Post Your Computer Build

Yes, I have a backups of backups on a separate external drives that I keep safe and hidden. I've also been looking into Cloud storage as well for pictures. I have Amazon Prime and have been playing around with the 'free' cloud drive.

 

Thanks for mentioning that. I was thinking about buying a 5K display but would have needed a new graphics card for that. Instead, I am going to get a 4K display to hold me over and wait on getting another graphics card until those new Nvidias are out. That will be a good time to go all in on another build.

 

Always nice to hear that someone is way ahead of me on that

.

 

Motherboard: Asus Rog Ranger
CPU: Intel i7 [email protected] (not locked at 4.6, still scales with load)
Video Card: EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC+ ACX2
RAM: 2x8GB Corsair 2400MHz
PSU: Zalman 850W Silent Modular
Sound Card: Creative ZxR
Case: Fractal Design XL + extra sound dampening
Cooling: All Noctua and PWM controlled. All speeds controlled by MB.
Hard Drive 1 (OS): Samsung Evo 250GB
Hard Drive 2: 2xSamsung Evo 1TB in raid-0

Peripherals

NAS: Synology 412+ with Hitachi Drives
Router: Linksys
Mouse: Razer Deathadder 2013 with steelseries 9HD mousepad
Keyboard: Logitech G19 with custom AIDA64 system display
Monitor: Asus ROG 278Q 144hz G-sync

 

I have a couple questions for you guys. I keep reading about parts that create a silent pc. I assume that means the computer is silent when under heavy loads because I rarely find my usage causes the fan on my laptop to kick in.

I want my new desktop to be quiet, but I have a feeling going for stuff marketed as silent is overkill for me if I am not gaming or using an external GPU.

 

Noctua makes great products if you want a quiet computer.

 

This is a rather big topic but in essence there are no shortcuts, if you want your pc to be quiet every part has to be quiet. I'd suggest you research your exact build and come back with more specific questions.

 

Yep @Stapsy ...you're going to have to go component by component and think about the noise level caused by each one.

There are some decent cases out there designed for quiet running desktops in mind, so I'd start there and then build your way in. The Nanoxia Deep Silence series may be a place to start.

 

So I'm running

CPU: i7-4790k
GPU: Gigabyte Windforce Gaming OC Edition 980ti
RAM: 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance
Mobo: Asus ROG Hero
Fans are pretty much all corsair AF120s
Loudest thing in there is the mechanical HDD


Great minds think alike?

 

I occurred to me to say that I am a fan... but I guess that's just too corny.

But yes... I have a big CPU cooler and a couple of case fans of theirs. Well-made stuff. Looks good too: pity it's hidden away.

 

I love Noctua's heatsinks but I think you can do better for fans. Some of their designs (e.g. NF-P14) are just awful when it comes to performance vs. noise.

The most annoying thing with building a silent system are wildcard factors like coil whine or pump noise. It's easier if you forgo discrete graphics and liquid cooling altogether.

 

Fractal Design Define R5 is also an excellent case if you want to go silent.

 

And great fools.

 

LOL!

Yea, the ROG board and 980ti are definitely excessive, but I did a great deal @ microcenter on the ROG board. They had like 40 of them stacked up. I think it was $130 after discounts.

I have 0 excuses for the 980ti. Totally excessive.

 

LOVE Fractal cases.

 

Much the same as hifi, I only really intend to invest in computer equipment, now, as and when it breaks. That means that the thing least likely to be replaced is the case itself, and other parts will be kept so long as compatible replacements for processor, motherboard, etc, can be obtained.

If I were to start again from scratch, I would go for much less processing power (of which I have little real need, except for that brief moment of buying something high-spec) and passive cooling. My big doubt, though, is passive cooling when the ambient is 29C-30C. When I last looked, some very nice cases and passive CPU coolers were available from a company with the descriptive name of Nofan.

 

So after a bunch of research, I think I can get away with a mini-ITX build;

Asus Z170i Pro Gaming
i5 6500
Fractal Design Define Nano S
DDR4 RAM/SSD
PSU, right now it is between the Corsair RM550x and the Seasonic 520 fanless.
I may add in a CPU cooler and/or a GPU later

I was considering an ATX but I just don't think I will use enough of the space to make it worthwhile and I don't plan on doing anything that would need more ports than the mobo offers. Any other reasons to avoid ITX?

Let me know if you have any tips. My main requirements are silence and being able to easily run linux.

 

@Stapsy

What are you going to be using the computer for exactly? Because it's a pretty powerful machine but linux isn't very demanding. Are you planning to dual-boot into windows and do some gaming? Encoding? Other things? And when you say "add a gpu", how powerful are you talking? Something like the nvidia 970?

Just trying to figure out how exactly you plan on using this machine. There might be other options out there for you.

 

My main purposes are programming and music. My uses right now won't take full advantage (still learning), but I figure might as well go with the latest gen CPU and future proof so I won't feel like I need to upgrade later. I would like to start developing or contributing to projects as my skills improve.

For the GPU, I would like an HD ultrawide monitor at some point and maybe play some older games through SteamOS (Portal, CS). Not entirely sure what GPU is necessary because it isn't super high on my priorities for now, but I probably wouldn't even need a 970.

 

@Stapsy

You seem to value the small form factor and silence and your hardware demands aren't that big. I wonder if something like the latest generation intel nuc could interest you: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/nuc-kit-nuc6i5syk.html

Here's a list of officially supported linux versions: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/intel-nuc-boards/000005628.html

The onboard graphics are pretty powerful these days, enough to run CS and Portal. It's not super-silent when you put a load on it and the fan gets going but it's so small you can pretty much stick it in a large closet and route some wires through the door. Another option could be to simply get a laptop and hook it up the same way, mabe a lenovo or dell. This would of course have the added benefit of you being to take the laptop with you.

If this doesn't interest you I would probably recommend an mATX build, I can help you get a pretty kick-ass one. But before we get into that I'd like to hear you opinion on the above.