Fanless gaming system how?

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:28 am

Hi!

I'm currently trying to finish my computer setup so I can start buying and building it. What I want is a fanless system with mid/high end gaming parts. And money is no issue

.

The system I wanna use:

1x Intel Core Duo 6600
1x Corsair Twinx 2048 DDR 800
1x not sure which motherboard I'm gonna use
1x Samsung Spinpoint 250 Gb
1x X1950Pro (or something similiar)
1x TV card: Technisat Skystar 2

Just so you guys know how my gaming PC should look like. I rly like the hfx cases and my favourite atm is the hfx mini. I'm not sure if it is possible to use my setup and the mini together, that's why I ask you.

Components that I could change in my setup:
Intel Core Duo 6600 / 6400 / or maybe (but just maybe) 6300
another graphic card, I don't know which one would be the best in case of heat and power consumption and stuff like that.

Do you guys think it is possible to build a hfx mini system with these things? Is the 280 W power supply enough for this? Do the components produce to much heat?

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:10 am

280?!??! HIGLY doubt it.

I dont know exactly how much you'll need but with an Ati power hungry card you will need more. Also you cant look at the 280 watts. That might be total and you might get something like 150 on the 12v rails which would be a huge NO NO.

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:25 am

According to Xbitlabs max consumption of the X1950Pro is 65W; C2D TDP is 65W, that 280W brick is only rated for 200W continuous power, so you should be able to do it, in theory.

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:42 am

What psu is it? Sounds generic to me. I don't know.

Personally I would not trust a generic psu and who knows what amp and watts each rail... probbaly one this thing has...

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:46 am

it's the 280 W PSU from mcube that is used together with the hfx mini

but I alrdy thought that I can't do this

What do you guys think that I can do? Any ideas which cases would serve my needs?

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:20 am

If you get a lower-power graphics card the HFX Mini will be fine. I even think you could get away w/ the X1950Pro. However, if not there is always the Zalman TNN-300/500AF cases, although they are probably not what you are looking for.

How about the HFX Classic?

http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_99624.html

The HFXÂ® classic heatsink case is the first full size ATX PC with a HiFi Design and a truly silent passive cooling. You can use all your standard ATX equipment (PSU, motherboard, DVD writer etc.) and turn it into a silent PC with an outstanding and unique design.

kentc · Post by **kentc** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:21 am

Souli wrote:it's the 280 W PSU from mcube that is used together with the hfx mini

i think it might work, if money's no object, get the hfx case and try. you'd fetch good money for it on the second hand market anyway!

Souli wrote:What do you guys think that I can do? Any ideas which cases would serve my needs?

zalman tnn500af with an added silent fan would probably work.

the antec p180 is something of an spcr favourite, it can easilly be made silent with some ducting and well choosen heatsinks and fans. there are litterally hundreds of forum threads and articles on spcr about this case. search and you shall find.

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:38 am

atm I alrdy have a pretty silent system so only a fanless system would be an upgrade to mine. Got a Silentmaxx St-11 tower with Silent fans which run at 7V and a Silent Box for my HDD.

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:21 am

according to this Power Supply Calculator http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine the whole system will use 276 W and that's with a 15% Compensation.

So I maybe gonna try this out. Do you think the hfx mini can handle the components without a fan? From what I have read it should be possible.

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:29 am

according to this Power Supply Calculator http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine the whole system will use 276 W and that's with a 15% Compensation.

Remember that power brick is only rated for 280W peak power; it is only rated for 200W continuous power.

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:44 am

I don't know much on ATI cards but I believe it will demand a certain amount of amps on the 12V and a certain amount of watts on the 12v as well. He also has a dual core and the pc in total is a fairly demanding.

That psu probably doesn't have the total amount of wattage and amps necessary on the 12v line.

Nvidias normally use less power (not 7800 series)

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:49 am

damn

so the only option is to use the hfx classic? or is that also impossible?

but atm it looks like I just gonna buy a Seasonic M12 + Scythe Ninja and use my 2 existing 120 Papst case fans and try to run the Ninja passiv. Just need a cooling solution for my graphic card.

Post by **MikeC** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:31 am

Souli wrote:damn

so the only option is to use the hfx classic? or is that also impossible?

but atm it looks like I just gonna buy a Seasonic M12 + Scythe Ninja and use my 2 existing 120 Papst case fans and try to run the Ninja passiv. Just need a cooling solution for my graphic card.

