Quiet and Cool Gaming Rig

[cecco]

It's that time again, my E8400 and 4890 system is getting a bit outdated and my raptor HD is ready to give up the ghost anytime. Since the PC will be located in the upstairs master bedroom I'd like for it be quiet and if possible running cool. The heat tends to accumulate in our room quite easily and the current PC blows an insanely hot amount of hot air. That being said. Performance first, quiet a close second, cool a distant third. Let's get to it.


1. The PC will be used mainly for gaming with a bit of photo editing (photography hobby, but only using Adobe Elements 9 right now).

2. Wife has approved at $1,500 budget.

3. I live in the U.S. and near a Microcenter

4. No brand prefernce for parts.

5. I plan on keeping a WD 1 TB Black disk that I currently use for games/storage. I already have a mouse, keyboard and a Dell 22" monitor and my speakers.

6. Would like suggestions for data backup with this system (Primarly photographs), not sure if to go interior, exterior storage or even online.

7. I've overclocked in the past, but with this system quiet and cool is more important to me right now so I will be keeping everything stock this time around.

8. The Dell runs natively at 1680x1050. I'm pretty fond of the 16:10 format so as long as it works, I don't see the need to replace it anytime soon.

9. I plan to have it built within 2 weeks.

Something else I was thinking about, since I have a small desk and I keep my case under it, was going mATX format. Seems like I always waste a lot of bay space but I'm not sure how it would work with a quiet design and video card size. Anyway, thanks for spending your time giving me some guidance. Besides reading the occasional review of a processor or video card, I'm a bit out of the loop on things.

 

[lehtv]

I thought Gordon Freeman didn't talk?

Anyway.

A $1500 budget for stock clocked 1680x1050 gaming seems a bit out of proportion. Generally, a $1000 rig is enough for 1080p gaming, including an SSD to speed up general use.

Since you're used to 16:10, consider upgrading to Dell U2412M (1920x1200 IPS) and spending $1150 on the PC itself. Great for photo editing. Is your current Dell an IPS panel?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

An SSD would be a Great place to start. I like the IPS panel suggestion as-well.

:thumbsup:

 

[cecco]

You know. I never even thought about replacing the monitor. But I might just go for that monitor you linked, lehtv. I had planned to put the old computer in my girls' room and I'm sure they rather have my 22" instead of the old 15".

So add that in the budget. What kind of SSD would be good? Again something I've had little experience with.

 

[Ken g6]

Well, start with [thread=2192841]Mfenn's generic $1000 build[/thread].
- Get the CPU and mobo from Micro Center bundled.
- Add a CPU cooler, either Sythe or Hyper 212 Evo, for pure quietness.

Then, if you want a mATX build, I can't help you with the case, but here's a board.

If you want to go even smaller, here's a mini-ITX case that could fit the video card and Evo cooler at least, and here's a board to go with it. It's likely to be noisier than a well-insulated mATX case, though.

I thought Gordon Freeman didn't talk?

Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 260

Well, cecco doesn't talk much.

 

[cecco]

Haha, well played. Yes long time lurker here. Actually I had an account even earlier than that but I think they purged me when anandtech updated its forums.

Anyway. Thanks for the suggestion. Question about CPU cooling. Would a closed loop liquid cooling like the Corsair H40 be worth it? Trying to keep it as quiet as possible, I was originally looking at the Corsair 550D for a case.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Haha, well played. Yes long time lurker here. Actually I had an account even earlier than that but I think they purged me when anandtech updated its forums.

Anyway. Thanks for the suggestion. Question about CPU cooling. Would a closed loop liquid cooling like the Corsair H40 be worth it? Trying to keep it as quiet as possible, I was originally looking at the Corsair 550D for a case.

No not really.

 

[lehtv]

Here's a quiet build not including a hard disk:

CPU i5-3570K $190 @MC
Cooler Scythe Mugen 3 $50
Mobo Asrock Z77 Extreme4 $75 w/ 3570K @MC
RAM 2x4GB G.Skill Ares 1600MHz $44
GPU MSI 7950 3GB $305 AR
SSD Intel 330 120GB $95 AR
ODD Asus DVD Burner $17 (or reuse?)
PSU XFX 550W $50 AR AP
Case Fractal Design Define R4 $110

= $936 AR AP

Now, these are the "bare minimums". You still have a couple hundred left to spend if you wish:

A bit faster GPU - Gigabyte GTX 670 2GB +$95 (compare @stock; the 7950 can OC to 1100MHz)
Bigger SSD - Crucial M4 256GB +$95
The windowed version of Define R4 (I'd buy!) +$10
Additional case fan - NZXT RF-FZ140-02 140mm +$11

All of these along with the monitor total at $1447 AR AP + shipping . The monitor is a flat $300 over this weekend only!

 

[DSF]

The windowed version of Define R4 (I'd buy!) +$10

Do you have any sense of how much the window affects the acoustics of the case? I'm not saying it does, I'm just saying I don't know, and you lose that much of the sound-dampening side panel.

@OP: The Corsair 550D is a good choice and so is the Define R4. I'm planning on a Define R4 for my next build. I have an Antec SOLO right now which is comparable in size to the R4, but the R4 comes with 5 or 6 years worth of progress in quiet computing. (And ease of use in terms of cable management and such.) The SOLO was great when it was built, but it's outclassed now I would say.

My main point about the comparison to the SOLO is that it's not all that big of a case, and neither is the R4, so if you want something that will fit under a desk pretty easily, it works well for me. I don't think you need to go m-ATX, although some people certainly like that option. They're heavy cases for their size, if that matters to you, but that comes with the territory in terms of getting a case that's truly quiet.

