The quietest computer I have owned was in a Lian Li aluminium case . But ! - the system was a low powered (dual PIII ) completely fanless system The claimed heat transfer of aluminium is there - but it is minimal so much so as to be insignificant (2c in the case of this machine with the CPU temp unc...

I would not even like to consider what it has cost me . I do not have a credit card - but my bank balance is hurting pretty bad. I often just buy some new component just to try it out 'cause it looks good on paper , sometimes it works often it doesn't . This is one wicked addiction . I might have to...

Do not take ANY reveiew at face value - You need to consider thier priorities ,their methodology , their consistency of results etc and draw your own conclusions . Sometimes a supposedly bad product may suit a specific aplication that the reviewer may not have considered or a supposed good product m...

Although the risk would be minor , so would the benifits - the problem area is the block shaped set of fins in the middle . Almost no air what so ever gets through those.

I had (still have - but dead ) one of the early Silverstone faless PSUs and it had many issues (it failed I had it repaired ) some of the problem may have been that I was using it in a fully fanless system (only a dual CPU PIII ) and heat build up in the case may have been a contributing factor - Ga...

I have thought about removing about 20% of them but it works the way it is . If I was going to be bothered doing that I would fabricate considerably larger copper fins . The fins because of their narrow design do allow a reasonable ammount of air through. I definately would not buy one again - but s...

I got bored the other day and decided to play around with a TT fanless 103 - I checked the base of the cooler and found it slightly cocave - but more importantly I found that the base was resting (very slightly) on the P4 mounting bracket push pins - not allowing it to put enough pressure on the CPU...

As with the XP120 paperweight I already have it still will not fit any of my mobo case combinations - so I will have to stay with my XP-90c. Nice try - but misses the mark for me ! Psu clearance in a Sonata Case being the main issue and the Micro ATX InWin cases I use are even more cramped so, just ...

Get a cheap second hand Ti 4400 or 4600 and put a Zalman heatpipe cooler on it you can not get much quieter tha that and not to many $$$ either . Linux support is excellent for these cards or if you have lots of $$ to spend do the same with a Quadro4 dual DVI card ( I use one of these on a Linux box...

My P4C800 (non deluxe) died and I RMAd it but they do not have another to replace it so they have sent me a P4C800-E Deluxe instead . It is due to arrive in 5-7days . I use this board in a Linux (dual boot Gentoo and SuSE 9.1) , I have looked at the Asus website and ABX forum plus searched this foru...

I am using mine on a 3.06ghz at standard volts and full clock speed - with at present , the stock Sonata fan on the fan only connector - no overheating problems as yet . It has got to 53c (as reported by Asus Bios not totally reliable) but so did the Zalman 7000 I was using previously - But that was...

There are some athlon coolers with fans blowing from the side, one of these may be an option- not the tower ones but there was some very low ones (about 90mm high)

so the sonictower is a good hsf? i was looking for a good silent hsf i gonna do some AIR moding to my rig before going water i need silent system for my gob It is a good cooler but not perfect - Be aware that it require a rear case fan to pull air through it . Mine is in a Sonata case with a (low s...

I am very happy with my sonic tower - It just sits there silently and gets totally forgotten , no noise no temp. issues no problems. The way a cooler should be. As for temps it is running within a Deg. or two of a Thermalright XP0-90c - and unlike the XP-120 paperweight I have, it actually fits on a...

Automotive sound damping spray decreases the resonance of the panels and does a little to help stop noise escaping , but not a lot ,so depending on the cause of the problem , it may be of benifit or may not . Upside is it will not add to a noise problem . Its irregular surface may help break up soun...

I use the inwin V5xx series cases and they perform well and can be quite effectively silenced (with a little modding) and they would be close to the smallest conventionally designed micro atx case available - They get the thumbs up from me . But get the version with the 92mm rear fan if you use an I...

Damm - I not long ago bought a 6800 ultra !
Drool - Drool - Drool

When I look back at the old PC's I've owned: my first 286, my 386, two different 486's, two Pentiums, and on up to my current PC's, they've each gotten quieter than the previous generation even though they've gotten more powerful. I imagine that's how the trend will continue - they'll find some way...

jmke, don't assume that just because you can't find a room as quiet as Mike's, then it couldn't possibly exist. I can assure you that I have on many occasions been in places where I could clearly hear my own heartbeat, amongst other things. Although there have been times I have dissagreed with Alle...

I bought one of the original SI-97 coolers and they cool very well - I have tried one using an adaptor made by Thermalright in the early days of Socket 478 to fit Socket A coolers to 478 boards (a steel replacement frame with lugs at the sides) on an Intel P4 3.2 gig northy and the temps were OK max...

Yes I have used a 7000 cu without the fan controller but for a different reason. It would not keep a 3.4 northwood below 65c with the controller on with normal (albeit heavy) use in the Australian summer-so I needed the extra flow at load . at idle it keeps the CPU as cool as the best of the heatpip...

I was wonder if I should put two fans on the SI-97. One on top of the fins and one underneath the fins. Will it help lower temp?

Why two fans - just add a 6000 rpm Delta
Seriosly - 1 slow fan cools an XP 3200+ quite well so it would be unnecessary.

If you are a little brave there is always the Thermaltake sonic tower with a 120mm fan . they look rediculous but they work pretty well if you have the space.

Be VERY careful of clearance to the PSU .
or like me , you may have an expensive paperweight !

I am using Thermalright SI-97 on a Barton 3200+ on an asus Nforce2 board my temps are mobo 32c cpu 43c at idle mobo 33c CPU 54c at load (prime 95 for 60 mins) Room temp at time of test was 26c In our AU. summer with room temps in the low 40s the load temp actually hit 69c So I believe you have quite...

I would agree with Ralf - the difference is miniscule
AS5 I got 1c better load temp than Ceramique and ceramique is easier to use.
The Thermalright stuff aint bad either.
For normal use it matters very little , much hype for little result.

XP-90c has arrived
It performs at least as well as an XP-120 but is a little more complex to fit .
I can not forsee any compatability issues .
XP-90c Highly recomended.

My XP-90c just turned up yesterday. I am impressed ! Idle temps are 1c higher than an XP-120 with a panaflo "l" and load temps are the same and thats just using a cheap generic 1800 rpm fan all other components unchanged load temps are about 8-9 c lower than a Zalman 7000c at the same rpms although ...

Diodes have been very reliable for me (and cheap ) in Australia a couple of dollars for 50 (1n4004 diodes ) from Dick Smith electronics - An Australian nationwide retailer . I have had the 7v trick blow up a PSU and no longer use it either. You live and learn!

While I, like everyone else, really like the P180 Not quite everybody ! I would like to see the Sonata 2 in "person" and have a good look at it up close . but I think it would make a very good starting point for a good system Might need a bit of modding though . I now have 2 of the original Sonatas...