Search found 225 matches

by Hifriday
Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:42 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: fanless low-profile HDMI 3450 for HD, sounds great but...
Replies: 2
Views: 3516

fanless low-profile HDMI 3450 for HD, sounds great but...

Recently added a USB digital TV tuner to my HTPC, HD 1080i H264 broadcast over DMB-T/H. On my aging rig (3500+ 6150 chipset running Vista connected to a 1080p screen), HD playback was way too choppy, switching over to a dual-core Opty 170 made it ok, but CPU loaded around 90% and occassional frame d...
by Hifriday
Mon May 26, 2008 9:42 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: A daily use low-wattage PC for surfing, music, 5.1 movies
Replies: 8
Views: 5054

In terms of "worth" I think that will really depend on if you personally appreciate the smaller and quieter computer. The energy savings depends on your PC habits and local cost of electricity, but compared with other appliances in most homes, I'd say PC plays a pretty minor part. Nowadays there are...
by Hifriday
Sat May 24, 2008 12:41 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Shuttle KPC/K45 PSU
Replies: 29
Views: 30565

I worked on a K45 recently, and also found the PSU fan loud and whiny. I thought it was bearing noise, but it turned out to be the PSU case resonating from fan vibration (holding the fan firmly eliminates the whine). This may explain why some claim their KPC is pretty quiet while others complain it'...
by Hifriday
Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:31 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: ga-p35-ds3p trouble recovering from sleep?
Replies: 48
Views: 33065

I have suspended it overnight (but not a few days since I use it daily) and it resumes without issue. I have the DES software installed and driver is loaded, but DES is not turned on (makes very little difference in power consumption anyways). I also have the extra molex plugged in to the mb. I am u...
by Hifriday
Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:15 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Energy efficient server
Replies: 26
Views: 11776

How about a gigabit NAS? Certainly not much fun to put together, but still probably has the best energy efficiency and they are coming out with more and more functions (Bit torrent DL, MySQL, webpage hosting, itunes server, etc). My Synology NAS with a 250GB Samsung idles at 18W, when the drive is s...
by Hifriday
Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:54 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Intel D201GLY2 -- exploding bad capacitor
Replies: 3
Views: 2756

I'm running in the exact same case, so the supplied DC-DC power supply should work fine with this board (assuming it's not defective). However you do need to add a fan to this case, or the mb/cpu will run too hot. I don't think 5 minutes is enough to fry it though, but being a budget board it is ver...
by Hifriday
Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:47 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: ga-p35-ds3p trouble recovering from sleep?
Replies: 48
Views: 33065

I just put together a GA-EP35-DS4 (believe it is quite similar). So far no problems resuming from suspend with an 8400 at 333 or 400 FSB.

F2 Bios, 8800GT, 2x2GB 6400, Seasonic, Win XP
by Hifriday
Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:31 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Thermalright backplate installation problems on Gigabyte mb
Replies: 2
Views: 2767

Thanks for the suggestions, but a simpler solution presented itself. I didn't realize the LGA775 mounting holes are symmetrical, simply rotating the backplate 90 degrees allowed it to clear the caps. There is another row of caps on top, but fortunately these are just out of reach. (The backplate is ...
by Hifriday
Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:05 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Thermalright backplate installation problems on Gigabyte mb
Replies: 2
Views: 2767

Thermalright backplate installation problems on Gigabyte mb

I purchased the SI128-SE and tried to install it on my Gigabyte EP35-DS4, however the backplate presses against or is blocked by the feet of capacitors protruding out the backside of the mb. There are two ridges that rise up on the backplate to press against the mb, one ridge is just blocked by the ...
by Hifriday
Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:36 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Anyone have the Zonbu?
Replies: 10
Views: 8890

I didn't realize that there are now so many options on these fanless tiny form factor prebuilt linux boxes for under $300. Following scdr's links in the other thread: DecTop (AMD's PIC) for $99 Geode GX500, 128MB RAM, 10GB HDD, No OS Fit-PC for $295 Geode LX800, 256MB RAM, 40GB 2.5" HDD, Dual NICs, ...
by Hifriday
Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:51 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: D201gly2: product and SPCR review discussion
Replies: 398
Views: 528114

