First let me tell you I haven't built a computer in probably 5 years. Since then, I've been more involved in work, car audio, and my family. I've been using laptops at home and a Dell I purchased a year ago. The Dell was impressively quite (to me). But since I bought my wife a new laptop, I got to start building my new computer. I wanted something small, fast and quiet. So I choose the Antec Aria mainly because it's fairly small, mATX and well... small. I knew I could choose a "shuttle"-type barebones and it would be smaller, but I didn't really like the idea of being so limited on choice. I read a review (not here) and the guy talked about how quite it was.
Well, I'll tell you they were not exactly right. The Aria can be very noisy, so this is more or less the story of what I’m doing to make it closer in noise level to the Dell.
"A Dell computer as a reference?" you ask? Well it's a Dell 4550 with a P4 2.6. With everything off in the condo, I can barely hear it. It's at least as quiet as any of the laptops I've used (at idle).
Assembling the team:
First I picked up my mb used from someone at work – an Asus P4P800-vm. I wanted this motherboard because it had a fairly recent controller chipset, took PC3200 ram (up to 4gb), had S-ATA and was mATX. I would have considered another chipset (and AMD), but I've had bad experiences with VIA (a long time ago remember). It also has on-board video and sound, nice bonus
Then I ordered my Aria case, a new Intel Prescott 3.2 gig processor, and a Seagate Barracuda 160gb S-ATA hard drive. That came in and I picked up a Sony dual-layer DVD burner (DRU-710A) and a Zalman CNPS7000-cu HSF.
I didn't do quite the research I thought I had done. I also had not found SPCR yet. I didn't know the P4e would be a 100W proc and run so hot. I just saw "new technology" and 1mb onboard cache. I knew Barracuda's were supposed to be quiet drives, but I got a VII... oh well. I did however do a lot of research trying to figure out if the Zalman 7000 would fit. Finally, I bought it at a local retail store and figured if it didn't fit, I'd return it.
Initial system build:
Everything went together fine. You have to remove the power supply to get the MB and everything in. Well you don't HAVE to.... it's just a little simpler. But then I discovered that putting that ps back in can be tricky. In the end, I pulled the Zalman off so the ps slid back in easier. Get the power all connected and viola! - nothing. no POST, no BIOS, no beeps.... I can hear the fan switch on, but nothing. [insert many bad words]
Special note #1 to system builders.... If you buy a motherboard, make sure you get the BIOS flashed with the latest revision. When trying to find out what was happening, I did happen across people with no POST, no BIOS, no video output and I saw people recommending they flash the BIOS. In my simple mind, i figured it can't be that since I’m not even getting to the BIOS. 2 hours on hold waiting for Asus tech support and a 5 minute conversation with their support guy revealed that, yes indeed, if your BIOS is old, you won't POST or get video output. Now how does one update a BIOS on a system with no floppy and a too fast proc? Answer: gut the Dell. Oh, and send the wife out shopping because this is not pretty.
With an updated BIOS on board, the system boots now and it's install time.
Special note #2... Disable card readers when installing Windows on a S-ATA drive. Having your hard drive as F: is not as cool as it sounds.
System is up and running, and it doesn't sound too loud. Louder than I thought it would be... but after getting into SPCR, I’m starting to think I'll be able to play with that. I love ripping things apart and I’m used to long build times. It took me a couple years to build my car into a winning sound off machine. So a couple months working on this computer should be fun!
Loading Doom3:
The bonus feature of built in graphics is pretty worthless if you want to really game. If I was a crack smoker, it would explain my reasoning as to why I thought I could limp along on the Intel Extreme Edition 2 video. Maybe it was the early thoughts of building a HTPC that deluded me into thinking internal video could pass.... But with Tivo's running near $100 now, adding to my Tivo network makes more sense than building a HTPC.
So I order up the ATI Radeon 9800Pro with 256mb ddr ram. When it came to price/performance, this baby won. I got a special deal that made it an offer I couldn't refuse. So when the full retail box was opened, I started drooling looking at the beauty or if all. I also noticed the tiny little stock fan and the thought occurred to me, "Boy, I hope thats' not too loud!"
Epilogue:
This brings us pretty much up to date. I play mostly Sims2 and Doom3 on the computer right now because I'm still in "build mode." This beast is fasat, but noisy. I've installed Speed fan and found that turning the case fan down really helps. Pressing my finger on the video fan makes the biggest difference.
I worry a little about temperatures... I idle at about 54c and when playing the CPU sits at about 69c. I can live with that for now since I'm not done, but those numbers need to go down as well as the sound level.
So I'm planning on the following:
- Artic Cooling ATI Silencer ver3 - and removing the cyclone blower that comes with the case.
Artic Silver V thermal compound all around.
new 120mm fan, either Papst, AcoustiFan or Nexus.
increasing the number of vent holes in the PS.
wire sleeves (I know it's mostly looks, but they will also route easier too).
replacing the Zalman fan.
and possibly opening some of the holes in the case for more air inlet.
Any comments or suggestions? I'm ordering the ATI silencer and Artic Silver V today....
-Brian Haley
cars, audio, computers, travel, and a two year old who sings the star spangled banner
Sorry I didnt catch in your post that you dont have the aria yet (I thought those pictures were yours ). In case you didn't know, there is no heatsink within the cut out area in the pic. When you open that slot, all you see is the bottom portion of the fan. 
