Which processor/motherboard? - Require VERY low heat, decent performance.

[Abhi]

Thanks for all the help for the Dust Proof PC idea...

Now I have to get down to building it... so I need advice again

This computer will be running SCADA (Some sort of software that controls industrial machines), and the programmer has given me these guidelines, "get any P4 and 256 mb RAM.....", so a top of the line comp is obviously not required here...

Here are the basic requirements:

1) Low heat producing processor (Intel/AMD - you tell me. Pentium M is not an option, its too expensive here in India)

2) Good stable Mobo with onboard video/audio. (Give me a couple of options, all mobos might not be available where I live)

3) 2 Hard Disks (Seagate ?)

4) 512 MB Ram (What rating do I need? DDR333/400?)

For the record, I am in India, so I ll have limited toys and options to play with.

Please give your suggestions

Thanks

 

[Abhi]

AMD Athlon 64 2800+
TUL A480A7-VF Motherboard
Hynix 512 MB DDR-400 Memory

How do the above sound ... ? They cost approx $250 combined here in india...

 

[kitkat22]

The processor sounds good, I'm not familiar with the MOBO so I can't say either way. Hopefully, the programmer won't have a cow over the processor.

 

[Lonyo]

Doesn't sound good.
A 754 system means (IIRC) the processor will be based on 0.13micron tech, and not run as cool as newer Socket 939 processors made using 90nm tech. If you do get that board, maybe see if there are any Turion (AMD64 mobile) chips around that will run in it, because they're designed for low power/low heat output operation.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Doesn't sound good.
A 754 system means (IIRC) the processor will be based on 0.13micron tech, and not run as cool as newer Socket 939 processors made using 90nm tech. If you do get that board, maybe see if there are any Turion (AMD64 mobile) chips around that will run in it, because they're designed for low power/low heat output operation.

yeah, you want to try get a 939 board so you can grab the newer 90nm AMD cpu's

my old 754 3200+ (130nm) idled 32ish would load up to 45-50 (with zalman 7000Cu on low speed) and that was with AS5 as well.

my new 939 3200 (90nm core) idles about the same, sometimes higher, ut never gets above 40 degrees....and its overclocked from 2.0 to 2.5

ontop of that you can utilize Cool n Quiet technology the A64's have and the newer A64's have SSE3 if that means anything

 

[Bozono]

Socket 939 is the obvious cool running budget choice.

Check out this Gigabyte passively cooled onboard graphic mobo.Text
Tack on a 3000 and it should come under $210 American.

 

[dexvx]

What a CPU idles at is mostly irrelevant, because you can have the most godly air cooling system available and the CPU will idle fairly low, despite putting out a large amount of heat. But one thing to take note of is that voltage is proportional to power consumption squared, meaning every bit you undervolt will have a rather large impact on power consumption, and heat.

 

[Diasper]

Get the cheapest S939 90nm AMD and underclock/undervolt it until you're happy.
Heck, Turion's are just AMD64s capable of working at lower volts.

You know if you did it far enough you could passively cool it. Going the whole hog you could probably get it so you have a fanless PSU and a use a very low fan setting (else use a very large heatsink eg Ninja Sythe to passive cool) on the CPU and rely on the minimal heat exiting the case itself. Alternatively, for an easier setup you could just use a very slow fan operating a regular PSU acting as to exhausting the air - setting up a duct might be an idea.

In short very small amounts of airflow + decent enough filters would work very well.

As others have said I'd look into a passively cooled motherboard. That Gigabyte looks good. You could also look into ATI Express200 options also using Micro ATX.

 

[Abhi]

Thanks ...

So I understand things to go for are

Socket 939 processors made using 90nm tech
and Socket 939 mobo....

Which is the cheapest CPU / Motherboard which fulfills the above? (Sorry for my ignorance, but have been out of the loop for the last year or so)

 

[orangat]

If a sempron is fast enough to run your app, then I suggest you look it up.

