Where do you guys buy and sell your used PC's?

bubba966 · « **Reply #20 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 04:45 am »

Quote from: Hantra

Quote from: Marbles

I can get a 400w quiet (not silent) power supply for about $100.

Don't get the Thermaltake. They just flat out lied about dB.

I had to mod mine to make it quiet. . .

I'll agree with that.

I picked up a Thermaltake for a friends 'puter. Sound like it was a jet engine and it was trying to take off!

Took that sucker back immediately and replaced it with an Enermax. Muuuuch better. Got one of the Enermax models with adjustable fan speed and slowed them down quite a ways so they could barely be heard but so that they were still fast enough to keep the PSU cool (not easy when using a 550w supply, a pair of AMD MP 2Gig processors, 4 HD's, etc., etc.)

For a fast, reliable, quiet HD, go for one of the 8MB buffer IBM/Hitachi's. I've not been able to discern the difference in noise between the IBM's and Seagate's quietest drives. But the IBM's are faster.

cjr888 · « **Reply #21 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:01 am »

As for the SPDIF off the motherboard, you might consider a $25 outlay and getting a chaintek card... Minimal investment for much, much better digital out from what I understand.

Marbles · « **Reply #22 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:04 am »

Mike,

Not to be too stupid, but is this the one?

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/eg465axve.html

Marbles · « **Reply #23 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:07 am »

Quote from: cjr888

As for the SPDIF off the motherboard, you might consider a $25 outlay and getting a chaintek card... Minimal investment for much, much better digital out from what I understand.

After a quick search, you need to be more specific on the card. I did find Chaintek Mobo's, but I don't think that's what you meant.

Zero · « **Reply #24 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:09 am »

I dont want to speak for him, but I believe he is refering to the AV-710 (chaintech soundcard ) .

jakepunk · « **Reply #25 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:14 am »

Quote from: Marbles

I thought I saw something about Windows XP Media package with remote. What is that?

XP Media Center Edition can only be purchased with a new PC, so if you're building a PC from a bag 'o parts, then you can't get it (legally). Media Center PCs come with a remote control that conforms to a Microsoft spec that specifies how the buttons are layed out. Microsoft copied Tivo's idea and placed a prominent "Windows" button that takes you to media center's start page.

I built my audio PC using Linux, but I wouldn't recommend Linux if you haven't played with it before. Ahanix makes nice HTPC cases, and you can buy an LCD display and remote from them that can control Winamp.

Marbles · « **Reply #26 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:28 am »

Quote from: cjr888

As for the SPDIF off the motherboard, you might consider a $25 outlay and getting a chaintek card... Minimal investment for much, much better digital out from what I understand.

Checked it out and it only has OPTICAL out, not S/PDIF

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-120-103&catalog=57&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0

cjr888 · « **Reply #27 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 01:58 pm »

You're right, and apologies. The people I had spoken to it that were using it for digital out were using it with Benchmark's.... If you're going external to DAC, and keeping things cheap, the EMU 0404 goes for around $99 if I remember correctly, or a used RME...

8thnerve · « **Reply #28 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 02:53 pm »

Also, the new Samsung Spinpoint drives are supposed to be the quietest at this point. Especially during seeking, which is when you usually hear them.

Highly recommended.

jermmd · « **Reply #29 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 02:55 pm »

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=1456245&enterthread=y

See the above thread.
Buy this computer and upgrade it.
You can not build a better computer for cheaper than this and you get customer service to boot.

Joe M.

Marbles · « **Reply #30 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 03:42 pm »

Joe,

That's interesting. I just bought 2 Dells, one for me at the office, and one for my son for Xmas.

Both are P4 3.0's Looks like in 2 years that's the platform I'll use

One of the reasons I want to build (or buy used) is to get a QUIET PC.

The computer I log onto from home is only about 7 feet from my ref system pre-amp.

I have acoustic foam all around it, but it is still too loud for critical listening.

I'm sure this is due to the case fans and power supply fans.

I figure that with quiet fans that noise will drop significantly.

I just saw the Viewsonic Airport 10" and 15" on Ebay for less than $400 refrubished with docking stations. That sounds like a bargain to me.

