There are lots of ways to cool that card quietly. You may be able to underclock the card using ATItool, and then just unplug the fan if you have reasonable system temperatures. If that doesn't work, a slow 80mm fan pointed at the card should bring it down to OK temps. Lots of folks here (including m...

The positive/negative pressure thing has a long history here. You will find rabid proponents on both sides. I think I remember somone doing a test with an SLK3700 series (same basic case as yours) a while back, and found the lowest temps overall, and lowest noise by using one exhaust fan only. Of co...

I'm still in the process of deciding. I will either go for the NSK or build my own. My design is very similar to the NSK in some ways (seperate PSU chamber, exhaust fans on side adjacent to CPU area) so it would not be a huge stretch. Advantages of building my own would be: smaller case, a bit cheap...

I think Mike may have already commented about the Tuniq in another thread. (too lazy to search).

Either way - it does not appear to be a good quiet cooling candidate. Loads of densely packed fins.

I like the NSK2400 desktop too, but it's just too big IMO. I am currently trying to figure out how best to build my own case to my specs: - Minimum size for mATX desktop - minimum depth (this is main area where I don't like 2400) - Full height expansion slots (3-4) - No bling Colour: Black may be 20...

I can't imagine how my post came across as browbeating. I'm no relativist. I beleive that there is such thing as objective truth, and I explicitly stated that the forums are the correct place to question the article. My issue is more with the tone of some of the comments. It is something by definiti...

Just a general comment on this thread: One of the great things about SPCR is the focus on critical thinking. The greatest enemy of critical thinking is orthodoxy and dogmatic belief. The truth of the belief is irrelevant in this context. In this case, it may be true that the most effective way to bu...

I agree, I cannot for the life of me see how that is a ripoff. It's a tower heatsink with an open frame fan integrated on one side. Tower heatsinks have become a fairly common design, it's getting hard to differentiate them. Good thing for consumers IMO, as we should start to see lower prices across...

I wish the article had focussed purely on the acoustic properties of the Apple computer; at least then there would have been a chance that this thread wouldn’t turn into a playground brawl. I agree that the article pretty much opened up the floodgates to Mac vs PC by discussing inherent advantages ...

To get back on topic, there have been a few integrated Wintel systems like the iMac where the back of the monitor is used to house the main guts of the PC. Here's a pic of one I took at the IDF showcase last week, which I think looks pretty good. Apparently it is the latest version of a machine sho...

Update: The only shop I found that carries the Enermax is in Ontario and will not ship to BC. The mailbox store in Point Roberts that accepts packages is not open weekends, so my idea of picking it up on the way back from a trip to the mainland will not work. Sad - I finally find the case that seems...

I've heard there is a mailbox shop in Point Roberts that specializes in receiving goods for Canadians. I may try that, and pick it up next time I am on the way back from the mainland. I have put in calls to a number of local shops, and the one place in Mississauga that shows the case on the website,...

It's still common to see ATI Rage 8Mb integrated graphics onboard new servers these days. That's reaching back at least 5 generations of graphics hardware. I should think there must be plenty of integrated S478 boards out there though. It was the most popular OEM platform for a very long time. edit:...

Thanks - I didn't think to search model numbers. I found one shop that lists it on the website. It's a static site, so who knows if they still have it, but at least it's a start. Now I get to find out what shipping from Ontario is for a case (assuming they reply).

Yeah I forgot about that one. It looks nearly perfect, bu I cannot find it in Canada using any web searches. I may try calling around to see if any shops near me can get it in. I don't want the hassle of cross-border shipping. Been burned on that once. Never again. Anyone know who in Canada sells En...

I imagine if I used either of those cases that the 60mm fan holes would become passive intakes, and I would have to cut a larger opening somewhere. Thing is, there is nothing out there that meets my needs, so regardless of what I get it will have to be modified. Makes building something from scratch...

Well I've found 2 that look close to meeting my needs for under $100. There is no way I would pay $200-250 for a case. I've never spent that much on a single compnent in my life. I'm cheap. This Chenbro "Black Desktop" Is available for around $75 through a local shop. There is also This In-win and w...

mATX power supply is for 2 reasons. One, I already have a SS200SFD from when I intended to build my own, and I'd like to use it. 2, there is full height then there's full height. I want a minimal full height, just enough to fit the cards, but no more. Mostly it's about getting that minimal size. I w...

So much searching, but I have not found anything to my liking yet. This is for HTPC/Media PC for the living room, so something decent looking in black or silver would be nice, but I'm also not afraid to mod if it needs it. I was going to build my own from MDF (may still in the future) but it has bee...

I think the first picture in that link is a perfect example of what to do: don't enclose the PC, but block direct line of sight to the mics. As you've found out, the experts generally agree that enclosing a PC is much more difficult than simply making a quiet one. Once you have a nice quiet PC throu...

Definitely no need for an intake fan. You'll find most folks around here run exhaust only. Intake fans are a good idea if you have many/hot hard drives, but I've used Maxtor drives (among the hottest) suspended in front of the intake vent of a 3700AMB with no issues at all. As long as the HD are in ...

Another plug for mATX HTPC case here. I don't understand all the clamouring for a full ATX setup. All I can find are full ATX models with Full ATX PSU. I am currently putting together a HTPC, and I'm looking at building my own case because nothing out there that I can find meets my needs: - mATX onl...

I think you need to more fully answer the question of what is "Good at games". The rest of the PC should be fairly straightforward, but a graphics card makes a huge difference in cost and heat (and thus silence potential). A serviceable midrange system should be possible within you budget. It is als...

From the Inquirer: "There are a few things that Intel is doing differently this time. It is changing the way it bins CPUs. Instead of sheer clock rate, it is moving to clock rate and power. If a CPU can hit 2GHz on the tester, it is then subjected to power use tests. The next phase of the binning i...

Thanks for the info - I'm leaning towards the E2C's, as I can find them for around $100(Cdn), while the E3C's are all over $200. I'll mostly be listening to MP3's anyhow (albeit 256Kbps +). Is there a big noticeable jump in sound quality between the two?

Well numerous posts here have referred to noise-isolating in-ear monitors as a possible solution. I am aware of the Shure models ($++), but some have claimed less expensive alternatives. My personal requirements are based on 90 minutes + of daily carpooling with 3 others who seem to talk more about ...

Personally I don't see the point in going with socket 754 for such a high-end CPU. If you are going to spend that kind of money, better to get a 939 system. Socket 754 makes sense if you are trying to save money or keep your AGP card. It's not just about dual channel RAM - that only makes a small di...

IMO, fanless for PC's is usually just for bragging rights. Most people's homes have an ambient noise background that would drown out very quiet PC components. As Mike says, the fan in the Seasonic, plus perhaps one other Nexus 120mm fan at 5-7v will cool a low powered system very well, never ramp up...

Depends on the system really. For Pentium 4 systems at high clock rates, it is considerable. Athlon 64 systems are less sensetive to memory bandwidth, but the faster you go, the more difference it can make. Also, there is no dual channel RAM, the memory is the same, it just depends on how it is conf...

Umm, humans didn't create the middle eastern desert. Actually, humans did help create the middle eastern desert, or at the very least accelerated the process. Irrigation for thousands of years has resulted in saline soil in the cradle of civilization. One of the oldest known stories in the world is...