Pre-purchase enquiry

[eox]

After years of self built systems and having had enough of my current setup's temperamental behaviour, i have decided to go down the lazy route and have my new pc built by what seems to be the best company out there

Using the 3XS system builder i came up with the following options:

3XS SA-i7 PowerDAW+ Updated Nov 09 basic specs+

Coolermaster RC-1000 Cosmos Silent Full Tower Case
Intel i7 950, 3.06GHz, 4.8GT/s QPI
Prolima Megahalems Super 6 Heatpipe Tower Cooler (Fanless)
3GB (3x1GB) Corsair XMS3 DDR3 PC3-10666 (1333) CAS 9-9-9-24
650W Be Quiet Dark Power PRO BN073 Modular PSU 87% Eff
250 GB Seagate ST3250310NS Barracuda ES.2, 7200 rpm, 32MB Cache
Scythe "Quiet Drive" Internal HDD Silencer for 3.5" HDD on 5.25" bay
AcoustiPack ULTIMATE Multi-Layered Material Kit
Microsoft Windows XP Pro Edition 32Bit
etc.

However i was wondering about the possibility for further customisation.

My queries:
1) i'm not over enthusiastic about the look/fancy stuff on the Cosmos Silent case and would normally prefer a slightly more "sober" look. In fact i quite like the Silverstone KL03B Kublai alternative. However i'm coming from a nearly silent setup and am guessing the Cosmos offers better acoustic insulation. Are there any substantial differences between the two when it comes to noise levels? I'll be using my PC as a DAW (primarily) and need an extremely quiet system.

2) Also what is the ETA for the Cosmos? I'd like to start using my new setup asap and wouldn't want to wait for very long.

3) Space is my other priority as i intend to fit (in the future) a Digidesign HD card and a Gigabyte nVidia 9800 GT Silent. Are these two cases large enough to take the 9800 GT Silent? (dimensions: 257mm x 37mm x 112mm). I haven't got the dimensions for the Digidesign HD but judging from the PCI card i have on my Mac it might be even bigger

4) as i have quite a few peripherals, would it be possible to future proof this build with a more powerful power supply (sticking to the silent/quiet option)?

5) i don't need the Akasa AK-ICR-07S 3.5" Card Reader at all. Any chance of excluding it from the build?

Suggestions/alternatives/improvements are welcomed

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance

[PeteG@Scan]

Hi,

I deal with the audio stuff here so I'll answer any questions you have

My queries:
1) i'm not over enthusiastic about the look/fancy stuff on the Cosmos Silent case and would normally prefer a slightly more "sober" look. In fact i quite like the Silverstone KL03B Kublai alternative. However i'm coming from a nearly silent setup and am guessing the Cosmos offers better acoustic insulation. Are there any substantial differences between the two when it comes to noise levels? I'll be using my PC as a DAW (primarily) and need an extremely quiet system.

The Cosmos is a highly rated case and makes a reasonable Audio Spec build. I myself side with you through and prefer something a bit more plain and unintrusive.

I spent a week a few years ago now testing all the cases that fitted the profile I built up in my head for the perfect audio p.c. case. The winner was in fact the KL03B!

The Cosmos has built in sound proofing but it has more ventilation holes, which means more places for the noise to leak out. The Cosmos is Aluminium which isnt' my prefered metal for case construction in silent builds but the sound proofing makes it acceptable.

The KL03 is solid steel. Doesn't squeak or rattle at all even without sound proofing, so once we add some in for you it's pretty much dead noise wise. For some 3rd party feedback have a look here:

http://3xs.scan.co.uk/images/awards/...undOnSound.pdf
and
http://3xs.scan.co.uk/images/awards/mt_POWERDAW.pdf

If your thinking about going for it, then by all means do. It's a quality case.

2) Also what is the ETA for the Cosmos? I'd like to start using my new setup asap and wouldn't want to wait for very long.

I haven't currently got an ETA on these. I've just tried chasing the suppliers but as they are in Germany they've knocked off for the day. I'll chase them in the morning and let you know.

