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Overclocking A Silent PC

R

Rucker61

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
264
My DAW is set up for silent operation, and that's my primary goal. However, with the recent sale of my gaming box, I have a need for a fast machine for video encoding and some cash for upgrading. I'm looking at a i750 setup (upgrade from Phenom II x3 720BE)

I'll have four basic use models for this machine: 1, least power, general use - web surfing. 2, silence/power optimized to silence, audio recording; 3, silence/power balanced, audio mixing/production, 4, pure speed, video ripping and encoding.

For those models, I'd see the need to overclock only for 4 and perhaps 3, and I plan to set up BIOS profiles for each use model. My concerns for overclocking are for power draw and heat, and I'll only go as high as what is safe for both, as this isn't a gaming machine and I'm not a benchmarker.

System:

Case: Antec Solo, 120mm exhaust, 2 x 92mm intake.
RAM: 4GB DDR3
PSU: Nexus Value 430 W
GPU: Sparkle 8400GS fanless
HDD: 2 x WD Scorpio 2.5” 500gb
Cooler: Prolimatech Megahalems w/ 120mm fan
Fan controller: Scythe Master Ace

specs on the PSU:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article922-page5.html

How high could I push the i750 (or i860/i920, should I go that path) with this PSU. I'm not interested in changing it, as it meets the primary need for quiet operation.
 
Since you have a video card that pulls less than 20W I don't think you will be limited by the powersupply.

I have a Q9550 + 6GB DDR2 + 8400GS + 7 hard drives + 2 tuner cards. With 4 of the 7 drives spinning and all 4 cores at 100% the machine draws around 150W.

I would overclock the system without touching any of the voltages.
 
the H50 is FAR FROM SILENT! i would recommend a custom liquid cooling system with a swiftech QP radiator with low CFM fans.
 
For cooling, I'm going to go with the Megahalems. With the current Scythe Mugen II on the AMD CPU, I can run Prime 95 with just the CPU fan and exhaust fan at 720 RPM and keep temps around 50C, and that's dead nuts quiet. Plus, there isn't a lot of room in the Solo case for anything fancy.
 
bumsoil said:
the H50 is FAR FROM SILENT! i would recommend a custom liquid cooling system with a swiftech QP radiator with low CFM fans.
Click to expand...

This post is a joke?... I hope

what part of the H50 isn't silent?

sure a $400 water cooling kit from swiftech is going to run cooler and be more silent but again it will cost you $350 more
 
Stop spreading incorrect information. A single rad system is going to have to run high RPM fans to give you reasonable cooling and the H50 is no different. If you think above 1600RPM is silent, you have hearing issues, but other people may have normal or sensitive hearing.

Anyway, for minimizing noise while overclocking and saving energy, I would always "undervolt" but overclock the CPU for noise. I don't know that much about the i750, but on the i920 I get around 3.4Ghz while undervolting and keeping all fans at or under 800rpm. (and yes, don't worry about the PSU ...it's fine)
 
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