Silent computer for 5-boxing

[valle2000]

I’m multiboxing 5 toons in WoW and want to be able to use the highest graphical settings on my master (1920x1200) but can accept a bit lower settings in my other four windows located on my secondary monitor (also 1920x1200).

Secondly it’s very important the computer is silent!
It’s turned on 24/7 and no sound at all is preferred during idle mode, some fan noises are of course acceptable during work load. My experience tells me the graphic card is the noisiest part, which is better nvidia or Ati?

I’ve always been satisfied with Intel CPUs so I guess I’m aiming for an i7 cpu with a Noctua heatsink.

Also can anyone please recommend a very silent computer case and a silent power supply? Are Antec’s cases still among the best when it comes to this?

[Sajuuk]

You want a completely silent setup? Look into watercooling.

As far as graphics cards, noise/power wise go with an ATI card (5XXX), don't do a GTX 480 (Runs hot AND loud).

Or look into a completely passive cooling system. Also, the case isn't going to do much for noise, it's the fans within the case that will make the noise. Research time, wheeeeeee!

[BrothelMeister]

There are padded cases for quiet, yet they cause heating issues.

As sajuuk said, water-cooling is the only way you'll get a silent performance machine.

[ILikeTwins]

I buit a water cooled i7 setup, It was fairly easy to put together once I did the research on what parts to get and it works great... it is very very quiet. I also got a Powercolor LCS 5870 which has water blocks already attached so it was easy to add it to the loop. I only hear the very low sound of the 3 120mm fans cooling the radiator when it is really taxed.

[mikekim]

I have a Coolermaster Stacker 832 case and 6x 120mm Akasa Silent fans.

when running you can hardly hear the fans at all.

[Sajuuk]

I have a Coolermaster Stacker 832 case and 6x 120mm Akasa Silent fans.

when running you can hardly hear the fans at all.

http://ibelieveinron.com/lol/thumbsup.jpg

There are different levels of silence. But to be perfectly fair to you the type of fan plays a big part.

[Sam DeathWalker]

Buy a video card with no fan on it (silent pipe but 9800 is the best you can get) then mount a 120mm fan over it (there is a chaeap kit for that, by over I mean from the screws that attach the video card to the case there is a bracket you can by that will put the fan over the card blowing down onto it.

Thats what I do and its really nice with a motherboard that also has no fans on it so all my fans are all 120mm (including the typhoon cpu fan).

Also water isnt silent, it still has a fan lol but you can use a super big one I would guess.

[Sajuuk]

Buy a video card with no fan on it (silent pipe but 9800 is the best you can get) then mount a 120mm fan over it (there is a chaeap kit for that, by over I mean from the screws that attach the video card to the case there is a bracket you can by that will put the fan over the card blowing down onto it.

Thats what I do and its really nice with a motherboard that also has no fans on it so all my fans are all 120mm (including the typhoon cpu fan).

Pfffft, just get some zip ties.


Also water isnt silent, it still has a fan lol but you can use a super big one I would guess.
Again, it all depends on the type of fan you have and at what speed you run it at.

[RobinGBrown]

Zalman water cooling systems don't all have fans

try www.quietpc.co.uk (http://www.quietpc.co.uk) for inspiration but a silent system will costs you a lot of cash

[Noids]

The Zalman Reserator is a fanless water cooling solution. Basically an enormous tower with fins that acts as a passive radiator that you pipe into your exisitng case and use CPU and VGA blocks to cool the components. On an X58 motherboard you should probably still cool the PWMs and northbridge with a fan but I guess you could get one of the better known motherboards that have water cooling blocks for these components too.

As mentioned, will definitely add $$ to your build though.

Have you considered oil immersion? :P

[Sajuuk]

Have you considered oil immersion? :P

Still expensive, with potential for disaster, more upkeep.

Best idea: research fans and find good silent ones to put in your case.

[mikekim]

Have you considered oil immersion? :P

http://www.hardcorecomputer.com/Index.aspx

[Shodokan]

My computer i have (alienware) is silent, i can't hear it run when i'm anywhere near it especially if i'm far away in bed.

[thefunk]

http://www.hardcorecomputer.com/Index.aspx

yeah.. another 20 minutes wasted of my life looking at something ingenious. AND I'll be wasting someone else's time at work with this info hehe

[drevil]

100% silence ... some long cables and all computers outside the room :-)

[RobinGBrown]

100% silence ... some long cables and all computers outside the room :-)

As far as I know that doesn't really work, once the cables to your monitor/keyboard/etc get over a certain length you get problems. A meter or three is okay but you'd want a lot more than that to house your boxes in a different room without drilling holes all over your house.

Plus walking into a different room each time you want to put a DVD in the drive or reboot a machione would get tedious real fast.

[drevil]

As far as I know that doesn't really work, once the cables to your monitor/keyboard/etc get over a certain length you get problems. A meter or three is okay but you'd want a lot more than that to house your boxes in a different room without drilling holes all over your house.

Plus walking into a different room each time you want to put a DVD in the drive or reboot a machione would get tedious real fast.

hehe .. the cables are not a problem
vga, audio, ps2 with 10m (20m with better shielding) is fine
usb, esata, etc over 2m only with special hardware

yes, you will need a small hole or something for the cables,
that's the only real problem.

well, all i can say, if you experienced 100% silence you will never go back :-)
but maybe it's for advanced users who do a lot remote/virtual/etc stuff.

.