slrw wrote:Is there any actual danger in undervolting, besides of reversible instability?

Getting addicted to silence and low temps is the only one I can think of.

Ducting the CPU to an intake should have the same effect overall (maybe better CPU cooling and less PSU cooling), but I think ducting to an exhaust gives a more logical airflow path. It also depends on what HS you are using, many high performance HS work better with a fan blowing on them rather than...

Think the strong fan is there to ensure the PSU lasts through the 3 yr. warranty? I don't think so. With its big heatsinks and high efficiency, this PSU doesn't need a high CFM fan. I really think they chose such a fan because they don't know how the PSU will be used. As long as you know what you'r...

A few weeks ago, I reviewed a very interesting PSU : the Tagan TG380-E00. I don't know if it's available in the USA, but many readers here are from Europe so I thought I would let you know about it. Test : Tagan TG380-E00 (in french). Google translated review . To sum up : The Tagan TG380-E00 is a d...

I have recently reviewed the Seasonic Super Tornado 350w and 400w version (SS-350FB and SS-400FB). It looks to me like these PSU are not designed for silence. As the packaging says, they are "for gamers and overclockers", and one thing is for sure : while reviewing them I didn't feel like I was the ...

I'm currently reviewing the Super Silencer 460w. Looks to me like its a good evolution of the FS serie, and it has the same qualities and drawbacks : Qualities : - good efficiency, even better than the FS serie - good fan controller will keep the fan at its lowest speed as long as you have decent ca...

Trip wrote:An ideal would be something that would keep the fans running even after the computer is turned off and then cut off when things reach a safe temperature.

The Nexus Prolong is exactly what you are looking for, though I can't see any use for this device.

Just found this :

Seagate wrote:SeaShield -- This protective cover for Seagate personal storage disc drives protects the drive and also dampens acoutic noise

According to Kostik's review, I believe he said that after the unit speeds up it doesn't come down and stays at the higher RPM even when load is decreased. That's not exactly what the review says, I suspect Google didn't translate it correctly. I noticed that after running CPUBurn for a few minutes...

Ok, tests done. I used a whiny 14Gb IBM drive with no AAM, and installed it in a 5"1/4 bay with the ZM-2HC1, and then with a DIY suspension. I made two types of measurements : - first measurement was with the case closed, and the SLM standing at 10cm from the front of the computer, pointing to the 5...

JVM, what I'm saying is that I didn't pay enough attention to this issue, and therefore cannot tell you more than what I wrote in the review. I have noticed that the seeks were a bit louder when using the ZM-2HC1 in a 5"1/4 bay than when the drive was suspended below the 3"1/2 cage. Now that this ha...

Every mounting type was tested for 24 hours, and with every mounting types seeks where inaudible from where I was standing. If they had been audible, I would have paid more attention to this issue.

I'll test it again with a louder drive (I think I'll try a whiny IBM with no AAM) and report here.

JVM, the french for "PSU" also means "food", that's why google didn't translate it correctly.

Also, at the bottom of the page, you should read "next" instead of "according to", but I guess that was obvious.

Kostik, did you try it with more than one drive? You really heard NO difference at all between the ZM-2HC1 and a real elastic suspension? I could actually feel the difference in vibration level with my fingers on the top of the case. With the elastic there is none, with the ZM, there is a bit. Mayb...

Hey I did the same thing. Except I used foam instead of rubber, didn't mount the drive upside down, and the drive is fully enclosed (only the heatpipes are visible). I also added thermal paste between the sides and heatpipes. Don't know if it improved anything. Average temp is ~44°c, 50°c after a de...

You are most likely hearing artifacts from the sound card or speakers. AFAIK nobody except new born babies can hear a 20khz tone.

And with a sampling frequency of 44khz, most PC harware cannot produce a frequency above 22khz.

Do I hear a note of sadism? :lol: Oh but that was just for the sake of science :mrgreen:. I think for most adults, frequencies above 17khz are inaudible. For frequencies between 15k and 17k it depends on the individuals. New born babies can hear up to 20k if I remember correctly. Don't you have hea...

When I was young I thought perhaps I was the only one who heard this and maybe I was psychic or something. When I deveoped an interest in electronics I learned what I was hearing. Yeah I had that problem too when I was a kid. I think the issue is that old people can't hear high frequencies, so they...

Mario, yes, there is an option to mount the ZM-2HC1 at the bottom of the case. You have to drill the case, but then you use the same rubber mounts as in the 5"1/4 bay, so decoupling should be as good.

The review should be available soon.

I got them on the phone, and they don't ship internationally.

Now trying to convince them to send me a review sample .

Sprout, thanks for pointing this out, I just posted a news about it on my site.

I'm trying to get them on the phone too .

I think one of the best hardware buys I have ever made was when I upgraded from a Palomino 1600+ to a TBred B 1800+. This processor has so many qualities : - unlocked multiplier - runs at stock clock with vcore @1.25v (~31w). With a TT volcano 7 HS and an L1A @5v it can handle hours and hours of CPU...

I did a DIY suspension, much like the Novibes, should work just the same.

The ZM-2HC1 by itself doesn't rattle, and it provides a good decoupling. There was no vibration transmitted to the case that I could feel.

The drive did *not* run cooler than with the standard mount. Mounting the drive in the 3"1/2 drive cage, temperature was ~44°c.

So the drive ran hotter in the 5"1/4 bay, just not as hot as if there had been no ZM-2HC1.

I just finished reviewing the ZM-2HC1 (still have to write the article). Zalman's HD cooler requires that you mount the drive in a 5"1/4 bay, where temperature can be an issue as there will be very little airflow. In order to test the cooling efficiency of the ZM-2HC1, I suspended a 60gb Barracuda A...

I've only seen the Yate Loon D12SM-12 and D12BM-12 in these PSUs, which other fan(s) have you seen Halcyon ? I found the D12BM-12 reasonably good, but after a few weeks of use it became too loud for my liking. The D12SM-12 though (that's the sleeve bearing one) is a very decent fan I think. I'll try...

I had the 300watt version with active pfc. The fan was only getting 3.9V at idle (was running quite a low powered system though) so 5V could actually be noisier. I have reviewed the FSP300-60PN (PF), and the Nexus NX-3500, which has the same fan controller. Though the fan spins at its lowest speed ...

Hey Mario, where did you find these fans ?
Looks to me like they are not available in france. Did you buy them online ?

The was before I got my Dremel. I admit it's pretty ugly !

Hehe :). No it's not that hard, but not every cases have enough room below the PSU. I think the stock fan in this PSU is decent (especially if you got the sleeve-bearing one), which is why I suggest trying other mods first. If your PSU doesn't run too hot, bypassing the fan controller and running th...