Search found 217 matches

by Blue_Sky
Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:44 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Recommended Hard Drives - a major revision
Replies: 73
Views: 101183

I would have to agree with puddnhead. The drives on the page are all getting harder to find, with some of them out of production now. With the advent of the SSD, I'm not so sure that this page is very relevant anymore. If you were to review the latest round of 7200 RPM 2.5 and 3.5 inch HDDs you woul...
by Blue_Sky
Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:45 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Is AHCI needed with SSD drives?
Replies: 10
Views: 20070

TRIM requires AHCI. Unless you have a SSD that will never have TRIM support, you want AHCI.
by Blue_Sky
Fri Sep 18, 2009 4:59 pm
Forum: Deals, Vendors and Classifieds
Topic: 130W ATX power supply + 120W AC adapter 54$
Replies: 153
Views: 182670

electrodacus, This is a pretty interesting power supply you have here. I have a couple of questions though. Do you have any third-party reviews (excluding the upcoming? SPCR review) that verify that the line voltage ripple is within specifications? Also, I see that you are Canadian - have you regist...
by Blue_Sky
Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:19 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Intel 34nm SSD released
Replies: 237
Views: 257149

I'd like to make a couple of comments. This "better" you mentioned is obviously unqualified. Sure, it is really better for me, and I think a lot of other people, but certainly not better for data storage right now. If you think about the average consumer (not enthusiasts, businesses or SPCR members)...
by Blue_Sky
Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:33 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Intel 34nm SSD released
Replies: 237
Views: 257149

@ lm I think that you can. The Intel Gen2 is less than 80% of the volume of a normal 2.5 in drive, and 60% of a Velociraptor, to which comparisons are commonly made. It uses only 30-40% of the power at load and an even smaller fraction at idle. It is lighter than your average hdd as well. Right now...
by Blue_Sky
Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:36 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
Replies: 6
Views: 4203

It is an older case, so I doubt you will find anyone that has put a Prolima Megahalems in it. The heatsink is 16 cm high, so it will be tight if it fits. Unless you can find your case / heatsink combo in the general gallery or elsewhere online you will just have to try it yourself.
by Blue_Sky
Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:44 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
Replies: 6
Views: 4203

It is a pretty popular motherboard. I recently used one in a build, and it was just fine. A motherboard has little to do with the noise level of a computer though. These days, they are mostly fanless. Checkout here if you are at all confused.
by Blue_Sky
Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:13 pm
Forum: Deals, Vendors and Classifieds
Topic: SOLD: Mini-box.com PW-70A, PW-120-M, 60W AC-DC adapter
Replies: 3
Views: 2768

Argh. Doesn't look like it will work. I need the PCB to be vertical.
by Blue_Sky
Sat Aug 15, 2009 1:14 pm
Forum: Deals, Vendors and Classifieds
Topic: SOLD: Mini-box.com PW-70A, PW-120-M, 60W AC-DC adapter
Replies: 3
Views: 2768

I could certainly use the 120 W pico for a build I'm doing in September. I'm curious though, the product number is different from the 120 W pico they're selling right now - is it an old version?
by Blue_Sky
Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:11 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Lynnfield power consumption?
Replies: 3
Views: 2641

I think that is the million dollar question right now. I don't expect any serious reviews anytime soon, and most of the time the power numbers they've given are useless because they are using some non-reference high end graphics card. Worst case scenario is that we only get the benefits of the north...
by Blue_Sky
Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:15 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: New Atom + Poulsbo motherboard arrived -no moving parts
Replies: 9
Views: 7215

Thanks dougz! The second version looks very interesting. I can't believe that I missed the launch of the US15W chipset. I guess I thought I had longer to wait.
by Blue_Sky
Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:24 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: New Atom + Poulsbo motherboard arrived -no moving parts
Replies: 9
Views: 7215

What is it? I've been waiting for something exactly like that to come out for my file server.
by Blue_Sky
Sun May 31, 2009 1:31 pm
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: Bubba Two - silent torrent/FS/web/mail/router = 7-12W
Replies: 1
Views: 4308

Really cool idea. I saw the first version when it came out, but wrote it off because it wasn't that different than throwing linux on a router.

The second version has a lot of cool features, but I'm not sure that convenience is worth $400+.
by Blue_Sky
Sat May 30, 2009 9:17 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: X58 vs P45 power/heat?
Replies: 2
Views: 2192

TDPs here. Most 45 nm C2Ds idle at the same power / temperatures. 5-10 watts depending on who you ask. the quad cores are double than (they are basically two C2Ds on a die). i7 cpus have the ability to turn off cores when not in use, so their idle temps and powers should be similar, even though at ...
by Blue_Sky
Wed May 27, 2009 1:30 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Is 800 rpm enough for the CPU?
Replies: 9
Views: 5508

I cool a E6750 and 8600GT with far less. I have a 500 RPM fan on my Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme and 1000 RPM exhaust fan. Keeps my system nice and chilly. Keep in mind my computer isn't used much for gaming. My setup is far from ideal though. If I was doing it over again, I would use a 1000 RPM e...
by Blue_Sky
Mon May 25, 2009 2:25 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Best fanless northbridge cooler?
Replies: 18
Views: 8876

Both of the Thermalright SLI versions will likely be too close to that Pci-e 16x slot if you're putting a graphics card in it. Possibly the Xigmatek as well.

