Need X2 4400+ motherboard and video card advice

gustavs_a · Post by **gustavs_a** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:11 am

Ideally I'd like this system to have only 2 80mm fans @~1000rpm: for PSU and CPU. What would be the best MB and fastest PCI-E x16 video card for a stable 24/7 system? I'd like an ATI based video card. Currently I have a similary cooled P4 1.6A Northwood system with Sapphire Radeon 9600 Pro AGP with passive Zalman heatsink.

CPU fan will be Scythe SCNJ-1000 Ninja.

If necessary I can keep the PC case open.

Will I be able to use the same ATX v1.3 Seasonic 460W PSU?

Would it be better for cooling to buy a videocard already with passive cooling or to mod it with Zalman heatsink? (Zalman one appears to be bigger)

I'm not sure if this can be done with NF4 MB with heatpipe and passive Radeon X800 Pro/XL/XT.

Thank you,
Gustavs

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:16 am

I am not sure where it was, but 3 weeks ago a passive 7800 GT came out.

that's sick by the way, huge huge huge wraparound heatsink with big pipes.

I wouldnt try and go passive without 3 fans for a not so passive solution. 3 80mm panaflo's would be similar or the same in noise and volume as 2. I would suggest a big 120 on the front of the case for a large volume flow of positive pressure. this will prevent the gpu from heatingup and the psu from ramping up (at low voltage though)

shogo33 · Post by **shogo33** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:02 pm

I'll second that...unless your case is big and has ample airflow in and out of the case with the intake & outake fans..i wouldnt go totally passive on a 7800GT.

U can get some very low noise case fans..like the Nexus range, they're smooth and are almost inaudible within 2 feet away from your case, and they move some decent realistic cfm's as well..

I am using the Ninja with a 120mm Nexus to cool my A64 [email protected] at 1.5v, temps sitting reasonably low in an Antec Lanboy case,around 33-36c idle, less than 46c load..depending upon the time of day, and my room temp in Australia atm is around 20-25c'ish..

I cant see why not u cant reuse the Seasonic PSU..just use the PCIE-molex adapter that comes with the card to connect it to the PSU..
I'm using the Zalman VF700 for my 9800pro and it cools it remarkably well compared with the noisy stock HSF...also u migth not want to run the Zalman at 12v..it does move air but its pretty noisy..

Do yourself a favour and get a Passively cooled Northbridge heatsink!..after replacing the stock HSF with the Ninja and NExus and the GPU cooler, i started to notice how whinny the northbridge fan was (40mm) and was really noisy without doing much to cool the northbridge..so i replaced it with the Zalman Northbridge cooler and it works!...no noise and cools it reasonable well in passive mode..

klankymen · Post by **klankymen** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:11 pm

why would you want to use an 80mm fan with a SCNJ-1000? it seems a 120mm would fit better, provide better airflow, and be quieter...

gustavs_a · Post by **gustavs_a** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:47 pm

klankymen wrote:why would you want to use an 80mm fan with a SCNJ-1000? it seems a 120mm would fit better, provide better airflow, and be quieter...

Never had a 120mm fan, but the 2 92mm ones I have tested were considerably louder than 80mm. BTW, with 80mm fan the CPU temps were even lower than with 92mm at similar RPMs on P4 with Zalman CNPS6500B-Cu, but with SCNJ-1000 it could be different.
Anyway, I have also ordered Papst 4412F/2GLL (120mm), if it wont dissapoint I'll use it.

gustavs_a · Post by **gustavs_a** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:00 pm

[Edit: changed my mind about ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe due to many problems reported with it on ASUS forum]

Currently my pick is

MB: ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe - expensive, but I like the 8 phase power thingy Smile
VGA: Sapphire X800 GTO Ultimate - I want an ATI based card

Both use passive cooling.

Would this combo + Scythe SCNJ-1000 Ninja be compatible? I guess I would need a case exhaust fan.

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:01 pm

a 120 Nexus is near silent and move more air than a panaflo 80 mm.

it really is the way to go on a high end silent system unless you try Papst like I do. I like papst for its instant start at lowest voltage vs Nexus that cannot start at lower voltages, not good to have on critical pieces unless 8-12 volts. (even then though its silent, just the thought bugs me for a cpu)

shogo33 · Post by **shogo33** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 7:32 pm

the 120mm NEXUS is indeed near silent, but if u run it at 7v it will be silent. But seriously, i have done simulations within my Antec Lanboy case, which is aluminium and very flimsy built. The nexus is almost inaudible with the case cover on... so i wouldnt worry about it..