Search found 130 matches

by b3nbranch
Thu Jan 12, 2017 11:17 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Monitor Questions
Replies: 4
Views: 5113

Re: Monitor Questions

Thanks for the BenQ GW2765 recommendation. I snagged one in November when it was briefly on sale for $250. I also caught the i5-6600K on sale for the same price as the i5-6600 non-K, so I decided to go with the AsRock Z170M-ITX/ac motherboard. Displayport works great with the BenQ. I only assembled ...
by b3nbranch
Tue Sep 06, 2016 1:04 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Monitor Questions
Replies: 4
Views: 5113

Re: Monitor Questions

Thank you for the comparison list. I guess I do have some options after all.
I wish one of them was perfect ...

Ben
by b3nbranch
Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:40 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Monitor Questions
Replies: 4
Views: 5113

Monitor Questions

It's been years since my last build -- an E7500 Core Duo using an on-board nvidia chip (geforce 9300 / nforce 730i). I'm working on the specs for a mini-ITX skylake build using the Intel IGP. Use cases: office and creative writing work, photo editing (GIMP), very light video editing. I'd like to bum...
by b3nbranch
Tue Apr 19, 2016 10:24 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Power DIN/ picoPSU mini-din
Replies: 3
Views: 6243

Power DIN/ picoPSU mini-din

Starting to investigate a build to replace my Core 2 Duo system. I'm looking at some level VI ac/dc converters (at CUI.com), which are described as having a 4-pin Power DIN output connector. The adapter for 4-pin input to a picoPSU is described (at mini-box.com) as a mini-DIN. Are these the same thi...
by b3nbranch
Tue Jun 02, 2015 5:44 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Skylake: i5-6400 vs i7-6700T specs
Replies: 6
Views: 12462

Re: Skylake: i5-6400 vs i7-6700T specs

All good points. IMHO it's likely that the T part will de-turbo if more than one core is busy.
Might also be binned for lower voltages.

Even if nerfed, the iGPU will probably run rings around the Nvidia nforce 730i iGPU in my
current system ... will be interesting to see final specs *and prices*.
by b3nbranch
Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:11 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Skylake: i5-6400 vs i7-6700T specs
Replies: 6
Views: 12462

Skylake: i5-6400 vs i7-6700T specs

OK, I've been reading the news about the newly released Skylake specs. If the i7-6700T has more oomph (threads, clocks, L3 Cache) than the i5-6400, but is 35W vs 65W TDP, Core i5-6400 14nm 4/4 2.7 GHz 3.3 GHz 6 MB DDR4 2133 MHz 65W LGA 1151 No Core i7-6700T 14nm 4/8 2.8 GHz 3.6 GHz 8 MB DDR4 2133 MH...
by b3nbranch
Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:05 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Rosewill Legacy U3 Aluminum MicroATX Tower
Replies: 10
Views: 11666

Re: Rosewill Legacy U3 Aluminum MicroATX Tower

+1 for a V3 review.
by b3nbranch
Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:49 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PSU for a 60W PC. Any advices?
Replies: 10
Views: 11280

Re: PSU for a 60W PC. Any advices?

There are adapter cables to convert a molex connection to the 4-pin CPU connection, such as http://www.mini-box.com/4-Pin-P4-Power-Cable . Molex Y-splitters are easy to find. Or you could consider the picoPSU-150-XT or picoPSU-160-XT which do have P4/CPU connector already. The higher capacity picoPS...
by b3nbranch
Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:38 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PSU for a 60W PC. Any advices?
Replies: 10
Views: 11280

Re: PSU for a 60W PC. Any advices?

Yes, my first picoPSU system was a 20-pin pico into 24-pin ATX connector.
by b3nbranch
Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:26 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PSU for a 60W PC. Any advices?
Replies: 10
Views: 11280

Re: PSU for a 60W PC. Any advices?

I'm very interested in your power numbers. Is that 60 watts under load with
all four cores busy? Any undervolting?

I have used picoPSUs in my last two machines and am very happy with them.
Look for a level V power brick for best efficiency.
by b3nbranch
Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:33 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Silent 22-24" monitor recommendations
Replies: 11
Views: 7300

Re: Silent 22-24" monitor recommendations

Yup. I've currently got the brightness set at 40% and contrast at 75%. With the LED
backlighting the 40% is plenty.
by b3nbranch
Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:22 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Silent 22-24" monitor recommendations
Replies: 11
Views: 7300

Re: Silent 22-24" monitor recommendations

I got a Dell U2412M (24", IPS panel, 1920x1200) about three months ago,
and I'm very pleased with it. Absolutely silent, as far as I can hear!
by b3nbranch
Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:17 pm
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: josephclemente's SilverStone SG05 MINI ITX + fanless ATX PSU
Replies: 16
Views: 29452

Re: josephclemente's SilverStone SG05 MINI ITX + fanless ATX

Great pictures. How hard was it to remove the original front grill from the SG05? I have one but I can't tell if it's just a pressure fit, glued, or what. I hope to make a new build with a Haswell processor later in 2013, and would like to do this ... perhaps painting the modder's mesh in a differen...
by b3nbranch
Tue May 15, 2012 5:57 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: New 23 or 24 inch monitor Ultrasharp?
Replies: 22
Views: 12710

Re: New 23 or 24 inch monitor Ultrasharp?

No whine problems on my new U2412m at 45% brightness. Previous monitor was a 20" ViewSonic
that I had to keep above 97% because of the whine issue.
by b3nbranch
Mon May 14, 2012 10:32 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: 24" monitor?
Replies: 11
Views: 6083

Re: 24" monitor?

