Search found 55 matches

by taidi
Tue Feb 02, 2010 7:36 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Insights on Home-Made MDF Case?
Replies: 25
Views: 15609

@andymcca - don't you have any small DIY shops in the area ? I was toying with the idea of an MDF case for a while - we have a small DIY shop where they will cut anything to size for you...panels etc. and even rout grooves etc in the carcase. An MDF carcase will need a frame and also needs to be sea...
by taidi
Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:17 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Cheap 2 channel fan contoller with temp sensors/display
Replies: 1
Views: 1474

Just for info.....the vendor got back to me to say this unit will not display fan speeds.

I will probably still buy one as the thermistors should provide a more useful indication of case temps than does my motherboard sensor.
by taidi
Sat Jan 30, 2010 9:02 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Cheap 2 channel fan contoller with temp sensors/display
Replies: 1
Views: 1474

Cheap 2 channel fan contoller with temp sensors/display

Has anyone here tried this fan controller ? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300385950244&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Haven't managed to find any reviews but it looks quite useful, especially if it displays fan speeds. This isn't clear from the description but it seems to have three...
by taidi
Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:51 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: X-Case Mini Micro - "Smallest Micro ATX Case"
Replies: 10
Views: 9469

In the end I bought a NSK3480 to re-house my system. It will fit comfortably in the alcove behind my monitor and be mostly out of sight.

I had discounted this case some time ago as being too expensive at around £65 + shipping in UK, but I found a second hand one on Ebay for £30 inc. shipping.
by taidi
Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:27 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: My reflections on Seagate Barracuda LP
Replies: 29
Views: 16520

Finally gave up on acquiring a 500GB version of the LP or Pipeline drives and settled for a 320GB version ST3320310CS.

LambdaTek seem to have a good stock of these.

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop ... ID=B135412
by taidi
Sat Jan 16, 2010 4:00 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: My reflections on Seagate Barracuda LP
Replies: 29
Views: 16520

What happened to the single platter 500GB version of this drive (ST3500412AS) - several UK sellers list it but none have any stock....even New Egg in the States are out of stock. Has it been discontinued already ? Do mean the LP drive and not the Pipeline HD (which is impossible to get hold of here...
by taidi
Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:48 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: My reflections on Seagate Barracuda LP
Replies: 29
Views: 16520

Thanks Steve, but that isn't the low power Pipiline drive featued in the recent SPCR review which has the part No. ST3500414CS. Searching the Seagate site for this number brings up the Pipeline HD range of drives where the 500GB version is listed as both ST3500312CS and ST3500321CS...I can't fathom ...
by taidi
Fri Jan 15, 2010 6:37 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: My reflections on Seagate Barracuda LP
Replies: 29
Views: 16520

What happened to the single platter 500GB version of this drive (ST3500412AS) - several UK sellers list it but none have any stock....even New Egg in the States are out of stock.

Has it been discontinued already ?
by taidi
Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:18 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: X-Case Mini Micro - "Smallest Micro ATX Case"
Replies: 10
Views: 9469

Vendor confirms the two rear fans in this case are 60mm.
by taidi
Fri Jan 01, 2010 10:54 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: X-Case Mini Micro - "Smallest Micro ATX Case"
Replies: 10
Views: 9469

I think, in fact, the case has 2x60mm fans - but I'll check with the supplier on Monday.

Scythe claim 19.99 dBA for their 60mm fans...but that's to only two decimal places :lol: . More problematic is the starting voltage at 9V which presumably makes it not worth using a fan-mate.
by taidi
Fri Jan 01, 2010 3:37 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: X-Case Mini Micro - "Smallest Micro ATX Case"
Replies: 10
Views: 9469

Re: Haven't tried but just ordered and will be testing it..

aleutia wrote:
Is your mATX a particularly silent one? Have only really seen good ATX ones.
You mean the PSU ? It's not silent but neither is it intrusive. It came out of an old Viglen PC.
by taidi
Fri Jan 01, 2010 8:28 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: X-Case Mini Micro - "Smallest Micro ATX Case"
Replies: 10
Views: 9469

X-Case Mini Micro - "Smallest Micro ATX Case"

I'm wondering if anyone here has tried this case ? http://www.xcase.co.uk/Mini-Micro-Case-p/case-xcase-mm.htm It looks quite neat, if a little flimsy, and from the reviews at the bottom of the page there seems to be some doubt about the size of the exhaust fans. With a case height dimension of 315mm...
by taidi
Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:41 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Another Pico PSU question
Replies: 14
Views: 5905

I think you would be better off with a PicoPSU-150-XT as you originally planned, not 120W. There isn't much difference in the cost so I shall settle on the 150w version. I figured out what the 10W draw was - I have a little USB battery charger plugged into one of the rear ports via an extension cab...
by taidi
Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:32 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Power Meter Recommendations
Replies: 4
Views: 2932

Re: Power Meter Recommendations

Would something like this do http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38343 , or are there better options? Many thanks in advance! I used one of these today (borrowed from a friend) on my system. No logging available but it's easy enough to just watch the display. I checked it using a table lam...
by taidi
Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:50 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Another Pico PSU question
Replies: 14
Views: 5905

I finally got some power readings for my system. Boot, peak watts = 80 Idle, watts = 65 (53 with C&Q running) Running Linx 0.63 using all spare memory, peak watts = 92. I ran this until the CPU temp stabilised and then gave it another five minutes - about 15 minutes altogether. Out of interest I als...
by taidi
Mon Oct 12, 2009 3:59 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PicoPSU 150 fine for this build? How 2 find 150W power adapt
Replies: 29
Views: 14955

