Been out of the loop....want a COOL, QUIET, pc.

[joshw10]

I havent been into the PC hardware for a number of years...at that time, it was AMD processors that ran hot and Intel that ran cool. I have an Athlon XP 1800+, and my PC is ridiculously hot. I'd like to upgrade to something that will require minimal cooling, and therefore be quiet and not act as a heater in my room. I'm really not interested in anything other than stock cooling.

I'd like to spend about $150 for a CPU in a new PC.

Any suggestions?

 

[Gerbil333]

These days the Athlon 64 runs much cooler than the scorching Intel Prescotts. Get a cheap A64 Venice, an efficient ATX 2.0 PSU with a 120mm fan (SeaSonic probably), and a case that uses 120mm fan(s).

 

[Boztech]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
These days the Athlon 64 runs much cooler than the scorching Intel Prescotts. Get a cheap A64 Venice, an efficient ATX 2.0 PSU with a 120mm fan (SeaSonic probably), and a case that uses 120mm fan(s).

QFT

My recommendations -

Athlon 64 (Venice) 3000+ OEM
Zalman 7000b AlCu HSF
Antec Truepower 2.0 380w PSU
Antec SLK3000B Mid-Tower Case

 

[joshw10]

Here's what I've got so far @ $610 on NewEgg. Want to keep it around or below $600. I'll be using video/sound from old PC.

Antec Sonata w/ 350W PSU
Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 nForce3 Ultra
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice (Retail)
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB)
Seagate Barracuda 200GB
Samsung Black IDE DVD Burner

 

[imported_Kensai]

:thumbsup:
Though I suggest the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum.

 

[joshw10]

If you can justify why its worth the extra cost of 2 pizzas if I dont care about the features, I'm listening

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Kensai
:thumbsup:
Though I suggest the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum.

Yes.

You put together a great setup, just get the Neo2 & maybe that overly popular NEC 3520 DVD burner.

If you want to overclock, that MSI mobo is the best for that among AGP 939 mobos.

If you don't wish to OC...doesn't really matter then.

 

[imported_Kensai]

The MSI mobo is extremely stable and is practically plug and play. Very nice options in the BIOS. Even if you're not overclocking, it is well worth the money.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: joshw10
If you can justify why its worth the extra cost of 2 pizzas if I dont care about the features, I'm listening

It's a little more than just 2 pizzas to go with the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (nf3 Ultra). It runs $128.99 delivered this memorial day weekend at NewEgg while the Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 is selling for $105.99 this memorial day weekend at NewEgg.

One reason go go with the Gigabyte over the MSI NEO2 Platinum is that a LOT of NEO2 owners have had to RMA their boards. It seems there's a "fluke" with many of those boards; they boot when the P/S switch is turned on but BEFORE one hits the Case Switch Power Button and there's been other "issues" with that board. Here's just ONE RECENT example of a AT forum member having to RAM his NEO 2 and his VERY POOR experience with MSI.

As far as your 1GB Corsair (2 X 512 MB) RAM choice may I suggest going with this 1 GB Corsair (1 x 1 GB) RAM choice for only $4 more ??? The reason - the nf3 chipset defaults to 333MHz memory frequency and 2T (from 1T - if your memory can run at 1T) whenever ALL FOUR DIMM slots are populated with DOUBLE-SIDED DDR400 DIMM modules.

This means if you want to upgrade to 2GB of DDR400 RAM in the future you will either need to sell the 2 DIMMs of DDR400 512MB RAM and THEN purchase new RAM, OR purchase 2 additional 512MB DDR400 DIMMs and pay the price of the performance penalty just mentioned.

The nf4 chips partially addressed this "issue" by allowing 4 DIMMS to run on the nf4 boards at the 400MHz frequency (without defaulting to 333MHz) but STILL default to 2T from 1T.

So if you want to avoid this all together you may want to consider this Gigabyte GA-K8N Ultra-9 (nf4 ULTRA) motherboard over here or this Asus A8N-E (nf4 Ultra) motherboard over here which is probably a better and EXCELLENTLY-priced choice.

If you WERE to go with the A8N-E just be sure to read this Anandtech Forum thread which describes the problems people have been having with the little 8000rpm hsf on the Asus A8N-E nf4 chip and the solutions to the problem; one of which is to order the FREE replacement fan from Asus and use it instead of the original one.

Greg

 

[jswjimmy]

xp1800... hot... lol

mine at stock settings runs at about 30C, unless its a palomino i would check you cooling.

i think i was getting 43C load with stock hsf and crappy cooling.

