Im building a dream multimedia system...

[little_pob]

What sort of cost is involved with that and is it worth the hassle ??

To do it properly (i.e. CPU, motherboard, GPU and HDD) about £200+, plus you might have to cut/drill holes in your case. Its almost silent - the pump runs at a few decibles - certainly no more noisy than a DVD spinning up.

If the PC is staying static, and not being shifted about the house it can be worth the effort. The water and copper alloy blocks aren't light if you're going to lug it from room to room. You need to keep an eye on the fluid levels and top-up every week or so for the first few months. After that you shouldn't have to top up more than every 6 months, just don't forget!

I will point out that my mate has lost a motherboard and a £300 graphics card due to a leak before today.

I did read the info regarding fans for that case and know which ones will fit, but if there is a different brand like you said earlier that is quieter it is worth looking at. As for overclocking, i like the idea of it but rarely bother, however with this one if its a case of just upping something simple in the bios then i more than likely will, im not that involved that i would want to start going into great detail and things liike adding cooling to the ram etc etc.

If you want a zalman cooler, get a zalman cooler. Just use the included fan mate 2 controller if its too noisy - I should have said that to start with.

Also plan your air flow, front to rear is best practice. Don't be affraid to turn a case fan round bacause its blowing the 'wrong' way.

 

[Conrad]

I've got one of these bad boys on my quad core: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/amdcooling/nh-c12p. At 11cm with the fan you should be good for height. It's a real beast and it's near silent. Noctua fans are the quietest ones I've heard and I've got a Zalman and acoustifans.

The Zalman is noisier than the Noctua and that's running on it's slowest speed. The Noctua is plugged straight into the motherboard so is running at full tilt - it's still barely audible.

 

[digicol]

The black pearl boards are built with the highest quality components and sold state capacitors, meaning they should last longer and are built for overclocking at the highest level.

Oh and they are made from real black pearls.

 

[loady]

I've got one of these bad boys on my quad core: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/amdcooling/nh-c12p. At 11cm with the fan you should be good for height. It's a real beast and it's near silent. Noctua fans are the quietest ones I've heard and I've got a Zalman and acoustifans.

The Zalman is noisier than the Noctua and that's running on it's slowest speed. The Noctua is plugged straight into the motherboard so is running at full tilt - it's still barely audible.

Shit man...i never thought i would see myself paying that for a fan/heatsink...o well

The black pearl boards are built with the highest quality components and sold state capacitors, meaning they should last longer and are built for overclocking at the highest level.

Oh and they are made from real black pearls.

REAL black pearls...sweet man

To do it properly (i.e. CPU, motherboard, GPU and HDD) about £200+, plus you might have to cut/drill holes in your case. Its almost silent - the pump runs at a few decibles - certainly no more noisy than a DVD spinning up.

If the PC is staying static, and not being shifted about the house it can be worth the effort. The water and copper alloy blocks aren't light if you're going to lug it from room to room. You need to keep an eye on the fluid levels and top-up every week or so for the first few months. After that you shouldn't have to top up more than every 6 months, just don't forget!

I will point out that my mate has lost a motherboard and a £300 graphics card due to a leak before today.



If you want a zalman cooler, get a zalman cooler. Just use the included fan mate 2 controller if its too noisy - I should have said that to start with.

Also plan your air flow, front to rear is best practice. Don't be affraid to turn a case fan round bacause its blowing the 'wrong' way.

Hassle...thats answered that question anyway.........the cases airflow should already be set for optimum performance

 

[oneman]

I've got one of these bad boys on my quad core: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/amdcooling/nh-c12p. At 11cm with the fan you should be good for height. It's a real beast and it's near silent. Noctua fans are the quietest ones I've heard and I've got a Zalman and acoustifans.

The Zalman is noisier than the Noctua and that's running on it's slowest speed. The Noctua is plugged straight into the motherboard so is running at full tilt - it's still barely audible.

I've got the big brother of this heatsink fan,

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=657369

Its specially designed for lower profile cases like yours. In every test I have seen the tower design coolers beat the variety that blow down on system and it maintains the ethos of airflow moving from front to back. Evem woth a 120mm fan and 75% overclock on my CPU, it was no noiser then my samsung HDD (which I recken to be one of the quietest HDD around).

