Opinions requested: New quiet gaming rig

Kinketsu · Post by **Kinketsu** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:26 am

Hi folks,

I'm building a new gaming system to replace my existing AXP system. The old system is fairly silent and will become a dedicated HTPC.

Wanted some feedback / thoughts on this config, given requirements listed below.

Requirements:
- silent chipset
- video card that is quiet when not stressed (e.g. X800 XL with ATI Tool)
- quiet PSU
- reasonably speedy for modern games
- SPDIF out
- mild overclock would be nice, but not essential

Contemplated config:
cpu: A64 S939 3500+ VENICE 90NM
motherboard: SOLTEK K890PRO-939 (VIA K8T890 PCI-E)
video: BBA ATI X800 XL PCI-E
case: Antec SLK-3000B
PSU: Seasonic S12-430HB 430W ATX12V 20/24 Pin V2.0 Active Pfc
heatsink: XP-90
heatsink fan: Nexus 92mm 1500RPM 19.2DBA 27CFM (I know I need to mod it for XP-90)
hard drive: Currently-owned Seagate 200G PATA 7200.7
ram: Currently-owned 2x512 OCZ DDR PC-3200 / Revision 3 / Performance Series
optical: LG GSA-4167B (very happy with current LG, will buy another)

Questions:

1. Every once in a while you hear grumbles about VIA not playing well with ATI. Certainly I had some troubles like this a couple of years back, but is it still true today? Anything I should be worried about?

2. I am a bit suspect of the RAM. The two sticks were bought separately and never ran in Dual-channel on my A7N8X-E Dlx. If I have to replace, any suggestions for a 2x1GB kit for this setup?

3. My gut tells me the CPU cooling would be fine ... any contrary opinions?

4. I'm an HTPC victim. Looking for silent suggestions for more HD space, SATA pref but will choose PATA if quieter

Thanks for any help you can provide ...

Kinketsu

Shadowknight · Post by **Shadowknight** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:20 am

If you're willing to replace the stock heatsink for your video card, replace it with a zalman heatpiped zm80c or d. Get some screws that will fit in the groove meant for the ZM-OP1 optional fan and mount a 92mm Nexus. It'll do the same job at cooling as the stock, but much much quieter.

Kinketsu · Post by **Kinketsu** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:59 am

@Shadownight,

Yes, I know, thanks. I've decided this time around that I'd rather not mod the vidcard. Have done it before, but feel like keeping my warranty this time, and I don't feel like paying the premium for, say, the HIS quiet card.

Have had the opportunity to play with ATI Tool with the BBA X800 XL, and it's close to silent when not under load. Don't care too much when it is under load, cuz I'm too busy dying on some virtual battlefield to notice.

Any other comments appreciated ...

Kinketsu

stromgald · Post by **stromgald** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:02 pm

If you want a quiet graphics card, you should look into the Gigabyte passively cooled cards. I believe they have a x800xl. Otherwise the setup looks pretty good. If you're willing to overclock your CPU, you might consider buying an Athlon64 3200+ or 3000+ instead of the 3500+. It'll save you about $60.

teejay · Post by **teejay** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 1:26 pm

There is no need to mod a Nexus 92mm to fit on an XP-90: the Nexus 80 and 92mm models both have open flanges. CPU cooling will be more than fine, it will be top of the bill.

My X800XL is currently running stock cooling also, but only because it is still below the (too high) noisefloor of my current setup. I've test-run in my new 3000B with full suspension and case damping and it is the only really audible component, even with the fan at 8% speed. But you've gone quite far down the silent lane to start noticing those noises

Those passive models look tempting to me, though...

WRT the RAM: if you don't need more memory, why get it? OCZ is a reputable brand... the dual-channel kits you see everywhere these days are simply tested to run together, but they are essentially the same modules that come in single packages. Just run memtest86 extensively on your new setup and find out. OTOH, BF2 apparantly runs smoother with 2 Gb and there's no time to upgrade like the present

HTPC and lots of diskspace do not match in my book. HTPC mixes well with 2.5" hard disks and lots of storage on a different machine on your (Gigabit?) network. But that's just my opinion.

Kinketsu · Post by **Kinketsu** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:19 pm

Thanks re: CPU cooling being OK. Also thanks re: Nexus ... didn't realize it was 120mm only that had that issue.

Yeah, I've been tempted by passive cards ... having trouble finding the Gigabyte X800 XL passive in stock in Canada. And it's an extra C$70 even if I find it ... hmm. Certainly I enjoy the R9500 Pro that I modded to passive.

I'd only mess with new RAM if for some reason I couldn't get old stuff to work on the new rig. Dual channel would be nice but not essential ... will upgrade when games I am playing require it.

Agree re: HTPC ... projector is in new part of basement after a reno ... am tempted to punch a hole through the 12" of brick to old part and put a server on the other side. Layout is such that the whole HTPC might go there, and serve as vid cap, file server, and playback. But realistically I find the ceiling-mounted projector overwhelms the HTPC by a bit anyway, from the noise perspective. Lotsa scheming about baffles going through my head ... LOL.

