Hardware advice for a quiet system

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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
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I am looking at building a system specifically for digital recording and "real time" signal processing. I don't intend to do much (if any) gaming. I need the system to be fairly transportable. Here's the real kicker: I'm trying to save money as I'm going back to school in a few months (September '09).

I don't really want a laptop (although I could be convinced otherwise) because it seems like you get less bang for your buck and they're less customizable/upgradable.

Quiet, as screamin' fast as money will allow, transportable...

Here's what I picked out so far (I have 4 GB of ram, a nice hard drive, and a CD/DVD burner already from my current system, so those aren't things I need to buy at the moment.)

-I won't be gaming
-I am very open to suggestions on any of these parts. I'll get a graphics card with a fan if it's really quiet. I'll buy aftermarket stuff if I have to. I'll switch from AMD to Intel. I'll get a different case if it's transportable etc etc.
-I will be adding a sound card, so there needs to be an open PCI slot
-It would be good if someone could suggest a micro ATX mobo with firewire

Thanks in advance!


Edit: removed the links to stuff I am no longer interested in to prevent confusion.
 
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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
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Ah sorry.

I'd like to stay under $700, but I'm also willing to eat rice and beans for a few months and ruin my credit for a few (more) years and spend more if I'm convinced it's something worthwhile and will last me for a long time.
 
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JaYp146

Senior member
Jul 28, 2005
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Might want to get yourself a Scythe Mini Ninja for the CPU. Is very effective in low-airflow setups like the case you've suggested.
 
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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
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I'm not hellbent on anything really, but I do want something that has some sort of transportability. My top priority is quiet, performance and budget are tied for second, and the last is transportability.
 
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alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
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well the passive 4850 is plenty for your monitor's resolution, and you've got a good CPU picked out. the next thing to decide on is the case, and frankly that thermaltake is hideous. i'll have to get back to you on something. a microatx mid tower would be just as transportable as that awkward cube-shaped thing. just because it has a handle doesn't mean it's transportable. looks like an airflow nightmare too.

i don't like this case, but it's better than the thermaltake. just trying to see if you care about that handle or not heh.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811154094
 
Eureka

Eureka

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
3,822
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Just as a warning... the quad-core AMDs run hot. My S1283 cannot run it passively... I'm reaching 42C+ idle with two low rpm fans on it...
 
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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
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The case is the thing where I feel pretty stuck. With the passively cooled graphics card I'd imagine airflow would be fairly important, and fans are definitely the thing that are going to make the most noise. A very distant concern is the aesthetics of blue or red lights. The computer will very likely be on stage for performances, and colored lights set a mood that I might not necessarily want. If I have to replace fans or bust a bulb to get rid of that I will, but it'd be better if I didn't have to deal with that.

Edit: The handle isn't really important.
 
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alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
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how about this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811163058

I would like for you to have an AM3 system so that you get the most out of this build in terms of upgrades but on the other hand an intel quad would run a little cooler, you just wouldn't be able to upgrade it (end of the line for socket 775). Whether it's intel or AMD, i doubt you could run a ~3ghz quad passively even with the good airflow of that silverstone case. Frankly I would get the Phenom II X4 with the silverstone TJ08 and a good heatsink. Something large like this. It includes power adapters to lower the fan voltage to below silent levels, and it is a very efficient heatsink. Of course, there are also $30-35 heatsinks of this size but you'd need to get a custom fan or rheostat to silence them. I think a silenced noctua could easily run a Phenom at 3.2 GHz, especially in a case like the silverstone.

Let's see what we have here...

Phenom 955 $210
Noctua NH-U12P $57
DFI LP JR 790GX-M3H5 $140
Crucial 4GB DDR3-1333 $58
passive 4850 $120
WD640 Green (OEM drive w/ 3 year warranty) $68
some nec/optiarc or LG DVDRW $20
PCPC Silencer 420 W $50

the total for this comes to $813, but there will probably be about $50 in shipping. I haven't checked that. Stepping down to an AM2/DDR2 system will save $100 and perform about the same, but you will pay for it in the long run by forfeiting your upgrade path. You could also sidestep to an Intel Q9550 with a G41 motherboard. Like the AM2 system, you will have no upgrade path, but it will be cheaper, cooler, and more power efficient than the AMD AM3 system. As far as power goes, 420 watts is enough for your quad and a single 4850. You can upgrade to a 500w for $25 more or a 800w for $35 more but it's not necessary with this system. I also was unsure of your storage requirements, but figured 640 gigs would be enough and it is a quiet drive, and I take it you've already acquired all the audio equipment you plan to use?
 
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alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
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I've always been skeptical about those mini watercoolers, but it seems to be better than those that i've reviewed in the past. It is a high performance cooler and is slightly louder than the noctua, but will perform better. The corsair fan spins at 1700 rpm and there is a water pump impeller at 1450 rpm. The noctua spins at 900-1300 RPM. It's quieter and more than adequate and cheaper than the corsair. Few heatsinks in general explicitly list compatibility with AM3 because it uses the same mounting system as AM2. Most heatsinks just mention compatibility with AM2.

