Search found 39 matches

by rotor
Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:54 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Western Digital Red 4TB & Se 4TB Hard Drives
Replies: 21
Views: 27729

Re: Western Digital Red 4TB & Se 4TB Hard Drives

I just installed a new 6TB Red, and in my opinion it is still a very quiet drive! It may not be as quiet as the early ones (although I have 2 x 3TB Reds from 2 years ago, and adding the new 6TB I can't tell the difference), but the new drives are plenty quiet enough in my opinion. Maybe not the abso...
by rotor
Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:50 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: WD Green vs. WD Red for quietness?
Replies: 61
Views: 83957

Re: WD Green vs. WD Red for quietness?

I just added a new 6TB Red alongside my 2 x 3TB Reds purchased 2 years ago, and to be honest, I can't hear any difference whatsoever in the overall noise signature (it is a ProLiant Micro Server G7). While I was waiting for the new 6TB I briefly used a 2TB "Enterprise" Seagate SATA I have spare, and...
by rotor
Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:14 am
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power
Replies: 76
Views: 101064

Re: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power

Just one additional point -- TrueCrypt has been completely abandoned (by its anonymous developers), and the suspicion is that this is because it is compromised. If you are using Windows, have you checked out Bitlocker? In fact, with Bitlocker, you can buy drives that are certified to a certain stand...
by rotor
Sat Jul 05, 2014 3:28 am
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power
Replies: 76
Views: 101064

Re: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power

MoJo wrote:I too have an old 160GB XM-25 I was thinking about re-purposing.
Funnily enough, that is *exactly* the drive that I have in my DQ77KB system!
by rotor
Sat Jul 05, 2014 3:25 am
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power
Replies: 76
Views: 101064

Re: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power

So, are you saying you get about 35W with the drives spinning? I get that with all but one of them powered down. I've said this before but I think HP gave you a much better PSU than the ones that shipped later. I'm on 240V so if identical mine should be even more efficient. I wonder if it is worth ...
by rotor
Fri Jul 04, 2014 8:39 am
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power
Replies: 76
Views: 101064

Re: Replacing my server/NAS with something lower power

I think you will really struggle, and it will cost you a lot of money (way more than the ~15W power savings will ever give you back). I have an Intel DQ77KB motherboard with Intel Xeon E3-1265L v2, and with an ancient Intel SSD (i.e. not the most power-efficient) running Windows 8, it idles at 13W (...
by rotor
Wed May 21, 2014 7:23 am
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: Corsair 250D MiniITX - Spacious - Silent
Replies: 21
Views: 20999

Re: Corsair 250D MiniITX - Spacious - Silent

Wow that is absolutely beautiful.
by rotor
Thu May 08, 2014 9:19 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Silverstone Fortress FT02 ATX Case
Replies: 76
Views: 66002

Re: Silverstone Fortress FT02 ATX Case

I still don't understand why you need an exhaust fan in a positive pressure case. It's a way of "guiding" the exhaust out where you want it to go out. Otherwise it will just seep out every orifice -- not ideal. As long as the exhaust fan is less powerful (generates less airflow) than the intake fan...
by rotor
Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:35 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Video editing workstation
Replies: 32
Views: 24319

Re: Video editing workstation

Here's another extremely powerful option: A T5610 with E5-2630v2 (hexa-core), 2 x 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, 512MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 310 for £1318 incl VAT and after the 10% discount. Oh, and all these systems come with 3-year next-business-day support, the engineer comes on-site to fix the problem. I sou...
by rotor
Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:29 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Video editing workstation
Replies: 32
Views: 24319

Re: Video editing workstation

I would buy a Dell Precision workstation from the Dell Outlet. For example, a T3600 with a single Xeon E5-1650 (hexa-core), 15GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 2 GB NVIDIA Quadro 4000 for £1262 incl VAT. And there's a 10% off all workstations coupon right now. I own a T3600, and it is very quiet. Not SPCR silent, ...
by rotor
Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:45 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: House Selling
Replies: 4
Views: 5668

