MicroATX Cases / Noise & Heat

Hi all,

So I've sold all my normal PC's I was using for boxing and all my LCD's. Hung onto my multiplexer and monitor mounts though. :D
My biggest problem with my old setup was space so I was thinking of doing a couple of things differently this time around.

a) Buying MicroATX PC's (Shuttle Style PC's)

b) Using 4:3 Monitors VS Widescreen.

So basically my question is, is anyone running a bunch of those micro computers, and how decent are they in terms of NOISE over a normal PC and do they have heat problems, as I'd want to sit them either all on top of each other or all next to each other.

-Slats

Tom's Hardware did a review of one of those in combination with water cooling. Might do some searching there as that will probably be your quietest option by a wide margin.

You mentioned space and noise as the problems with your previous rig.

SilentPCReview.com will be your friend for the next couple weeks. If you haven't headed over there you should, it is a decent resource to start building a silent PC.

You will probably run into a couple of the same things I have as it relates to computer noise:

1. Case Fan noise and vibration.
2. CPU Fan noise and vibration.
3. Power supply fan noise and vibration.
4. Hard Drive noise and vibration.

Noticing a trend here. It was really great when I replaced whatever was making the most noise just to hear the next noise maker down.

Unfortunately, just picking up a small cases won't necessarily make everything quieter then a bigger case.


If space were an issue, and money and a drop-in fit for graphics cards aren't, you could pick up 1.5U rack mount cases. There are a couple companies out there making cabled horizontal riser cards for PCI-express. I haven't lined up all the spec sheets, but I imagine you could stick a FlexATX power supply in a 1.5U case with one of those riser cards and some "minor" modifications.

IStarUSA makes some 2U and 3U rack mount cases that use standard ATX power supplies (http://www.istarusa.com/pdf/Datashee.../D4-300-FS.pdf and http://www.istarusa.com/pdf/Datashee.../D4-200-FS.pdf). Looks like NewEgg has a similar model for about $90.00 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811165082). When I looked at these, the 80mm fans scared me off, but with good fans and fanbus you could run probably get away with it. They are, after all, the same size fan used in a number of desktop machines.

Using five 2U racks you would need about ( 20.8", 19", (1.75 in/U * 10U) = 17.5") = (L, W, D) of space for your computers.


Anyone come across a 1U CPU waterblock for AM2 with 3/8" fittings?

Do make sure above all else that you have good air flow. If your BIOS detects a heat issue, it may ramp up the fan speed. If it has to push it too much to cool the system, the fan will make noise no matter what, and in a few years (if that long) you may end up blowing your power supply capacitors.

If you want a mATX case, that looks good (imo anyway), with a very very very good airflow, kinda small compared to what you can stuff in it, then check out this case:

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=334012

Im using this one myself, and i have never had any sort of problems with heat, even with passive GFX Card cooling, overclocking, and having 4 HD's in it.
(Hd's running at 31degree's load).

Comes with preinstalled fans (2 i think it was) wich are quite silent and efficent.

The case itself feels a little "cheap", the cover of it. Its light aluminum painted black, with too much windows so its somewhat fragile untill mounted.
Quality of this case i would give 8/10 (The 2 points lost are the cover, and lack of room for PSU fan).

I've had plenty of cases, both mATX and full size, tho this is the one apart from one specific Chieftec case (midi) i find the "best" for gaming vs noise.