Just came across a mini-ITX case by GTR (F202) for $60 which includes a DC-DC adaptor (ST-DCP100), 60W AC-DC "Sun" brick, and P4 connector. For the same price of a similar Pico+Brick, you get a free case too. http://www.gtr.com.hk/new-subpage/product/case_main/itx/sub_page/F202/F202(MOVE).gif I comp...
by Hifriday
Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:22 pm
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Anyone have the Zonbu?
Replies: 10
Views: 8890

I will agree that subscription/rental service for a PC is a real turnoff, but as mentioned by Blacktales it is available without subscription (see his thread for more details) and the $300 is the price without subscription. Personally I would not pay for such a service myself. As for the Walmart Eve...
by Hifriday
Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:54 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Anyone have the Zonbu?
Replies: 10
Views: 8890

Anyone have the Zonbu?

I am a little surprised that there has been so little discussion about the Zonbu desktop on these forums, any SPCRer have one? With some of the advantages this system offers I would have thought there would have been a lot more talk. 1) A totally silent PC out-of-the-box (How many of us have struggl...
by Hifriday
Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:19 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: reducing case volume for better cooling?
Replies: 19
Views: 7695

Targeted ducting and properly directed airflow are probably more important for quiet and effective cooling, and in a way this mb duct is just that albeit a more crude and generalized implementation. I don't think it will be overly complicated to build and certainly easier to design, of course depeni...
by Hifriday
Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:45 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: reducing case volume for better cooling?
Replies: 19
Views: 7695

With a more restrictive duct, agree you would need to increase fan voltage in order to exhaust the same amount of air out of the case. I mean under such a scenario, the amount of air being drawn through the ducted space would increase. However as everyone is saying, the degree of ducting/airflow in ...
by Hifriday
Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:30 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Share your Opteron experiences TDP/Stepping - OC/Undervolt
Replies: 13
Views: 8368

Hi Ryoboto, Amourek, Nici, What is the stepping of your chip? Just wondering if we can find a trend here. Also any more undervolting experiences? So far for the dual-cores we have: 85W TDP (3 samples) Steppings: CCBBE0615DPMW(1), n/a(2) OC: all run 2.8ghz with 1.35-1.40v Undervolt: 2.0g@1.15v/1.0g@0...
by Hifriday
Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:46 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Share your Opteron experiences TDP/Stepping - OC/Undervolt
Replies: 13
Views: 8368

That seems to fall along the trend that low TDP chips tend to need more voltage to reach higher clocks, although certainly a 40% OC at stock volt is already pretty good. Have you tried undervolting your chip, will it run nicely at lower vcore stock clocks? Also noticed you're using a 4x multiplier, ...
by Hifriday
Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:37 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Share your Opteron experiences TDP/Stepping - OC/Undervolt
Replies: 13
Views: 8368

Bear in mind, I'm running other power-hungry components that affect my overall power consumption. But compare the figures above to what I measured for my 3500+ and you can see the extra power draw from this Opteron CPU. ... At stock speed and voltage, this 35W Opteron draws 52 watts more than my ol...
by Hifriday
Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:19 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: reducing case volume for better cooling?
Replies: 19
Views: 7695

Because the article uses a (loud) stock heatsink, it leaves a lot of depth in the case unused. Most people with a larger, tower heatsinks would render this style of ducting useless and the HS would either stick out above the mobo duct or the duct would be so deep that it would be almost as big as t...
by Hifriday
Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:41 am
Forum: Consumer Advocacy
Topic: Antec Neo HE PSU Users Poll
Replies: 355
Views: 631071

I recently acquired a rev A3.1 that came with my P150. With all the problems, I was very hesitant to even test the PSU. However holding my breath I plugged it in and am one of the fortunate ones. I had no problems powering up an overclocked Opty 170 on a DFI LanpartyUT NF4-D mb (total AC draw around...
by Hifriday
Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:01 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: reducing case volume for better cooling?
Replies: 19
Views: 7695

reducing case volume for better cooling?