 

[cecco]

I'm working on getting all this good information together and I'll post what I'm thinking of as far as build later. As far as the case goes. I think lethv has me sold on the Define R4 but no window. I like the simple but classy look it has. For some reason it just looks better to me over the 550D.

Question about PSUs. Does the efficiency rating matter at the mid range (500-600W)? and would higher efficiency provide noticible decrease in operating temps (cooler running componentes, slower fan speed)?

 

[DSF]

Most quality PSU's are going to be somewhere in the 80s. It's really not that big of a deal. The more important part is getting a PSU from a quality manufacturer that is durable and can reliably put out the power it claims to.

You'll see Seasonic recommended most often on here, but they manufacture PSUs to be rebranded by other companies as well. Corsair, PC Power and Cooling and Antec, for example, all sell some PSUs made by Seasonic. However, not all PSUs made by those companies are Seasonic-made, so you need to do some research.

If you're really into getting the best PSU possible you can get into the nitty-gritty of exactly how efficient they are, how quiet they are, etc. But even for enthusiasts, the details of all of that rarely matters. It's more something to geek out on if you're interested in it, rather than a crucial part choice.

If you want to know more, lehtv is a good resource on PSUs, and there's a PSU subforum here you can always post in.

 

[lehtv]

Do you have any sense of how much the window affects the acoustics of the case? I'm not saying it does, I'm just saying I don't know, and you lose that much of the sound-dampening side panel.

I doubt it'd have much of an effect, the internal components and fans would be quiet anyway. I'd prefer to have a window even if it risked the PC being slightly less quiet

 

[mfenn]

Question about PSUs. Does the efficiency rating matter at the mid range (500-600W)? and would higher efficiency provide noticible decrease in operating temps (cooler running componentes, slower fan speed)?

The most important thing for overall PSU efficiency is to buy a properly-sized PSU. The reason for that is that PSU efficiency follows a roughly bell-shaped curve with respect to load. If you constantly run your PSU at 10% load or something like that, your efficiency will get down into the 60's whereas a reasonably-sized one would be somewhere around 20-30% load with efficiency in the 80's like it should be.

Given that the PSU is properly sized, the actual efficiency difference between an 80Plus Bronze and 80Plus Gold PSU is less than 5% in most cases, and will not make an appreciable difference.

It probably goes without saying, but the XFX 550W that lehtv picked out will work great.

 

[cecco]

Ok here is what I'm thinking for final line up:

CPU: i5 3570k $190
Mobo: Asrock Z77 Extreme4 $75
Cooler: Scythe Mugen 3 $50
RAM: Samsung 2x4GB DDR3 1600 $46
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 670 2GB $399
SSD Crucial M4 256GB $190
ODD ASUS DVD Burner $16
PSU: Seasonic M12II 620W $90

Case: Fractal Define R4
Monitor: Dell Ultrasharp U2412M

I got the the CPU/Mobo combo already as well as the SSD at Microcenter. I decided on a more powerful card with the higher resolution monitor and I think the Gigabyte will do a better job at being quieter without a blower. Larger SSD for photo editing work space and the most often played games.

Good to go?

 

[azeem40]

Perfect!

 

[lehtv]

Nice RAM choice.

The only thing that I would change is the PSU. A 620W unit is 100W too powerful for a single GPU rig, and lacks the connectors to run 670 SLI even if it's just about capable enough. There's a very nice deal on Corsair HX650 on newegg, only $74 AR AP. Like M12II 620W, it's modular and 80+ Bronze efficient but it's slightly more powerful, supports SLI without adapters and has a longer warranty.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Ok here is what I'm thinking for final line up:

CPU: i5 3570k $190
Mobo: Asrock Z77 Extreme4 $75
Cooler: Scythe Mugen 3 $50
RAM: Samsung 2x4GB DDR3 1600 $46
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 670 2GB $399
SSD Crucial M4 256GB $190
ODD ASUS DVD Burner $16
PSU: Seasonic M12II 620W $90

Case: Fractal Define R4
Monitor: Dell Ultrasharp U2412M

I got the the CPU/Mobo combo already as well as the SSD at Microcenter. I decided on a more powerful card with the higher resolution monitor and I think the Gigabyte will do a better job at being quieter without a blower. Larger SSD for photo editing work space and the most often played games.

Good to go?

:thumbsup:

 

[cecco]

Thanks everyone for your input. It was very helpful and I feel really good about this system. I don't feel like I had to make any compromises. By the time I saw your post lethv the order was processed beyond modification, but I think the Seasonic will still work. Will give a bit more headroom in case i can't help myself a couple of years down and decide to raise clocks speeds a bit. ;-)

Thanks again!

 

[lehtv]

Hf! Tell us if you run into problems during assembly

Overclocked to max. at stock or near stock voltages, the i5-3570K will only consume 100W during stress testing, much less during gaming. The GTX 670 will consume around 150W and since the voltage control is locked (?) it's not very overclockable. So even with an M12II 520W you'd be looking at less than 50% power consumption during gaming...

Then again the M12II 620W should handle GTX 670 SLI with adapters if ever needed

 

[mfenn]

Overclocked to max. at stock or near stock voltages, the i5-3570K will only consume 100W during stress testing, much less during gaming. The GTX 670 will consume around 150W and since the voltage control is locked (?) it's not very overclockable. So even with an M12II 520W you'd be looking at less than 50% power consumption during gaming...

Correct. Nvidia specifically disallows software voltage control of the GTX 670 and 680 and will not sell chips to any manufacturer who wants to do it. Some companies like EVGA and MSI have gotten around this by including hardware voltage control gadgets with their cards, but we're talking a $200 upcharge for the privilege (i.e., not worth it).

 

[azeem40]

Don't factor in MIRs until you get them.