Advice on new build

readk · Post by **readk** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:31 pm

Hey guys, I'm kind of a newbie and could use some help before I spend money! I'm in Canada so parts are sometimes hard to find.

Goal is to build a quiet budget work/game machine that is entirely passive or cooled entirely by a single 120mm fan. Am I crazy?

Plan so far:

Passive video card
E.g. Radeon HD 4650

Low wattage processor (45w?)
E.g. AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050E

Passive CPU Cooler
E.g. Thermalright HR-01

Passive Power Supply
E.g. Silverstone Nightjar

SSD (no hard drive)
No optical drives

Questions

Are these good choices?
Can you recommend better parts?
Can you recommend motherboard and case?

Help!

And thanks!

readk · Post by **readk** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:51 pm

Also curious if this will outperform current desktop. Purpose is to replace a very very loud machine

Athlon 64 x2 4400+ 2.31Ghz
Nvidia GeForce 7900GS

Auroa · Post by **Auroa** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:14 pm

Your choices are fine. And you won't have a problem cooling that system with a single fan.

psiu · Post by **psiu** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:40 am

M3A78-EM @ NCIX
M3A78-EM @ DirectCanada

Dunno about case.

readk · Post by **readk** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:52 am

This is an awesome forum for advice!

Do you think the video performance will be better than my old 7900GS and also is there any better card that maybe runs cooler?

Could I stick with my 65w brisbane x2 or do I really need to go to the 45w processor?

Also any ideas for case and motherboard? I'm scared that the heatsink won't fit or something...

protellect · Post by **protellect** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:30 am

you might consider reusing the existing processor.. the power/heat saved will be some, but not that much. and the performance gain will be some, but not that much.

i'd say replace the 7900GS, though. Maybe look at a 4670.

jeekub · Post by **jeekub** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:07 am

I'm not sure about performance comparisons, but i have a passive Gigabyte GeForce9600GT and it's really great.

Works perfectly even with 80*C (under load). And if you give it a little space and, say, a Nexus 120mm blowing you should be able to keep it under 50*C when idle.