Next question, where to buy Windows XP professional to upgrade this machine from 98SE?

Oh, this computer has 512 mb of Ram so I should be OK.

Then I can hang another hard drive to it and be set.

So:

New quiet PS
New case fans
Upgrade to XP
new HD
Either a new mother board or a new sound card with S/PDIF out

I think I can take most of those things with me if/when I upgrade.

Hantra · « **Reply #31 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:03 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

What do you think of this one?

http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/NX-4090.html?id=isfVfw75

You know. . There really hasn't been any public comparisons of power supplies as they relate to audio PC's, but I spent a long time talking with Ray Kimber when Wayne and I were out there, and he stressed Power Factor Correction as the future. He said that the Palladian was correcting standing waves, which served to help correct the power factor. I don't really know the ins and outs of PFC, but I would get a power supply with PFC. It just makes me feel better.

Otherwise, that one looks great. . .

Marbles · « **Reply #32 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:31 pm »

Looks like it will be this one then:

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/eg465axve.html

Thanks for the tips, it is always appreciated.

Hantra · « **Reply #33 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

Looks like it will be this one then:

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/eg465axve.html

Thanks for the tips, it is always appreciated.

Here is the potential problem with that one. Two fans are bad. The Thermaltake has two fans. ONE is speed controlled, and the other one is lik 89dB, and NOT speed controlled. That's why I had to just clip mine.

Check out ones from Seasonic or Zalman. http://www.silentpcreview.com/section4.html

bubba966 · « **Reply #34 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 07:32 pm »

Quote from: Hantra

Quote from: Marbles
Looks like it will be this one then:

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/eg465axve.html

Thanks for the tips, it is always appreciated.

Here is the potential problem with that one. Two fans are bad. The Thermaltake has two fans. ONE is speed controlled, and the other one is lik 89dB, and NOT speed controlled. That's why I had to just clip mine.

Check out ones from Seasonic or Zalman. http://www.silentpcreview.com/section4.html

That Enermax is virtually identical to the one I'm running (mine's a EG465P-VE(FCA)) and it's not loud. Certainly no where near the Thermaltake PSU's.

I don't know if it's got much better fans than the Thermaltake does, or if the speed control takes care of both fans.

Though the Zalman is probably a good PSU. I don't about the Seasonic. But I wonder if either of them are as solid running as the Enermax.

jermmd · « **Reply #35 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 08:47 pm »

Marbles,

I have a Dell 400SC that I use as HTPC and it is very quiet. I also have an entirely homemade PC for gaming that uses an Antec case that has a single 120mm fan and it too is very quiet. Neither are silent. I also recommend anadtech.com and AVS as excellent resources.

Joe

Marbles · « **Reply #36 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 10:21 pm »

2 things down..I bought XP pro

Should get it in about a week, and down loaded ACXO software.

Guess I'll have to buy a microphone now

Any thoughts on that?

srclose · « **Reply #37 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 10:44 pm »

The combination of a Silentmaxx ST-11 and 14dB Silenx PSU case fans and CPU cooler works well.

dave_c · « **Reply #38 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 10:54 pm »

I'm using this PSU right now. Quiet and with PFC. One note is that it doesn't have the highest voltages for Overclocking, but that shouldn't matter for an Audio PC.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-163-104&depa=0

Pretty quiet, but Silverstone also makes a fanless PSU that should be completely quiet.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-163-106&depa=0

Also I second the Silenx Fans.

As far as SPDIF, try EA's USB to SPDIF converters. I don't think you can beat the convinience.

Marbles · « **Reply #39 on:** 5 Dec 2004, 11:22 pm »

Quote from: dave_c

I'm using this PSU right now. Quiet and with PFC. One note is that it doesn't have the highest voltages for Overclocking, but that shouldn't matter for an Audio PC.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-163-104&depa=0

Pretty quiet, but Silverstone also makes a fanless PSU that should be completely quiet.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-163-106&depa=0

Also I second the Silenx Fans.

As far as SPDIF, try EA's USB to SPDIF converters. I don't think you can beat the convinience.

I plan on trying the EA when he gets a demo unit.

Thanks for the other links and info.