Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 750)

Show off your quiet rig.

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nsaha
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Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:57 am

Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 750)

Post by nsaha » Sat Aug 09, 2014 5:08 am

Hi all,

First, sorry for my bad english, I'm french.
I post here to show you my new HTPC + Gaming build, if it can be usefull to someone.

Material:
- Mobo: Asus H97M-Plus
- Proc: i5 4590T (35W TDP)
- PSU: Pico PSU 300W
- Brick: 230W AC Power Adapter 19V
- Graphic card: Zotac GTX 750 Low Profile
- SSD: Crucial M500 250Go
- HDD: Seagate Momentus XT 750 Go (from my old configuration)
- DVD writer: LiteOn DL-8ATSH
- Flat HeatPipe for VGA card: 2 x AMEC THERMASOL 250mm -> 300mm should be better
- OS: Kubuntu x64 & wine for the games (Portal 2, Skyrim...)

Modd:
- Modify the PSU to add space: (remove the ATX connections)
- Add a reset button
- Add a HDD Led (across the remote window)


The PSU is not the same size as the 150W Steacom, so I must adapt the FC9 to put it.
Here is the PSU: Image Image
You can see at the right of the pic some capacitors are a little damaged with the transport, I had to change it to be sure. But it works well like this.

The PSU in the case: Image Image Image Image
I had to remove the 4x pin ATX connector and weld directly the wires.

After this, the graphic card:Image Image Image Image
I did'nt want to modify/cut the rad because of the waranty, so I've chosen flat heatpipes. (thickness: 1.9mm). 250mm length is a little short, 300mm should be better.. But nearly 50% of the TDP of the GPU is dispeled by the heatpipe. The other 50% is the fan. (slow speed)

The final case:Image Image
The case is a little case, it's full ! :)
You can see I must to cut the drawer at the corner to the 24pins ATX can pass.
The little yellow button is the reset button.

IDLE temperature result, with the fan:Image

Now, I'm thinking to find a solution to replace the fan. The zotac fan is a little noisly in games, so I put this one (AMD @stock) in my carton, 70x70:
Image
The result is better, and more effective. 80x80 is too large.

Now I'm trying to use Nvidia-Dynamic-Fan-Control with Kubuntu. It's not finished :)

Cistron
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by Cistron » Sat Aug 09, 2014 10:40 pm

Very impressive! Can you stress the system, without it throttling (reducing the clocks)?

nsaha
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:57 am

Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by nsaha » Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:10 am

Well, actually the GPU temp is not good, because the fan is plugged on the CHA_FAN. So the fan's is proportional of the CPU temp.

Anyway, the CPU test is perfect (just tested 10 min). The temp max is 63°C, with an ambiant temperature about 20°C

Image

For the GPU, I must plug the fan on the card instead of the mobo (just have to modify the PWM plug to 2 pins, not done yet)
So the temp is a little high... the heatpipe is not good enough for a stress.
I have stopped the test before 100°C.
Image

I will repost a test when the fan will be correctly plugged and configured. I hope it will be better.

Abula
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Location: Guatemala

Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by Abula » Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:09 am

Pretty nice setup, thanks for sharing, and welcome to SPCR.

nsaha
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:57 am

Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by nsaha » Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:25 am

Abula wrote:Pretty nice setup, thanks for sharing, and welcome to SPCR.
Thanks !

Today I had the time to plug the fan to the GTX 750. Here is the stress: not more than 80°C, such as the stock fan. A little noiseless.
Image
I would like to have the advantage of the PWM, but this card has 2 pins for the fan. But it's not so bad with the software "Nvidia Speed Controler".
To save the settings, it's in the script nvidia-gui.py lines 119 & 120.
Now I must find a way to start it on the startup, without the window... (I've already wrote to the author !)

In game (portal2@1280*1200), the GPU's temp is ~72 73°C. So I think it's good :)
So, it's pretty finish !

Maybe one day I will change the heatpipe for 300mm length, but I don't know if it will be better or not, and Farnell is a little expensive shop to deliver in France... Maybe next year !! :mrgreen:

grant2
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Location: Vancouver, BC

Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by grant2 » Mon Dec 08, 2014 1:00 pm

I've been working on a very similar setup recently and I wonder why you think 300mm would be better? The length you have seems to be ideal. A longer pipe would only reduce its transport capacity.

Drilling through the pipes so you can mount your fan on top is really clever.

nsaha
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:57 am

Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by nsaha » Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:37 am

Yes, I think 300mm should be better because there a larger surface applied in the case. So a better exchange of energy.
I also change the fan with a little Noctua, it's very noiseless.

But with time, this system works, this case is amazing :)

Edit: sorry for the long time for responding, I had forgotten :roll:

MikeC
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by MikeC » Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:14 am

Nice job on the build! 8)

xan_user
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by xan_user » Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:43 pm

:!: super nice build :!:

best cable management ive seen in awhile./

nsaha
Posts: 6
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by nsaha » Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:40 am

I've just used this:
Image
There are many sizes and colors, and it's very cheap !!
:)
Last edited by nsaha on Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:14 am, edited 2 times in total.

xan_user
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by xan_user » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:57 am

what a great, cheap (maybe free) solution!

dCrypt
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by dCrypt » Sat Aug 15, 2015 8:01 am

Hi, nsaha.

Here, the user jormartr compained about the electrical noise of such passive psu (X3-ATX-300). Did you notice the same problem?

BR

nsaha
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Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:57 am

Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by nsaha » Sat Aug 15, 2015 12:17 pm

Hi,

Since one year, no problem with this PSU. The sound (via HDMI & graphic card) is excellent, no noise. And no particular problem with 2 screens.
I have bought the AC/DC converter with the PSU, maybe. It's a big one.

dCrypt
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Location: Madrid, Spain

Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by dCrypt » Sun Aug 23, 2015 12:26 pm

nsaha wrote:Hi,

Since one year, no problem with this PSU. The sound (via HDMI & graphic card) is excellent, no noise. And no particular problem with 2 screens.
I have bought the AC/DC converter with the PSU, maybe. It's a big one.
Thanks for taking your time and answering. With the electrical noise I don't mean interference with onboard audio; what I mean (as I understood from jormartr) is that, when running, there is a "hissing" noise coming from the PSU itself. Like electrical leaking (I've noticed similar noise on my own from PSUs and GPUs).

BR

xan_user
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by xan_user » Sun Aug 23, 2015 2:02 pm

its often difficult to track the source of electrical noise. along PSU's, ive often found GPU's to also be the squeal/hiss producer.

AgustF
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Re: Semi-Fanless Build (Streacom FC9 + Pico PSU 300W + GTX 7

Post by AgustF » Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:39 am

Really thought out build you got there , good job :)

Thats one compact system.

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