Search found 349 matches

by zoob
Sun Nov 03, 2013 3:26 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Our Lapped CPU Heatsink Test Platform
Replies: 37
Views: 34330

Re: Our Lapped CPU Heatsink Test Platform

Excellent discussion topic and glad my past hunches are finally confirmed and documented! :mrgreen: This IHS deformation would likely explain why I never had great experience with a Noctua NH-D14 or aircooling in general. I had been watercooling for some time and there was a trend of convex bases st...
by zoob
Tue May 07, 2013 4:30 pm
Forum: Green Computing
Topic: What's the best computer you can find for FREE?
Replies: 30
Views: 67319

Re: What's the best computer you can find for FREE?

My work buys all IBM/Lenovo stuff... their old C2D era computers mostly use poor quality T&T fans in the PSU. When the bearings seize the PSU overheats and voltages go crazy, then blow caps on the mobo. A few dollars in capacitors, a new 80mm PSU fan, and a bit of time will fix these right up. They'...
by zoob
Fri Nov 09, 2012 5:12 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Quiet / Noisy Monitor Survey
Replies: 272
Views: 500254

Re: Quiet / Noisy Monitor Survey

I ended up ditching my Dell 20" 2007FP's due to a constant high pitched whine I could never get rid of after slathering nail polish over most components on the inverter. My Dell 3007WFP-HC is getting less use due to the CCFL inverter buzzing on acceptable brightness levels (mostly goes away at 100%)...
by zoob
Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:11 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: GPU Fan minimum speed
Replies: 19
Views: 14907

Re: GPU Fan minimum speed

There is a huge thread over on mvktech about modding bioses. You may try your luck there: http://www.mvktech.net/component/option,com_joomlaboard/Itemid,34/func,view/id,63960/catid,10/limit,10/limitstart,40/ http://www.mvktech.net/component/option,com_joomlaboard/Itemid,34/func,view/id,62683/catid,1...
by zoob
Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:24 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Near Silent VGA or Third Party Cooler ?
Replies: 8
Views: 5920

Re: Near Silent VGA or Third Party Cooler ?

FWIW I have a Galaxy GTX660Ti "GC" card ( http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/56432-gtx-660-ti-roundup-asus-evga-gigabyte-galaxy-msi-4.html ) that has the two fans on an accelero style heatsink. On idle it is subjectively VERY quiet with an open case. It has a tendency to d...
by zoob
Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:10 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Seasonic G360W gold for $60 - Review & Giveaway!
Replies: 169
Views: 241329

Re: Seasonic G360W gold for $60 - Review & Giveaway!

Looks like newegg is the best bet if you want to purchase this in Canada right now. Hoping somewhere local will start carrying this soon to save the ship cost (over 20% of the unit cost). Have a few builds I need to push out that would match this PSU perfectly. I'm hoping Corsair does a rebadge of t...
by zoob
Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:50 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Corsair AX1200i - DSP controlled PSU for high efficiency
Replies: 0
Views: 2046

Corsair AX1200i - DSP controlled PSU for high efficiency

Hi All, Surprised no one has mentioned this new PSU from Corsair: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5919/corsairs-ax1200i-dsp-controlled-psu FTA: Corsair introduced its new AX1200i (1200W) PSU with a integrated DSP that controls voltage regulation, resulting in higher efficiency (80 Plus Platinum rated,...
by zoob
Tue May 29, 2012 1:56 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Noctua to use Active Noise Cancellation in new Fan
Replies: 49
Views: 87263

Re: Noctua to use Active Noise Cancellation in new Fan

Fascinating, but I wonder how it is going to factor in PWM or voltage speed control.
by zoob
Tue May 08, 2012 4:12 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Asus P8Z77-V Pro: Xpert Fan Control for LGA1155
Replies: 79
Views: 171224

Re: Asus P8Z77-V Pro: Xpert Fan Control for LGA1155

It's easy to run your CPU fan from a 3-pin header and set the board to ignore the CPU fan header (so you don't get any error messages at boot.) Even rename the header you choose as CPU FAN. Ahh good call. I didn't think about setting it up that way. BTW one thing to note, although this motherboard ...
by zoob
Tue May 08, 2012 5:18 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Asus P8Z77-V Pro: Xpert Fan Control for LGA1155
Replies: 79
Views: 171224