They are a good find! EDAC is using 4-pin DIN sockets made by Kycon, which can handle 15A of current, and so perfect for a 180W adapter. I am not sure if Relec is a retailer, though. Please let us know if they sell to end-users. If you do get one of these adapters, remember to get a matching DIN so...
by taidi
Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:39 am
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: low-power DSL modem
Replies: 11
Views: 16870

I have an internal Alcatel PCI card DSL modem in this PC, - don't have a way to measure but imagine it uses very little power. My other PC has an external USB DSL modem which I think works on 5V/0.5 Amps so that will be pretty 'green' too.
by taidi
Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:33 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Another Pico PSU question
Replies: 14
Views: 5905

Mini-box.com ship their 150W adapter with one of these...

http://resources.mini-box.com/online/PW ... -5A-b1.jpg

I'm sure I couldn't fabricate that even if I could get hold of the connectors :lol:

But I shall ask Relec if they can provide the same.
by taidi
Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:55 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PicoPSU 150 fine for this build? How 2 find 150W power adapt
Replies: 29
Views: 14955

In the meantime I found a FSP150-AHBN1 available at Kustompcs.. http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1666.html for £46.00 and they also stock the picoPSU-150-XT What I'm not sure about is does there need to be a margin between the PSU and the power brick. Is it better to use a 180w adapter with...
by taidi
Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:07 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Another Pico PSU question
Replies: 14
Views: 5905

Thanks...those comparisons look encouraging. I have found a couple of fanless AC/DC converters from a UK company which should work with the PicoPSU-150; 150W and 180W - I'll call them Monday. http://www.relec.co.uk/product743.html http://www.relec.co.uk/product744.html Oops....that should be 180W an...
by taidi
Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:13 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PicoPSU 150 fine for this build? How 2 find 150W power adapt
Replies: 29
Views: 14955

Here is the link to mini-box power brick: http://www.mini-box.com/12v-12-5A-AC-DC-Power-Adapter?sc=8&category=980 Uday But not available in UK ? I have found a couple of useful looking fanless AC/DC converters from a UK based company and would appreciate your opinion on the suitability for use with...
by taidi
Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:56 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Another Pico PSU question
Replies: 14
Views: 5905

Thanks for the clarification - I wasn't thinking straight; :oops: laptops obviously don't require a path to ground when running off the mains via the charger. I've been playing with Antec's Power Supply Calculator http://www.antec.outervision.com/PSUEngine. and it advises 128 watts with no video car...
by taidi
Thu Oct 08, 2009 5:39 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Another Pico PSU question
Replies: 14
Views: 5905

Another Pico PSU question

I'd like to move my system into a wood (MDF) box and use a Pico Power Supply but have a couple of uncertainties about doing this. Would a Pico 150 Watt PSU be sufficent to power the system as it is...? Main Board = Asrock ALiveNF6G-DVI CPU = Athlon 64 3800+ Lima Core RAM = 2 x 1GB Crucial 1.8V HDD =...
by taidi
Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:11 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Seagate ST96812A versus WD1200BEVS ?
Replies: 0
Views: 1581

Seagate ST96812A versus WD1200BEVS ?

My little XCube X18 has a Seagate ST96812A 60GB 2.5" IDE drive running Win98SE and it's dog slow. I want to install XP on it and have already bought a memory upgrade but wonder if it could use a 'better' drive. There is a SATA150 connector on the board - would a WD1200BEVS 120GB 2.5" SATA drive be n...
by taidi
Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:53 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Should I be worried by this SMART report ?
Replies: 5
Views: 3418

Just because a drive passes the manufacturers’ diagnostic routine doesn’t mean that it isn’t getting close to failing. Isn’t the point of SMART to catch drives before they fail?. You would think so - but the implication on Seagate's website is that if the drive passes their diagnostic test ...
by taidi
Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:40 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Should I be worried by this SMART report ?
Replies: 5
Views: 3418

Hey thanks for the reassurance Arvo - the explanation is a bit over my head but it's a comfort to know my drive isn't about to curl up and die :) It seems there is no way to contact the owners of the HDDStatus site - if their disagnostics are giving out false negatives about people's hardware they n...
by taidi
Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:55 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Seagate VS Samsung
Replies: 26
Views: 11201

I have a Seagate 7200.09 SATA drive suspended in the bottom of the case cooled by a 8cm intake fan running at 5V. Can't hear the drive or the fan. I've always used Seagate drives and was a bit disappointed the noise specs are not what they used to be, - this drive however hasn't been a problem and i...
by taidi
Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:43 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Should I be worried by this SMART report ?
Replies: 5
Views: 3418

Should I be worried by this SMART report ?

Using the on-line diagnostic tool from Speedfan I got this alarming report... http://www.hddstatus.com/hdrepshowreport.php?ReportCode=1860467&ReportVerification=DE1A8CB3 The overall fitness for this drive is 0%. The overall performance for this drive is 90%. :o I ran Seagate's short test and the dri...
by taidi
Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:20 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Could a PWM fan cause this 'ticking' noise ?
Replies: 3
Views: 2069

Could a PWM fan cause this 'ticking' noise ?

Have recently built a new system - ASRock AliveNF6G-DVI, nVidia MP61 chipset, Athlon (Lima) 64 3800+ CPU, running WinXP Home SP2. On connecting the on-board Realtek line-out to my stereo system I hear what sounds like a metronome ticking away in the background with a 1 second interval. It starts as ...
by taidi
Mon May 28, 2007 7:31 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: passive AM2 DVI MB for undervolting 45W A64 3800+
Replies: 18
Views: 12440

Re: nf6

NF4G cpu compatibility page says ADH3800IAA4DE (Lima) is compatible since bios P1.40, but NF6G page doesn't list lima at all :( I suspect they have forgotten to update the compatability page for the NF6G. If you look at the BIOS revision listing, Ver 1.6 clearly states "support Rev. G CPU" and ther...