replacing an AMD64 with ???

[stuntmanstuntman]

Hello thanks to OEM licencing (yes, I am a wuss) and AGP cards being rere I am going replace my perfectly functional and pleasantly quiet AMD 64 3000+ with a dual core system.

It will be a dual core system, my main concern is noise. I want the quietest CPU platform. To put htis in perspective I am letting a D805 system sit in my basement as a file server because the thing is unacceptably loud.

This PC will be sitting beside the TV for general computing, games and as a multimedia center. OCing will not be my thing.

How to the AMD X2 and the superior Core 2 CPUs stack up against the AMD 64 for noise?

many thanks to those in the know!

Stuntman

 

[myocardia]

An AMD X2 is just two Athlon 64 processors, on the same die. The only difference is that they use a slightly lower vcore. They run slightly hotter, since there are two of them, but are still cool overall. BTW, what does any of this have to do with OEM licensing? Oh, and welcome to the forums.

 

[stuntmanstuntman]

Q. What does this have to do with OEM licencing?:

I can get an OEM licence for Vista relatively cheap right now, however, its tied to my motherboard. So I want a new Mobo before I get the licence.


I think I will have about 5 years on this new system.


So for those who have had AMD 64's (not overclocked to heck): do the new duo's come close? I understand I can underclock the Core 2.

Stuntman
PS is this the right forum area for me to ask?

 

[Yellowbeard]

I think it would more aptly fall under Cases and Cooling but, I'm not sure that will matter. Currently, any of the low wattage CPUs from AMD or Intel would be fine. Your noise deal is going to be decided by how you cool the CPU and the case, your PSU noise, etc. Silent PC Review is a good source for quiet.

 

[Noubourne]

Yeah processors don't make noise; the fans you cool them with do.

A poor quality heatsink requires more airflow to cool the CPU. A better heatsink lets you use a slower fan with less airflow. Bigger fans tend to be less noisy.

Get whatever low power CPU you want, and then pair it with a large efficient heatsink with a large low RPM fan. My Scythe Infinity is near silent, and I'm running a highly overclocked and overvolted Opteron. With a low-power CPU you'd be near silent with any good heatpiped tower cooler (Infinity, Ninja, Tuniq).

Nobody's going to be surprised that a D805 with stock cooler is too loud. Those were some of the hottest CPUs to ever be released. An E6300 or X2 3800 low power would be your choices. The X2 probably slightly cheaper with cheaper boards out and the ability to use DDR instead of DDR2.

Get a mobo with passive cooling.

Get a PSU that is as quiet as possible.

Get a passively coold video card.

Get a quiet case.

I agree that SilentPCReview has good reviews for silence.

 

[Noubourne]

And you can change hardware on Vista. It's not tied to your motherboard. Else they'd never sell a copy to any enthusiasts.

 

[stuntmanstuntman]

OK....I guess its a Core 2 duo....noone is complaining about noise from them and their wattage numbers are much lower eventhough AMD has a lower idle fan speed.

thanks.

BTW:
Yes, the OEM version of Vista is tied to the motherboard.
Yes, the RETAIL version of Vista can have as many hardware changes as desired.

XP used to be tied to a convoluted hardware combo. Vista is tied to the motherboard only. Microsoft is stepping up their enforcing of their OEM licences; but other users have also found a way around this on Vista already.

I wish it was easy enough to find reliable sources to point you to but the first few pages of a Google only had forum posts.

Stuntman

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: stuntmanstuntman
OK....I guess its a Core 2 duo....noone is complaining about noise from them and their wattage numbers are much lower eventhough AMD has a lower idle fan speed.

thanks.

BTW:
Yes, the OEM version of Vista is tied to the motherboard.
Yes, the RETAIL version of Vista can have as many hardware changes as desired.

XP used to be tied to a convoluted hardware combo. Vista is tied to the motherboard only. Microsoft is stepping up their enforcing of their OEM licences; but other users have also found a way around this on Vista already.

I wish it was easy enough to find reliable sources to point you to but the first few pages of a Google only had forum posts.

Stuntman

No Vista is not tied to ANYTHING ever...the license is sold with a piece of hardware sometimes, but never ever ever forced to be run only on that hardware. That is what got MS into deep trouble with people about and they changed it.


Becides that, after using vista I have to say it's terrible garbage. Half the stuff doesn't even work (backup anyone?) and there's almost no drivers. Most of the apps I have for Xp won't even run on Vista. The final straw comes with the fact that you have to pick and choose between 64bit or 32bit. 64bit will have limited support for a while, and probably require a special driver for everything on top of 32bit (although I expect most companies to put out both at the same time), but the problem is that most apps you use today won't function correctly. I couldn't get Gjost to work on Vista and Vista's built in backup software is pretty useless compared to Ghost.

I'm just saying, don't rely on Vista as your primary OS yet. It needs work.

 

[stuntmanstuntman]

Hey emdrdredd

http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_Relaxes_Vista_License_Terms/1162505113

So whats the difference between an OEM licence and a Retail licence? I live in Canada so the laws here may be different from other countries.

I honestly cannot find anything that says that the Vista OEM terms have been released only that the OEM terms have not changed from the standard mantra of it may only be used with the hardware it sold with.
Vista is tying itself to the motherboard for WGA purposes and www.securityfocus.com stated that currently the OEM license is tied to one computer and Microsoft has redifined computer to be the motherboard (makes sence).

Microsoft had recently changed its Vista retail licence from one transfer to as many times as desired. Searching on that topic is where I got all the information about OEM licencing.

If you can point me to an article on the Vista OEM licensing I would appreciated it.

I personally am crossing my fingers for being able to transfer it as many times as possible.

Stuntman

PS...this is way off the original topic. can it be moved?

 

[Aluvus]

stuntmanstuntman is correct that the Vista OEM license is tied to the first motherboard it is installed on. This is different from the retail license.

I'll echo some of Noubourne's statements: passively cooled motherboard and video card (or integrated video, if it will suit your needs) are priorities. If you find the processor's stock heatsink/fan too loud, replace it with something that can get by with a quieter, lower-speed fan. The Scythe Ninja, for instance.

I have a Core 2 Duo system that hits those points (including the Ninja), is currently right by my feet, and can be heard only when the room is nearly silent.

 

[Regalk]

i hooked up a system (HTPC) to my plasma and works great and fairly quiet a year or so ago
Antec Minuet
A64 3200+/Biostar integrated MB with video/sound (I got it from Tigerdirect real cheap)
I even overclocked to 2500+ (250 X 10) without changing voltages
Changed the integrated video for a MSI 7300GS with HDTV capabilities (do not use it though probably later)
prior to that I had an Intel celery system for 4 years in my HTPC but it was getting old
Thats all you need man for my karaoking, digital pcitures, movies etc - don't need a core2 duo/dual core for that
so not sure why you want to go dual core - to play games?? I hooked up my main system below to a 26" LCD for gaming now that is different scenario
I definitely do not game on that machine - since the case is too cramped and would get too hot in there (the 7300GS would not cut it anyway)