Search found 124 matches

by Derek Semeraro
Fri Oct 26, 2018 6:44 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Tips for Building a PC for Audio Work (for 2019)
Replies: 5
Views: 9467

Re: Tips for Building a PC for Audio Work (for 2019)

Seriously, fans and ATX PSUs in a proffesional studio in 2018?! If you want to do audio work and care about the sound quality. Buy a fanless PC, you'll pay about the same as for a normal one, but it will have better sound characteristics. Buy one of those passive heatsink cases, they are very small...
by Derek Semeraro
Thu Oct 25, 2018 8:40 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Tips for Building a PC for Audio Work (for 2019)
Replies: 5
Views: 9467

Tips for Building a PC for Audio Work (for 2019)

For use cases including production, voice work, podcasting, recording, mixing/mastering. I've updated my old guide to add more information and make it more relevant. CPU : DAW's don't seem to particularly favor more cores or higher clock speeds, so either Intel or AMD is fine. Though, as long as mos...
by Derek Semeraro
Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:51 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Quiet Gaming PC (Late 2018)
Replies: 2
Views: 8075

Re: Quiet Gaming PC (Late 2018)

I am thus prepared to martyr my hopes for a truly silent/fanless gaming PC. Absolute zero noise won't ever exist. The goal is to just keep the noise of the PC below that of the ambient noise of the room. A build can have fans and still be practically silent. Air cooling vs Custom loop water cooling...
by Derek Semeraro
Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:35 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: PC Build For Music Production
Replies: 13
Views: 13033

Re: PC Build For Music Production

The original poster probably already built their machine at this point, but I want to be helpful for other users looking to build a PC for audio work, as well. The build list provided looks more like a gaming build than a professional audio work build. Asus ROG Crosshair Hero VII motherboard - doubl...
by Derek Semeraro
Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:11 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Silent Video Editing / Workstation PC Build (Late 2018)
Replies: 1
Views: 5640

Silent Video Editing / Workstation PC Build (Late 2018)

A recommendation list of parts for those who are looking to build a silent PC for video editing programs like Adobe Premiere, or for workstation programs. Ryzen offers 8 cores and the most overall bang for buck, and with it, ideally get "b-die" RAM that's optimized for AMD's CPU's (i.e. Ripjaws V, T...
by Derek Semeraro
Wed Oct 24, 2018 1:58 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: A General 2018 Update on SPCR's Part Recommendations
Replies: 1
Views: 5997

A General 2018 Update on SPCR's Part Recommendations

The main page of this website has been less active in the past few years. Many part recommendations are from 2012 and a lot has changed. Generally, PC parts are not as noisy as they were 5+ years ago. The specific parts this website recommended in ~2012 as the most silent parts on the market are sti...
by Derek Semeraro
Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:04 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: is silentpcreview.com ever coming back?
Replies: 5
Views: 14992

Re: is silentpcreview.com ever coming back?

As much as I want it to come back, I think the owners have moved onto other projects. Nowadays, desktop PC building is a niche and parts overall are not as noisy.
by Derek Semeraro
Wed Oct 17, 2018 10:50 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Have we reached the height of 'no competition' price hike?
Replies: 5
Views: 6167

Re: Have we reached the height of 'no competition' price hik

10-series cards are dropping in price though, and some of AMD's cards (like the RX 580) have dropped down to reasonable levels. The current RTX 20-series cards are a poor performance to value, considering they're an incremental upgrade, but consumers don't have to buy the very highest end product no...
by Derek Semeraro
Wed Oct 17, 2018 10:35 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: How good (quiet) are modern SFX PSU?
Replies: 19
Views: 34026

Re: How good (quiet) are modern SFX PSU?

The difference in energy efficiency between Gold and Platinum, from what I recall, is really only 2-3%. All of the ratings are above 80%. And none of them are quite near 100%. Platinum over Gold is a nice feature to have, but I don't think it's a significant factor as to why a consumer should choose...
by Derek Semeraro
Wed Oct 17, 2018 10:33 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: 4 cores vs 8 cores amd ryzen
Replies: 16
Views: 19993

Re: 4 cores vs 8 cores amd ryzen

Intel themselves have stated thermals as a factor. Raising clock speeds produces more heat and requires more advanced cooling solution the further they are raised. Even if higher clock speeds could possibly be done it's just more practical to go for 6-8 cores. https://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/...
by Derek Semeraro
Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:20 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: is 8k worth it over 4k for average pc uses
Replies: 4
Views: 7510

Re: is 8k worth it over 4k for average pc uses

In 5 years from now, possibly.

