Comments on my new (cheap and quiet) rig?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:15 pm
First time poster here, I hope you don't mind my asking for comments on my new rig. My current system dates from 2000 (and I'm proud to say it was a quiet one for noise standards back then). I thought it was time to get something new. :-) This is what I came up with:
- Celeron E1200 on an Asus P5B-VM (micro-ATX, PWM fan connectors) with 2x512 DDR2-800
- Some cheap optical drive (rarely use it) and a FDD
- Coolermaster Elite 340 micro-ATX case. It's got a mesh bezel, optional 120mm front and rear fans, and it's cheap and has a boring design, which I like.
- NeoHE 430W. Overpowered for this setup, but seems to be the most silent 80mm PSU.
- Spinpoint F1 500Gb, 16Mb
- Arctic Cooling 120mm x 25mm PWM fan, with Nexus soft mounts at the rear fan position.
- If you are convinced I can cool my E1200 passively (I have absolutely no idea), I'm leaning towards a Ninja Mini and let the close-by 120mm do the work. (I don't think the Ninja Mini plus fan will fit on my board.)
- If that's too risky, I'm thinking of the Xigmatek HDT-SD964, and replace its fan by an Arctic Cooling 92mm x 25mm PWM fan.
I plan to duct the PSU to the open 5.25" bay with some cardboard. I may even leave the bay cover off, as sounds from the front of the computer travel about the same distance as sounds from the back. I will suspend the HDD with bungee cord (3-4mm thick, probably). But I'm not sure where, up in the PSU duct may restrict airflow too much, and create a fairly easy soundpath for the HDD's noise. Just below the 3.5" bay is the other option, but it seems more flimsy because the HDD will only be pulled upwards, and I would like to avoid drilling holes in my new case.
I'd like any comments on quietness etc. and especially on how to cool my CPU and how to suspend my HDD. And what do you think are the weak points of this setup? What component will be the noisiest?
Also feel free to comment on the CPU and board choice, especially if it's a stupid choice, but it's not top-priority.
Thanks in advance.
- Celeron E1200 on an Asus P5B-VM (micro-ATX, PWM fan connectors) with 2x512 DDR2-800
- Some cheap optical drive (rarely use it) and a FDD
- Coolermaster Elite 340 micro-ATX case. It's got a mesh bezel, optional 120mm front and rear fans, and it's cheap and has a boring design, which I like.
- NeoHE 430W. Overpowered for this setup, but seems to be the most silent 80mm PSU.
- Spinpoint F1 500Gb, 16Mb
- Arctic Cooling 120mm x 25mm PWM fan, with Nexus soft mounts at the rear fan position.
- If you are convinced I can cool my E1200 passively (I have absolutely no idea), I'm leaning towards a Ninja Mini and let the close-by 120mm do the work. (I don't think the Ninja Mini plus fan will fit on my board.)
- If that's too risky, I'm thinking of the Xigmatek HDT-SD964, and replace its fan by an Arctic Cooling 92mm x 25mm PWM fan.
I plan to duct the PSU to the open 5.25" bay with some cardboard. I may even leave the bay cover off, as sounds from the front of the computer travel about the same distance as sounds from the back. I will suspend the HDD with bungee cord (3-4mm thick, probably). But I'm not sure where, up in the PSU duct may restrict airflow too much, and create a fairly easy soundpath for the HDD's noise. Just below the 3.5" bay is the other option, but it seems more flimsy because the HDD will only be pulled upwards, and I would like to avoid drilling holes in my new case.
I'd like any comments on quietness etc. and especially on how to cool my CPU and how to suspend my HDD. And what do you think are the weak points of this setup? What component will be the noisiest?
Also feel free to comment on the CPU and board choice, especially if it's a stupid choice, but it's not top-priority.
Thanks in advance.