3) Space is my other priority as i intend to fit (in the future) a Digidesign HD card and a Gigabyte nVidia 9800 GT Silent. Are these two cases large enough to take the 9800 GT Silent? (dimensions: 257mm x 37mm x 112mm). I haven't got the dimensions for the Digidesign HD but judging from the PCI card i have on my Mac it might be even bigger

Both cases can handle long form cards and i've tested them both with creamware sonic core which I think are about the same size as the Digidesign one's so the shouldn't be any issue as far as fitting those go.

If you want a 9800 Gt fitting as it's from Gigabyte we can order it in and test it for you during the build process if you don't have it already. I might be able to order in the Digidesign card as well as we deal with Avid if your interested but that one's a little more uncertain.

4) as i have quite a few peripherals, would it be possible to future proof this build with a more powerful power supply (sticking to the silent/quiet option)?

You can spec which ever psu you want in it. What sort of wattage are you interested in?

5) i don't need the Akasa AK-ICR-07S 3.5" Card Reader at all. Any chance of excluding it from the build?

I've modified the configuration tool to allow you to remove that from the spec now

Pete.

[eox]

Hi,

I deal with the audio stuff here so I'll answer any questions you have



The Cosmos is a highly rated case and makes a reasonable Audio Spec build. I myself side with you through and prefer something a bit more plain and unintrusive.

I spent a week a few years ago now testing all the cases that fitted the profile I built up in my head for the perfect audio p.c. case. The winner was in fact the KL03B!

The Cosmos has built in sound proofing but it has more ventilation holes, which means more places for the noise to leak out. The Cosmos is Aluminium which isnt' my prefered metal for case construction in silent builds but the sound proofing makes it acceptable.

The KL03 is solid steel. Doesn't squeak or rattle at all even without sound proofing, so once we add some in for you it's pretty much dead noise wise. For some 3rd party feedback have a look here:


If your thinking about going for it, then by all means do. It's a quality case.



I haven't currently got an ETA on these. I've just tried chasing the suppliers but as they are in Germany they've knocked off for the day. I'll chase them in the morning and let you know.



Both cases can handle long form cards and i've tested them both with creamware sonic core which I think are about the same size as the Digidesign one's so the shouldn't be any issue as far as fitting those go.

If you want a 9800 Gt fitting as it's from Gigabyte we can order it in and test it for you during the build process if you don't have it already. I might be able to order in the Digidesign card as well as we deal with Avid if your interested but that one's a little more uncertain.



You can spec which ever psu you want in it. What sort of wattage are you interested in?



I've modified the configuration tool to allow you to remove that from the spec now

Pete.

Hi Pete,

thanks for your prompt and generous reply.

Following your response i will definitely go for the Kublai and if it is possible to order the nVidia 9800 Silent through Scan that'd be even better. I have already an arrangement for the Digidesign card but thanks for your offer.
Re: power supply - i was thinking of an around-800W model keeping in mind that i'd like to maintain noise contribution to the minimum.
Thanks also for modifying the configuration tool. I guess that at this point i should ring the sales team and define the order.

cheers

[PeteG@Scan]

I've asked our buyers if they can still source the 9800 silent as it's an older model so hopefully they can get me some news for you later on today about it.

For a 850w psu I'd go for the "Bequiet Dark Power Pro" or the Corsair 850w in that order.

Bequiet - LN23138

Corsair - LN26596

[PeteG@Scan]

Good news our buyers have arranged stock of the Gigabyte card for you. When you order you can quote "LN 31712" to the sales person and that will include the "Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce 9800GT SILENT 1GB" in the build for you. The cost for that card is £110.90 inc vat.

[eox]

Good news our buyers have arranged stock of the Gigabyte card for you. When you order you can quote "LN 31712" to the sales person and that will include the "Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce 9800GT SILENT 1GB" in the build for you. The cost for that card is £110.90 inc vat.

Fantastic. Thank you very much for your help/assistance

[Kenny2001]

Fantastic. Thank you very much for your help/assistance

I myself have been building my own for quite a few years now and I just recived my scan 3x3 system after my last self build (a very nice water cooled system) started to show its age.
I must admit the thought of handing over a large wad of cash and getting a pc in return really made me nervous but and that should be BUT!!
I Was very impressed by the guys at Scan, as a IT tech in a secondary school I see the inside of a lot of pc's some good most bad but when mine came I was very impressed with the build quality and the components used, the cable management is an art in it's self.
if you have any doubts don't worry you will get what you pay for.
nice job guy well done.