Search found 38 matches

by m_yates
Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:52 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Recommended Hard Drives - a major revision
Replies: 73
Views: 101200

Why is the Zalman heatpipe hard drive cooler not listed among noise reduction products? Is it just because it has never been reviewed? I'm wondering how it compares with "no vibes". Zalman is cheaper, but uses hard rubber mounts. Zalman does have the cooling advantage, but maybe cooling is not impor...
by m_yates
Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:17 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: building first silent HTPC, can use some help
Replies: 8
Views: 3902

The Antec NSK2400 is very similar to the Fusion, but costs much much less. It was reviewed here at SPCR. I would look for low power Athlon or Sempron as much more cost effective than a Pentium M, while still being low power. One possibility is the MSI K9NGM2-FID. It has an AM2 socket, onboard video ...
by m_yates
Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:08 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB: Big Low Noise Champ?
Replies: 107
Views: 120205

sample variance -- some just leave the factory a little noisier or quieter, sometimes in only one state (like idle, seek, write), sometimes in all/most states.
So is there a chance that the one at SPCR was "hand picked" for review?
by m_yates
Thu Mar 24, 2005 6:35 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: replace power supply fan?
Replies: 6
Views: 2724

People around here do it all the time. Search the forums for modding power supplies. However, you have to be sure that the power supply is getting enough cooling. Simply droppping in a slower fan may cause it to overheat. My personal opinion is that you are better off purchasing a new power supply i...
by m_yates
Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:49 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: what fan to mod super tornado?
Replies: 2
Views: 1767

what fan to mod super tornado?

I own two 300 W Seasonic Super Tornado PSUs. One is dead quiet. The other makes a slight high pitched noise. I wanted to try swapping the fan to see if it improves matters. Anyone know what fan to try? I have never modded a PSU before and I don't want to damage it.
by m_yates
Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:27 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Old configuration, new PSU
Replies: 4
Views: 2525

I own two Seasonic 300W Super Tornado PSU's and they are great. They are cool and quiet. My system at home has one 120 mm Pabst rear case fan, the 120 mm fan in the Seasonic, and a 92 mm Panaflo on a Thermalright SI-97. Even with my case fan and CPU fan running at 5V, the temperature of my Athlon XP...
by m_yates
Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:21 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: How quiet should i look for?
Replies: 7
Views: 3532

With 5 Panaflo fans (including one running full speed), I think any moderately quiet PSU will be drowned by the fans. Like the previous post said, it is hard to say what PSU is best without know what all it has to run. I have two 300W Seasonic Super Tornado PSU's and I can say they are great. Howeve...
by m_yates
Wed Dec 22, 2004 5:43 pm
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: silenX
Replies: 9
Views: 4245

I had an 80 mm silenx fan that WAS very quiet, but after a few months it started making a high pitched whine. I replaced it with a $6 arctic cooling fan and it is just about as quiet. I also have a 300W silenx power supply that I used for 2 months and then it burned up. They gave me a warranty repla...
by m_yates
Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:35 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: frozencpu's hdd noise reduction system?
Replies: 2
Views: 2123

frozencpu's hdd noise reduction system?

See here:

http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/frozencpu/noi-05.html

At only $11, it beats the "no-vibes" and zalman's hdd heat pipes in terms of cost. Does anyone know how it performs?
by m_yates
Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:20 am
Forum: Quiet Prebuilt, SFF and Barebones Systems
Topic: The "New" iMac G5
Replies: 55
Views: 46242

Does anyone know anything about this: http://www.idotpc.com/TheStore/Desktop/815Spec.asp?Product.id=815&Cate.id=1 It is a similar concept to the new iMac except in a PC. You can buy it barebones and outfit your own. You get better video than the iMac with buit in TV tuner. You can also put in a bigg...
by m_yates
Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:50 am
Forum: Fans and Control
Topic: unknown blue fan holding thing-a-meh-bobbers
Replies: 4
Views: 2521

by m_yates
Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:48 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Seasonic Tornado 300 A3 is THE powersupply
Replies: 28
Views: 13611

The newest version doesn't have the super red fan: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article166-page1.html The review states the fan is the same as the Nexus 3500 fan, but the Sesonic has smarter control. In my experience, the PSU is great. I was using a 300 W Silenx and THAT PSU is hot. The Seasonic is...
by m_yates
Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:29 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Seasonic Tornado 300 A3 is THE powersupply
Replies: 28
Views: 13611

I don't think there is anything on the box to identify it. Mine came shipped shrink wrapped as well and the box says atx v1.3, that doesn't have anything to do with Seasonics revision number. On the power supply itself, there is a sticker that shows revA3. You can see an image of it on the Seasonic ...
by m_yates
Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:55 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Seasonic Tornado 300 A3 is THE powersupply
Replies: 28
Views: 13611

I LOVE my Seasonic Super Tornado 300!