I stumbled upon this article by John Cinnamon which applies a duct/housing that is fitted low against the mb and basically covers most of it. The author's principle of maximizing airflow by reducing the volume and increasing cooling efficiency/effectiveness. The CPU fan blows down into the duct and ...
by Hifriday
Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:23 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Share your Opteron experiences TDP/Stepping - OC/Undervolt
Replies: 13
Views: 8368

Share your Opteron experiences TDP/Stepping - OC/Undervolt

I recently purchased a s939 dual-core Opteron (before they're finally retired) hoping to luck out with a 35W TDP chip. Compared with my current 44W TDP single-core chip, the new chip should consume less power and generate less heat even with both cores loaded. I had to settle for a more expensive 17...
by Hifriday
Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:33 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Looking For: Cheap Small system
Replies: 4
Views: 4344

PCChips has this motherboard with a built-in VIA C3 processor for around $55 and it's nearly Mini-ITX size with 2 PCI slots.
The CPU heatsink/fan can be replaced so the entire system runs with only one fan (or possibly fanless) and fit inside an A4 sized foot print like here.
by Hifriday
Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:52 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: X2 4200+ VS X2 4200+ EE
Replies: 5
Views: 4751

Does that mean the new yield of standard versions is approaching the 62W TDP of the EE versions, and hence similar price? Or maybe AMD's cutting down EE versions price to supplement the low inventory levels of the standard version? Also interesting that all the 35W TDP chips (EE SFF version) have no...
by Hifriday
Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:32 am
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: DIY Diskless PC on the wall
Replies: 6
Views: 8552

There is no socket, the CPU is soldered directly onto the board so it cannot be replaced; part of the reason for the board's low cost. This does limit heatsink selection, but also gives the board a very low profile. Celeron 600 might be slightly faster, but should run hotter (13W compared with 7.5W)...
by Hifriday
Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:54 am
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: DIY Diskless PC on the wall
Replies: 6
Views: 8552

It is essentially the same as the PC Chips M789CG except for color scheme (I actually bought a PC Chips board first and used it for another project ). The heatsink is stuck to the CPU with double-sided adhesive thermal tape, and I suspect removing it before powering it up will be easier (before the ...
by Hifriday
Sun Aug 20, 2006 10:47 am
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: DIY Diskless PC on the wall
Replies: 6
Views: 8552

DIY Diskless PC on the wall

This is a diskless VIA C3 system mounted on the wall, running Linux. It boots Puppy Linux off a USB flash drive, uses a single 5v fan for cooling, consumes less than 17W at idle, and is fit inside an A4 paper tray. It's easy to put together, and total cost using all new components is under $200. htt...
by Hifriday
Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:03 pm
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: HP e-Vectra - first desktop with external PSU?
Replies: 3
Views: 5183

HP e-Vectra - first desktop with external PSU?

I found one of these tiny machines in a local second hand PC store and was surprised to find a 6? year old desktop using an external PSU. Is this the first machine to be sold with an external PSU? http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2676/2249/320/P1050768.jpg Don't be misled by the tiny 8" LCD, it me...
by Hifriday
Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:35 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: AM2 X2 - Asus nf570 - Corsair RAM - not stable??
Replies: 5
Views: 4004

You should update the BIOS for M2N-E to 0203, it's much more stable than 0103. I considered updating the BIOS as well, but from forum posts it seems this didn't solve the stability problems and some users even reported it being worse. In anycase, both systems managed to run Prime95 stable for 21 ho...
by Hifriday
Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:16 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: AM2 X2 - Asus nf570 - Corsair RAM - not stable??
Replies: 5
Views: 4004

So many AM2 boards seem to have issues with the DDR2 memory, usually because the voltage for the memory is set too low. Indeed this seems to be the case. Browsing Corsair/Asus forums it does seem quite a few others are having the same problem and even some who can't even get Windows installed!! The...