Can you tell me about these extra components you have? It's likely that the memory won't be any good, and if it is old, for $40 I think it should be replaced.
 
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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
17
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Sorry, I didn't see the edit for a few days. Memory is certainly the next thing I'm planning on replacing. I was going to tough it out with the memory I have for a few months and upgrade once I know exactly how my finances look. The big reason I'm replacing the computer now and not later is because my USB ports are dying and my graphics card sounds like a jet engine, and since I'm replacing the motherboard I might as well get a new processor, and in the process I might as well get a quiet graphics card.

Completely honest, I don't remember what memory I put in this computer 4 years ago. I'm pretty sure is DDR333 or 800 Patriot 2 GB. The RAM and sound card was going to be my next step in replacements, but I think you've convinced me to go ahead.

Why the expensive mother board? I'm sure that's not a great question, but I don't see much of a difference between something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813157154 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131384 and what you suggested aside from the 2 PCI E slots as opposed to the PCI slots as well as the memory standard?

The Hard drive is either samsung or western digital 350 GB 7200 rpm.

Right now I have a Fatar vmk 188 plus midi keyboard and I'm using an M-Audio Ozone USB keyboard as my audio interface. The M-Audio is going to be replaced soon by a new sound card with midi and high end sampling capacity. That's something I'm going to wait on for sure and get advice from some professors I know, but any advice is good advice.
 
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alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
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The idea with the motherboard is that it is socket AM3 rather than AM2. It will not work with DDR2 and must use DDR3. You mentioned something about wanting an upgradeable system, and AM3 is the only platform that provides that within your budget. Unfortunately MicroATX AM3 motherboards are incredibly difficult to come by and as far as I know, the DFI lan party junior is the only such board that exists. $140 is a steep price but it's the only board that fits what you seem to be looking for. Like I said, stepping down to socket AM2 and DDR2 will save you about $100 because MicroATX AM2 boards are incredibly cheap and popular. AM3 is just not a low-end platform right now, so boards are a bit more expensive. AMD is not going to keep the DDR2 controller around forever, so any AM2 system that you buy now will probably not be compatible with available parts by whenever you upgrade. If you won't upgrade for 4 years, then it doesn't matter. But if you plan on upgrading within 3 years, it would be wise to get the AM3 system because high-end CPUs will still be using that platform.

Whether you go to AM2 or AM3, you are probably going to need new memory, and you need to find out exactly what it is that you have before moving it into another system. If it's DDR 333, it will not work with AM2 or AM3.
 
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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
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Seems to me like the extra cash for the AM3 board is money well spent.

A lot of sound cards are PCI for whatever reason, and if the option ever arises I'll have the PCI E x 16 too.

You've convinced me to get new memory (the old memory will go towards my parent's new computer that'll just be for their internet habits). The reviews seem to indicate that the 1600 mhz memory sticks are still really buggy, and the 1333 are fast anyway. Is it worth it at this point to spend a little extra and try the 1600, or should I stick with the 1333?

I also forgot to mention I've got a decent Antec 550w active modular power supply that'll be fine for the time being.
 
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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
17
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By the way Alyarb, with everything you've recommended that I need in my shopping cart at newegg, shipping included, I'm at $714.25.

I had a friend recommend this message board, and I owe him at least a beer.
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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the case is bad. thats designed for looks/size not noise.
a bad case will defeat all your attempts at silence from the get go.
plastic windows are as bad as the thinnest metal, resonating and letting noise right through. add fan holes and its like u got no case at all.
antec p18x cases have multilayered thick walls, tap them and they make a thud, tap plastic windows or metal cases and they ring like a bell, noisey as heck. antec p18x cases also have baffled ventilation holes, drive suspension/fansuspension etc. the regular ones might be too large, but there is a mini p180.
if you seek silence you cannot take anything for granted and allow one component to ruin your effort. the case is a big factor, its best to do it right.
that thermaltake case is a joke. its a bling led covered portable gaming case, where noise no consideration at all.
never mind the lousy 60mm case fans will do nothing while making much noise. the smaller the fan, the less efficient+higher pitched they are=more noticeable noise.
 
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Percussionfiend

Junior Member
Jul 16, 2009
17
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The Antec P180 looks nice to me, the price is right, and I like that they mention silence a lot. To be honest I have a silverstone case now and I'm not thrilled with it, but the one I'm looking at now is a different model, and it wasn't that silverstone seemed cheap or anything, I just wasn't thrilled.

Any other thoughts on the Antec P180?
 
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alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
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i think he was referring to the thermaltake. but the P180 is also very nice/quiet.
 
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elconejito

Senior member
Dec 19, 2007
607
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www.harvsworld.com
That whole P18x series (P180, mini P180, P182, P183)is very quiet. 0roo0roo is on point about the walls. Larger fans mean more air pushed with less noise. 60mm fans will sound AWFUL and there is no way to silence them. I'm sure there are other options, but the first place I look for a "quiet" case is one of those.
 
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