A strange build...

[collettnj]

I presume you've budgeted for some nice cheap fans?

I'm on the lookout for some - Quiet coming before cost (though cost should be sub £10, given I'd be needing 2).

I'm interested in the Enermax Magmas - a friend just bought 2 for his new gaming build and says they are very quiet for the air they shift..

[Syllopsium]

I'm on the lookout for some - Quiet coming before cost (though cost should be sub £10, given I'd be needing 2).

I'm interested in the Enermax Magmas - a friend just bought 2 for his new gaming build and says they are very quiet for the air they shift..

There's a huge fan group test in CustomPC this month. Usually I think their reviews tend to be quite good[1], but my personal favourite fan is the Noctua NF-P12 - it shifts a reasonable amount of air, is extremely quiet and doesn't seem to develop annoying noises a few months in. 15 quid each though - is a tenner *really* going to make a difference? Spend 30-40 quid instead of 50 quid on a graphics card..

There's also the type of noise a fan creates. Even though the noise ceiling several Noctuas create isn't that high, the type of noise is very unobtrusive, as opposed to a farty little fan that might be quieter in terms of sheer volume but has an irritating whine that makes you want to crush it within a couple of minutes..

PK

[1] To be fair, I haven't actually tried or even heard of the top fan they rate, but I have used a number of others including the Sharkoon 'golf ball', various Akasa stuff, Xigmatek and Coolermaster bundled ones. The Noctua blows them all away.

[collettnj]

Sharkoon 'golf ball'

I had 4 of those (120mm 2000rpm silent eagles) in my last system - it was very loud. I've just got an NF-P12 for my TRUE to replace a sharkoon, and it is indeed whisper quiet, but doesn't shift as much air which is a shame.

I'm currently at this point (without ammending the choice of fans or GPU, although I most probably will):



EDIT: Scroll down for revised build(s)

[Pob255]

no no no
One of the plus points of the akasa zen is it come with two 120mm 1200rpm fans you don't need to buy new ones.
And thoe Magma's are not quiet, they are the high air flow models in the enermax twister range, the Everest is the mid range and the Cluster is the quiet

As with ALL fans the slower it spins the less noise is made and the less air is moved.

An expensive 1600rpm fan is going to move more air than a cheap 1200rpm fan BUT it will also be louder.
A cheap 1600rpm fan is going to move more air than an expensive 1200rpm fan BUT it will also be louder

If both the fans are relatively the same speed that's when the high quality fans show they are worth the money by moving a little more air for a little less noise.

You have to look at some very cheap and nasty fans to break this basic rule.

Cooler Akasa AK-965x3 just as good as the ACf7p but cheaper
Or the Akasa Nero AK-967 more expensive but 120mm fan based so will be quieter than ether the ACf7p or AK-965

[collettnj]

One of the plus points of the akasa zen is it come with two 120mm 1200rpm fans you don't need to buy new ones

Fair enough, I just assumed that a relatively cheap case would probably have pretty loud fans, but if you think they'll shift enough air and be quiet at the same time, then i'm pleased to save the £16

Cooler Akasa AK-965x3 just as good as the ACf7p but cheaper
Or the Akasa Nero AK-967 more expensive but 120mm fan based so will be quieter than ether the ACf7p or AK-965

Given that sound level is important i'll aim for the 965.

[nibbler]

Why would you need 2 120Mm fans for a simple build? Get a good cpu cooler with fan and use stock ones and turnt hem riiight down.

[collettnj]

Why would you need 2 120Mm fans for a simple build? Get a good cpu cooler with fan and use stock ones and turnt hem riiight down.

Yep, that's the plan now. Build spec at this point:



Does everything look ok?

[nibbler]

looks pretty good, coul even undervolt and underclock ur CPU to 2.5 or seomthing and get a quieter cooler thats slightly less powerfull.

[collettnj]

looks pretty good, coul even undervolt and underclock ur CPU to 2.5 or seomthing and get a quieter cooler thats slightly less powerfull.

Yeah I was thinking of doing that, they won't need the full 3.16 really, so that'd be a possibility. I'll probably not skimp too much on the cooler though as I'd like to be able to experiment.

[Pob255]

yep I'd say that looks good

might want to think about adding a sett of cheap desktop speakers, if the monitor has none.

mouse & keyboard?
if so I can fully sugest
Logitech deluxe 250 keyboard, basic but very nice to type on and good build quality
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Logit...oard-USB-Black
the basic Logitech optical mouse
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Logit...-Buttons-Black
nothing fancy but both decent quality, work well and will not break the bank

Personally I'd just leave the cpu at stock settings, turn on intel speed step to reduce the load and voltage when not under load and set the fan in PWM mode with a target of 45c

[collettnj]

might want to think about adding a sett of cheap desktop speakers, if the monitor has none.

Oops I'd forgotten that - what would you recommend?

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Logit...eo-Speakers-20

and

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Altec...20-20-Speakers

Look good - my dad is doing a Geology course and watches narrated videos, so respectable sound quality would be good.

mouse & keyboard?

The set you posted looks good, but i'll run this by ya: I was initially tempted towards:

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/787182...k/Product.html

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/959334...k/Product.html

I know it seems daft getting a gaming mouse for the uses they'd be putting it to, though it should run very smoothly and the build quality should be great (I have a lachesis, rather different league though I guess). Perhaps I'm going mad, though I'm sure it was 13.99 yesterday..

A friend has the microsoft keyboard and loves it. Play.com do a bundle with that keyboard and a mouse, but I've used the pictured mouse before and it feels terrible, so I'd avoid the bundle.

[Pob255]

Yes should be fine, that razor mouse is not a bad idea, doesn't have extra buttons on the side, which some people really don't get on with.

The MS keyboard should be fine as well (note that may be a stock image, but it's got the US style single height Return key rather than the double height UK style return key.)

[collettnj]

The MS keyboard should be fine as well (note that may be a stock image, but it's got the US style single height Return key rather than the double height UK style return key.)

Ahh yes you're right...I'm sure they'll get used to it, I have a single height one on my laptop and it works fine for me. I'll probably go with that and the razer, they should be a sound combination.

Getting close to finalizing this now

[collettnj]

Just ordered it all from scan, play.com and amazon! (Mouse ordered from amazon as it went out of stock at play.com overnight...typical)

As always, thanks for the help folks, it should serve them well I hope

[DanceswithUnix]

How about a Shuttle?

like this one, £179.30

Parents won't be impressed with fan flow rates & modular PSUs, but might like something that is small & quiet & looks nice.

Leaves you with a spare motherboard, but never mind.

[nibbler]

Bit late I think