Search found 44 matches

by Jools
Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:42 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Asus P5E-VM HDMI: A microATX C2D board for gamers?
Replies: 74
Views: 84061

I'm in the process of building my new machine with this very board at the minute. A bunch of reviews have came out [including SPCR's] since I bought it, so I'm glad it's a doozy... 8) Here's the final specs I chose: Antec NSK3480 Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E (120mm) + 2x Arctic Cooling 9225PWM (92mm) Corsai...
by Jools
Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:59 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

Jokoto - there's 215mm clearance below the internal 3.5" drive bay, 150mm between the front port cables and the side, and maybe 50mm between the mobo and the 92mm grills. So it should fit, but it would be very tight - and might cause a few headaches with attaching the port cables to the mobo. Plus i...
by Jools
Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:44 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

First Impressions

This is one well designed, engineered and built little case. It's not much deeper than my Shuttle, and only around 125mm taller. There wasn't a case as good as this when I got my SN25P. (The TJ08 was close, but wasn't finished off properly, eg. poorly fitting bay doors). It's easier to open than my ...
by Jools
Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:26 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

My NSK3480 arrived today. :D Sorbet - I won't be committing myself to a GFX card for a few months yet. (My birthday's in March). Nvidia are supposed to be bringing out a G92x2, to match ATI's 3870x2. The ATI card is ~200W, and I should imagine the Nvidia one isn't far behind. I think they'll be a bi...
by Jools
Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:29 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

Thanks for the pic & thread Sorbet - most illuminating. Seems like the Earthwatts 500 would be more than enough to run an 8800GTX, especially as I won't be overclocking. After thinking about the 6/8pin thing, I'm not sure I'd want a GFX card that demands > 200W power. I'd been thinking of getting a ...
by Jools
Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:25 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

Thanks for the info, Shobai - much appreciated! The Neopower 650 [formerly NeoHE] caught my eye the other day, as it has both 6pin and 8pin PCI Express connectors. (Pity the lower wattage models don't). I had thought the GTX would exhaust most of it's heat directly outside. It's hard to tell how wel...
by Jools
Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:15 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

Just ordered my NSK3480... I couldn't wait! :roll:

I wouldn't have done it without the detailed review on SPCR, though. :wink:
by Jools
Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:06 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

The Q35's don't have 1333FSB support for the new 45nm Quads, only Duos. http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/G35/index.htm I don't think there are any boards out, yet. I'm hoping they will be by March... when it's my birthday, and time for the new build! :D This is the "old" model that I was looki...
by Jools
Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:52 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

Excellent! That's just what I needed to know, thanks. I really like this case, and my only alternative was the SG03. I found the latest version of the NeoHE yesterday; Antec have renamed it Neopower 650. It's the same length (150mm) as the Corsair, and it has an 8pin GFX connector - which could be i...
by Jools
Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:34 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Q6600 in NSK3480 - single fan
Replies: 7
Views: 7366

I've been looking into a building a similar system. I would have thought adding a fan duct to the Ninja will prevent any heat escaping from the motherboard & video card. I've tried passive video cards in the past, and found they aren't worth it. You just can't cool them well enough, except by placin...
by Jools
Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:24 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!
Replies: 18
Views: 10084

Calling Antec NSK3480 owners!

Has anyone installed a 150mm long modular PSU, such as the Corsair HX or Antec NeoHE in their 3480? The slot opening (for IDE ribbon cables) looks like it would be mostly covered over, but would the side opening still be OK - without straining the wires? (Failing that, my back-up option is the Earth...
by Jools
Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:11 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: New Seasonic 300W & 350W 80-Plus SFX PSUs
Replies: 8
Views: 5640

New Seasonic 300W & 350W 80-Plus SFX PSUs

It seems Seasonic have quietly improved their old SFD spec SFX, and evolved two new 300W & 350 SFE models, both 80-Plus certified. They're also conventionally designed, with a (60mm?) fan at the back: http://www.seasonicusa.com/images/sfx_SFE-350.gif (This photo shows a cut-out, the 80-plus pics sho...
by Jools
Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:40 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Antec NSK3300: A Mini-P180?
Replies: 82
Views: 71304

Link Error

I've just read the very interesting review, but on hovering over this link on page 5:

Many thanks to Antec for supplying the NSK3300 sample.

Noticed it cheekily redirects you to the Lian-Li website instead of Antec! :D
by Jools
Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:45 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: whats the quietest 7800gt available in the uk
Replies: 6
Views: 4623

Out of luck

There are no "relatively quiet" 7800GT stock coolers, from any manufacturer. I've been investigating this, too (with regard to an SLI set-up in an SN26P). Every GT has a 2-pin fan, which doesn't step up or down like the 3-pin GTX. A supposedly poorly-calibrated diode (thermocouple?) on the card keep...
by Jools
Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:27 am
Forum: Consumer Advocacy
Topic: Antec Phantom Users Poll
Replies: 211
Views: 344429

No problems with mine, mostly playing games.

K8V, 3000+, 9800Pro Ultimate 128MB, 7000-AlCu, 120mm rear Nexus.

Merely warm to the touch, not red hot (unlike 9800Pro).