Anyway, about the new rig ... I'm most worried about the mobo ... had a bad time with VIA a few years back and just want some reassurance that they've cleaned up their act ...

Thanks for comments ...

Kinketsu

mprezd · Post by **mprezd** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:08 pm

What about the Sapphire passive cooled cards as another option? I have installed a few of thir 'ultimate' edition cards with passive cooling and found them to be very good.

Ihave not come across any VIA/ATi problems of late - but know what you mean about problems in the past. From my experiences it appears this has now past.

Good luck

Kinketsu · Post by **Kinketsu** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:42 pm

Haven't found anyone who stocks Sapphire Ultimate in Canada, sadly.

I think I'm gonna stick with the BBA X800 XL ... will mod it later if it bugs me, but as I said, I have tried this card with ATI Tool and found it satisfactory noise-wise.

Kinketsu

mprezd · Post by **mprezd** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:12 pm

not to push Sapphire on you - but you could try these if interested

BCOM COMPUTER CENTRE INC., EDMONTON, AB T5V 1C4
15830 - 118 AVENUE
Tel: (780) 481-8855 | Fax: (780) 481-3883
[email protected]
COMTRONIC, THORNHILL, ONT L3T 7T3
83 COMMERCE VALLEY DRIVE EAST
Tel: (905) 881-3606 | Fax: (905) 881-6893
[email protected]
INFONEC COMPUTERS, MARKHAM, ONT L3R 5Z2
351 FERRIER STREET, UNIT 3
Tel: (416) 410-5481 | Fax: (950) 305-6807
[email protected]
EPROM INC., MARKHAM, ONT L3R 8E1
750 COCHRANE DRIVE,
Tel: (905) 944-9000 | Fax: (905) 944-1212
[email protected]
INFONEC COMPUTERS, MARKHAM, ONT L3R 5Z2
351 FERRIER STREET, UNIT# 3
Tel: (416) 410-5481 | Fax: (905) 305-6807
[email protected]
NCIX.COM / NETLINK COMPUTER INC., RICHMOND, BC V6V 2L5
105 - 4620 VIKING WAY
Tel: (604) 288-8080 | TollFree: 1-888-NCIX-888 | Fax: (604) 288-8022
http://secure.ncix.com/message/
FRONTIER INFO-MAX INC., ST LAURENT, QC H4T 1 W5
3371 RUE GRIFFITH,
Tel: (514) 739-1238 | Fax: (514) 739-9881
[email protected]
PC VILLIAGE, RICHMOND HILL, ONT L4B 1L1
245 WEST BEAVIER CREEK RD. UNIT #3
Tel: (905) 889-5488 | Fax: (905) 889-0663
[email protected]
CANADA COMPUTERS, MARKHAM, ONT L3R 2Z5
170 FERRIER STREET
Tel: (905) 946-9688 | TollFree: 1-866-946-9688 Ext. 223 | Fax: (905) 946-9733
[email protected]
Ingram Micro, MISSISSAUGA, ONT L5R 4A1
55 STANDISH COURT
Tel: (905) 755-5000 | TollFree: 1-800-668-3450 | Fax: (905) 755-1307
MICRO-BYTE COMPUTERS, POINTE-CLAIRE, QC H9R 5M8
940 ST-JEAN BLVD. #15
Tel: (514) 426-9751 | Fax: (514) 426-9902
[email protected]
SUPER INFOTECH COMPUTERS, MONTREAL, QC H2J 1L8
1897 BEAUBIEN EAST
Tel: (514) 727-8818 | Fax: (514) 727-3818
[email protected]

Kinketsu · Post by **Kinketsu** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:16 am

@mprezd,

Well, I appreciate the effort but I have tried to ask a couple of those vendors about the Ultimate cards, and they didn't seem so interested in chasing them.

i.e. they carry SOME Sapphire products, but might not go out of their way to get specific one not in the mainstream.

Will ponder whether to pursue further.

Kinketsu

scruzbeachbum · Post by **scruzbeachbum** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:16 am

RAM: 1GB will work ok, but a lot of games will still use paged memory (hard disk grind) for high detail/high population areas or when changing zones, etc. I'm seeing this with WoW and am contemplating another stick.

Megaman · Post by **Megaman** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:03 am

Concering item 1.
I built a system 4 months ago with an ASUS-AV8 mobo and my old 9800 PRO built by ATI. The VIA chipset and ATI did not like each other. I kept getting random reboots and crashes. They occured more often during gaming. I returned the ASUS and replaced with an nForce based MSI board. Much better performance overall. I know, it's AGP but you ased about ATI and VIA... YMMV.

Now I have to fix that d@mn 6000 RPM jet engine on the NB....

What were they thinking?

Megaman

Kinketsu · Post by **Kinketsu** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:35 pm

@scruzbeachbum,

Thanks. I have several machines in the house and can probably cobble together 3x512 + 1x256 and so might experiment to see if it makes much difference. Imperfect test, but could be informative.

@Megaman,

Yeah, my bad experiences were with KT3 Ultra and 9500 Pro. But I haven't heard anyone screaming about this with K8T890 ... will do more research on the board to be sure.

Thanks for continued info.