In a search for new netbook, the title sums it up pretty much - there are only two requirements: cheap & quiet (best compromise of the too). Well maybe third requirement - easy to get around here (EU). The new Chromebooks announced this week should fit the bill. They're cheap and completely silent ...

The new Chromebooks announced today are both fanless and use an SSD for storage, so completely silent. Won't be for everyone because they only run ChromeOS, but great option as a second computer mostly for web browsing.

One last test...try slowing the memory speed down (if at 1600 - try 1333) and repeating the memtest with the farther slots. Then start the rma. :D Doing the RMA. Wasted enough time doing Gigabyte's quality assurance. Just want to get things up and running with a board I can trust. For the record, I...

You'll need to run the diagnostic Arbutus linked. Start with just the 2 working slots filled and see if it passes. then replace with the other two sticks. then try both sets in the other 2 slots and make sure various combinations work just using 2 slots. If all of those pass, then your memory is ok...

CAN$ 250 - GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 and Intel i3-2100 3.1GHz CAN$ 180 - M4A88T-M/USB3 and Athlon II X3 455 3.3GHz So everything's put together now. Almost. Was a bit disappointed to find that this board has no internal 20-pin hook-up for the Solo II's frontside USB 3.0 ports. :( Not that I have any usb 3.0 ...

Again, take a look at the SPCR review for the Solo II. Temps/dB are fine with the included case fan and a tower style cooler. Not too familiar with what acceptable ranges for those would be. Just know all my previous computers were very, very loud. :P You want a Socket 1155 cooler. 1156 was the pre...

Your thermal load is pretty low with just the i3-2100 and no gpu card. Compare it to Lawrence's build with the 125W TDP CPU. You won't need a front fan. Thanks for pointing that out. How much extra cooling will the case need besides the included 120mm TrueQuiet in back? 1 upgraded fan will be enoug...

CAN$ 250 - GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 and Intel i3-2100 3.1GHz CAN$ 180 - M4A88T-M/USB3 and Athlon II X3 455 3.3GHz Thanks for your suggestions. Was impressed by all I read about the i3 2100 in particular--good speed and performance-per-watt. Got the Intel/Gigabyte pair as a combo deal on Newegg for $210 USD....

Great, informative site--it's helped me learn a lot already. But now l can't abide the noise of my current PC. :roll: So I'd like to build a PC that's very quiet at 1m. Already bought a Seasonic X Series 650w power supply ($100), 2x4GB dual-channel DDR3 G.Skill valueram ($27) and a 2TB WD Green HDD ...