One thing I would say, all of these heatsink fans are heavy and on a vertical mounted board would break the standard mounting. So they all come with a backplate that fits on the back of the M/B. Should not be a problem in your case as the M/B is horizontal but I have noticed some M/B come with additional heatsinks on the underside of the M/B so these will have to be removed.

 

[loady]

The price of that is much more palitable.........

I have just bought a cpu but im not sure if i have bought a lower standard one...
the one i bought is... [ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Core2-Quad-Q9300-2-50GHz/dp/B0012UZTFS/ref=pd_sbs_ce_title_2[/ame]

But i have also seen this on amazon.. [ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Processor-Intel-Q9300-LGA775-Socket/dp/B00116VHMC[/ame]

As you can see, the latter one is a lot more money but is same model, the more expensive one touts 6mb l2 cache but the one i have bought doesnt state this ? the model numbers seem to be indentical but the asin numbers are different...are these 2 different cpu's if so i may need to cancel my order.

 

[Conrad]

The Ninjas are the nuts! Every review and peice of anecdotal feedback I've had say that they're the best thing you can buy. I can't use one, they won't fit in my case. The ninja mini with quiet fan on it though, I could have had one of those. I didn't for a couple of reasons: The smaller the fan, the louder it is (generally speaking). a 120mm by one manufacturar will shift more air at a lower volume than their 80 or 92mm counterparts. I love Noctua stuff. I'm hugely biased as I think their stuff is brilliant but I think they're great. I know I could stick a noctua fan on the ninja mini, but I'd rather have a Noctua heatsink than a scythe. No real reason, on paper the scythe may even be (and probably is) better.

I also prefer winzip to winrar because I don't like the winrar icons. I also prefer nVidia to ATI because of he software. Make of that what you will. Either I'm cosmetically biased for no good reason, and to my own expense; or I'm an idiot!

 

[digicol]

The Ninjas are the nuts! Every review and peice of anecdotal feedback I've had say that they're the best thing you can buy. I can't use one, they won't fit in my case. The ninja mini with quiet fan on it though, I could have had one of those. I didn't for a couple of reasons: The smaller the fan, the louder it is (generally speaking). a 120mm by one manufacturar will shift more air at a lower volume than their 80 or 92mm counterparts. I love Noctua stuff. I'm hugely biased as I think their stuff is brilliant but I think they're great. I know I could stick a noctua fan on the ninja mini, but I'd rather have a Noctua heatsink than a scythe. No real reason, on paper the scythe may even be (and probably is) better.

I also prefer winzip to winrar because I don't like the winrar icons. I also prefer nVidia to ATI because of he software. Make of that what you will. Either I'm cosmetically biased for no good reason, and to my own expense; or I'm an idiot!

Lol, that was very well put.

But I must say I like Scythe, they are the mutz nutz, but as you say, you have to have the room for it.

Overall I think that is one heck of a post, I wish I could put my points across in that sort of way!!

 

[oneman]

The price of that is much more palitable.........

I have just bought a cpu but im not sure if i have bought a lower standard one...
the one i bought is... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Core2-Quad-Q9300-2-50GHz/dp/B0012UZTFS/ref=pd_sbs_ce_title_2

But i have also seen this on amazon.. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Processor-Intel-Q9300-LGA775-Socket/dp/B00116VHMC

As you can see, the latter one is a lot more money but is same model, the more expensive one touts 6mb l2 cache but the one i have bought doesnt state this ? the model numbers seem to be indentical but the asin numbers are different...are these 2 different cpu's if so i may need to cancel my order.

OK, the top one says tray in the description which says to me that it will,
- not come in retail packaging
- no instructions (you will get some which your heatsink/fan)
- one year warrenty instead of 3 (don't worry about that, CPU rarely die after the first couple of weeks unless overclocked and not cooled properly)
- No heatsink/fan which is what you are looking for.

Basically the CPU is the same and the top one wll save you £40 which can't be a bad thing.