Re: House Selling

I'm just going through the process of buying my first UK house (in London, no less), and I had to submit a "best and final offer" (the same as a sealed bid). Let me tell you that from the buyer's point of view, it's horrible, because you don't know: - How many other bidders there are (if any -- or i...
by rotor
Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:45 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Over pressure vs under pressure and it's impact on dust
Replies: 4
Views: 5105

Re: Over pressure vs under pressure and it's impact on dust

Positive air pressure works, absolutely no question. As long as the input fans have filters in front of them, that's the only place where dust will accumulate, and as long as you keep them clean, you will enjoy many years of virtually* dust-free computing. I say virtually, because no matter how good...
by rotor
Sat Nov 02, 2013 6:29 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Build a very low consumption computer
Replies: 33
Views: 21234

Re: Build a very low consumption computer

Here are the figures for my file server:

HP Proliant MicroServer N54L
Dual-Core 2.2GHz AMD Athlon II NEO N54L
4GB RAM (2 x 2GB)
Windows Server 2012 Datecenter - AD, DNS, DHCP
64GB SSD Crucial, 2 x 3TB WD Red
Idle: 37.6W

So I think you are already pretty close to the lowest you will reach.
by rotor
Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:39 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: New Mac Pro - ~10"H x ~7" diameter black cylinder
Replies: 62
Views: 66262

Re: New Mac Pro - ~10"H x ~7" diameter black cylinder

Why thank you Dr Rotor for enlightening me on the first axiom, but that doesn't really address the issue in question. We're probably wandering way off topic as well. Why yes it does. Your question suggested that you think that the phase change in the heat pipe somehow magically got rid of the heat....
by rotor
Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:32 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: New Mac Pro - ~10"H x ~7" diameter black cylinder
Replies: 62
Views: 66262

Re: New Mac Pro - ~10"H x ~7" diameter black cylinder

The liquid changes phase TWICE inside the heatpipe. During one of those changes it absorbs heat (when it's near the heat source), and during the other change it emits heat (when it's near the heat sink). The heatpipe is merely a transport mechanism. The heat has to go somewhere, which in every case ...
by rotor
Sun Feb 24, 2013 6:04 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Akasa Euler Fanless case
Replies: 142
Views: 161669

Re: Akasa Euler Fanless case

When i moved the sata plug from the inner blue socket to the outer blue socket the board no longer sloped as the inner one is on top of the HDD power and sata lead and lifts the edge of the board up with the lack of room from the sata lead bent back on itself. This must depend on what cables you us...
by rotor
Fri Feb 22, 2013 5:29 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Akasa Euler Fanless case
Replies: 142
Views: 161669

Re: Akasa Euler Fanless case

tojoski wrote:I'm curious if the alignment issue is with the case itself or if the intel board was a bit off spec.
The problem is with the vertical alignment; different parts of the case have different heights.
by rotor
Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:59 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Akasa Euler Fanless case
Replies: 142
Views: 161669

Re: Akasa Euler Fanless case

I just assembled a DQ77KB + Akasa Euler system over the weekend (in large part thanks to Mike's review and this forum topic), and I have very mixed feelings about the Euler. On the one hand, it has a nice appearance, feels well made, and it does seem to do the job (the case gets notably warm after a...
by rotor
Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:00 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Replace Silverstone FT-02?
Replies: 9
Views: 6343

Re: Replace Silverstone FT-02?

I adore my FT02. Have had it for almost two years, and the inside of the case is still pristine (an extremely light coating of dust on the CPU and GPU fan blades and that's it). The fact it is positive pressure was my biggest reason for choosing it, and it has exceeded my expectations. It isn't comp...
by rotor
Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:40 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Properly functional illuminated keyboard?
Replies: 7
Views: 5105

Re: Properly functional illuminated keyboard?

