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So, would you mind posting your list of components?
Thanks
Not at all. But I don't have all that specific information right at my
fingertips. I could look it up later. But the basics . . .
I kind of reverse-engineered it. That is, I started by choosing my "dream"
components for a quiet system. Then I looked at what was available at some
of the better online vendors, and that brought me back down to earth.
Having to order components from five or more different vendors did not seem
to be such a good idea. So I chose two of my favorite vendors and
researched the parts available at those two to find the components that most
closely matched what I was looking to do. I ended up finding components
that were just as good and less expensive that way. (that was a nice
surprise) But it did take some work. The system I built was a bit
different from what I first imagined it to be. But the end result is a
system I am REALLY proud of. It is quick, ultra stable, cool and so quiet
that I can't hear it running from four feet away, unless the optical disks
are spinning.
- Power supply is a quiet unit made by Seasonic, designed specifically to
be quiet (and it IS quiet!!!). I chose it partly based on reviews, but also
because it was one of the few models I could find (at the time) that was
easily available. I believe the model number was SS-350FS.
- CPU Heat Sink is a Cooler Master unit that is compatible with 8CM fans
and way over-spec'ed for the XP 2500+ processor that I used. That's the key
to quiet. Don't choose a heat sink that's exactly matched to your
processor. If possible, choose one that will handle faster processors and
accept larger cooling fans, such as 8CM *case* fans, and try to run the fan
at a lower RPM. The model I chose is one that isn't made by Cooler Master
anymore, but the CP5-8JD1F-0L looks very similar and has similar specs.
Keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to use the fan that comes with
the CPU cooler.
- I bought two case fans, one Vantec "Stealth" 8CM and one similarly priced
thermal control fan. I used the Vantec "Stealth" to draw in cool air
through the front of the case.
- I don't remember the exact make or model of the other fan I bought. I'd
have to look at it to see what it is again. (!) But it is 8CM thermally
controlled with a sensor on a wire attached to the fan. I mounted that fan
on the side air intake of my case, blowing cool air at the motherboard
around the CPU and video card. I strapped the thermal sensor up near the
top of the tower case. Theoretically at least, if it ever got too warm in
the case, the side fan would speed up, along with the power supply fans
which are also thermally controlled.
All of last summer, the system was set up in a room with no A/C. I often
ran it all day at 90F room temperature without a single glitch. The
interesting thing is that it's just as quiet in hot weather. On the BIOS
splash screens, it always shows cool temperatures for both motherboard and
CPU. The funny thing about the hardware health monitoring is that it's
always warning me about low fan speed. (!) I guess the motherboard
designers expected really fast (ie LOUD) fans to be used with an Athlon XP
system. Thus, the motherboard keeps complaining as it thinks my fans are
failing. (!) -Dave
On a side note, the boring specs are Epox nforce2 mainboard, recycled GF4
MX440 video card (we're not gamers, so this is OK), 512MB Kingston 266MHz
RAM X2, recycled WD 80GB hard drive, recycled Yamaha CDR/W, recycled AOpen
DVD player, Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (I think?) sound card, NEC 1760 LCD
monitor.
