Building a quiet and cool AthlonXP based PC.

[bjc112]

Jeff,

I assume you are choosing the mobil chip because of less heat and all, but if you are getting a SLK + any 80/90 mm fan does it really matter?

That's going to cost a bit more also isn't it?

 

[Jeff7181]

Ok, ran some things by my aunt... going with an LCD and a regular sized case.

Can someone suggest a good fan for an SK-7 and show me where to get a good price on it? I assume newegg has good prices... but the reviews people have written on the fans there aren't very convincing. I'm looking for something quiet.

I'm still thinking Antec Solution Series because of the price and Antec's good name.

I'm debating whether to get an nForce2 motherboard or go with a cheaper KT266 or KT333 chipset based motherboard. I think I'll end up going for an nForce2... like the Epox 8RDA+ or maybe just the 8RDA.

I think I'm going to go with a GeForce4 MX440 that has DVI... since she wants the LCD, DVI would provide a higher image quality... and the MX440 should even run some Barbie and Barnie games she puts on there for her grand kids.

Seagate hard drive definately... I think I'm gonna go with an 80 GB just to give her lots of extra space... and since the cost per GB is less than a 40 GB Seagate. CompUSA has an 80 GB for $60 this week I just saw, so I'm gonna pick that up.

Best Buy has 512 MB of PC2700 for $65, so I'm gonna go with that.

Going with a 52x24x52 CDRW from Office Max for $10 after rebates.

CompUSA and Best Buy both have 17 inch LCD's for $300... gonna go look at them and see which one looks better, and if they have DVI.

Pretty sure I'm gonna get her an XP2500... and decided on a regular one, not the mobile one. Mobile one would have been for the XPC to keep it as cool as possible in there.

 

[mechBgon]

The Panaflo L1A 80mm fan is well-suited to the SK-7.

Keep in mind that the SL300S power supply in the SLK1600 and SLK2600 is a single-fan unit, and the fan looks to be a sleeve-bearing fan too, unlike the SL300 that you would buy separately. Must be a little cost-cutting item and it might not hold up quite as long as the ball-bearing fans.

I also have to wonder how well "Best-Buy-special" PC2700 is going to jive with nForce2 :Q Something to weigh out, anyway.

 

[Jeff7181]

Good point about the power supply... maybe I'll look for an empty case and get a Truepower 330.

The Best Buy RAM is Kingston Value RAM... I've never had a problem with it in the past... and most RAM issues on nForce2 boards involve trying to run dual channel, so I'm not worried about it... especially since I saw a copy of an e-mail where a Kingston tech support agent recommended Value RAM instead of HyperX for someone having trouble with an A7N8X and HyperX PC3200.

 

[mechBgon]

ValueRAM sounds good, I was thinking maybe it was K-Byte or something

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: MasterFlash
Here's a review by overclockercafe.com showing the diff in cooling btw the SK-7 and SLK-800. Not a big deal to anyone but O/C'ers. SK-7 vs SLK-800 Also, another good SK-7 review by furioustech.com

53cfm not exactly low rpm the other comparison had really low rpm fans, and the slk800 beats the sk there easy. the sites still down grr. thought it was just the power outage, guess not

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: chocoruacal

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
nahh i would recommend against the thermalright heatsinks.... dust will build up fast in there because the fins are so small... the thermalright heatsinks needs to be cleaned every few months...

if anything... i would just get one of those SK6+ for like $8. no need to get SK7 or SLK800...
why do you want a mobile CPU?
just get a 2500+ and undervolt it.... it'll easily run undervolted.. very cool and quiet

Pay attention everyone....this is by far the worst post I've seen this month on this board. Congrats virtualgames, for giving horrible advice.

1. Thermalright makes awesome sinks...arguably the best you can get right now.

2. virtualgames must live in desert....I have 3 Thermalright sinks and I don't have any peculiar dust buildup

3. Yes, go for the SK7 or SLK800. The whole point here is a quiet PC...this is much easier to do with a nice 80mm fan. The SK6 is a fine sink...but 60mm fans are a waste of time and money these days.

