Search found 228 matches

by David Cole
Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:10 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Quiet / Noisy Monitor Survey
Replies: 272
Views: 506761

Re: Quiet / Noisy Monitor Survey

Thanks very much - that was the answer. When I increase the brightness to 120cd/m2 the buzz goes completely. Now I need to try different calibrations in small increments below 120 to see how close I can get to 80cd/m2 without the buzz becoming too intrusive. It's a bit bright at the moment. But it's...
by David Cole
Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:40 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Quiet / Noisy Monitor Survey
Replies: 272
Views: 506761

Re: Quiet / Noisy Monitor Survey

I have a NEC Spectraview PA271W which has an annoyingly audible high pitched hum. My NEC2690 had a hum too, though not my NEC2490/2. I've been putting up with the hum because the display is wonderful to work with but it's beginning to get to me. Does anyone know what causes the hum and whether anyth...
by David Cole
Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:17 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: AX860 - installation advice
Replies: 0
Views: 1758

AX860 - installation advice

Should I install this psu in my Obsidian 550D fan up or fan down, please? The labels for each cable connector on the psu can only be read when the psu is installed with the fan facing up, into the case. Surely the designer would have wanted the labels on the modular cable sockets to be readable when...
by David Cole
Mon Jan 14, 2013 1:44 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Fans in the Corsair 550D
Replies: 2
Views: 15151

Re: Fans in the Corsair 550D

Any 550D owners?
by David Cole
Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:17 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Fans in the Corsair 550D
Replies: 2
Views: 15151

Fans in the Corsair 550D

I'd be grateful for a steer from anyone familiar with the 550D case on whether the Corsair case fans are best suited for the job. I was thinking of swapping x2 front and x1 rear 120mm fans for Noiseblockers (M12-S2) but if the Corsairs are as good as any other 120mms, or there is something preferabl...
by David Cole
Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:33 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Asus GTX660 - GTX660-DC2-2GD5 - v quiet
Replies: 3
Views: 3386

Re: Asus GTX660 - GTX660-DC2-2GD5 - v quiet

I thought it worth mentioning this upgrade because the Gainward was specifically sold as a v quiet card and in practice I found it irritatingly audible. The Asus GTX660 is barely audible. I don't know if this is true of the overclocked Asus 660s.
by David Cole
Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:05 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Asus GTX660 - GTX660-DC2-2GD5 - v quiet
Replies: 3
Views: 3386

Asus GTX660 - GTX660-DC2-2GD5 - v quiet

Just to report that I replaced a Gainward GTX560TI Phantom card with the Asus GTX660 (the most basic model) and it is virtually silent in the case and certainly quieter than the Gainward. I just mention it for anyone who is looking for a modest v quiet Nvidia card. My system is: CPU 2700K; BeQuiet D...
by David Cole
Mon Oct 24, 2011 3:14 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Nvidia card recommendation
Replies: 4
Views: 2912

Re: Nvidia card recommendation

Thanks very much for your advice. I'll get the GT440 fanless.
by David Cole
Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:10 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Nvidia card recommendation
Replies: 4
Views: 2912

Nvidia card recommendation

I need a silent or very quiet Nvidia vga card but haven't been able to see one Googling. It is not for gaming only for browsing and Photoshop work. Can anyone recommend a fanless card or a quiet fan card (like the Sapphire Vapor-X solution), please?

Thanks.
by David Cole
Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:28 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

After all that, the 16Gb x4 ram modules were recognised immediately after installing the BeQuiet Dark Rock Advanced cooler (but have the TX3 standing by). The installation of the BeQuiet was pretty awkward but it worked fine. The Noctua C14 was definitely interacting with the motherboard in some bad...
by David Cole
Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:54 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thanks so much for doing this, Seb. I'll postpone disembowelling the pc until I have my hands on the Coolermaster you mention. That weight and fixing sounds exactly what I need, and the performance fine for me. I am lining up a row of heatsinks to try because I only want to reinstall the board once!...
by David Cole
Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:07 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thanks.
by David Cole
Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:45 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thanks very much. I guess the BeQuiet heatsink may not have been a good choice in my situation. I don't overclock and all I want is a setup that is quiet - I have 140 and 120mm quiet fans I can use - it's just the choice of heatsink. Is there a really light heatsink that might do the job, do you kno...
by David Cole
Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:50 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thanks for replying. So if, as will be the case, the weight is directed downwards, at a right angle to the board rather than down, directly on to it, I should be ok? It will be the heatsink and board mounting screws/system that will bear the weight rather than the cpu socket. Have I got this right? ...
by David Cole
Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:30 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: Too heavy?