Right now, for the average user, no. There's very little 8K content available and the price is prohibitive. The same was true of 4K a couple of years ago.
by Derek Semeraro
Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:13 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: 4 cores vs 8 cores amd ryzen
Replies: 16
Views: 19993

Re: 4 cores vs 8 cores amd ryzen

Since it's more energy efficient to have more cores rather than to have significantly higher clock speeds, it seems like the world is moving in that direction. 20 years ago many would have probably imagined a futuristic computer having a 1 core CPU at 10 GHz. Laptops, tablets, phones and consoles ar...
by Derek Semeraro
Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:03 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Tempered Glass -- Worth It?
Replies: 9
Views: 14997

Re: Tempered Glass -- Worth It?

Compared to acrylic or a regular panel, tempered glass won't make your build any quieter or have any more airflow.

However, if aesthetics is the priority, tempered glass looks much better than acrylic and is much more scratch resistant.
by Derek Semeraro
Sun Oct 07, 2018 4:31 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: The marketing of quiet case fans is somewhat deceptive.
Replies: 4
Views: 8363

The marketing of quiet case fans is somewhat deceptive.

There is a tradeoff between higher fan speed (for more airflow) and lower fan speed (for silence). A manufacturer can take two nearly identical fans made up of the same parts, have one run at 2000 RPM and the other run at 1000 RPM. The former can be marketed as a performance fan while the latter is ...
by Derek Semeraro
Sat Jun 16, 2018 9:26 pm
Forum: Newcomers Briefing Room
Topic: specs for silent pc for audio recording.
Replies: 6
Views: 13967

Re: specs for silent pc for audio recording.

RAM, SSD and case are good choices. Keep in mind that a high-end CPU with a basic cooler will generally yield more performance (at a similar cost) than a mid-range CPU with a premium liquid cooler. Your CPU does not include integrated graphics, which is why I recommend going with Intel (or maybe one...
by Derek Semeraro
Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:01 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: PWM fans are worth it
Replies: 3
Views: 6682

Re: PWM fans are worth it

The amount of hassle is dependent on the particular motherboard's BIOS. You are right that before going for PWM or non-PWM, it's smart to check the specs and features of the motherboard first. I assume modern motherboards support PWM and will continue to for a while. PWM is a forward investment over...
by Derek Semeraro
Fri Jun 15, 2018 2:56 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Intel i5-8400 stock cooler vs. ?
Replies: 14
Views: 19459

Re: Intel i5-8400 stock cooler vs. ?

For a non-overclocked CPU like the i5-8400, there will be no difference in performance between the stock cooler and an aftermarket cooler.

However, noise may be a concern regardless.

A budget aftermarket cooler with a quiet fan (i.e. Be Quiet Pure Rock Slim) is a good option.
by Derek Semeraro
Fri Jun 15, 2018 2:53 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Define C: 120mm vs 140mm intake
Replies: 27
Views: 28905

Re: Define C: 120mm vs 140mm intake

So long as the case can accomodate it, which the Define C can, 140mm is better than 120mm for airflow and silence.
by Derek Semeraro
Fri Jun 15, 2018 2:52 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Efficient and silent home office PC
Replies: 19
Views: 20114

Re: Efficient and silent home office PC

CPU Intel Pentium Kaby Lake G4620 3.6 ghz good choice Motherboad I like the idea of micro ATX or mini ITX. Micro ATX will be big. Mini ITX is significantly smaller. 4 ram slots would be nice, but I'm wondering if/when I'd need to upgrade from 8gb. My current short list is: MSI B250M PRO-VD MSI B250...
by Derek Semeraro
Mon May 28, 2018 12:52 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: liquid cooling vs. air cooling
Replies: 20
Views: 19669

Re: liquid cooling vs. air cooling

Liquid coolers offer 10% (?) better cooling performance for double the price. Liquid cooling is good for those that want aesthetic, small form factor and maximum performance. However, it's not a practical investment for most PC builders and it won't improve performance nearly as much as getting fast...
by Derek Semeraro
Mon May 28, 2018 12:45 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: PWM fans are worth it
Replies: 3
Views: 6682

