silent/dorm PC budget build

J

jay1227

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 20, 2005
Messages
305
im leaving for college in a few weeks and Im not taking a television, instead i have a tv tuner to do my multimedia stuff. the pc is running MCE05 and a remote with it.

Id like to have a silent computer so i can leave it on in my small dorm room. i already got a SilenX iextrema 450w sub14dB psu from where i work but im trying to figure out whether to go Intel or AMD with this.

I have $350 to get a Case, motherboard, and CPU and if needed a cooler. Any ideas on what to get?

On the motherboard I will need AGP 8x, and at least 2 PCI slots.

I do play some games but my 9600XT is lacking so i dont think i need anything all that powerful, im not planning on dropping $$$ for a new video card anytime soon either. I was thinking a 939 venice 3000+ and an EpoX mb from newegg for 216.

I was looking at an Antec SuperLANboy for $66 but I wasnt sure how quiet it would be.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
Why not opt for a small form factor machine? There small, take up minimal space and are normally pretty quiet. It comes with Case, Mobo and CPU cooler all you need is Ram and a Processor and a HDD and your set.
 
i thought about the SFF but I really dont need a tiny little computer. An aspire xqpack is 80 or so and then i have to get a micro atx motherboard, not really sure its the best bang for the buck. size isnt all that much of an issue, a mid or mini tower is fine with me.

i thought about getting an AMD64 system or P4. I already have a sempron 2800 sktA system im selling. Ill ahve 1GB DDR400, 120GB HD, Hauppage PVR150, 9600XT, SilenX 450W PSU leftover.


which SFF were you refferring to? i always though shuttles were a little pricey to pick up for $350
 
If you don't wanna go small then the Super Lanboy is good, since it has 120mm fan placement in the front and back.

If you go AMD64, then I would reccomend the Thermaltake Silent 939 as a cooler.
http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/cl-p0200silent939/cl-p0200.htm

It is small so there won't be ANY compatiblity issues with it, installing it was super easy (took less then 20 seconds from opening the package-to applying AS5-to clamping it down-to plugging in the fan). I got it at CompUSA last night since I needed one right away. It is silent too, I hear my HDDs access noise over this cooler. I am really impressed by it.

So pairing it with the SuperLanboy, two 120mm fans in the case, and if you have an ArcticCooling fan on your video card....you will be hearing your optical drives more than your systems cooling.

So if you get the CPU+Mobo deal that you mentioned from Newegg for $216, and the SuperLanBoy for $66, that leaves you $68 for whatever else. The Thermaltake cooler I got was $24 at CompUSA. And the SuperLanboy comes with the needed fans so you don't need anymore.

That is just my $0.02
 
i work at compusa lol. we just got a few of those in so i may just pick one up.

i just wanted to make sure everything i was thinking about doing was decent. heres a link to the motherboard -- has anyone heard much about it, i must say i havent searched for anything here at [H] about it though...lol

http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813123230

EPoX EP-9NDA3J Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
 
jay1227 said:
i work at compusa lol. we just got a few of those in so i may just pick one up.

i just wanted to make sure everything i was thinking about doing was decent. heres a link to the motherboard -- has anyone heard much about it, i must say i havent searched for anything here at [H] about it though...lol

http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813123230

EPoX EP-9NDA3J Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Click to expand...

Don't know about the mobo myself as I have never had a full ATX board.

But the concensus is that EPoX is a good mobo maker.

there is this too:
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1027751871&postcount=16
 
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