Search found 69 matches

by fuzzymath10
Wed May 04, 2016 8:31 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Confessions of a Noctua fanboy
Replies: 9
Views: 7736

Re: Confessions of a Noctua fanboy

Same here. I went through countless fans from decent brands and after a year or so many of them started buzzing. I have a bunch of 120 and 80mm Noctua case fans and they sound essentially the same as they did when I bought them about 4 years ago. Before that I was fiddling with swapping fans in and ...
by fuzzymath10
Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:25 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: The mysteries of ≤550W ATX PSUs
Replies: 14
Views: 11024

Re: The mysteries of ≤550W ATX PSUs

I will give a vote of support for seasonic. I haven't pushed my x460 that far but it has run for 3 years nearly 24/7 with a quad core intel, an igp or 90w gpu, and 7 hard drives plus an ssd. Peaks at maybe 200w, usually around 100w. But I haven't had to baby it at all, and the case has three fans ru...
by fuzzymath10
Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:53 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Trouble finding a silent 92mm fan
Replies: 5
Views: 4405

Re: Trouble finding a silent 92mm fan

I replaced the original Scythe fan on my (non-big) Shuriken with the Noctua. It's actually pretty good. Mine doesn't click, and at high RPM it's just a whooshing noise. I have it in a fairly tight case (a Lone Industries case; they've posted here before), and it just fits with the Shuriken. It does ...
by fuzzymath10
Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:16 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Idle computer power usage
Replies: 5
Views: 3377

Re: Idle computer power usage

I think you may be better off than you think. The PC I keep in my living room (see below - the A04) used to idle around your figure at the wall, and that was with a discrete GPU (HD 5750). The recent generation cards idle pretty well, even a higher-range model like yours. When I switched to the IGP,...
by fuzzymath10
Wed Apr 15, 2015 9:15 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: PicoPSU 90 real life datapoint
Replies: 6
Views: 4487

Re: PicoPSU 90 real life datapoint

Undervolting the cpu might help for peak usage to prevent crashing if that option is available. I'm running an i7 3770 with a 512GB MX100 and 8GB memory and two 80mm fans. My Pico psu is the multiple voltage version which supports 6A on the 12V. The DC is from a cooler master universal laptop brick....
by fuzzymath10
Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:29 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: It is so hard finding a PSU doesn't have high pitched noise
Replies: 19
Views: 16766

Re: It is so hard finding a PSU doesn't have high pitched no

Most of the noise from non-mechanical components for me has come from discrete video cards and the motherboard (probably power delivery to CPU). Usually a combination of clicking or whining almost as if something was about to explode under high pressure. The smaller fans on smaller power supplies ha...
by fuzzymath10
Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:22 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Quiet 80mm on a budget?
Replies: 9
Views: 6462

Re: Quiet 80mm on a budget?

I've gone through quite a number of 80mm fans of all sorts. Did you try the AC? I haven't. After a quick glance it looks attractive so if it can perform well over an extended period it looks like a good candidate. How long have you had them running? Any chance you've had the opportunity to compare ...
by fuzzymath10
Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:05 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Quiet 80mm on a budget?
Replies: 9
Views: 6462

Re: Quiet 80mm on a budget?

I've gone through quite a number of 80mm fans of all sorts. The Noctuas don't seem so expensive after spending time and money trying other options only to find them lacking out of the box or in some cases performing well for under a year before starting to click. That's what happened to my low rpm S...
by fuzzymath10
Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:46 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Journey to a Silent MicroATX Gamer
Replies: 40
Views: 37900

Re: Journey to a Silent MicroATX Gamer

That was interesting to read, as I strive for similar attributes in my systems (but with a bias to low profile cases and the resulting GPU limitations). Were any of the following out of scope to help reduce temperatures and/or the noise floor? 1) Undervolting the CPU, which has made a material diffe...
by fuzzymath10
Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:20 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Are PicoPSU-like supplies the best option at low loads?
Replies: 30
Views: 38046

Re: Are PicoPSU-like supplies the best option at low loads?

