The one thing that I do find slightly irritating is the actual layout of some of the keys. The function keys are offset. So, F1 is above the number 2, F2 above number 3 etc. isn't that the standard layout? i'm currently using an old standard hp keyboard, and because of the escape key and the space ...

sorry, but it seems like a waste of money, especially when it can be outperformed by the most basic wired keyboard (with regard to the lag). who needs a thermometer on their keyboard? a budget calculator will be much better than the built-in thing too. the ultra x looks to have everything you need w...

i've got a year old r40, and the screen is more than bright enough for me. there are a variety of screens across the range of t40s alone, so it depends on the screen spec/price of each machine.

I'm very interested in DC CPUs, as I'm a musician using Cubase SX3, a multi-threaded and 64bit-ready music app. Dual cores would provide for a much more stable realtime audio processing engine. But if all you do with your PC is surf and game then yes, there's less to be excited about. if you are in...

I'm very interested in DC CPUs, as I'm a musician using Cubase SX3, a multi-threaded and 64bit-ready music app. Dual cores would provide for a much more stable realtime audio processing engine.

But if all you do with your PC is surf and game then yes, there's less to be excited about.

mine does that. i'm guesing it's just part of the drive's initialisation process.

Phantom

Apologies if it's old. It does look very tasty, and also reasonably priced at $169.

I've been getting frustrated by the lack of L1A stockists in the UK too. I often find sporadic, chance stocking of different Panaflo fan sizes and ratings - is it too hard to carry a full range of fans? I'd like to get a 92mm for the Zalman and a 120mm for the case. Really frustrating - and there's ...

Zalman's new one might be interesting:
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.c ... cleID=1373

4 variables and 2 0ff/5v12v switches.

Could look a little prettier though...

Geoff, If you can't hear your Cuda over the fans when it's bolted into the drive bays, then I think it would be a good move to get the Sonata. I could hear my Cuda in the Sonata's drive bays, so unless I've got an unusually loud Cuda (possible), I think it'd be a wise purchase and would be considera...

Miker - are those Panaflos both at 5V? Geoff - I hoped to convey the sort of relative comparison you need to judge the difference in noise levels, albeit pretty crudely. If you already have a quiet system the Sonata in stock form may be louder, but coming from a stock PC it will definitely be quiete...

Hello guys, If had my Sonata for almost a fortnight now, and I thought I'd share a few observations I've had about it with regard to my previous setup. I originally used an old AOpen HX-08 full tower case, and had been disappointed with the poor cooling the case offered, as it had no exhaust fan to ...

Stock Antec True Power as fitted to Sonata. It's much louder than my previous Q-Technology 300W, but I can't be bothered to swap at the moment.

Thanks Mike, crg.

Great - can't wait for the review, Mike. I might have to hold off that second drive purchase until I read the review. I'm especially curious to hear how well 'Silentseek' performs, if it's markedly better than a barra.

Nice to see so many quiet components coming out!

Anyone had any experience with Samsung's new drives, and how they compare to Barracudas? Seem quite good judging by the various reviews...

Samsung

I ordered one from http://www.mighty-micro.co.uk/, and they said they were getting some in today. Fingers crossed I'll get it Monday or Tuesday. Can't wait! £96.72 in total.

Haven't really been able to find them anywhere else. I'd be great if Dabs or Komplett stocked a few more Antec cases.

That was my reasoning. If it works, great. If not then bah, I'll buy a better one.

My Plextor 161040A used to have a fan, which sounded horrible - it wasn't even a consistent sound, so I took it off and have had no problems since.

So I'd say get rid of it.

vcool still results in a whining sound.

I couldn't tell. It wasn't my CPU fan, as I disabled it an reenabled it to see. I don't have any case fans, and it didn't seem to be coming from the PSU. It seemed to come from somewhere on the mobo, but it's difficult to say where exactly. Either way, it didn't sound too nice.

It only whines in C2 mode, but this is also the only mode that appears to have any cooling effect. I think I'll have to remove it. Old mobo...

It also works for me (Athlon Tbird 1400, KT133), but activating CPUIdle also introduces a high-pitch whine. When I deactivate it, the whine stops. I wonder what causes this?

Archeon - They're by Panasonic, and can be found at http://www2.theoverclockingstore.co.uk/ , but I'm sure there are also a few places nearer to you. Yeah, I've just ordered a Novibes, as my Cuda is currently getting pretty toasty in a SilentDrive. Don't want to run it too longer in there to be hone...

marc999 wrote:Also, it always makes a swooshing sound whenever I surf the internet and scroll up or down. Isn't that weird?

So that's what it is - my Q-Tech 300W! I thought it was the HD until I noticed no activity. It is a very strange sound, nice to see it's not just my PC.

Can't use a Zalman Flower fan assembly with it though because of the PCI slot cover things. Hmm.

Yeah, I too would be curious to hear about experiences with the Vivid/iStyle. I thought it'd be a nice upgrade to my seriously-flawed-in-the-cooling-department-without-modding AOpen HX-08 tower. Deals with the Nexus PSU are very tempting. I'd want the version with the two CD drive covers, but I can ...