Search found 29 matches

by awolfe63
Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:47 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Is totally fanless possible with a fanless mini-ITX?
Replies: 11
Views: 11724

Re: Is totally fanless possible with a fanless mini-ITX?

I have a mini-ITX Streacom build. Works great - but I used a 35W TDP CPU.

I have both an SSD and a 2.5" HDD in it, but could not really cool a graphics card as well.
by awolfe63
Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:46 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Alternatives to Phanteks Shift X?
Replies: 3
Views: 6134

Re: Alternatives to Phanteks Shift X?

There is really nothing else like it.

I decided to not use it and use the smaller Silverstone Raven air cooled. I was concerned with pump noise. Since I did not plan to overclock this one, I decided air cooled would be fine.

If you want to water cool, I think the Shift-X is the way to go.
by awolfe63
Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:53 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Suggestions for a Silent Vmware 6.5 Server
Replies: 10
Views: 18606

Re: Suggestions for a Silent Vmware 6.5 Server

You are going to have to find something used and well-depreciated. 32GB of DDR4 RAM is $300+ - especially server RAM.

As a new machine you are talking $2K.

Also - rack mount are almost all noisy - especially 1U.
by awolfe63
Mon Nov 06, 2017 5:09 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Trying to build a silent work station
Replies: 5
Views: 5965

Re: Trying to build a silent work station

I'm just about to start a similar build. i7-8700 ASUS ROG Strix Z370-I Silverstone NT06-Pro cooler Silverstone Raven RVZ01B-E case Silverstone PS-ST55F-PT power supply Mushkin Redline 16GBx2 2666MHz Samsung 960 Pro 512GB M.2 Radeon Pro WX3100 I'll need to see if it is quiet enough. I wanted the new ...
by awolfe63
Wed Oct 14, 2015 12:13 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Skylake Memory Scaling with Kingston Predator DDR4-3000
Replies: 13
Views: 15712

Re: Skylake Memory Scaling with Kingston Predator DDR4-3000

DRAM timing specs are in cycles - not nanoseconds. You need to do the math to figure out if 15 on DDR4 is more latency than 9 on DDR3.

At 3000 MHz, 15 cycles is 5ns. At 1600 MHz, 9 cycles is 5.6ns. The DDR4 has less latency.
by awolfe63
Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:14 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Case recommendation with height constraint
Replies: 18
Views: 8132

Re: Case recommendation with height constraint

Look at the Lian Li PC-V354.
by awolfe63
Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:10 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Intel DH67CF mini-ITX: is CPU undervolting an option?
Replies: 9
Views: 6709

Re: Intel DH67CF mini-ITX: is CPU undervolting an option?

Why?

Most reviews show 3-5W idle for the CPU. Focus on other areas. Low power disk drive. Power supply that is efficient at low draws (like the PicoPSU). Even fans may pull 2-3W each.
by awolfe63
Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:35 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: multiple hard drives, not for server but for RAID speed
Replies: 28
Views: 14185

Re: multiple hard drives, not for server but for RAID speed

I use an 8-drive 2.5" RAID-6 NAS all the time. Quiet, low power, and works great. (QNAP SS-839)

I wouldn't hesitate to try building your own 2.5" RAID array.
by awolfe63
Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:06 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: 2U Eclipse Workstation
Replies: 8
Views: 2555

Re: 2U Eclipse Workstation

I think that both AMD and Nvidia have drivers that can pump the graphics card output through the Sandybridge - but I don't think you can use both sets of connectors. Not completely sure though.

What about getting a riser to set the NV450 in horizontally? Some cases support that. Just not that one.
by awolfe63
Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:49 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: 2U Eclipse Workstation
Replies: 8
Views: 2555

Re: 2U Eclipse Workstation

Figured that out and edited my post. Sorry - read it again. :)
by awolfe63
Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:42 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: 2U Eclipse Workstation
Replies: 8
Views: 2555

Re: 2U Eclipse Workstation

The AMD 5450, while an excellent graphics card, is not noticeably faster than the build in graphics on the Core i7 2600K. It may actually be slower. The built-in graphics won't do 3 monitors though. The 5450 will - but I think one needs to be VGA. I don' t think you can use Intel and AMD graphics at...
by awolfe63
Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:08 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Gaming Machine Slow Upgrade - CPU or GPU first?
Replies: 17
Views: 4929

Re: Gaming Machine Slow Upgrade - CPU or GPU first?