It's possible certain combinations work better than others too. I ended up with a wide-input pico psu and a universal laptop brick from cooler master (NA 90 I think). http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=207 I have a Z77-N Wifi + i7 3770 + SSD and it idles around 25W. N...
by fuzzymath10
Mon Sep 01, 2014 9:28 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: The monochrome world of Noctua's redux fans
Replies: 3
Views: 6103

Re: The monochrome world of Noctua's redux fans

I have 3 original nf-r8s and 2 new nf-r8 pwm reduxes. The packaging is considerably more basic with no accessories other than four metal screws; no rubber mounts or cables. The fans aren't quite comparable because of pwm. However I do not believe they are any worse than the regular beige fans.
by fuzzymath10
Thu Jul 03, 2014 11:43 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Seagate ST31000528AS okay?
Replies: 9
Views: 14414

Re: Seagate ST31000528AS okay?

There are way too many variables that could impact any meaningful comparison of reliability but there are at least some practices that may help: 1) good power (enclosures are sketchy, as are poor quality ATX PSUs) 2) good cooling 3) appropriate duty cycle (e.g. not running a WD Green with 24/7 read/...
by fuzzymath10
Wed Feb 12, 2014 4:13 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Looking for Quiet 40mm fans
Replies: 3
Views: 5156

Re: Looking for Quiet 40mm fans

We had a discussion awhile ago about fitting it into a boxee and apparently, the result was good:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=61618
by fuzzymath10
Fri Nov 22, 2013 9:39 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: looking for a printer that wont screw me over.
Replies: 23
Views: 15320

Re: looking for a printer that wont screw me over.

I have owned a Samsung CLP-310N for 5 years. I've gone through 3 black toners and am still using the starter colour toner. Colour pages still look good. I think for occasional printing, lasers work well since the shelf life of ink is almost certainly lower. Printing speed is also more predictable, a...
by fuzzymath10
Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:54 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Any recommendation for a Vertical Low Profile silent case?
Replies: 6
Views: 3533

Re: Any recommendation for a Vertical Low Profile silent cas

I was quite happy with the NSK1480. There is a documented mod at the end of the review here to replace the 80x15 fan with a 80x25 one of your choice.
by fuzzymath10
Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:15 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Western Digital Red 4TB & Se 4TB Hard Drives
Replies: 21
Views: 27727

Re: Western Digital Red 4TB & Se 4TB Hard Drives

Agree about the brand choice. The oldest hard drive in my storage machine is a 1.5TB 7200.11 that continues to run very well. My only slight complaint is that they're a bit loud, but all my 7200rpm drives happen to be Seagate. WD Caviar Greens have caused me the most trouble. I like the Reds a lot, ...
by fuzzymath10
Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:03 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype
Replies: 185
Views: 218942

Re: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype

Awesome! Just curious - did you check the voltage of the separate lines via mobo software or whatever while loading the system? I wasn't getting any crashes when using the quad core + 7750, but the 12 volt line was dropping as lower than 11 volts. Very bad for the voltage regulators on the mobo. Do...
by fuzzymath10
Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:01 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI Haswell Mini-ITX Motherboard
Replies: 12
Views: 13925

Re: Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI Haswell Mini-ITX Motherboard

I know it's not directly comparable, but it looks like Gigabyte decided to include vcore adjustment back to the Z87N-WIFI. Here's hoping they eventually allow that on the Z77N-WIFI with a BIOS update or else it feels like a huge ripoff, especially considering one of the main excuses (mere 4-phase re...
by fuzzymath10
Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:00 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype
Replies: 185
Views: 218942

Re: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype

@jamese the case itself is excellent. Really well-made. The fit and finish is high grade, and the only thing I'm wondering is how disturbing a switch would be on the top. I generally don't put my system to sleep, so I use the rear power button a lot. USB keyboards cannot turn the system on unfortuna...
by fuzzymath10
Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:45 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: office 2003 or 2013 w/ribbon
Replies: 8
Views: 7484