The long warranty, high efficiency, and quality are great selling points...but the best is that it is QUIET :D I also ordered mine from silicon acoustics: great service.
by m_yates
Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:35 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: precautions i must take before selling old hard drive?
Replies: 20
Views: 10554

I purchased a package of software from Acronis: http://www.acronis.com/products/powerutilities/ It is $60 US, but includes several useful tools for migrating to a new drive. One is "Drive Clenser" that will erase everything on the old drive using your choice of security algorithms for overwriting (o...
by m_yates
Thu May 20, 2004 8:03 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: question to nx-3000 owners
Replies: 10
Views: 4332

I really like mine. It doesn't start out loud. My PC at home has the Nexus NX-3000, an 80 mm Panaflo fan at ~6 volts, and an Artic Cooling Copper Silent 2TC. When I first power up, everything is very quiet. The computer gets gradually louder as it warms up, probably due to the temperature controlled...
by m_yates
Tue May 04, 2004 6:46 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Here's a new idea in PC cooling
Replies: 40
Views: 17536

Did you notice that the hot air is discharged outside of the computer and that the internal case temperature was measured at 45 degrees F? The FFACS is not your typical a/c unit. It is breakthrough technology that has its own patent. It appears that the computer has an inlet line for compressed air...
by m_yates
Tue May 04, 2004 5:20 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Here's a new idea in PC cooling
Replies: 40
Views: 17536

Some comments: 1. On the diagram/flowchart "water seperator" should be spelled "water separator". You probably want to correct that. 2. Someone already mentioned that the compressor will generate heat. More importantly, when you compress air, it becomes hotter. Notice on the diagram that air leaves ...
by m_yates
Tue Apr 27, 2004 3:16 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: What PSUs only have one 80mm fan in the back?
Replies: 13
Views: 4386

www.silenx.com I also own a Nexus NX-3000 for my computer at home. It is also very quiet and probably less expensive than the silenx (fom www.endpcnoise.com ). There are also similar less expensive power supplies labelled "silenx" that you can buy from axiontech: http://www.axiontech.com/mid_mfg.php...
by m_yates
Tue Apr 27, 2004 2:41 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: What PSUs only have one 80mm fan in the back?
Replies: 13
Views: 4386

Silenx. I have owned one 300 Watt Silenx for several weeks and it is very very quiet. The fan barely cools the PSU itself, so you will need good case ventillation. My quiet PC at work has nothing but Silenx products (1 silenx 80 mm fan, a Swiftech heatsink with Silenx fan, and the Silenx PSU). Overa...
by m_yates
Sat Apr 17, 2004 7:01 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: New "Dry Water" Cooling possiblities?
Replies: 16
Views: 8718

This is getting way off topic and more like a chemistry class. However, I just can't resist correcting some things: 1. Electrical conductivity and heat conductivity are not always directly related. Please see Arctic Silver products as a prime example. They are great heat conductors, but poor electri...
by m_yates
Sat Apr 17, 2004 11:47 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: New "Dry Water" Cooling possiblities?
Replies: 16
Views: 8718

Well, if it is a liquid and has a surface, it has a surface tension. However, I don't think surface tension is what is needed. It is heat capacity. Water has a high heat capacity, meaning that it can "store" a lot of heat without the temperature of the water increasing a lot. The heat capacity is pr...
by m_yates
Wed Apr 07, 2004 8:54 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Designing the "perfect" case
Replies: 31
Views: 15305

I don't care if it never gets any quieter.
So there is an end to this madness? :D
by m_yates
Wed Apr 07, 2004 6:34 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: HELP! My FSP400-60PFN is INCREDIBLY LOUD!
Replies: 11
Views: 4254

Directron sells an extension cable:

http://www.directron.com/3pincable.html

that has a three pin male on one end and a three pin female on the other. It is only $3. You could solder or wire the male end into the power supply and use the female end on the Panaflo.
by m_yates
Tue Apr 06, 2004 5:54 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Designing the "perfect" case
Replies: 31
Views: 15305

Well, I have no experience modifying cases, but I have been reading forums here and reading other stuff online. For the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about building a case/cabinet that would be muffled and silent. A couple of things are needed I think: 1. The case would have to be airtig...
by m_yates
Wed Mar 31, 2004 8:31 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Wooden Box for case, bluefront plz advise :)
Replies: 19
Views: 7418

You may consider something like this: http://www.plasmic.dk/cocoon/en/introduction.php The price is outrageous, but the design may give you some ideas. A do it yourself version is described here: http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/noise-protection/details.htm Both of those links describe a noise reduci...
by m_yates
Mon Mar 29, 2004 2:59 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Is thier a reference design/build for n00bs?
Replies: 26
Views: 9168

Since you are not going to use the power supply, you can save a couple of bucks and get the Ever Case 4252 with no power supply (available for $45 including shipping right now at Newegg). The ever case is what Arm Systems uses for their "stealth" quiet PC's. You can use up to 120 mm fan in the back ...
by m_yates
Mon Mar 29, 2004 8:30 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Are my Sonata temps OK
Replies: 7
Views: 4094

I think your temperatures are fine. 35 C idle is great, and even 53 C isn't that high. I have now installed low-airflow fans and my CPU idles in the upper 40's to lower 50's. It maxes out at 60 to 65 C with a thermistor controlled CPU fan. I don't think you have anything to worry about until your CP...
by m_yates
Sat Mar 20, 2004 10:32 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Igloo Silent Breeze 462?
Replies: 3
Views: 2768

I own an Igloo Silent Breeze II (two of them in fact). They were both purchased from Newegg a long time ago. At the time, Newegg was the only retailer that I could find in the U.S. Newegg has since dropped them, so I don't know if there is a distributor in the US anymore. My experience with them has...
by m_yates
Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:14 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Quiten and Decoupling
Replies: 8
Views: 4337

The Zalman hard drive heatsink has rubber mounts designed to decouple vibration from the case. You either have to mount it in a large drive bay, or drill holes for the mounts. I have one of these that I purchased with a new Seagate 120 GB 7200.7 hard drive. It is mounted in one of the CD drive bays ...