Can I make a suggestion with respect to the noise issue? Sleep the machine when you are not playing games. That will turn off all the fans. You have a server that can handle any always-on requirements. Sleep is pretty reliable on Windows 7. If that doesn't work, turn it off. 2 minutes to start gamin...
by awolfe63
Wed May 18, 2011 1:19 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Asus P8H67-I Deluxe Mini-ITX Motherboard
Replies: 12
Views: 9046

Re: Asus P8H67-I Deluxe Mini-ITX Motherboard

Why do different motherboards provide different CPU voltages to the same CPU chip. I thought that in the i5 generation, the CPU specified the voltage it wants over the VID pins. There could be some error on individual motherboards - but why 20%. Is this test repeatable? Is it possible that the test ...
by awolfe63
Wed Dec 01, 2010 7:15 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Looking for a quiet 60mm fan for a Dell Zino
Replies: 10
Views: 5388

Re: Looking for a quiet 60mm fan for a Dell Zino

1) 60mm fans come in more than one depth. The Zino one is thin - I think 15mm. That knocks out the SilenX, for example, as an option. 2) I've had great luck with Noctua, but they don't seem to have a 60mm. 3) The Zino can run hot. I decided not to change the fan since most quiet fans have less airfl...
by awolfe63
Thu Sep 09, 2010 1:53 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Seasonic X-400 Fanless PSU
Replies: 167
Views: 153821

Why bother with a fanless power supply if you are going to use a 200W GPU? Between the GPU fan and the case airflow - you are not going to have a silent machine. Might as well use a regular quiet power supply.

But - if you insist, there is a 460W model to go with the 400W model.
by awolfe63
Thu Sep 09, 2010 1:49 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Cougar GX-700: 80 Plus Gold from a new brand
Replies: 10
Views: 9865

I assume that your 240V line is 60Hz. Aren't most (all?) of the 240V countries 50Hz? Is this a valid test?
by awolfe63
Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:26 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Choices for a NAS drive (4x1TB drives in RAID5)
Replies: 3
Views: 2955

I've been running two of the WD 2GB in a RAID 1 for 6 months and another in a standalone HTPC 24/7 for over a year. No problems at all. I'd go for them.

I am using the EADS - not the newer EARS - but QNAP supports both.
by awolfe63
Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:24 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Which of these 1TB HDs: Samsung F3, WD Green, or Barracuda?
Replies: 4
Views: 3382

The WD is the quietest, lowest-power 3.5" drive I've seen.

The 500GB or 640GB 2.5" WD is better if it is fast enough and big enough for you.
by awolfe63
Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:36 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Any point in swapping a WD GP for a laptop drive?
Replies: 10
Views: 4705

I have a similar system (BE-2400) and see similar problems. I have 2 1TB WD "green" drives in a RAID 0. The only thing I can come up with is that it is caused by long seek times. There seems to be enough CPU horsepower and it does not seem to be tied to HD. Perhaps Vista with only 4GB of RAM just ca...
by awolfe63
Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:50 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Of Things Slim
Replies: 7
Views: 3525

Anyplace that sells 1U server parts. Google slim DVD or 1U DVD.

Directron.com is one choice.
by awolfe63
Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:12 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: File Server vs external drive 20 ft (6 meters) away
Replies: 21
Views: 10877

Supposedly - the new wireless USB will do 30'
by awolfe63
Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:04 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Advice regarding sound card and/or system upgrade for SPDIF.
Replies: 9
Views: 3561

If you can use optical instead of coax - I got a USB SPDIF soundcard from SIIG. It was $20 after rebate.

http://www.siig.com/ViewProduct.aspx?pn=CE-S00022-S1
by awolfe63
Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:22 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Honest question about the theory of evolution
Replies: 8
Views: 4180

Well - I can answer one of these. The most common way you get a new species is that you get more and more variation within a species (due to beneficial mutations) until at some point you start getting a high failure rate among members of the species that differ greatly. At that point, the likelihood...
by awolfe63
Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:37 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: What to get AMD 690G or Nvidia 7050?
Replies: 71
Views: 43908

I just tried both. I had trouble with the 7050/630 under linux (ubuntu) for myth - but it was fine under XP. I switched to the 690 since I had an easier time getting the linux drivers to run.

Both are good choices.
by awolfe63
Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:30 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Linux Home Server/HTPC Build
Replies: 3
Views: 2914

I just built similar machines for similar purposes. The BE-2400 machine uses about 10W less than the Core2 6750 at idle. Those motherboards seem like overkill if you are interested in silence and low power. The G33 chipset did fine for the Core2. I settled on the AMD690 chipset for the BE-2400. The ...
by awolfe63
Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:08 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: 975X or P35 or X38
Replies: 9
Views: 4612

I have P35 and 975 systems running side by side (both Intel branded MB). There is not a big difference. I would get whichever you can find with the features you want.
by awolfe63
Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:06 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: 35W SFF X2 3800+ is available again
Replies: 30
Views: 20277

Yep - I got 65W parts too. Sending them back. I'll try the 45W parts instead.
by awolfe63
Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:13 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: 35W SFF X2 3800+ is available again
Replies: 30
Views: 20277

35W SFF X2 3800+ is available again

Newegg seems to have OEM 35W Athlon x2 3800+ (the SFF version) in stock.
I haven't been able to find them anywhere to try. I just ordered a couple. I'll post when I try them. Good luck.
by awolfe63
Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:25 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Decent 2.1 speakers
Replies: 13
Views: 7094

I've had some Klipsch Pro-Media 2.1s for nearly 5 years, and they have worked all this time. Very capable of high volumes, although it can get a little unpleasant at high levels. Speakers also have a headphone jack on the speaker w/ the volume control. I use these as well. They are very good and no...