Building the Perfect Beast: A Cool and Quiet Power PC

For example, I recently worked on a 3.6GHz Pentium 4-based computer. The machine contained five 200-GB hard drives, an ATI X800 video card, and a SoundBlaster Audigy sound card. This was a great machine, but it sucked down power like a sieve, threw off heat like a space heater, and running at full-tilt, sounded like my wife's hair dryer. Even at idle, it was noticeably loud.

Eventually, I decided enough was enough. I got rid of that machine and started from scratch my quest to build a machine that was cool and quiet--without demanding a sacrifice in the speed I wanted.

In just three hours (including OS and driver installation), I'd accomplished my mission. For this TechBuilder Recipe, I'll show you how to build the "perfect beast" from the ground up: an ultra-powerful PC that's also sublimely cool and quiet.

Ingredients

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Here are the components you'll need, and the specific products I recommend:

Overview of Components

For a case, I recommend Lian-Li Industrial's PC-1100 Plus. This case is all aluminum and is excellently constructed. Unlike many standard ATX cases, Lian-Li offers an upside-down approach to the case layout. Where typically the power supply is on top in the case (with the motherboard on the bottom), the PC-1100 Plus has the reverse layout. This layout also compartmentalizes the hard drives, motherboard, and power supply; this yields a much better air flow than does a typical ATX case.

The Pentium M CPU from Intel is a flexible processor built for speed and efficiency. Of course, it's found in many laptops, but the Pentium M can also be adapted for desktop use. This CPU draws only about half the power of the overclocked Pentium 4 usually found in a desktop, making it inherently cooler and quieter than the 4.

One caveat to using the Pentium M on a desktop is the chipset you're forced to work with. Intel offers the 855GME chipset, which, compared with other chipsets on the market, offers only lackluster performance. Accordingly, an alternative chipset I recommend is the Asus CT-479. This chipset has a circuit board you can plug the Pentium M directly into, and it subsequently plugs into the motherboard.

Of course, using the Asus chipset means you'll have to swap Intel's motherboard as well. The Asus CT-479 chipset isn't compatible with all of Asus' motherboards; it works best with their P4GD1 model. So that's the one I recommend here.

For a power supply, I suggest you go with a completely passive cooled solution. This means the power supply has no moving parts to cool it, and this, in turn, cuts much of the noise produced by typical power supplies. The Antec Phantom 350 power supply has no fans at all and is completely silent.

The hard drive I recommend--you'll need two--is a Hitachi 500 GB monster, the 7K500. Use Hitachi's configuration software to put these drives into low-noise mode.

Since I'm a gamer as well as a system builder, I demand decent frame rates and high resolutions from my video cards. Since I'm also looking to cut down on system noise, I recommend the GeForce 7800 GT video card from BFG Technologies.

For sound, I'd encourage you to stick with the on-board sound card built into the Asus P4GD1 motherboard, rather than deploying the SoundBlaster card usually present. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. You'll find no more noise coming out of your speakers than you would using a SoundBlaster card, and no bleed-though of the system's RFI noise as you've no doubt have experienced in the past.

For a fast optical drive, I can recommend the PX-716SA SATA DVD-RW RAID-0 drive from Plextor. You'll find you get greater speed out of this speedy drive, as opposed to a typical RAID-5 drive.

As for the system's RAM, I encourage you to deploy four sticks of TwinX-3200 Pro from Corsair. Popular in gaming circles, these memory sticks deliver marked improvements over factory-installed system memory.

For fans, even though the Lian-Li case includes two decent 120-mm. fans, I recommend replacing them with Panasonic Panaflo fans. Mainly, because these fans are quieter than Lian-Li's fans. When you're trying to keep your machine quiet, every little bit helps.

Finally, I also recommend Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste in place of Intel's thermal pad, which comes with the factory-installed heat sink/fan. This Arctic paste is a thick, goopy substance that is applied right on top of the CPU prior to installation of the heat sink. The paste helps you to create the best possible thermal bridge between the top of the CPU and the bottom of the heat sink. Six Steps to Building the Cool and Quiet Power PC

Step 1: Unpack and Check Components: Ready to begin? Start by unpacking all the ingredients, and do a visual inspection to make sure there are no obvious defects or damage to any of the components. Once you're done, unscrew the retaining nut off the back of the case, and remove the case's side panel.

Step 2: Install the New Fans: Take the time to replace the factory-installed fans with the low-noise Panasonic Panaflo fans I've recommended.

Step 3: Working with the Motherboard: Once you have a clear view of the interior, install the Asus motherboard mounting posts to the base of the Lian-Li case. Then install the I/O shield--it's included with the motherboard--on the back of the case. Then screw the motherboard down onto the posts. Once the motherboard is firmly in place, you can place the Intel Pentium M processor in the Asus CPU adapter. Then place the Intel CPU and the Asus CPU adapter directly into the processor slot of the Asus motherboard. Once that's all locked-down, install the heat sink/fan combo. Then plug the fan power leads into the motherboard's CPUFAN port.

Step 4: Install the Power Supply: Next, install the recommended Antec Phantom 350 power supply into its little cubby at the bottom of the case. Pull the Main and PCI Express power cables to the motherboard area. Next, pull the two power connectors on the Plextor drive (not yet installed) to the hard-drive area at the bottom of the case. Then, run one standard power cable up to the Plextor optical drive itself. The rest of the cables you can bundle up and leave in the power-supply cubby.

Step 5: Install the RAM and Video Card: Now that the board is firmly locked in place, install the recommended four sticks of Corsair TwinX-3200 Pro RAM. The sticks will fit only one way. Simply match up the notches, and then press them down firmly until they click.

Next, install the recommended BFG Technologies GeForce 7800GT video card. This easily fits into the PCI Express slot on the Asus motherboard and locks into place. Once that's done, connect the motherboard's PCI Express power cable to the video card.

Step 6: Install the Hard Drives: Finally, it's time to install the recommended two Hitachi 7K500 SATA hard drives and the Plextor PX-716SA SATA DVD-RW drive. Since the Lian-Li case has an easy-to-install rail system provided for hard drives, you simply screw four rail screws into each drive, and then slide the drives into the case. Finish by locking the three drives into place with the plastic tabs provided. Finally, slide the case's side panel back in place, and reattach the retaining nut.

After Installation

After all six steps are completed, make sure to run the SATA cables from all three hard drives to the motherboard. Also, make sure these cables are firmly in place; they pull out easier than you'd expect. It's best if all cables are well out of the way and not obstructing air movement. To route and stabilize the cables around the case, use cable ties.

Now you can power up the machine, and install the operating system and applications.

Once the new system is up and running, I think you'll be more-than-satisfied with the speed and performance of this new power PC. You and your customers will also be able to enjoy peace and quiet for a change!

MICHAEL WROOBEL has been involved with computers since he was 13 years old, starting with an Altair 8080. Since then, he has worked with just about every PC on the planet.