 

[oneman]

The Ninjas are the nuts! Every review and peice of anecdotal feedback I've had say that they're the best thing you can buy. I can't use one, they won't fit in my case. The ninja mini with quiet fan on it though, I could have had one of those. I didn't for a couple of reasons: The smaller the fan, the louder it is (generally speaking). a 120mm by one manufacturar will shift more air at a lower volume than their 80 or 92mm counterparts. I love Noctua stuff. I'm hugely biased as I think their stuff is brilliant but I think they're great. I know I could stick a noctua fan on the ninja mini, but I'd rather have a Noctua heatsink than a scythe. No real reason, on paper the scythe may even be (and probably is) better.

I also prefer winzip to winrar because I don't like the winrar icons. I also prefer nVidia to ATI because of he software. Make of that what you will. Either I'm cosmetically biased for no good reason, and to my own expense; or I'm an idiot!

I haven't tried the mini ninja but I suspect it works OK. As for fans, at the top end stuff there is very little in it, maybe 1 or 2 decibels. Consider the noise from case fans, HDD, PSU etc I suspect you are not going to notice much unless you site with ear against the case.

You haven't mentioned sound deaden on the inside of the case, I have used dense foam from packaging before to good effect and you can use it to funnel airflow as well. I hear carpet works well for sound deadening as well but be careful are the fibres can cause a dust build up.

 

[Conrad]

I haven't tried the mini ninja but I suspect it works OK. As for fans, at the top end stuff there is very little in it, maybe 1 or 2 decibels. Consider the noise from case fans, HDD, PSU etc I suspect you are not going to notice much unless you site with ear against the case.

You haven't mentioned sound deaden on the inside of the case, I have used dense foam from packaging before to good effect and you can use it to funnel airflow as well. I hear carpet works well for sound deadening as well but be careful are the fibres can cause a dust build up.

All very true, theres not much difference between 18db and 20db unless you're next to the machine, you're right. I'm of the opinion that if I'm going to spend £80 on a PSU and £60 on a heatsink and probably a few hundred quid on the other bits and pieces (or in the OPs situation, £300 on a media case) why scrimp on the £1 or £2 for the better fans. Even if you go fan mad and put in 4 case fans and a CPU fan, that's only a tenner. It's probably my stange personal preferences again but I'd rather know that I'd done what I can to get it quiet rather than thinking that those extra couple of db might make a difference and then end up buying 2 fans, one of which doesn't get used.

The manufacturers that annoy me are the ones that sell "silent" PSUs that run at 40db (I have one of these) or that make "silent" hard drive coolers which have a pair of 60mm fans on that run at 35db (I have two of these).

Now, I'm probably just being picky, but that's not silent. It's very quiet, yes, and probably fine for a desktop but for a media PC it's just not quiet enough. I'm at a disadvantage because I watch movies with my media PC less than a couple of feet away but when the action in a movie stops and there's silence, I want silence in my room. I don't want to hear whirring fans. I'm not suggesting that anyone does, I'm just trying to explain why I think it's better to get the best that you can in terms of cooling, even if it's only for a decibel here and there. There aren't any short-cuts, unfortunately.

 

[loady]

OK, the top one says tray in the description which says to me that it will,
- not come in retail packaging
- no instructions (you will get some which your heatsink/fan)
- one year warrenty instead of 3 (don't worry about that, CPU rarely die after the first couple of weeks unless overclocked and not cooled properly)
- No heatsink/fan which is what you are looking for.

Basically the CPU is the same and the top one wll save you £40 which can't be a bad thing.

Hmmmm...thats what i like to hear...wish i could have bought the case in a plastic bag and got £40 off !!!

All very true, theres not much difference between 18db and 20db unless you're next to the machine, you're right. I'm of the opinion that if I'm going to spend £80 on a PSU and £60 on a heatsink and probably a few hundred quid on the other bits and pieces (or in the OPs situation, £300 on a media case) why scrimp on the £1 or £2 for the better fans. Even if you go fan mad and put in 4 case fans and a CPU fan, that's only a tenner. It's probably my stange personal preferences again but I'd rather know that I'd done what I can to get it quiet rather than thinking that those extra couple of db might make a difference and then end up buying 2 fans, one of which doesn't get used.

The manufacturers that annoy me are the ones that sell "silent" PSUs that run at 40db (I have one of these) or that make "silent" hard drive coolers which have a pair of 60mm fans on that run at 35db (I have two of these).