The hfx classic is not a good option considering how much heat that vidcard alone will generate. The M12 is also not as quiet as the S12s or the Corsairs. If that 2nd fan starts up, it just does not sound as nice. Finally, for even fairly hot systems, the Solo/P150 w/ its sturdy build, low impedance airflow and suspension for drives is tough to beat.

PS -- forget fanless for a gaming system; it's just a PITA and not worth it. A little bit of white/pink noise from fan turbulence helps soften things like trace amounts of whine, whistle, HDD noise etc. It can actually sound nicer, even though when it measures a couple dB louder.

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:42 am

You can mos def have a very inaudible gaming system. Just use vmodded f120mm fans.

I agree with Mike on the fanless part. If it is possible it would be with h20 and pretty costly.

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:03 pm

The hfx classic is not a good option considering how much heat that vidcard alone will generate

HFX have several thermal profiles on their site:

http://www.hifiatx.com/hfx.php?module=cc-spec&lang=EN

The "gamer" profile seems relatively similar, thermally speaking, to what Souli is proposing; the temps are high but not dangerous.

Spec:
AMD A64 3500+
Asus A8V Deluxe
Radeon X800XT (~70W max)
512MB RAM
Borg HGC hteapipe kit
Samsung Spinpoint 200GB
Audigy 2 ZS
Silverstone ST30NF
Borg HPC heatpipe kit
WinTV PVR-150

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:24 pm

k my final build will look similiar to this:

Case: Silentmaxx St-11 (alrdy using it)
CPU: Core 2 Duo 6600
Cooling: Scythe Ninja (Passiv)
Ram: Corsair TWINX 2048
Graphic: XFX GF 7950 GT (should be doable with my 120 case fan that is on bottom of my case)
Motherboard: dunno yet either the Asus or the Gigabyte
PSU: Seasonic S12 E+ 550W
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint T 300 GB

so what do you guys think about that?

Post by **MikeC** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:43 pm

Souli wrote:k my final build will look similiar to this:

Case: Silentmaxx St-11 (alrdy using it)
CPU: Core 2 Duo 6600
Cooling: Scythe Ninja (Passiv)
Ram: Corsair TWINX 2048
Graphic: XFX GF 7950 GT (should be doable with my 120 case fan that is on bottom of my case)
Motherboard: dunno yet either the Asus or the Gigabyte
PSU: Seasonic S12 E+ 550W
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint T 300 GB

so what do you guys think about that?

Don't sweat about the fan on the Ninja. After all, you already have 2 other 120mm fans; one more at 7V will not add any audible noise and it will drop your CPU temps hugely. Probably 10-15C at load.

Note -- I see the vidcard is a passive. You might need to open up some of the CPI slot covers to help move air across the vidcard more effectively.

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:49 pm

don't think I will need to open the CPI slots since I have a 120 fan underneath the card which blows fresh air into the case and the PSU and another 120 fan above the card and the CPU. That's at least what I planned but I will see when I'll build the system

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:15 pm

Try looking for a 7900gto. Probbaly can get one cheaper than a new 7950gt and is better and MUCH better cooling...

You have to search for it though and you probably wont get it new... the cooling is SILENT and you can actually rev the fan a bit... At least mine I did.

Howard · Post by **Howard** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:24 pm

I see you're going the conventional route. Never mind me, then.

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:31 am

I can get a new MSI 7900 GTO for 340â‚¬ here and what I've read the card rly sounds nice and it is quiet. Hard decision since it costs about 50 â‚¬ more.

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:26 am

In the statses the 7950 go for about 300... around I figure. The GTO launched at around 250 and used they are now going for, used, 200-280 (big gap).

If you can find one used it may still be cheaper than the 7950... I really dont know how much it would be. However if you can find one in the low 200 area I would believe that it would cost under $300 American... Can't be $100 shipping!

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:31 pm

I have read a lot of reviews today and most of them state that the GF 8800 has the same noise lvl than the 7900 GX or GTO (at 2D idle) and in that case I rather get myself a 8800 GTX for my system

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:38 pm

lol

You better get minimum a Corsair 520... Minimum.

Souli · Post by **Souli** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:57 pm

hmm I think the 550 S12 E+ should handle that without a problem

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:18 pm

I looked at it and its a nice PSU... How many watts are on the 12v?

41A is nice

Modmaven · Post by **Modmaven** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:21 am

If you are considering a 8800 GTX, you really need to look into the length problem. The GTX is about 12 inches long, and there are many cases it just wont fit in. The 8800 GTS on the other hand, is standard length, and should fit whatever...