HTPC build with NSK2400

Tumlehund · Post by **Tumlehund** » Sat May 19, 2007 3:32 am

Hi all,

I'm building my first HTPC with these components:
- Antec NSK2400
- MSI G965MDH-FI
- Intel Core 2 Duo E4300
- Kingston DDR2-667, 2x512MB, CAS 5
- Gigabyte GF 8500GT 256MB DDR2 PCI-E DVI TVO PASSIVE
- Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-3000 PCI TriTuner
- LiteOn LH-20A1H-487C
- Logitech Desktop diNovo Edge
- Logitech Harmony Remote 785

I still haven't decided on a heatsink for the CPU, but I'm thinking Zalman or Scythe?

Concerning the fans in the case, it seems they are running with the speed of 1200 RPM, 1600 RPM and 2000 RPM. According to the review here at SPCR it seems like a good idea to swap out the stock fans. I'm thinking Scythe S-FLEX, but they come in 3 flavors: 800 RPM, 1200 RPM and 1600 RPM. The review doesn't mention what speed the fan is running, so I'm wondering if the 800 RPM edition be sufficient for my system?

Maybe I missed something else here, please advice.

angelkiller · Post by **angelkiller** » Sat May 19, 2007 5:34 am

You have a great start on your system. But I would consider upgrading to 2GB of RAM. It's inexpensive, and Vista reportedly runs smoother. Just something to consider.

As for a heatsink, Zalmans are kinda loud, and I don't know of any Scythe's that will fit in a NSK2400. But do not fret!

Thermalright makes many heatsinks that will fit in a NSK2400. I think one of the best being a SI-128. It's very large, and I doubt there will be room for a fan. (On top) But a E4300 runs cool enough so that this could safely be run passively. And since the case fans are so close, they will aid in cooling.

Speaking of the fans, I think Scythe's 800rpm S-Flex(s) are suitable enough for what you are doing. I have some, and I find them very quiet.

Edit: I would agree with Atmosper. Having a 1200rpm fan with a FanMate2 would give you more flexibility.
Edit 2: I don't own a NSK2400.

Atmosper · Post by **Atmosper** » Sat May 19, 2007 5:35 am

The 800 rpm version will probably be sufficient. Otherwise you can buy the 1200 rpm ones and use a fan controller to vary the speed (Zalman Fanmates are dirt cheap) so you have an optional range of ~600-1200 rpm. 1200 rpm is pretty damn quiet also and it's always nice to have some extra cooling capacity for the summer

.

Zalman's heatsinks usually don't have as quiet fans as you would like. The new Ninja revision B's mounting system seems to be crap. Tower-style heatsinks may be a problem in that case, too.

Surely, some NSK2400 owner knows better.

Edit: Obviously Angelkiller did...

Max Slowik · Post by **Max Slowik** » Sat May 19, 2007 7:07 am

C2D chips idle really low, and believe it or not, come with a quiet stock fan. You can probably use SpeedFan to limit the top speed below 85 percent where they kind of become noticeable, at still stay really damn cool.

I took some measurements based off pictures, using the PCI brackets as a baseline, and that case has about a 120mm clearance from the top of the processor to the lid of the case. To be safe and sure that it's got circulation over and under it, I'd recommend getting a heatsink no taller than 100mm. Thermalright XP-series or SI-128 will probably go over blockbusters.

Hell, the SI-128 will probably work passively if you stick a couple of fans on those 120mm exhausts.

Max Slowik · Post by **Max Slowik** » Sat May 19, 2007 7:08 am

Oh yeah, and go for two gigs o' RAM, just like the man said.

Tumlehund · Post by **Tumlehund** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:17 am

Thanks for the good advice, it's highly appreciated!

More RAM might be good since it's not too expensive to go to 2 gig.

I have a hard time finding out exactly how tall the heatsink can be in this case. But like you say, ti seems I need to stay under the 120mm linit.

You guys feel confindent that I can run the E4300 with the SI-128 fanless? There doesn't seem to be enough room for a fan on top of the SI-128, so I'm out of luck, if it doesn't work fanless.

I have been digging around and stumbled on a review of the Scythe Andy Samurai Master (what a name LOL). On page 4 of the review there is a comparison of the SI-128 vs Scythe Infinity vs Scythe Andy Samurai Master and it seems the SI-128 gets a beating (due to it's smaller size). Hence, don't you think I should go for the Samurai Master instead? The Samurai is 104mm tall vs 92mm for the Si-128, so there is no room for a fan if I only got 120mm.

Regarding 800 vs 1200 RPM I'll heed your advice and go for a fanmate (actually 2) and 2 Scythe S-FLEX 1200 RPM editions.

Hmm, so basically 2 S-FLEX 1200 RPM plus fanmates will keep the system cool enough if I go for either the SI-128 or the Samurai Master?

