A8N-VM CSM in an Aspire X-Qpack

[NapalmDeath]

Just finalized my new PC.

See sig for components.
I built it initially with all the stock gear to burn it in for a day.
Then I went back and changed out

- stock PSU -> Zalman 400W APF
- stock AMD heatsink/fan -> Zalman Cu 7000 cpu
- stock GPU cooler -> Artic Cooler NV6 rev 2
- stock 120mm rear fan -> Nexus silent 120mm 1,000 rpm fan
- sleeved all my cables
- put in my Zalman fan bus controlling cpu, rear case fan



My only outstanding issue is that I can't get AMD Quiet N Cool to work.
(did all the steps, but version 1.2.2.2 cpu driver with CNQ enabled in bios locks up the PC while loading windows) Hopefully a bios update will fix this.

Also my $%#$ Norton Antivirus 2005, keeps saying "cannot repair" it's embedding into applications and wants me to continually reinstall it.

The Plextor PX-716SA is LOUD. I really wanted a SATA DVD burner, but in hindsight should have gotten a quiet IDE burner like Sony DRU-800. I just really liked the idea of using zero IDE ribbon cables.


1-10 quiet, it's a 4.
I aspire to one day put in water cooling, and either a nexus or antec phantom PSU. That should get it close to a 2 in quiet.
Right now I have control over the cpu and rear fans, and can turn them down when the system isn't loaded.

[cAPSLOCK]

The A8N-VM CSM looks like a tasty mobo, integrated GF6 with dual vga, all in a µatx, passively cooled board... have you tried using the integrated gfx for playing games? I was wondering if it would be adequate for playing HL2 at 1024x768 with med-low graphics...

[NapalmDeath]

Everything I read about the onboard GPU had FPS games running 800x600 at 24-30 fps.

For around $140 you can get a 6600 GT and go for 1280x1024 at 40 fps.

Most folks using the onboard GPU are building HTPC home theatre PC's to do High Definition output.

[cAPSLOCK]

d'oh, looks like I'm going to have to give up gaming then