Is the P183 roughly equivalent in to the Sonata family when building quiet machines?

Disregarding case styling/size - are there benefits selecting one of the Sonata cases over the P183?

The Recommended Fans page is 4 years old.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article63-page1.html

Is the list still valid?

Maybe its the ambient noise levels but I wasn't able to tell how much noise the PCs were making in the stores. Too bad the reviews don't include a db figure.

Do any of the big brands offer a reasonably quiet build? It doesn't have to be silent.

There's some great info on measuring temps (and the problems related thereto) here:

http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/docs.php

How are you measuring the temps?

C. Real temp idle calibration. 1. Measure the ambient temperature inside the case and read the Real Temp core temp. If they are within, say 8C**, stop. If not, go to step 2. 2. Go to the settings screen in real temp and put in about a -5 degree offset. 3. Read real temp and case ambient temps again...

Forgot to mention...I really don't like using push pins for a heatsink this large! I 'think' the cooler has a solid connection but its very hard to tell with the push pin design.

1. Measure the ambient temperature inside the case and read the Real Temp core temp. If they are within, say 8C**, stop. If not, go to step 2. The question is where do you take this measurement? I've checked various places inside the case and there is a huge variance in temp difference which is to ...

For a Q9650 what would the expected rise in temp above ambient be?

Removing the case door dropped the temps by 2C.

Is monitoring the temp with the bios not recommended?

Are there any non windows solutions for the instructions suggested above?

NeilBlanchard wrote:Did you say what CPU heatsink you are using? Is it the stock Intel?

Heatsink: Ninja - 2000 with Scythe Fan installed (running about 1000 rpm)

Ambient Temp: 20.6C

Idle temps (reported by the MB bios):

MB - 36C CPU - 58C

bozar wrote:It seems a bit high for stock speeds, reinstall the cooler.

By 'cooler' I assume you mean the heatsink.

What temps would you expect to see?

NeilBlanchard wrote:You could try using a duct from the CPU heatsink to the rear exhaust, to lower them?

The CPU heatsink is only about an inch away from the rear exhaust fan and I have the CPU fan mounted on the font side of the heatsink blowing air across the heatsink and towards the rear exhaust.

Thank you for the quick replies. I was under the impression from reading other posts here that CPU temps should be down around 45C when idle and up to 55-60C under load. If that is not the case, then that is cool (non pun intended).

I was hoping to avoid using intake fans on a solo build, but based on temps in a stripped down config its looking like the intake fans may be required. Here's my build. Any suggestions on getting things cooler would be appreciated. Intel Q9650 Ninja - 2000 with Scyth Fan installed Asus P5N-D Antec S...