The lack of noise (due to ramping up) is sheer bliss!
by Jools
Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:04 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Antec Phantom Troubles
Replies: 19
Views: 8444

Phantom OK - Radeon U/S

why dont you just get a seasonic super tornado Because you can't get the Rev.A3 in the UK. There is only one official stockist, and they don't have any - just A2's. Someone that enquired about the new S12 was told they would have to wait until February. Anyway, it turns out it wasn't the Phantom at...
by Jools
Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:57 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Antec Phantom Troubles
Replies: 19
Views: 8444

I had thought of swapping PSU's, but I really didn't want to rip the NX-3500 out of my other box. Probably the best thing to do would be to buy another cheap - but rock solid, in case I have to continue using it - PSU as a back-up. I've narrowed the search down to two reasonably quiet alternatives; ...
by Jools
Sat Jan 01, 2005 3:35 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Antec Phantom Troubles
Replies: 19
Views: 8444

Random VPU shut-down

I've had the Phantom a couple of weeks now. But all is not well. While playing 3D games (like Far Cry), my monitor can suddenly enter stand-by mode at any time - which presumably means my 9800Pro Ultimate has shut down, either starved of power or cut off. The rest of the PC is still powered up, but ...
by Jools
Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:50 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: CPU Power Consumption Charts
Replies: 1
Views: 1444

CPU Power Consumption Charts

I stumbled across this today, buried in a Pentium 570 review on THG.

Just look at the results for the 939pin 90nm Winchester A64's:

3W idle
30W load

http://www20.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041 ... 70-20.html

(Apologies if someone has posted this before).
by Jools
Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:00 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: How To Build A Fanless Stock PC
Replies: 1
Views: 2155

How To Build A Fanless Stock PC

It is possible, at least for a lightly loaded cheap(ish) office/net PC. And for a lot less money than a TNN500. I finally managed to achieve silent nirvana yesterday. Here's what you'll need: Any cheap ATX case Antec Phantom PSU Asus K8V or A8V (with Asus Qfan technology and a passive Northbridge) A...
by Jools
Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:08 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Antec Phantom Troubles
Replies: 19
Views: 8444

A friend suggested unplugging as much as possible, and then re-plugging things in one at a time. He suggested it might not be giving out enough power, or it might be motherboard or CPU compatibility problems. I unplugged the HD, floppy, optical and case fan. And it booted up, fine. Well, as far as t...
by Jools
Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:01 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Antec Phantom Troubles
Replies: 19
Views: 8444

Antec Phantom Troubles

I installed my new Antec Phantom (UK spec) PSU this afternoon, after letting it warm up to room temperature first (it was freezing cold). When I switched the PC on, the PSU's blue light lit up, the case and CPU fans gave half a turn, then the power died. However, the LED on my motherboard remained o...
by Jools
Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:00 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Akasa Paxpower 460W / Qtechnology 460W / Antec Phantom
Replies: 3
Views: 2531

Akasa Paxpower 460W / Qtechnology 460W / Antec Phantom

Some advice from PSU gurus, please - my NX-3500 runs quietly at idle, but ramps up horrendously under load. It can cool my NCU-2000 no problem (along with a Nexus 120mm case fan), but the silence gained by the HS is lost with the PSU. What I would like to know is, would a higher powered 120mm PSU be...
by Jools
Sun Nov 21, 2004 7:19 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Silent Gaming Rig - The Holy Grail?
Replies: 15
Views: 8162

The HeatSync case does look promising - like the Hush ATX, only larger. Let's hope it's not the effectively "sealed" unit the Hush is, and the heatpipes are easier to fit than on the TNN. Paired with a NEPS400 external PSU, and if it can handle the latest GFX card temps, it could be ideal as a reaso...
by Jools
Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:05 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Silent Gaming Rig - The Holy Grail?
Replies: 15
Views: 8162

I have my doubts too. With my own experiments, I found that you can't rely solely on passive convection - at least for a "hot" CPU. My NCU-2000 needed some forced-air movement, no matter how slight. But the reviews of the Pentium M's thermal properties sound promising, even to the extent of running ...
by Jools
Fri Nov 19, 2004 9:57 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Silent Gaming Rig - The Holy Grail?
Replies: 15
Views: 8162

An Aria base could be OK - if the noisy stock PSU is replaced. Even a modded PSU would still have a fan in it. Or does the BlackFin use one of the side alu heatsinks for the PSU, too? I wouldn't have thought so, but one can always hope... The cable management in an Aria leaves a lot to be desired co...
by Jools
Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:37 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Silent Gaming Rig - The Holy Grail?
Replies: 15
Views: 8162

That was implied with the 1x3.5" (enclosed) HD mentioned in the PSU section. 2.5" drives are still too whiny for my liking, even the best of them. My Toshiba 5400rpm is great in it's Nexstar external USB case, but it's nowhere near quiet. The best 3.5" I've found is the Samsung Spinpoint PATA. It is...
by Jools
Fri Nov 19, 2004 7:50 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Silent Gaming Rig - The Holy Grail?
Replies: 15
Views: 8162

Silent Gaming Rig - The Holy Grail?

Who else, like me, dreams of the day when they can have a fast desktop PC capable of playing the latest 3D games in absolute silence? (This would of course mean having NO fans, or having to resort to water cooling!) Most of the components are either available now, soon will be, or could be with just...
by Jools
Tue Nov 16, 2004 8:03 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: aopen pentium m motherboard
Replies: 180
Views: 158224

Surely an NCU-2000 heatsink would be ideal for this board? Maybe an ultra-quiet gaming rig might be achievable at long last: AOpen i855GMEm-LFS ~£140 Nexus NX-3500 ~£40 Intel P4 Mobile 755 2.0GHz ~£231 512MB OCZ DDR333 CL2-2-2-5 ~£70 or 2x512MB Corsair TwinX1024-2700LL DDR333 CL2-2-2-5 ~£212 Scythe ...
by Jools
Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:39 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: One-Fan Computer. It's complete and cool/quiet!
Replies: 53
Views: 36809

Single fan gaming rig?

BF - when the Zalman NEPS400 external PSU comes out, I'm going to attach that to the case's PSU cut out (as intended), and cut a 120mm blow hole in the top of the Chenbro Gaming Bomb/Xpider case directly above the CPU. Underneath, I'll attach a Nexus Real Silent 120mm, with a duct (a large Coke bott...