- Some common problems:
- Bad looking
- After years of using it, inside of the computer will become a lovely home of "Dust"
- Noise (because of all the FAN)
- Size, (Big is what I pointing at!)
- Hot!! (I am not saying it looks hot, but it runs hot! In other word, bad cooling)
- Waste of Energy!! (High end computers today mostly will have "at least" 500watt power supply)
- Too much pointless parts. (I understand that Sometime they are needed for the computers to look cool, but as the same time they create problem. In term of making thing to the most efficinet)
- What a PC should have:
- Cool (In both looking, and Running)
- Silent cooling system
- Size (Small but powerful in term of performance)
- Dust Free system (a system that reduce dust)
- Energy Efficient
So, I start a project to build a Ultra Efficient PC Computer that will meet all the requirement that I have list above. After three month of research, I finally finish this Ultra Efficinet PC Computer! yeh.........!
Parts Needed (Pro&Con):
- Case: COOLER MASTER CM Media 260 RC
-Con: PowerSupply is a bit low only 275watt, 350watt will be ideal. (However 275watt should be ok)
-Note: BTX is special design for Balance out the heat that produce by the Motherboard, and it allows you to cool not just the cpu but also the North / South Chip With one Cooler. the cooler suck air direct from outside of the case which can reduce the number of fan that needed. Also with the power supply which blowing out the air from the case, that makes a nice air flow for the system. And this micro BTX case allows you to use a full length Graphic Card which is very un-common. The only problem I have with this case is the powersupply, 275watt seem a bit low to me, however I found a 350Watt Powersupply make by Star tech, known this is a CFX Powersupply the shape is weird. It is not like ATX Powersupply which looks like a box, instead it looks like a L.
- Motherboard: Intel Desktop Board DG965MQ BOXDG956MQMKR
-Con: Ram can only goes up to 677MHz at MAX 8GB, (2GB can run up to 800MHz).
-Note: The reason I use this Motherboard is because it is simply the Best mBTX motherboard out there. It is about $250 when it first come out, however this motherboard lose it market, because it is mBTX, which not much people know there is such thing, I am able to get it with $100. It is really hard to find today.
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Due E6600 conrose 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor
-Con: If you pay it for me, There will be no Con! hehe!
-Note: No Question with this little boy! It have 4MB shared L2 Cache, while the 2.13 have only 2MB. It is better if I can get a 2.66 one, but it is like $200 more. Not worth it as this time. And known it, Core 2 Duo only run at 65 Watt at full load(Over Clock not included). It is really nice in term of energy efficient. That also mean it run so much cooler then the others, and it runs really fast.
- Ram: CORSAIR X MS2 2GB (2 X 1GB) 240-PIN DDR2 SDRAM 800
-Con: It can go a bit hot, but it comes with heat sink.
-Note: Nothing much to say about this one, If you don't know how good CORSAIR is you dont' know computer. (Turth for most Case, hehe...). It can be double up with the motherboard, but it will run not as fast. And 2GB should be good for most of the job you do. (Pro Movie/Games Making is not included)
- Graphic Card: BFG Teach GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express X16
-Con: No long cutting Edge. Only 12 PixelPipelines
-Note: I Choose this one because it is the really the lowest energy needed card out there, it say it need a 350 watt powersupply but it is only true for you if you don't know how energy go in your computer because the company don't want you rough your computer by using thier card. It is not a bad card at all, ATI 1650 can be better, but at the same time it need more energy(Almost double), if you are looking for better gaming, ATI 1650 is a good one for you. Known it!! This case can't handle a double Slot needed card, Because it is not big enough. And it might not have enough energy for it anyway. Even for extra energy needed card, I recommanded not to use with this case. No money to test it out anyway. hehe
- Hard Drives: Segate Barracuda ES 500GB 7200 PRM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0b/s Hard Drive
-Con: Can be a little loudsy sometime, (Loudsy with it seeks, with enble NCQ).
-Note: Hard Drives is the god for the people who have a lot of stuff saved in their computer. Why? Bcause they will pray it NOT to break anytime in their life. So do I. So a good quality Hard Drives is really important. Therefore even it is a bit expansive than the other one, It will worth it. OK Here is one really important Point about this hard drives. This a Server Level Hard Drive, It use NCQ technology, This Techonology reduce the amount of unnecessary going back & forth on the HDD heads, however, the noise this thing make is not little, It can be really really Loud, but, you can disable the NCQ fuction to redue the Noise. You can't kill two birds with one stone in this case.