Otherwise, all of the tower coolers have a smaller horizontal cross-section than the stock cooler.
by Blue_Sky
Sun May 24, 2009 8:39 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Best fanless northbridge cooler?
Replies: 18
Views: 8876

The fin spacing is pretty close, which means that you need a high velocity flow. The circular cross section only reinforces that. Technically, to best use that shape of that cooler, you need an airflow with the highest speed in the middle and lower at the edges. A fan provides the opposite. I'm not ...
by Blue_Sky
Sun May 24, 2009 12:52 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Best fanless northbridge cooler?
Replies: 18
Views: 8876

Thermalright, Noctua and Xigmatec all make tower heastinks for northbridges. They are the only coolers I know that aren't just bigger versions of what you already have. There are some offset versions as well. I'm not sure where the best places to get them in the States are, so Google the Thermalrigh...
by Blue_Sky
Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:00 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: I need a silent large drive (excluding WD)
Replies: 17
Views: 7861

It is important to remember that you shouldn't let your own experiences with hard drive longevity by manufacturer influence your decision. Very few people have dealt with enough hard drives (not just by manufacturer, but by model) to make a statistically significant conclusion. We are at the point t...
by Blue_Sky
Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:54 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: New Build
Replies: 4
Views: 3099

Sounds pretty good. That is a lot of drives - have you considered soft mounting them to offset the increase in platters?

All of the people I know with Dell monitors are happy with them. Keep in mind that these aren't graphics professionals. I have heard that Dell really peaked on they 07 models.
by Blue_Sky
Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:31 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Recommended SPCR mAtx i7 System
Replies: 10
Views: 5133

As it stands right now i dont recommend Vista to anyone. You dont really gain anything by "upgrading" to it from XP Pro SP3, other than needing to purchase more memory for the same level of performance. Also the whole "go with 2x3 so eventually you can populate all 6 ram slots for 12gb of memory" i...
by Blue_Sky
Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:27 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Xeon L5520 - the next ultimate low-ish power CPU?
Replies: 19
Views: 16119

I wasn't using supposed in that sense, but there is no way of conveying that in text. I should have used another word. I was referring to the TDP/draw comparison above - I think we have all realize that Intel's TDPs aren't that useful, except to establish some sort of power draw hierarchy.
by Blue_Sky
Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:26 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Xeon L5520 - the next ultimate low-ish power CPU?
Replies: 19
Views: 16119

Oops, completely missed that. Thought it had a 60W TDP like the rest of the 550x CPUs. I guess that my earlier question is moot them. I doubt that 35W is just supposed. I've seen some reasonably vigorous investigations pegging it between 32 and 35 W for an E8500.
by Blue_Sky
Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:09 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Need feedback on proposed HTPC
Replies: 18
Views: 8188

1. Possibly - you will have to track down someone that has tried to do that with that specific board. Newegg didn't seem to have anything relevant. 2. Yes. States that in the specs. 3. Not sure. Doesn't it come down to OS/software compatibility now? 4. Most definitely. If you can get an E5200 for ch...
by Blue_Sky
Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:55 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Xeon L5520 - the next ultimate low-ish power CPU?
Replies: 19
Views: 16119

The Xeon L5508 is a bit more crazy. 38w at 2ghz! Unfortunately it's not really for general consumption, it's specific for embedded communications needs, but I'd think that's the ultimate low power cpu. But more realistically, I agree the L5520 looks really good for a low power, high speed quad core...
by Blue_Sky
Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:28 pm
Forum: Networking
Topic: WHS self-build (Prescott 3.2GHz vs. ???)
Replies: 6
Views: 8713

A E5x00/E7x00/E8x00 on a P35 board or a Phenom 2 will draw a lot less at idle than a P4. You could probably put a E5200 and P35 build on a 120W picopsu, depending on you hard drive requirements. There lots of builds that are idling at 50-70W. If you know what you P4s draw, you can use the $1/watt*ye...
by Blue_Sky
Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:49 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: HDTach CPU usage
Replies: 5
Views: 3856

Iometer is as close as you can get to real world performance. Hdtach and Hdtune test sequential read AFAIK, which isn't something that occurs often, naturally.
by Blue_Sky
Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:04 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Will I notice a performance increase with a Seagate Pipeline
Replies: 14
Views: 6421

Yup, that's it. There have been a number of reviews that peg the Black editions as slightly louder than the Blue (a dB or two). The WD GPs spin at 5400 RPM.
by Blue_Sky
Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:11 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Will I notice a performance increase with a Seagate Pipeline
Replies: 14
Views: 6421

I would like to second what dhanson865 said. If you have the money, get the Black, otherwise the Blue. If low power is paramount, the Green. 640GB still seems to be the sweet spot.

Seagate and Hiatchi make loud drives. I have had a number of each, and over time they've all been traded for WDs.
by Blue_Sky
Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:52 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: TDP list for Intel chipsets
Replies: 48
Views: 154480

X58: TDP 24.1 W, idle 8.5 W
Source, p 13.
US15W (new Atom chipset): TDP 2.3W, idle unspecified*
Source, p 423.
* With a Z530, it is said to idle at 5 W, as per a number of manufacturers.