4. Underclocking?!?! LMAO...thats like telling him/her to buy a C3 instead...nice and cool

The Quiet PC is so easy to accomplish, yet there are sooo many posts about it. Grab an SK7 or SLK800 and a 80mm NMB fan. Or better yet, get a YS Tech adjustable. Then pickup the biggest fan you can mount in the back of your case, and 7-volt it. Voila. Silence, assuming you have a decent power supply as well. You do not need a mobile CPU. You do not need 3+ case fans. You do not need fancy fan controllers That is silly.

lol you're pretty lame... you don't even know what my main points were...
don't get me wrong... i think thermalright heatsinks are great... but not for your aunt that won't open her case for 2 years....

btw.. i got the SK6 when it just came out for $45...
and now just a few months ago.. i upgraded it to SK7...
I love thermalright heatsinks. but the temp goes up pretty quickly after a few months.. and i open up the case, only to find the small fins to be cluttered with dust. air can't even pass through

oh yeah as azfan said... undervolting isn't the same as underclocking.. so don't go around bashing people when you're clearly confused yourself.
an athlon 2500+ can easily undervolt to under 1.4-1.3V at stock, which will make it run significantly cooler.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: shady06
antec sonata is a case, EVERYWHERE has them (even staples)
i have never heard of slk3700. he prolly meant slk800.
i would get an sk7 cuz if you arent gonna OC or anything, the slk800 is a bit too much $$$. put on a panaflo on that sucker and it'll be real quite.

btw, are you sure you dont want 512 ram?

Riiight. Sure, I meant SLK-800, even though SLK-3700AMB isn't at all close to 800. How can you know what a Sonata is but not the SLk3700? Its gotten great reviews at Newegg etc. Do not undermine my knowledge of computer hardware; I get pissed off. Not only that but I even mentioned heatsinks in the last line of my post.

 

[yhelothar]

people on here need to calm down...

 

[Regs]

I agree with the Epox mobo. Good performance and stability. I'm just a little surprised after you talking about converting to a Intel set up, you did not attempt to try to test the water out with a P4 set up.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Regs
I agree with the Epox mobo. Good performance and stability. I'm just a little surprised after you talking about converting to a Intel set up, you did not attempt to try to test the water out with a P4 set up.

If you read closely, you'd see that this computer is not for me. Why would I build an experimental computer for someone else? I'm trying to keep the cost down for my aunt... $50 here and $50 there ads up to a lot of money.

 

[karmasalad]

For the case, you might want to consider the Evercase 4252 that sells for $42 shipped at Newegg. It's the number one recommended case over at SilentPCReview. It doesn't come with a PSU, which will allow you to pick a nice, quiet one separately.

I would recommend the $32 shipped Fortron 300-watt PSU, also over at Newegg. This is a highly recommended PSU over at the SPCR forums as well. I have one running my P4 system and it is quiet. I can't hear it above my Panaflos (which I'll be undervolting soon). It sports a single 120-mm fan so it can move a lot of air while spinning more slowly. You may never have heard of Fortron before, but they are very solid PSUs.

Antec makes great PSUs, but while I haven't had any experience with the True line, others have reported that ones like the Fortron are quieter (and a lot cheaper to boot). Check out SPCR's Recommended PSUs if you get a chance. You'll see that the True line isn't rated very high for noise.

If you're looking for an Antec case, then the SLK3700 or SX-630II are best. The SX1000 series is probably going to be too big for your aunt. With either one, just undervolt whatever case fans you end up installing (I'd recommend Panaflos or NMBs).

 

[dmw16]

I vote for an slk900 and a 92mm fan. The bigger the fan the slower it needs to go...so that will keep your noise down. Also, the alpha pal8045 is a very good heatsink. I am using one to cool my system. of course mine is loud as hell cuz Im running an 80mm tornado fan (to cool my 1700+ @ 2315), but a vantec stealth is more than sufficient for stock speeds.
-doug

 

[nycdude]

Hi all,

I was looking into building a new comp also but all I need is a MB, CPU, and Ram.

I will use the existing stuff from my other comp.

I was thinking about the Asus A7N8X Deluxe but unsure of what is the best combo for cpu and ram since I prob won't be doing any overclocking.

also what is the difference between the deluxe and non?????

Any thoughts.

Thx

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
people on here need to calm down...

No I don't need to calm down. I just don't like it when people assume I was mistaken. They should research it first before saying I must've been thinking about something else. Its crap.

 

[Bonesdad]

You might consider a shuttle MN31N mobo with onboard video...Nice NF2 board for bout $10 more than the 8rda+. Got nice sound, and onboard everything.

Also, consider a CDRW combo drive, like the Samsung or LG 48X. If you get the shuttle mobo, it's a micro atx...you can consider a smaller case if she wants...

SK-7 is plenty...no need to spend extra bux on the Slk800, unless she loves to lanparty.