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: Fisher999
The nf4 chips partially addressed this "issue" by allowing 4 DIMMS to run on the nf4 boards at the 400MHz frequency (without defaulting to 333MHz) but STILL default to 2T from 1T.

it may default to 2T but if your processor supports 1T you should be able to go in and manually set it to 1T

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: shoRunner

Originally posted by: Fisher999
The nf4 chips partially addressed this "issue" by allowing 4 DIMMS to run on the nf4 boards at the 400MHz frequency (without defaulting to 333MHz) but STILL default to 2T from 1T.

it may default to 2T but if your processor supports 1T you should be able to go in and manually set it to 1T

I wasn't talking about the PROCESSOR, I was talking about the RAM timings. Your advice probably still applies; one could go into BIOS and probably set the memory timing to 1T with four double sided sticks of DDR400 installed on an nf4-based mobo (although I am not sure of this); however, nVidia does not guarantee STABILITY under that setting and that's why the nf4 chip defaults the memory timing to 2T when 4 DOUBLE-sided DIMMS are installed.

At least this is an improvement from NF3; on mobos with those chips, not only did memory timing default to 2T with 4 DOUBLE-sided DDR400 DIMMs installed, but the memory bus speed defaulted from 400MHz to 333MHz, further degrading memory performance to try to maintain stability.

 

[mshan]

Antec Sonata does a very good job of containing noise, but the downside is that air flow headroom is limited (i.e. your components may run hotter than in something such as an Antec 3700AMB or 3000B- which doesn't have a power supply and is usually pretty cheap at Amaon).

 

[leigh6]

I dont think the Sonata comes with a 350 ps. I believe it is 380.

 

[dheffer]

true380s, I believe

 

[Ardan]

Originally posted by: mshan
Antec Sonata does a very good job of containing noise, but the downside is that air flow headroom is limited (i.e. your components may run hotter than in something such as an Antec 3700AMB or 3000B- which doesn't have a power supply and is usually pretty cheap at Amaon).

Very good point :thumbsup:.
I have a 3700AMB and its quite silent, yet also cool. I have a Winchester-core 3000+ @ 2.2Ghz with an Abit AV8 motherboard and a Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 with a 420W OCZ PowerStream PSU (fit inside the case just fine). It never goes above 42 C and idles usually around 39 or so. I would suggest the 3000-B or that 3700AMB myself, since I always found it to be a perfect combination of proper cooling and low noise. I have an adjustible Enermax 120mm fan in the front that I keep quite low, and this computer is definitely quiet. But don't get me wrong, the Sonata is great and it would be a decent choice either way.

Stock cooling is fine, but the Silent Boost K8 is definitely a great choice for cooling and silence so that should be considered as well. Not to mention how easy it is to attach...oh man was THAT much easier than my Thermalright SLK-800(A) that I used on an Athlon XP .

I like your other choices as well, especially the 2x512mb of RAM. I would definitely take advantage of Dual Channel capabilities as well if I were building a new Socket 939 system.

Good choices, I think you'll have a great system .

 

[joshw10]

fisher999,

Thanks for the advice. Is there any reason, other than maybe a few $$, that I shouldn't go with an NF4 Ultra mobo over the NF3 Ultra?

one other question...does anyone have data on the noise level of the stock Athlon 64 fan?

 

[IEC]

Stock fans vary depending on the manufacturer, but you're usually looking at 30-50dba - none of them quiet at all. You'd be much better off buying an after-market HSF.

 

[joshw10]

Ah, the nForce4 Ultra boards use PCI-E video...no thx!

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: joshw10
fisher999,

Thanks for the advice. Is there any reason, other than maybe a few $$, that I shouldn't go with an NF4 Ultra mobo over the NF3 Ultra? ...

I've already read your negative response on the fact that the nf4 boards are PCI-E based. I don't know why that would bother you; that's ONE of the advantages to nf4 Ultra. Other advantges include an IMPROVED MEMORY CONTROLLER, support for SATA-300, support for NQC (Native Command Queuing) hard drives and the ability to step up to the DUAL CORE Athlons with a motheboard BIOS update.

 

[theMan]

get a thermalright xp-90

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: Fisher999
and the ability to step up to the DUAL CORE Athlons with a motheboard BIOS update.

i believe any 939 board capable of a FX-55 will also be able to take dual core also.

if your getting a motherboard now you might as well PCI-E as any new video card will come out as PCI-E and maybe AGP, and usually the AGP version is more expensive.

 

[batmanuel]

Get an OEM A64 chip and get a Zalman CPNS7700 AlCu HSF instead of the retail chip. Just be sure to check and see if the mobo that you choose will fit that 120mm monster of a HSF.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: shoRunner

Originally posted by: Fisher999
and the ability to step up to the DUAL CORE Athlons with a motheboard BIOS update.

i believe any 939 board capable of a FX-55 will also be able to take dual core also.

if your getting a motherboard now you might as well PCI-E as any new video card will come out as PCI-E and maybe AGP, and usually the AGP version is more expensive.

RIGHT ON Sho

 

[jswjimmy]

Originally posted by: Fisher999
IMPROVED MEMORY CONTROLLER

the memory controler is on die with the 64's how could a chipset improve that?

but still the nf4 is better than the nf3