Re: Asus P8Z77-V Pro: Xpert Fan Control for LGA1155

Can this motherboard control 3-pin fans by voltage, or only 4-pin fans by PWM? If it can, what fan headers can be used to control fans? The four pin CPU fan headers can only control PWM fans. The remaining chassis fan headers can control 3-pin fans by voltage. It's frustrating as I have a number of...
by zoob
Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:38 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Ways to clean mobos and PCB boards APART from compressed air
Replies: 7
Views: 4368

Re: Ways to clean mobos and PCB boards APART from compressed

Compressed air won't clean off dirt caked on if it's been in a smoker's home. Even if you get most of it off, it will still stink like cigarettes. On a motherboard I bought a long time ago (from a smoker), I took the heatsinks off and washed them with soap+water, and just used a jewellers screw driv...
by zoob
Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:02 pm
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: Liquid Cooled (now Air cooled) Lian-Li A05NB
Replies: 3
Views: 5034

Re: Liquid Cooled Lian-Li A05NB

Well, here we go back to AIR. Here is what prompted the change: 1. Changed my SmartUPS1500VA for an older version without a constant fan running = lower noise floor 2. I had a GTX580 for a while, but sold it off as I'm not gaming as much before = lower noise floor (even with the fan running at 30%, ...
by zoob
Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:58 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Another SPCR recommended list: Cases
Replies: 123
Views: 262766

Re: Another SPCR recommended list: Cases

Finally a refresh!

Noticed some typos in the SOLO2 segment:
The PSU remains oin the top back corner, but access to is is improved. HDD elastric suspension mounting still remains...

Guessing someone didn't have their morning coffee ;)
by zoob
Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:02 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Silverstone Grandia GD05: A Versatile HTPC Case
Replies: 69
Views: 69514

Re: Silverstone Grandia GD05: A Versatile HTPC Case

I have a worklog posted on another forum. It is a HTPC for my brother. The Big Shuriken is probably the best cooler for this case, as it gives you just the right height should you choose to use a DVD drive. http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/case-mods-worklog-gallery/49398-gd05b-htpc.html http://w...
by zoob
Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:34 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Where did all the air-coolers go?
Replies: 5
Views: 4728

Re: Where did all the air-coolers go?

Thanks but those either ship to U.S. only, or cost half the price of the heatsink (which is already much more expensive than they used to cost) to ship to Canada. :( Sites like Newegg have no Thermalright products in stock, and the Megahalems is no longer listed at NCIX. The Noctua NH-D14 which used...
by zoob
Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:55 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Where did all the air-coolers go?
Replies: 5
Views: 4728

Where did all the air-coolers go?

What happened to these heatsinks? I can't seem to find them on sale - Prolimatech Megahalems - Thermalright HR-02 (Macho edition included) - Thermalright AXP140 It's like the Megahalems dropped off the face of the planet after they were on sale for $45 every week, and the HR-02 and most Thermalright...
by zoob
Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:05 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Silent UPS
Replies: 74
Views: 101248

Re: Silent UPS

Bumping an old thread, but I figure this information is good to know. I exchanged my APC SmartUPS 1500VA fan-always-on model with my friend's older model. I haven't seen/heard the fan spin unless it was testing itself. Have not yet experienced power-loss situation, but this thing is essentially "sil...
by zoob
Thu Sep 29, 2011 7:37 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: I give you the ANTEC SOLO II
Replies: 177
Views: 235321

Re: I give you the ANTEC SOLO II

Haters gonna hate, I suppose. The bar is there for structural integrity. People hated it, they made it removable. If you don't like it, take it out and just put it in a cardboard box. I'm tired of flimsy aluminum cases that flex just by mounting in a motherboard and video card. PSU top mount is to t...
by zoob
Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:56 pm
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: Liquid Cooled (now Air cooled) Lian-Li A05NB
Replies: 3
Views: 5034