- Powersupply: Star Tech CFXPOWER350 350Watt Powersupply
-Con: Really hard to Found. (So did the others parts)
-Note: This is again the only one. What can I say. --.--! It shoule be fine with case powersupply, however I don't want to playing such games to try that out. With this System, It just can't not go over 303 Watt with +3.3V at 12.4A, + 5V at 15.9A, And +12V at 15.2A.
- Cooling System:
-Pro: Super Heat Sink with Dual healpipe, and 57Al fins with Cupper Base
-Con: The Fan doesn't SUCK! (In term of Air, about 15000 RPM in real time running)
Thermaltake Type I cooler CL-P0030-03
-Pro: The Fan DO SUCK! (In term of Air, up to 45000 RPM)
-Con: The Heat Sink is not as good.
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound CPU Thermal Paste
-Pro: Drop CPUtemperature from 3-12 degrees
-Con: None period. (The Most expensive one out maybe?)
Thermaltake A2374 Fan Filters
-Pro: Keep the DUST out!!!
-Con: None for itself. But need to do something about it in my case.
-Note: Cooling=EVERYTHING! Truth, Without cooling No PC computer can be run, at least I haven't saw one yet! BTX cooling is the BEST! That sound a bit crazy but hey, it's truth, at least better than ATX. Cl-Po191's need to replace with the CL-P0030-03's fan because C1-Po191's fan is not powerful enough for me. (Hello, this is like the only one cooler in the whole system, IT HAS TO BE GOOD!!!) Also the Thermal Paste come with it is not good enough, it needs to replace with Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound. Combine all three of them. The cooler should keep the CPU run at room temperture. +20 degrees at full loaded. This is very important, because this is the only cooler in the whole system beside the Powersupply fan. It has to be perfect! and because the air is draw directly from out side, a filter MUCH needed!! However there is not place are made for Filters, So you need to use some creative ideas to make it happen, it is Do-able! After you done, The system will be 99% Dust FREE
- DVD Burner: SAMSUNG 18X DVD R With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology Black SATA
-Con: It is not a Blue Ray. hehe
-Note: Wow! SATA DVD Burner! How Sweet. You can only put one Optical drive with this case. So get a good one, it is not expensive too. hehe!
- Card Reader: Ateach Flash XM-28U Black 28 in 1 USB 2.0 internal Card Reader
-Con: It has two cable to connect the USB header, (Cables make Mess)
-Note: Card Reader! really help if it is a good one, Useless! if it is a bad one. This is the best card reader I have found. It can read all the card I have, good enough for me. If you dont' like it, you can get a other one. You can get a floppy drive too, but I wouldn't, I haven't use Floppy like 4 years, but that is just me.
- PCI/Ram Slot Protector: VANTEC Model SPK-08uv-Bk UV Black RCI/RAM Slot Protector Kit
-Con: doesn't have PCI- EXpress.
-Note: Talk about Dust Free, How can you not have this little thing to protect the motherboard! it is not expensive at all, This simple thing makes a great matter!
Other Parts (Optional):
- Monitor: SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor
-Con: None!!!
-Note: I am a half gamer, and Photographer, who sometime do 3D graphic and graphic design. A great monitor will make me happy! (I do Progamming too but that doesn't have anything to do with my monitor.)
- Keyboard: HIPER HCK- 1S 18-A-XX Silver USB + PS/2 Slim Clavier Keyboard
-Con: The LED is kind of too bright for me
-Note: AI Keyboard, it is REAL "COOL" to me, I don't need milions of unless Key, This Keyboard takes Heavy duty and timeless design(it is really simple looking), Nothing fancy but really, when you look at the "Cool" keyboard you once have is no long cool today, because all the color comes off, and the surface get wear off. But this one will look good forever because it is make of AI with a simple design. (I am really picky in term of getting simply cool looking thing because I understand that fancy looking thing can not beat time. As time pass by fancy will no long fancy. But simply will always be simply. Therefore something looks good and it is simply will alway looks good.)