Re: office 2003 or 2013 w/ribbon

Office 2010/2013 is definitely bulkier so it may take longer to load. However, I have gotten used to the ribbon after using it increasingly over the past few years. It is in fact a time saver in many respects for Excel, although I continue to have trouble with some advanced functions in Word and the...
by fuzzymath10
Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:58 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype
Replies: 185
Views: 218942

Re: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype

For those of you curious about the wide voltage picopsu, I went that route, combined with a Cooler Master NA90. My original plan was to use an older AC adpater from the Dell Latitude laptops I have around, but unfortunately they use a proprietary plug, and adapters are extremely hard to find, or exp...
by fuzzymath10
Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:48 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype
Replies: 185
Views: 218942

Re: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype

I think you did very well managing to keep it below $100. Let us know when you've figured out the payment and shipping process!
by fuzzymath10
Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:21 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Do Seasonic PSUs beep?
Replies: 3
Views: 3564

Do Seasonic PSUs beep?

So something odd happened recently. One night I was awakened by my PC beeping randomly (sometimes a few every 10 seconds, then it might go away for awhile and come back). Because I heard the drives seeking right after, I thought the drives had a problem, but after removing the video card (HD 4830) a...
by fuzzymath10
Fri Jul 05, 2013 5:44 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Are HD motors noisy or am I just used to SSD's ?
Replies: 8
Views: 7455

Re: Are HD motors noisy or am I just used to SSD's ?

Everything is relative I suppose. Not a single of the seven hard drives in my storage PC feels loud enough to disturb me (i.e. I can sleep with the computer on if the LEDs weren't so bright), and fans are far more challenging to get right because the level of noise might be lower, but the noise prof...
by fuzzymath10
Tue Jul 02, 2013 8:41 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: A quiet NVidia PCIE card in an Antec Fusion / NSK2400?
Replies: 13
Views: 9409

Re: A quiet NVidia PCIE card in an Antec Fusion / NSK2400?

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=62194

it blocked all my pcie slots, but it does indeed work.
by fuzzymath10
Tue May 28, 2013 6:47 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: 3TB, 2TB or 1TB noise-wise (WD Red vs Samsung F2 so far)
Replies: 3
Views: 4963

Re: Opinion saught: 3TB, 2TB or 1TB noise-wise in RAID confi

I have a huge variety of 3.5" drives running in my living room PC as a 3+1x3TB flexraid. 1.5TB Barracuda 7200.11 (old - from late 2007 - 4 platter) 1 and 1.5TB Caviar Green (both 3 platter, EADS series from mid-late 2009) 2TB Barracuda Green (3 platter, from 2011ish) 3TB Barracuda (3 platter, from l...
by fuzzymath10
Wed May 22, 2013 7:06 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype
Replies: 185
Views: 218942

Re: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype

I'll reiterate it just in case (no pun intended), but if the design could allow for the silicon grommets you get with many fans, that would be a nice to have. On a case this small, it may be fairly challenging though so no worries; I don't think it makes a huge difference and can ruin the external a...
by fuzzymath10
Sun May 05, 2013 9:24 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Seagate Barracuda 3TB: 1TB Platter Behemoth
Replies: 20
Views: 20756

Re: Seagate Barracuda 3TB: 1TB Platter Behemoth

Empirically, it is a very quiet 7200rpm drive so I wouldn't worry. It has a low hum which is quite hard to hear. No buzzing or grinding noises. The only drive I would consider getting instead is the Caviar Red but it is usually more expensive.
by fuzzymath10
Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:08 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype
Replies: 185
Views: 218942

Re: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype

OK, as promised, my comments: 1) probably too challenging to add power/hdd LEDs? I could live without them but sometimes nice to know if the machine is thinking 2) agree that the side panel may need vents and/or fan mounts, especially since most HSFs will be top down blowers. I found that for my NSK...
by fuzzymath10
Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:40 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype
Replies: 185
Views: 218942

Re: Lone Industries Mini-ITX prototype

I have a few comments that I need time to articulate, but either way I'd be quite interested in buying one, or maybe two, from you. And luck has it that you're in Canada too!