Too bad it is ruined by being wireless so it needs charging, I don't want to think about charging basic stuff... I have two K800 keyboards (one at home and one at work) and they are the best keyboard I've ever used. Saying it is ruined because it is wireless makes no sense at all; the wireless is a...
by rotor
Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:31 pm
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: HP's new Neo (12W TDP) based microserver (with HW decoding)
Replies: 37
Views: 62659

Re: HP's new Neo (12W TDP) based microserver (with HW decodi

HP is offering £100 cash-back 'til the 31st of December -- bringing the total to a pretty affordable £121.49 (you may even find it cheaper than the linked Misco). http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=483839 http://h41112.www4.hp.com/promo/proliantmicroserver/index.h...
by rotor
Wed Nov 17, 2010 12:52 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Going from HD/Vista to SSD/Win 7 - Thoughts?
Replies: 14
Views: 6368

Re: Going from HD/Vista to SSD/Win 7 - Thoughts?

2. Given the 2 stage upgrade which should go first? Transferring everything to the SSD and then installing Win 7 or Win 7 first? Or am I wasting time even asking this question, though Win 7 varies configuration per device type, don't know if that happens during install or during boot up. Install Wi...
by rotor
Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:21 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Need Advice on quiet/silent i7 system
Replies: 11
Views: 3973

Re: Need Advice on quiet/silent i7 system

Any thoughts as to what I might do to make this thing a little quieter..? It's pretty quiet already... But I was wondering if it might help to replace the 120mm stock case fan that comes with the FT02. Is there something dead silent I could use in there instead? Honestly, I'm pretty sure I could ru...
by rotor
Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:20 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Can't decide between P183 and Fortress 2, advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 17927

only for those who can't tell the difference between apples and oranges =) Everyone is entitled to their opinion. =) Your case has nine or ten fans, plus the ones on the video cards (so 12 - 14 fans total?). It has pieces of cardboard hanging out the back. It has bits of foam and double-sided tape....
by rotor
Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:38 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Can't decide between P183 and Fortress 2, advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 17927

easy enough to prove, one way or the other, by looking at the gpu temp differences between cards, in an sli ft 02 setup... i'm running about 9-11 degrees difference between the cards, with a serious load, under max overclocking conditions, the ft 02 numbers are ??? In SPCR's own test of the FT-02/R...
by rotor
Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:40 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Can't decide between P183 and Fortress 2, advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 17927

heat rising can't overcome airflow, so it's irrelevant... you'd have to feel the hot air coming out of the sli exhaust fan, to appreciate how much work it's doing... it cools better than having the side off of the case, with a 12" table fan turned on full, blowing directly on the cards. Definitely ...
by rotor
Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:52 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Can't decide between P183 and Fortress 2, advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 17927

2) for serious overclockers, the non-standard rotation of the coolers may slightly lower the overclocking capability of the cpu &/or video card(s) 3) noise coming out the top of the case will be more noticeable than noise coming out of the back 4) can't easily check the dust filters 2) Not sure I f...
by rotor
Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:46 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Can't decide between P183 and Fortress 2, advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 17927

After changing over to the FT02 (using all stock fans, with the 180mms temperature controlled and running at 700 RPM most of the time) the GPU fans would drop right back down to idle speed within a matter of seconds after leaving a game. The CPU/Mobo/NB/SB temps all dropped by between 5 and 8 degre...
by rotor
Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:41 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Can't decide between P183 and Fortress 2, advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 17927

danimal wrote:1) ft 02 costs ~$75+ more than a p183
It looks like you've spent more than $75 just on fans!! =)
by rotor
Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:02 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Can't decide between P183 and Fortress 2, advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 17927

It sounds like you've pretty much decided already (for the FT02). I own the FT02, and am incredibly happy with it. I love the positive pressure concept, it's really well built, simple and understated, very easy to work with, and super quiet.