I don't know if it's on your short list, but I got a Dell U2412m 24" 1920x1200
monitor yesterday, and it's great. You'll need external speakers or a Dell sound
bar (I used the AX510).
by b3nbranch
Mon May 14, 2012 10:29 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: New 23 or 24 inch monitor Ultrasharp?
Replies: 22
Views: 12710

Re: New 23 or 24 inch monitor Ultrasharp?

I got the U2412m yesterday, and I like it very much. The on-screen controls are pretty easy to use. I went from 1680x1050 to 1920x1200 and am thoroughly enjoying the extra real estate. Connected the Dell AX510 sound bar to it, no problems and plenty loud. With the sound bar on the monitor precious d...
by b3nbranch
Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:41 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: 2002-2012: A Decade of SPCR (EDIT: now 12 years)
Replies: 61
Views: 102389

Re: 2002-2012: A Decade of SPCR

Hurrah for SPCR! I'm looking forward to the next decade.
by b3nbranch
Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:41 am
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: new htpc - q11b, i5-2500k, axp-140, gt430, picoPSU
Replies: 20
Views: 21111

Re: new htpc - q11b, i5-2500k, axp-140, gt430, picoPSU

Actually, the newer Linux kernels have been getting worse with power consumption. (see http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_31_power_regress&num=1 ) I'm sure they are going to eventually fix this problem, but I'm in no hurry to upgrade from Ubuntu 10.10 to 11.04 myself. (With 10....
by b3nbranch
Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:24 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Case size comparison chart
Replies: 14
Views: 10581

Re: Case size comparison chart

The Apex MI-008 (reviewed on SPCR http://www.silentpcreview.com/apex-mi008 ) is similar to the Thermaltake Q.

8.7"x 5.1"x 13.5"
220mm x 129mm x 340mm
8.5 liters (sounds low)
250 Watt SFX PSU

http://www.apextechusa.com/products.asp?pID=171
by b3nbranch
Sun May 16, 2010 11:09 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Socket M miniITX motherboards -- comments and advice
Replies: 0
Views: 2212

Socket M miniITX motherboards -- comments and advice

I retired a socket M system (T7400 CPU) a few months ago because the microATX motherboard was getting flaky. It would forget the time and turn off the LAN interface with every reboot. (And yes, I replaced the CMOS battery, to no effect.) I built myself an LGA 775 miniITX system (e7500, Zotac 9300-I-...
by b3nbranch
Wed May 12, 2010 3:35 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Questions about Zotac 9300-ITX
Replies: 2
Views: 1680

I can't speak to the Minja, but I built a system with the Zotac board (flavor 9300-I-E), an E7500, picoPSU, and a CoolerMaster Geminii S. It's worked very well for me. I have a few photos and text of the assembly here . Maybe they will be of some help. (The Coolermaster uses a backplate with the cen...
by b3nbranch
Mon Apr 05, 2010 5:01 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PicoPSU Reliability
Replies: 30
Views: 20183

I had a system (42 watts idle, 50-60% of the time on) with a pico-90 that ran fine for 3 years. Just build a system with pico-150 two months ago, worked fine so far.
by b3nbranch
Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:33 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Did I get a bad batch of Gentle Typhoons?
Replies: 8
Views: 4012

No, I would estimate I am using them at about 60% setting. I could go lower during this time of year, when the room temperature is about 20-21C, but I may want them this high during the summer. I'll do a stress test this summer and find the lowest setting I can safely use. I think the hum will stil...
by b3nbranch
Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:20 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Should I buy an SSD now or hold out for 6GPS
Replies: 74
Views: 29808

Re: AHCI on Zotac GF9300-I-E

Just one data point -- a couple of weeks ago I built a new miniITX system using the Zotac GF9300-I-E motherboard, using an Intel X25-V (40GB "value" SSD) for the OS/applications, running 64-bit Ubuntu 9.10. If I select "ACHI" or "Linux AHCI" for SATA mode in the BIOS, not only does the mobo fail to...
by b3nbranch
Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:56 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Did I get a bad batch of Gentle Typhoons?
Replies: 8
Views: 4012

Yeah, the noise they make is quite "inoffensive" compared to the noise that most other fans make. But mine are definitely not inadubile at low RPMs. Are you using them on the lowest setting of the fan mate? No, I would estimate I am using them at about 60% setting. I could go lower during this time...
by b3nbranch
Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:51 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Did I get a bad batch of Gentle Typhoons?
Replies: 8
Views: 4012

I just put together a system with two Gentle Typhoon 1150 rpm in it. I have them slowed down with Zalman fanmates, but I don't know exactly how far because the motherboard is reporting ridiculous numbers (such as 6,000 rpm for an 1150 rpm fan). I can hear the bearing hum, but only if nothing else is...
by b3nbranch
Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:41 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Scythe Gentle Typhoon First impressions (pics added 8.8.09)
Replies: 52
Views: 50469

Gentle Typhoon 1150 rpm

Another observation point. I have two 1150rpm Gentle Typhoons in a new build, inside an SG05 mini-ITX case, one replacing the front fan, and one blowing down through a Coolermaster Geminii S. Both are undervolted though Zalman fanmate, but the BIOS is reporting flaky RPMs (at full speed they're doin...
by b3nbranch
Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:47 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Should I buy an SSD now or hold out for 6GPS
Replies: 74
Views: 29808

AHCI on Zotac GF9300-I-E

Just one data point -- a couple of weeks ago I built a new miniITX system using the Zotac GF9300-I-E motherboard, using an Intel X25-V (40GB "value" SSD) for the OS/applications, running 64-bit Ubuntu 9.10. If I select "ACHI" or "Linux AHCI" for SATA mode in the BIOS, not only does the mobo fail to ...