PWM fans are worth it

In many cases, PWM versions of fans cost only a few dollars more. For some, this alone can make builds loud when they should be silent. Non-PWM fans, at worst, will run at max speed if the motherboard doesn't have voltage control settings. But even if you are able to control non-PWM fans in your BIO...
by Derek Semeraro
Mon May 28, 2018 12:41 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: Tips for Installing Fans
Replies: 2
Views: 4309

Tips for Installing Fans

Be sure that to have them in the correct direction. The face of the fan (generally, the aesthetically pleasing side) intakes the air. The back of the fan, usually with little beams in the middle behind the blades and (sometimes) it has a sticker on the back with legal/company information, etc., exha...
by Derek Semeraro
Sun May 13, 2018 3:01 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Compact Workstation PC Build (Mid 2018)
Replies: 0
Views: 20843

Compact Workstation PC Build (Mid 2018)

This build list is a possible starting point to consider for someone who wants to build a workstation (for video/photo/3d model editing) that is powerful, compact and with low noise. A case like the Loque Ghost S1 is preferable, but they are very expensive and none are currently in stock. For good t...
by Derek Semeraro
Mon May 07, 2018 1:15 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Silent (fanless) PSU advice.
Replies: 7
Views: 11403

Re: Silent (fanless) PSU advice.

i wouldnt recommend a fanless power supply. i'm sure there are power supplies out there that are very quiet and still cool effectively.
by Derek Semeraro
Fri May 04, 2018 4:09 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Tips for Building An Audio Recording / Engineering PC
Replies: 4
Views: 5512

Re: Tips for Building An Audio Recording / Engineering PC

Logic Pro on Mac is excellent. I use Presonus Studio One 3.5 on Windows because it has a similar well-roundedness to it. I know DJ's prefer Ableton because it's good for live tracks. Reaper is also solid. Cubase is another option.
by Derek Semeraro
Thu May 03, 2018 8:09 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Tips for Building An Audio Recording / Engineering PC
Replies: 4
Views: 5512

Tips for Building An Audio Recording / Engineering PC

It's generally more advisable to build a mid-range PC every 5 years and upgrade it as needed than to build the highest-end PC every 10 years. I've had some musicians ask "I spent $3000 on a Mac Pro in 2010 and now it's slow. Do I need to spend another $3000 now?". No. An excellent audio recording/ed...
by Derek Semeraro
Thu May 03, 2018 7:39 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Silent Workstation PC Build (Mid 2018)
Replies: 9
Views: 14351

Silent Workstation PC Build (Mid 2018)

This build list is a good place to start (and to revise as needed) for someone interested in building a silent and powerful workstation PC for either professional video editing or 3D modeling. This build emphasizes airflow with a total of 8 fans inside of a well-ventilated case, but silence is attai...
by Derek Semeraro
Thu May 03, 2018 6:44 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: The idiocy of Intel's T desktop processors
Replies: 16
Views: 23440

Re: The idiocy of Intel's T desktop processors

It's a problem of demand - not supply. Intel sells these by the thousands to companies like HP for pre-built AIO's. Very few consumers actually want these, and there's not a great need for them since the DIY desktop market is already a niche and most DIY PC builders don't see the energy efficiency o...
by Derek Semeraro
Thu May 03, 2018 2:41 pm
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: Silent Ultra-Compact PC Build (Mid 2018)
Replies: 1
Views: 12462

Silent Ultra-Compact PC Build (Mid 2018)

Tek Everything's Mini ITX Build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJo8H6vAppY https://i.imgur.com/qbUCD1V.png Here are some possible build lists for 2018. DAW/Recording/Audio or Professional Photo Editing CPU : Intel i5-8600k Motherboard : ASRock H370M-ITX/ac LGA1151 Cooler : Noctua L9i RAM : 8 GB (2...
by Derek Semeraro
Tue May 01, 2018 7:45 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Silent PC Part Recommendations (Mid-2018)
Replies: 6
Views: 20691

Re: Silent PC Part Recommendations (Mid-2018)

Good tips. Just adding onto them. Given the current situation with availability and pricing I'd change your lists to some degree. Given that most aren't very noise sensitive and most computer parts are "low noise" by general standards that part is also toned down. All: * RAM should be at least 2666....