I see that Intel site the max weight for a heatsink on the 1155 socket as 500gm. The heatsinks I am looking at are between 700-1100gm. Does weight matter (on my Asus P8P67 Deluxe board), please?
by David Cole
Sat Sep 24, 2011 7:48 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

...yes, that will be my first move. Thanks
by David Cole
Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:07 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thanks, Seb. I have a Zalman fan controller (MFC1-Combo) that can take on PWM fans as well as ordinary ones so I'll probably try that. If I can't get the x4 modules to work with any of three or four coolers I'll give up.
by David Cole
Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:49 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thanks. I agree completely. I find it very difficult to believe that the C14 is at fault. I thought too that I installed it carefully. But the fact remains that the x4 modules work with the stock Intel cooler but not with the Noctua. I will probably get a couple of alternative coolers to try while I...
by David Cole
Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:54 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thank you for these suggestions.

Price is not an issue for me - simplicity of installation, appropriateness for the 2600K, quietness with under-volting, and compatibility with my memory modules are.
by David Cole
Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:32 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thank you for all your suggestions. I've raised the question in a number of fora because I've already installed a second motherboard and would prefer not to have to take it out and reinstall it unless I have a good idea what's gone wrong. I guess I will just have to take out the motherboard again an...
by David Cole
Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:34 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

Re: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

Thanks. I'll have a look at that one. There's plenty of clearance around and above the Corsair modules with the Noctua but for some reason there is something about its installation that messes with the memory when the additional modules are installed.
by David Cole
Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:30 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?
Replies: 26
Views: 13678

An alternative to the Noctua NH-C14?

I have been unable to get 4 memory modules (16Gb in total) working on my Asus P8P67 Deluxe when using the Noctua NH-C14. Two modules yes, four no. But the four modules worked fine when I substituted the stock Intel cooler for the Noctua. I am willing to reinstall (having reinstalled twice already) t...
by David Cole
Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:46 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Quiet 24" monitor
Replies: 42
Views: 23102

Re: Quiet 24" monitor

The NEC 2490/2 is silent. I had the original 2690 before and that had an annoying hum. The 2490 is broadly sRGB too (which I much prefer to a wide colour gamut display).
by David Cole
Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:25 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Memory madness
Replies: 19
Views: 9821

Re: Memory madness

It would make more sense if it were the other way around, i.e., if the system didn't work WITH the fan plugged into the motherboard header. Fan headers are typically 1 AMP, though most manufacturers don't mention it in the spec sheet. Here's another idea. Perhaps it is the fan controller that has s...
by David Cole
Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:22 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Memory madness
Replies: 19
Views: 9821

Re: Memory madness

If x4 modules worked with the Intel cooler why would they need more voltage with a different cooler? It could be a number of things. Corsair probably only tested the memory with stock coolers. Perhaps one of those modules barely made it through testing. Or perhaps the Noctua cooler is using more po...
by David Cole
Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:24 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Memory madness
Replies: 19
Views: 9821

Re: Memory madness

Does it work with the same two sticks in the other two slots? Not that you have them in the wrong slots, but are the slots themselves okay? I still think the solution will be found in adjustments made for the load of four filled slots. Have you reset the bios yet? Did you try raising the chipset vo...
by David Cole
Tue Aug 30, 2011 4:15 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Memory madness
Replies: 19
Views: 9821

Re: Memory madness

Thanks. Nothing happened to the cpu when i moved from Intel stock to Noctua C14. The cpu was untouched and unmoved. Iagree completely with your initial view that the change of cooler should have made no difference. I am still baffled. The system works beautifully but with just 8Gbs rather than 16Gbs.
by David Cole
Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:13 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Memory madness
Replies: 19
Views: 9821

Re: Memory madness

I remember an issue some years ago, probably in the DDR1 era, when using 4 sticks of ram instead of 2 meant having to change a significant memory timing. I could not find anything on it by googling, but my failing memory thinks it was not being able to use CL1, having to back that off to (CL2?) Whi...
by David Cole
Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:23 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Memory madness
Replies: 19
Views: 9821

Re: Memory madness

So it looks like you've done a lot of testing. Here's what I would do: 1. Disconnect all components other than the CPU, RAM, and video card. 2. Use the jumper on the motherboard to rest the BIOS (it's described in your owner's manual) 3. After your BIOS has been reset, it will use the default value...