- Mouse: Logitech MX400 2-Tone 5 Buttons Tilt Wheel USE + PS/2 Wired Laser Mouse
-Con: It is not the best out, not wireless.
-Note: Logiteach Mouse are nice, It does what I need to be done. It would be nicer if it is a chargable wireless mouse. Nothing much to say about this one. I simply like it with no reason?
- Mouse Pad: RAZER PAD Mouse Pad
-Con: Nothing to wish more.
-Note: Finally, I can have a Mouse Pad!!! I have use computer for many yeas without Mouse Pad. No Matter what it takes, I have to get one this Time! Really! It is a perfect Mouse Pad, you just can't wish for much! Looks Nice too.
- Speaker: Logiteach X - 140 5 Watts 2.0 Speaker
-Con: Huge!!! Not a 2.1 Speaker, need extra power
-Note: This is the only mistake I have made. EVEN this is a really Nice Speaker. But You just can't believe how big it is. I thought it is small as it shows on the pictures, so it can match the system but it is really 3 Times as big as i thought it is. AH........... I shouldnt' buy speaker online anyway! It is like the Biggest 2.0 Speaker I have ever saw in my life! (In term of computer) If I know it is that Huge! I will just get a 2.1 speaker instead. (It is so big that doesn't make any different --.--! And it needs extra power connect --.--!)
- OS: LINUX OpenSuse Or Ubantu - Kubantu!!
-Con: It is harder to learn. Not much game can be play with linux, but you can use software to play it.
-Not: Vista? Come on, Why Vista? Stupid OS need 512 Ram to just run it? Is that a Joke? 3D desktop which can't even do 1/10 that Linux can do in term of 3D desktop. $200 to just get the System!! + all those softwares need to be pay!! Hello, I am not Bill Gate. While Linux give you everything for free, free OS, free software, free upgrade, and free support by the others. Even you want buy a linux Distru that have more package, it is only $60 with all the software you will ever need. Only linux can match up such Efficient Computer! (But really! you can run window if you really want to. I mean in term of game I will too. But just for Games? NO NO NO, I can buy a PS3, Xbox 360, and a Wii with a lot of games with the money I pay for computer.)
Power Supply Calculator: (350 watt is not enought?, Let see!)
- MotherBoard(including Keyboard and Mouse) - 38 watt
- CPU: Core 2 Duo conroe 2.4GHz - 65 watt at 100%load
- RAM: CORSAIR X MS2 2GB two slot - 10 watt (5 watt for each)
- Graphic Card: BFG Teach GeForce 7600GT 256MB - 36 watt
- SATA HDD: Seagate Barracuda ES 500GB &7200 RPM - 27 watt
- DVD Burner: SAMSUNG 18X DVD SATA - 30 watt
- CPU FAN: BTX COOLER - 3 to 5 watt
- Card Reader: Atech Flash - 10 watt
- USA all 9 in use: - 23watt (2.5watt each)
- FireWire all 2 in use: - 16watt (8watt each)
- Total: = 257 Watt with +3.3V at 5.7A, +5V 15.3A, and +12V at 13.4
4 comments:
iok, i hate to rain on your parade, but the bfg tech 7600gt requires a minimum 350W power supply to run. your current configuration will explode in a very un-efficient way if you put it together as you listed and try to run it.
also, i want to let you know that the barracuda ES series hard drives sound like lawnmowers (they are the loudest drives ever made).
In term of Power, Every should Run Fine, if the calculation eXtreme made is correct. Really! First, a PCI slot can only give you 75 watt, therefore a graphic card that don't have extra power needed can't run more then 75 watt. Second, a thing can only explode when it have too much power, if there is not enough power, it just wouldn't run at all!
I do understand know Barracuda ES is loud with it seek, I might use 7200.10 instead.
you forget that your +12v rails will likely be overloaded when the card is actually in use. theres more to power supplies than just wattage.
ive been building computers for years and i know this particular card (ive bought the bfg tech for the same reason you probably have - the huge rebate) and you want at the very least 20-24 amps on your +12v rail for stability. as it is a designated overclocking card, it will probably use more than the 36 something watts that extreme.outervision says it will.
in reference to it exploding, WHEN the power supply fails, it will likely take out the motherboard, and maybe the video card too. although there wont actually be an explosion, three very well might have been, since a power supply failure is accompanied by sparks and burning plastic.
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