My "Perfect" Solo :)

[williamn6133]

My loved quiet rig.
Antec Solo, Intel Core2Duo E6300 @ 2.80GHz (stock 1.86). 7950GT 512MB. Samsung 500GB suspended. Fanless Scythe Ninja. Zalman Copper on Graphics Card (fan@ 5V). Rear 120mm Noctua at 500rpm (7.5V). Front 92mm redwing@ 5V. Hiper 530W (fan swap). Skythe Kama Bay (de fanned) for extra air at the front; reduces CPU by 4C. Power supply externalised - means I can overclock my CPU and keep fans very slow.

Main open panel


Main+ psu

I used an Akasa 30cm 24pin Motherboard power lead extension to allow it to reach from on the roof there. Black electrical tape to hold the Power Supply in place.

Front open with grille+ fan

Skythe Kama Bay + 92mm Redwing (5v) pictured.

Closed front with psu

Fanless Kama Bay and fan in place.

Side back panel (old pic, but it looks much the same now)


Rear

Used a pair of pliers to twist off the rear 120mm fan grille.

Finished


That power supply contains an Akasa 12cm Amber series fan, which like the rest of my PC, makes no audible noise in the day time. I sit less than 1m away.

At night the PC does not make enough noise to bother me, even though I am extremely sensitive to noise. When sleeping, I cannot hear it; the PC sits at the foot of my bed!

Temps in a cool room (15C)
CPU 45C at idle steady 59C - 60C under load (orthos)
GPU 39C at idle 54C under load
500GB HDD 28C

Temps with house heating on full tilt (22C)
CPU 50C at idle will update under load.
GPU 41C at idle 54C under load
500GB HDD 30C

Thanks for reading and viewing. Full size pics on request, questions or suggestions welcome. And complements welcome too.

P.S. Don't tell me to tidy up the cables, it's not a fashion parade! :p

[WR304]

It's looking good.

What vcore have you got the CPU at?

Did you notice much of a difference in temperatures taking the PSU out of the case?

What have you mounted the rear fan with? Is it elastic?

[williamn6133]

It's looking good.

Thanks I couldn't have done it without your advice.

What vcore have you got the CPU at?

Just 2 notches above default.

Did you notice much of a difference in temperatures taking the PSU out of the case?

It actually rose at first, until I attached that mini makeshift duct (an envelope . The main bonus of moving the PSU though was it stopped the PSU fan from spinning up under CPU load.

What have you mounted the rear fan with? Is it elastic?

2 plastic cable ties per hole

[WR304]

For the rear fan you might want to try suspending it so that it's isolated from the case. It's easy to do in the Antec Solo as you have that PSU support bar to hang them from.

Is the power supply stood directly on top of the case? A block of foam between it and the case might be worth trying to see if it makes any sort of improvement.

[williamn6133]

For the rear fan you might want to try suspending it so that it's isolated from the case. It's easy to do in the Antec Solo as you have that PSU support bar to hang them from.

Is the power supply stood directly on top of the case? A block of foam between it and the case might be worth trying to see if it makes any sort of improvement.

Umm nope, I don't think that would make enough difference to justify the time.

Neither the case fan or PSU make any vibration that can be felt or heard currently.

[Wilhelm-Tell]

If possible, try to close the PSU-hole. Air that otherwise would pass over the HD, CPU etc will now go through there instead.

[williamn6133]

If possible, try to close the PSU-hole.

Yeah but how?

[Moogles]

I got an Akasa amber fan with my CPU cooler (EVO-120) and it's the worst 120mm fan I've ever heard. Maybe I got a defective unit, but it was unbearably loud. I hope yours is better.

Also, how's the Kama Bay in the Solo? Does it fit flush? Do you happen to have a pic of the front of the case?

[williamn6133]

Also, how's the Kama Bay in the Solo? Does it fit flush? Do you happen to have a pic of the front of the case?

[Rackafella]

Looks good, that Skythe Kama Bay maybe isnt a bad idea!

But I cant realy see how removing the psu would lower your temps, its fan shuld work as a "hot air remover" from inside the case.
But if it works it works!

If you dont want the fan spin faster att full load just wire it thru ordinary molexes at 5v.

And as Wilhelm-Tell said you shuld try to close up the psu-hole.
Maybe just a metalplate with a hole in to put the wires thru.

And your cables is a disgrace for solo owners around the world!!

[matva]

P.S. Don't tell me to tidy up the cables, it's not a fashion parade! :p

tidy up those cables!

seriously, it isn't about them looking nice it is about them not impeding airflow.

[williamn6133]

P.S. Don't tell me to tidy up the cables, it's not a fashion parade! :p

tidy up those cables!

seriously, it isn't about them looking nice it is about them not impeding airflow.

My temps are fine.

[Scoop]

'Temps in a cool room (15C)'

Dude, that's not 'cool', that's freezing

'Temps with house heating on full tilt (22C)'

That's 'cool'

[williamn6133]

Do you live in middle Africa? :p

[Avalanche]

Is the PSU held on to the top of the case with tape?

I've got the same CPU as you at the same clock speed, although with the Intel cooler. With the room at 22C I idle at ~52-54C, loaded goes up to 62-64C. I'm glad to see someone else is in the same ballpark. I kind of think I broke one of those stupid push-pin mounts, since so many people around here report temperatures < 35C at idle.

[williamn6133]

Is the PSU held on to the top of the case with tape?

I've got the same CPU as you at the same clock speed, although with the Intel cooler. With the room at 22C I idle at ~52-54C, loaded goes up to 62-64C. I'm glad to see someone else is in the same ballpark. I kind of think I broke one of those stupid push-pin mounts, since so many people around here report temperatures < 35C at idle.

No, your temps sound right for this CPU.

I have worn out push pins before though. I got friendly with the guys at quietPC.com (UK) and they sent me a replacement push pin bracket for my ninja cooler.

[williamn6133]

I got an Akasa amber fan with my CPU cooler (EVO-120) and it's the worst 120mm fan I've ever heard. Maybe I got a defective unit, but it was unbearably loud.

Unbearably loud? I find that hard to believe. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact mine never runs at full speed.

[Moogles]

Maybe mine had defective bearings. Either way it wasn't really an issue as I never planned on using it (replaced it immediately with a Nexus fan). It was only when I was messing around with an old PC that I tried the amber fan, and I could not believe it was possible for a 120mm fan to make that much noise.