Building a (nearly) silent PC.

[JustMe74]

I want to use the Zalman Reserator XT, because I'm building a nearly silent PC. Will it cool the following (stock speeds):

QX6850 CPU
8800 Ultra
Maximus Extreme Mobo
2xRaptors, using this: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4520

Can it handle this setup? I just want to build a (nearly) silent PC for the 80% of the time that I'm NOT gaming on it, and still have a nice setup for games. I have a spare Swiftech single 120mm radiator that I could also add to the loop (or I could add the 2x or 3x fan radiator, I suppose).

Not planning any extreme OC's, just trying to keep it quiet.

I did find 2 reviews where the Reserator XT was used to cool a quad core + 8800 gtx, and the temps looked acceptable to me.

 

[jubrany]

SilentPCReview.com is your best bet for advice.

I, like you, like to have the fastest stuff I can afford while keeping it as silent as possible.

With my current setup, I can go to sleep with it on, it's that quiet.

I recommend you use a P182 case and Scythe D fans, with a Corsair HX series power supply.

I have a 74ADFD raptor and I cannot hear it with the silicone grommet system the P182 provides.

Use thermalright Ultra 120 extreme for CPU cooling and an HR 03 series cooler for your GPU. Use wire ties to stick a Scythe D fan on the GPU cooler.

With this setup your fans will stay at around 850 RPM and if you put enough fans and place them strategically, your temps will not be very high at all, except maybe on your CPU. But with the TRUE cooler it won't get that hot.

And by building it "my" way, you avoid the high cost and low reliability of water cooling.

 

[Wshmaster0]

I want to use the Zalman Reserator XT, because I'm building a nearly silent PC. Will it cool the following (stock speeds):

QX6850 CPU
8800 Ultra
Maximus Extreme Mobo
2xRaptors, using this: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4520

Can it handle this setup? I just want to build a (nearly) silent PC for the 80% of the time that I'm NOT gaming on it, and still have a nice setup for games. I have a spare Swiftech single 120mm radiator that I could also add to the loop (or I could add the 2x or 3x fan radiator, I suppose).

Not planning any extreme OC's, just trying to keep it quiet.

I did find 2 reviews where the Reserator XT was used to cool a quad core + 8800 gtx, and the temps looked acceptable to me.

Good luck trying to quiet those raptors down, lol.

After reading what you said I just have a few comments:

A single radiator will not be suffice for a Q6600, an 8800 Ultra AND 2 raptor drives all in the same loop and still have enough overhead for OC'ing. I think most of your efforts should be finding a case that is sound proof and has a lot of solid parts that won't vibrate. Next choose a radiator that can support a low profile 120mm fan on it such as the Thermochill's. The Black Ice's are nice but some require high output fans that will still be fairly audible.

If you don't plan on putting the 8800 on the loop, then that's fine a single rad should be fine for just the CPU cooling and possibly the HD's too.

 

[JustMe74]

Well the Reserator has a radiator, and I do have a spare Swiftech radiator that I ended up not using in another PC.... but I'm thinking maybe I sohuld use a 2x120mm Swiftech instead? Trying to keep the fans to a minimum... but then again, my case (Cosmos 1000) does have a nice spot at the top to mount that 2x120mm where the stock fans would normally go.

 

[Wshmaster0]

Well the Reserator has a radiator, and I do have a spare Swiftech radiator that I ended up not using in another PC.... but I'm thinking maybe I sohuld use a 2x120mm Swiftech instead? Trying to keep the fans to a minimum... but then again, my case (Cosmos 1000) does have a nice spot at the top to mount that 2x120mm where the stock fans would normally go.

You can keep them on separate loops if you have the spare tubing and an extra pump. if the zalman has a good enough pump for both the res then you can do a dual res loop. 120 fans aren't so bad as they have a high cfm output at low dB. You can also get a fan controller to fight off any unwanted noise during sleeping.