been reasonably happy with Crashplan for a set it and forget it type backup.

I wasn't aware of Crashplan. I've now looked at their site, and it is clearly a very flexible option. Thank you for the suggestion.

If you build it there is a big chance it can be lowered to where its inaudible, but at the same time if this is your intention, then i would go a case like antec solo II that has suspension for 2x 3.5 hdds, but this will also make them not hot swapable, so something will have to give. Personally i ...

What are you going to use to provide "real time" backup? I'm aware that Acronis TrueImage (for example) has a "Nonstop Backup" feature, but this needs to be manually maintained (to delete old data). So I'm hoping for something a little more sophisticated, but I'm new to NAS technology and products,...

Thank you for the response.

I'm not desperate to build one myself, but my understanding is that prebuilt NASs are rarely very quiet. A self-build using the latest components should achieve quieter solution that is also more energy-efficient.

I'd like to build an NAS that has 2 Western Digital Red 3TBs (with a Gigabit connection to a combined wireless / Gigabit router), simply to provide real-time continuous backup of a PC (with a Gigibit connection to the network) and a laptop (with an 802.11n network connection). The 2nd drive needs to...

Ubtree wrote:Hard drive speeds are often rated in mega bytes per second. Network speeds are always rated in mega or giga bits per second.

Of course!

Thank you very much for the reply - it's just what I needed to know.

I would really appreciate a brief explanation of how file transfer speeds across a Gigabit LAN (with Billion BIPAC 7800N router) to an NAS equipped with 1TB Velociraptors would compare with the speed of accessing files held on an internal Velociraptor. (Although the headline 1GB speed for the networ...

Thank you. I'll definitely test as you suggest. I am considering a very large CPU cooler that would not leave room for the Sapphire HD7750 graphics card in the first slot on the Asus P8Z77 WS motherboard. One option would be to install the graphics card in the secondary PCIe x16 slot, in which only ...

I've thought carefully about this, and I think that your advice is very sound: I shall definitely go for a 7750. I've found three passive versions: HIS iSilence H775P1GD, PowerColor Go! Green AX7750 and Sapphire Ultimate Radeon HD 7750. There is probably very little to choose in terms of power and g...

Thank you very much for the reply. The links are extremely useful, and I now have a basic grasp of the issues. I take your point regarding the HD7750 vs. the 6670. I'll be producing panoramas by combining several 20Mpixel images, and so I'll also consider GTX660 or HD7850, but I guess I would then h...

I am looking for a graphics card for Photoshop editing with 2 monitors in a dual monitor configuration that has: - Passive cooling - 1 x DVI port - 1 x DisplayPort I'm aware that Photoshop CS6 can make use of some of the more advanced graphics card features, such as Open CL, but I don't understand t...

I've been using the using the EAH3650 for a little over a month now - and its been entirely trouble-free. It's a large card, but not excessively so, and the build quality is very good. In my PC case (a P182 with 4 Noctua fans), and for my applications (non-gaming) it is running satisfactorily cool (...

Thank you for all the very helpful advice. It was just what I needed to point me in the right direction - and it demonstrates the excellence of SPCR (particularly when contrasted with the advice given in another forum in which I posted the question, where all I was told that the answer was obvious -...

Thanks, Bob. That is extremely helpful. Being a complete ignoramus when it comes to graphics cards (since I don't have many special requirements), I have to rely on those who know much more than me - and they are usually gamers. So I have previously been steered towards the higher end cards. But a 5...

I would like to run an HD 3850 (PCI-Express) with an Accelero S1 Rev 2, but I am not an expert on graphics cards (and I'm totally new to ATI), and would appreciate some help on choosing a card. My main requirements (other than silence) are reliability and stability. The main use of the card will be ...

Having read some other threads, I know that I run the risk of being excommunicated from the SPCR community for mentioning Thermaltake, but Thermaltake has launched a new range that looks very interesting - the Toughpower QFan Series . These PSUs incorporate 2 interesting innovations: a frameless fan...

Thanks Lensman, that perfect! I'll go ahead with my order for a P182, and at the same time buy and extra fan.

Thanks for all the practical advice. Your responses have given me a lot to go on.

Ubtree

Thanks for the responses. They're really helpful. I did briefly look at S.M.A.R.T. monitoring of the drives (which are indeed S.M.A.R.T.-enabled). However, my drives are configured in a RAID 01 array, using a Promise FastTrak S150 TX4 card. Therefore they are not connected directly to the motherboar...