Now, I'm probably just being picky, but that's not silent. It's very quiet, yes, and probably fine for a desktop but for a media PC it's just not quiet enough. I'm at a disadvantage because I watch movies with my media PC less than a couple of feet away but when the action in a movie stops and there's silence, I want silence in my room. I don't want to hear whirring fans. I'm not suggesting that anyone does, I'm just trying to explain why I think it's better to get the best that you can in terms of cooling, even if it's only for a decibel here and there. There aren't any short-cuts, unfortunately.

I certainly want quiet...im stuck at the heatsink/fan and psu at the mo....i looked on ebuyer and a sytche (i cant spell it) rev b cooler...price is nice but is it silent...the noctua one posted earlier is is like £50...thats a lot of money for the cooler....can anyone recommend one of the ones on ebuyer ??

Also is this memory a good choice for the board/cpu i have...?? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429

Board is here.... http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142854 free delivery on this board along with the rest of my order...which is why i really want to get the cooler from ebuyer to.

 

[oneman]

I thought you ordered the cheaper CPU anyway or had the option to cancel the order. If its done, its done so don't worry about it now. You have Q9300 ?

As for the CPU fan, I have the full ninja, its awesome. Mega cooling (75% overclock) and silent. But its huge, weighs over 1kg and not going to fit in your case.

Personally I would not call anything about 20db silent. low noise yes but not silent.

 

[little_pob]

Hmmmm...thats what i like to hear...wish i could have bought the case in a plastic bag and got £40 off !!!



I certainly want quiet...im stuck at the heatsink/fan and psu at the mo....i looked on ebuyer and a sytche (i cant spell it) rev b cooler...price is nice but is it silent...the noctua one posted earlier is is like £50...thats a lot of money for the cooler....can anyone recommend one of the ones on ebuyer ??

If there is room get a modular PSU (the plugs add about an 1" onto the length of the PSU). I've currently got an Enermax Infiniti 720W, but would have got the Corsair equivelent for cheaper had I known at the time that Enermax made Corsair's PSUs.

As for HSF, there would be nothing stopping you from replacing the stock fan on the Scythe Ninja mini with an 80mm Noctua fan

Ninja mini - £28.19: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-012-SY
80mm Noctua fan - £11.74: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-002-NC

[Edit]
Ebuyer don't currently have the ninja mini, nor the alternative I'd suggest (Thermalright's Ultima-90). Try emailing the sales team to see if they're expecting stock. They do have Noctua fans in stock, both 80mm and 120mm flavours.

 

[loady]

I thought you ordered the cheaper CPU anyway or had the option to cancel the order. If its done, its done so don't worry about it now. You have Q9300 ?

As for the CPU fan, I have the full ninja, its awesome. Mega cooling (75% overclock) and silent. But its huge, weighs over 1kg and not going to fit in your case.

Personally I would not call anything about 20db silent. low noise yes but not silent.

I ordered the £131 from amazon..........this cpu and fan is doing my head in...the case i have is 16cm depth, i would like a tower heatsink, not that i dont like the noctua..its just to damn expensive...but i think im just going to have to bite the bullet as i want quiet and i want it to fit

 

[loady]

Just looked at the ninja mini and the size will probably do...but it has a 80cm fan already, it touts 24db..thats loud in silent terms ?could a 12cm fan be fitted even though the dimensions of cooler are smaller

 

[loady]

I think im going to go for this and keep my fingers crossed... http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142954/show_product_reviews

ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH help im going fekking mad

 

[little_pob]

That heatsink is huge! You need to check clearance for the memory, mosfet heatsinks and gfx card.

 

[oneman]

I think im going to go for this and keep my fingers crossed... http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142954/show_product_reviews

ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH help im going fekking mad

Looks good and several reviews saying it is silent but that thing has a HUGE footprint. A couple of sites have mentioned that it might foul the PSU depending on socket placement of your mobo.

Hope it fits OK.

 

[loady]

Sod that...i had enough of this, i been at this pc for 4 hours just looking for a cpu cooler !!!.....im going to go for th zalman that i know will fit....

Can someone suggest the best quietest psu from the ebuyer site for about £50 max ?? baring in mind the inputs that i may need for the graphics card(s) and mobo ???