Max Slowik · Post by **Max Slowik** » Sat May 19, 2007 10:52 am

I'd suspect that an SI-128 with a fan would do better than the Andy Samurai Master without; it might even do better fanless, due to the fin density of the Scythe heatsink.

You could pretty easily make a baffle inside the case to force air through either heatsink if you use one or both of those 120mm spots.

Just make a box, or cut up a box, with an opening against the top of the heatsink, so that all the air that exits the case through those fans has to go through the heatsink. Use clear packing tape to hold the baffle against the heatsink and sides of the case. Cut little openings in it to route your 12V AUX and whatever else. You can probably add little flaps for feet and screw it down through the motherboard mounting holes.

Mylar sheeting would work really well, too, but you'd have to get a large piece to begin with, and the box that it comes in is freakin' paid for.

angelkiller · Post by **angelkiller** » Sat May 19, 2007 1:15 pm

I'm still confident a E4300 can be run passively with a SI-128.

Some Links:
viewtopic.php?t=40073

viewtopic.php?t=36271&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 (Using fans as intake.

viewtopic.php?t=36912 (Not in a NSK2400, but he has an OC'ed E6400 running passively)

Tumlehund · Post by **Tumlehund** » Sat May 19, 2007 3:02 pm

Sounds great, I'll give it a go with the SI-128 and see how things turn out. Hopefully I'll get the stuff next week, I'll be back with a report when I put it all together.

Thanks!

noee · Post by **noee** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:54 am

I've got a recent built with the NSK2400, X2 3600+ and the TR SI-128. I've run it passive and active w/yate loon 120mm @5V, works well either way. With the fan, I get temps about 4-6C lower than without.

So, yes, the fan will fit on the SI-128 in this case and yes, it will probably cool your C2D passively if you use both case fans, even on low.

TI-128 w/Yate Loon - NSK2400

Tumlehund · Post by **Tumlehund** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:42 am

OK that sounds good. Thanks for the information and the link to your pics. Looks like I'll be fine

klankymen · Post by **klankymen** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:04 am

my experiences here show that the SI-120 at least requires 2 case fans to keep cool passively, though I am using a hotter 90nm CPU.

jhhoffma · Post by **jhhoffma** » Mon May 21, 2007 11:52 am

angelkiller wrote: As for a heatsink, Zalmans are kinda loud,

I don't know if I'd say that they're "kinda loud"...I'd say that they're not as quiet as some other aftermarket solutions.

I don't know any Zalman cooler that isn't a significant upgrade from a stock cooler. However, all Zalman fans are a bit buzzy, which makes them prime candidates for fan swaps. It can be tricky, but there are plenty of guides in the forums on how to do each one.

angelkiller · Post by **angelkiller** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:03 pm

jhhoffma wrote:
angelkiller wrote:As for a heatsink, Zalmans are kinda loud,
I don't know if I'd say that they're "kinda loud"...I'd say that they're not as quiet as some other aftermarket solutions.

Yes, this is what I meant. "Kinda loud" was comparing the Zalman to other aftermarket heatsinks, and I would agree that a Zalman is a very worthy upgrade from stock cooling.

MC FLMJIG · Post by **MC FLMJIG** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:24 pm

I agree with jhhoffma but slightly better than stock!!! lol

They aren't that bad!!!

The XP is good. Even the XP 90 might not be too bad.

Jasper · Post by **Jasper** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:05 pm

Tumlehund wrote:You guys feel confindent that I can run the E4300 with the SI-128 fanless? There doesn't seem to be enough room for a fan on top of the SI-128, so I'm out of luck, if it doesn't work fanless.

I have two NSK2400s, with an A64 3200+ and an A64 X2 4200+ respectively, with modified Ninjas on both, and with either the stock fans at Low or Nexuses on full (I've never bothered to turn 'em down..) they keep wonderfully cool. The Si-128 is in the same sort of league as the Ninja (especially a Ninja with 1/3 of its fins removed to fit), and the E4300 is (@ stock speed/voltage or below) cooler running than the X2, so I suspect that it will work well.

A difficulty might be that the Ninja has horizontal fins, so quite a lot of the casefan airflow makes it *through* the fins, whereas with the Si-128 the proportion might be a bit lower.

I also have an E4300 in a different case with a full Ninja on, and that one is a bitch to keep cool and quiet (it ends up being hot and quiet), but then I do have it running at a 66% overclock (which makes it exactly equivalent in speed to the yet to be released E6850 if it had half its cache amputated) and slight overvolt, which makes it dissipate about twice what it normally does at stock.

sea2stars · Post by **sea2stars** » Mon May 28, 2007 2:30 pm

I'm currently using an Intel BOXDG965OTMKR in an NSK2400 with the SILVERSTONE SST-NT01V2.0, minus the fan shroud, with great results. At a quick glance your intended MB's layout looks close to the layout of mine. There was a thread a while back with the same setup as mine if you're curious.