Liquid Cooled (now Air cooled) Lian-Li A05NB

This is one of my liquid cooled Lian Lis: Components Intel Core i7 2600K ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z 4x4GB G-Skill DDR3-1600 RAM Powercolor Radeon HD6850 Passive Corsair Force 120GB SSD Pioneer DVR-218LBK DVD Writer Antec EasySATA hot swap bay Corsair AX750 PSU Cooling Swiftech Apogee XT Swiftech MCR320 ...
by zoob
Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:24 pm
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: A fanless home file server
Replies: 15
Views: 17077

Re: A fanless home file server

Really slick work!! Have you considered using countersunk screws? It would definitely help prevent snags when you need to dust off the shiny case :)
by zoob
Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:18 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Buzzing from GIGABYTE H67N mini-itx:everything else is quiet
Replies: 6
Views: 3856

Re: Buzzing from GIGABYTE H67N mini-itx:everything else is q

First start with only disabling the additional C-states like C3/C6. By disabling those but keeping C1E & EIST you'll lose out on some power savings, but your CPU will still throttle down. I've experienced the same type of buzzing on newer motherboards paired with older PSU designs -- Gigabyte EX58-U...
by zoob
Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:16 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Lian Li PC-V354 MicroATX Mini Tower Case
Replies: 20
Views: 16216

Re: Lian Li PC-V354 MicroATX Mini Tower Case

Had my hopes up for a nice small case to house 8 drives, but how with the vibration problem I'm going to have to sit tight a little longer :(
by zoob
Wed Nov 10, 2010 6:18 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Lian Li PC-Q08 Mini-ITX Mini Tower Case
Replies: 53
Views: 69486

Re: Lian Li PC-Q08 Mini-ITX Mini Tower Case

Welp, finally pulled the trigger and bought one of these. Waiting for it to be delivered to see if it can house a Thermochill PA160...
by zoob
Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:41 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Ultra thin GTS450 by Sparkle (1 slot design)
Replies: 2
Views: 1885

Re: Ultra thin GTS450 by Sparkle (1 slot design)

Looks like the old 8800GT design.

I like single slot for non-high end cards - lets you use the other slots on your motherboard esp. for MiniATX systems.
The single slot GTX460 should be quite nice... let's just see how the pricing turns out.
by zoob
Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:11 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: New silent PSU - Corsair AX750 or Seasonic X650?
Replies: 3
Views: 3004

I recently tried switching to a Corsair AX750 to see if it would stop my video card from buzzing under certain load conditions (the buzz also comes out of a Corsair HX620). The AX750 doesn't buzz with the video card, but instead emits a constant high-pitched squeal, and it continues until after the ...
by zoob
Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:40 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Samsung EcoGreen F4 & Seagate Barracuda XT 2TB Hard Driv
Replies: 21
Views: 14296

Anyone have experience with these drives setting CCTL or ERC? Equivalent of WD's TLER - time-limited error recovery, to prevent it from dropping out of RAID arrays. The WD20EADS is getting more difficult to find (the last drive I've used that lets you set TLER). EARS that I've used doesn't support t...
by zoob
Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:01 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Lian Li PC-Q08 Mini-ITX Mini Tower Case
Replies: 53
Views: 69486

Would you be able to measure the clearance around the front mounted 120mm fan? I've been looking for a case for a loong time to make use of my Thermochill PA160 radiator... and this looks like it might be the one :)

Thanks!
by zoob
Wed Sep 22, 2010 7:17 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Loud XFX 5770 stock heatsink/Best course of action.
Replies: 43
Views: 16914

Really wouldn't recommend hacking off a DVI port. You lose the ability to connect another monitor (in the event you want multiple in the future). Dual-link DVI is NOT the same as using two DVI ports. That, and I'd think you would rather hack-up a $20 heatsink than a $150 video card. http://upload.wi...
by zoob
Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:58 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Seasonic X-400 Fanless PSU
Replies: 167
Views: 147124

Promo is available on Newegg.ca now, so much for being SPCR only :twisted: - the code is right up there with the item! It doesn't even cover shipping cost.

I noticed that the cost of the SS-400FL actually went up a few days after SPCR posted it's review. Should have bought it then and there.