 

[Abhi]

1) MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum M/B - nForce3 Ultra - Socket 939 http://cgi.ebay.in/MSI-K8N-Neo2-Platinu...763QQcategoryZ1244QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
2) Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce 6100 Socket 939 Motherboard - GA-K8N51GMF-9 http://cgi.ebay.in/Gigabyte-Nvidia-Gefo...03QQcategoryZ99244QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
3) Foxconn Winfast Nforce4 Socket 939 Motherboard http://cgi.ebay.in/Foxconn-Winfast-Nfor...970QQcategoryZ1244QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Are any of these mobos any good?

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: orangat
If a sempron is fast enough to run your app, then I suggest you look it up.

Any particular sempron type/socket or the fastest one I can get?

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: Abhi
1) MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum M/B - nForce3 Ultra - Socket 939 http://cgi.ebay.in/MSI-K8N-Neo2-Platinu...763QQcategoryZ1244QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
2) Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce 6100 Socket 939 Motherboard - GA-K8N51GMF-9 http://cgi.ebay.in/Gigabyte-Nvidia-Gefo...03QQcategoryZ99244QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
3) Foxconn Winfast Nforce4 Socket 939 Motherboard http://cgi.ebay.in/Foxconn-Winfast-Nfor...970QQcategoryZ1244QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Are any of these mobos any good?

THe MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum is a great 939 board, definantly the best of those three. if you can get ahold of one of those, i think that would be a good choice. Only problem is, the 939 semprons don't appear to be out yet. Go with a 939 A64 (3000+) or an Opteron 144/146 939 if they are availible there. if it is important that it runs very cool, you may want to look into a larger heatsink.

 

[SergeC]

If you are looking for the cheapest and coolest processor, I'd go for one of the newer socket 939 Semprons. The lowest model (for lower price and less heat) would do you fine, judging by your posted requirements.

 

[Abhi]

Ok, after research on the leads you guys gave me ... here is what I am thinking of getting...

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor
A good socket 939 Mobo with onboard graphics - Which one?

 

[memories2002]

Im from mumbai, india; and heres what i recommend :
Get the a64 3000 or 3200, depending on budget.
Get either the MSI RS482 mobo or the new Gigabyte mobo on the nf4-gf6100 chipset, both are under Rs.5000
(the same ones linked/mentioned above)
You can check indian rates at deltapage DOT com
Depending on which city youre in, you might have to look hard for those boards, esp the new GB on the nf4-6100.
Enjoy!

 

[Remedy]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Doesn't sound good.
A 754 system means (IIRC) the processor will be based on 0.13micron tech, and not run as cool as newer Socket 939 processors made using 90nm tech. If you do get that board, maybe see if there are any Turion (AMD64 mobile) chips around that will run in it, because they're designed for low power/low heat output operation.

IIRC , the D & E stepping Semprons already moved to 90nm.

 

[Abhi]

Bump .... A good socket 939 Mobo with onboard graphics - Which one?

 

[memories2002]

Dude, the Gigabyte K8N51GMF or the MSI RS482 are both available here and have good onboard graphics...ati x200 and geforece 6100 to be exact. And they cost under Rs. 5000! What else do you need!? A retail a64 Venice 3000+ is another 6000 bucks, youre set!

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: memories2002
Dude, the Gigabyte K8N51GMF or the MSI RS482 are both available here and have good onboard graphics...ati x200 and geforece 6100 to be exact. And they cost under Rs. 5000! What else do you need!? A retail a64 Venice 3000+ is another 6000 bucks, youre set!

Last questions....

1) Gigabit has a Nvidia 6100, MSI has a ATI x300. Isnt Gigabit better on the video count??

2) Also, does SATA have ANY advantage over PATA in the real world?

Thanks again

 

[memories2002]

GigaBYTE's 6100 graphics are slightly worse in heavy gaming as compared to the ati x200 by MSI. But thats a much more mature chipset to go for, with better IDE/SATA and USB performance, since ati is relatively new there whereas nvidia is on nforce #4.
You can find a detailed comparo on xbitlabs or firingsquad..im too lazy to dig up the links!