Yet another PC build help

[Sympology]

Hopefully this is different to most other ones out there!

I'm looking to replace both a old Compaq laptop & a noisy Athlon 1.8.

Most of the time it will be used for browsing the web, office type work etc, but I'd also like occasional like to for video & audio processing, maybe even hooking up to TV (normal tv, none of your fancy HD stuff!. However when it comes to video / Audio I'm willing to wait for for things to happen, I'll make a cup of coffee !

There are two things I'm after, noise kept to a minimum, it's going to be in the lounge and we want to hear the tv, so near silent would be good. 2nd, Cost, need to keep down as much as poss as we have a little one on the way, so cheap is good.

I was actually looking at ITX systems, but I'm worried that these will be no better than the Athlon (1gb RAM / Gforce 440MX) I'm replacing, so are there alternatives?

Or is there a way to rehash my current pc into something more suitable?

Thanks,
Stu..

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[jlockley]

Rehashing is always an issue, since you will find that either the memory or other components all need replacement.
What do you have in the way of software?
Athlon is not as powerful, especially for media, as Intel c2d chips. Some mobo prices have come down on these, since c4d has come out (which you won't need).
I made the mistake of getting taken in by off the shelf Acer, but had I done the smart thing with my own build, I would have gone to both NewEgg.com and Tigerdirect.com and checked their boards, etc for noise.
I do have an athlon on a Microstar board (MCI now?) at the office which is actually a very good and low priced build. It is not, however, quiet. Fans are the main white noise source, and I have recently noticed that some cases come with low noise constellation. You might want to check that as one consideration.

 

[wahnula]

I had a fun build using one of these:

http://www.directron.com/vf1000sna.html

Along with a Nexus PSU and Zalman flower CPU cooler, and Antec Tri-power 92mm & 80mm case fans. I can hardly hear it running. It will support Mini-ATX as well as ITX, room for a standard ATX power supply is really nice, as most ITX cases have either external PSUs or internal garbage. I went with Socket AM2 (X2 4000+) and it was cheap, fast and flexible.

Video & audio processing will require a solid CPU and a good bit of RAM, so don't cheap out on either. Name-brand DDR2 is about USD $20 per GB, with (2) 1-GB sticks being the sweet spot right now. You won't need a 3D video card, so stick with onboard audio & video and save some $$$.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[paparazi]

Personally I wouldn't go ITX because as you state there are too many performance compromises. Go with a decent mATX, that has the latest connections. A good example of this would be an AMD 690G chipset motherboard like this one:

http://www.directron.com/k9agm3fih.html

A very cheap AMD X2 dual core CPU like this:

http://www.directron.com/ado4000ddbox.html

In a small need box like this:

http://www.directron.com/xqpacknwbk420.html

Make sure you plug the PSU and case fans into the motherboard for quiet fan control...turn cool'n'quiet on.

A gig of PC2 5400 667mhz ram for XP and a DVDRW and you're away.
Martn

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[jlockley]

Paparazzi as always right. I have that board. It's a gem. Very satisfying with AMD, .
Why not go higher on Athlon? Try this case

http://www.xpcgear.com/400bab.html

2gb is always more fun than 1, although one will work well enough. More for what you want is probably unnecessary, and check this

http://www.buy.com/prod/ocz-2gb-2-x...-240-pin-ddr2-memory/q/loc/101/203271640.html

or

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3559704

 

[jlockley]

Quiet cooling alternative

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2882722&CatId=1588

There are a couple of boards (ASUS??) which do a lot of cooling with heat sinks and a couple of quiet cases, too.

 

[wahnula]

jlockley,

With all due respect I owned one of those coolers. Worse than stock coolers, reseated and tried again, it was over 55C in a few minutes. Plus, it is quite large and probably won't fit in a SFF case. It sold for $.99 on eBay...perhaps I would have been happier with a 120mm fan mounted to it. Thermaltake's V1 is the same size and Q-U-I-E-T.

Since you will probably only have one 3.5" external slot, I recommend a floppy/card reader combo like this:

http://www.directron.com/fa402a.html

It's a clever device and nice to have a floppy drive when you need it.



Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Sympology]

Thanks for the info I'll check out the recommendations. Floppies aren't an issue, haven't used one since Windows XP came out !

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[paparazi]

OR: If your budget is higher then change the platform to Intel:
Ditch the X2 4000 for a Dual Core Duo, the E6550 is a decent starting point, it gets you on the 1333fsb ladder.

http://www.directron.com/bx80557e6550.html

Then swap the board for one with an Intel G33/35 chipset like:

http://www.directron.com/gag33ms2l.html

That 800fsb memory was also ridiculously cheap.
Martin




On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[wahnula]

Ditch the X2 4000 for a Dual Core Duo

I think paparazi meant Core 2 Duo...there IS a difference between the Core Duo and the Core 2 Duo with the "2" being the better part. Thanks to Intel for the brilliant (NOT!) naming scheme.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[jlockley]

And all respect is due, of course, but thanks for the input. I've wondered about the concept of fanless cooling. I was looking at a fanless mobo a while back, and had my doubts. From your comments on the butterfly, I suspect that those are less than your would want them to be.

I don't mind the white noise of computers, but I probably wouldn't have one in the living room.