Quiet Power Supply and good case...

[blitz]

I'm about to get a watercooling setup, for low noise, and I still need to pick out a power supply and case.

So, first, whats a good, reliable, QUIET power supply?

(somene told me sparkle's are good and quiet)

Second, whast a good case for a watercooling setup? (preferable not to expensive, but I want a good case...) I want the case to be quiet too! (so not to many case fans... or, a bunch of spots for case fans, just without the fan so I can buy low noise fans or something)

thanks.

[sptw]

I think you can get more attention on it on "Case Modification & Cooling".Moved.

[lechumbl]

Hi Blitz,

Sparkle is a good brand.

I use an Antec 400 Variable, and it is both quiet and very efficient. It uses up to the full power it has. If it needs less, it runs less.

Look at my pics/stats link and see what my server looks like. All my W/C is inside and there is a lot of room, and it is a minitower. Small footprint.

If you are interested, I'll send the link to you.

Take care......

[moonraker]

I have a couple of power supplies from
www.quietpc.com
They are virtually silent, have amp ratings that match some higher wattage, more expensive power supplies, and the customer service there is excellent. :cool:
Example, I have been having a few mobo problems of late and thinking of getting a 400-500w psu. Glenn at quietpc offered me a refund if I decided I didn't like the quiet psu.
I think they do deal with USA, I'm sure I've seen the prices in pounds and dollars on the site. They also do a range of other quiet stuff like case fans, cpu fans, hard drive enclosures etc etc.

As for the case, don't think I am qualified to comment really as I've never done any watercooling, but I would have said the bigger, the better.

[NorthernYankee]

I agree get an Antec case they come with Antec PSU's which are excellent and very quiet. And the cases have plenty of spots for fans.

--NY

[blitz]

Ok, so if I decide to buy an antec case, then thats comes with a good PSU... but if I buy anything else, it will be cheaper to just get a sparkle.

[lechumbl]

Hi Blitz,

There are three ways to go:
(1) Buy an Antec case with the Antec power supply....More expensive.
(2) Buy a generic case and an Sparkle power supply.....Less expensive.
(3) Buy a generic case and a Antec power supply....Less expensive yet.

I'm sure there are a lot more options available. The point I am making is what do you want to spend and what do you get for the money spent?

Buy expensive, get expensive......buy inexpensive, get inexpensive.

Take care.........

[blitz]

Well, I'm lookign at the antec and the sparkle 350w.... I think the sparkle is about $4 more...

The antec has 2 fans (1 intake, 1 out), the sparkle has 1 outtake (and the bottom is just open)

Does this mean the antec will probably cool better? but will it be louder?

or should the sparkle cool just fine and be a spec quieter?

[NorthernYankee]

I personally think Antec PSU's are better it is all I use, but that is MHO. And there case are top grade quality, and as Lee said you get what you pay for.

--NY

[lechumbl]

Hi Blitz,

I personally would not look for anything less than a 400 Watt PSU, myself.

Ya really need the horsepower that a 400 gives.

The heat from the PSU is drawn out of the case either way.

Sounds to me like you have decided on the Sparkle, so have fun. I have had both, and I think the Antec is the better of the two, but there will be a lot of argument there from the Sparkle fans. In the past Sparkle was the better, but Antec has come a long ways and they are very much equal now.

As far as the case goes, I can't see the extra cost of the Antec case.
I guess you did not look at my cheapie case in my sig, cause you did not ask for the link, so best bet is to just look on internet, till you find what you like.

Take care.......

[blitz]

I have chose the sparkle IF I don't buy an antec case.. but theres a very good chance I am buying an antex case. Do the case fans on the antec case make a desent amount of noise? would it be a good idea to replace them with quietter ones (like I said before, I am trying to make an EXTREMELY quiet system)

[blitz]

Actually, right now I think my case choice is the sx1040.. BUT that doesn't look like I could easily put a watercooling kit inside of that (the bottom has stuff on it, and the right has a HD cage.. whichlooks removable, but it looks like at the bottom of the HD cage theres a pice of metal sticking out)

[NorthernYankee]

Well I think I know what pics you are looking at and those are the drives rails neatly laid out that you see at the bottom...Oh and in my opinion its is very difficult to have a very quiet Overclocked AMD system they put off so much heat you need a good amount of powerful fans.

--NY

[lechumbl]

Hi Blitz,

I agree with NY......Fans will keep the case cooler, even with water cooling.
There will need to be fans in order to keep the inside temp low.
It is a question of how many fans will do the trick? Unfortunately, the more fans the more noise, but the more fans the cooler it runs.....Kinda endless loop.

Take care......

[blitz]

Yeah, well, I'm not going to be overclocking much (HDs will get too hot, etc.)... well, atleast not yet, hehe.

Anyone know a spexific line of fans that are EXTREMELY low noise that I could put in the case?.. and on the radiator.

[blitz]

oh, will the drive rails get in my way?? or shoudl it be pretty easy to set up everything inside the case?

[NorthernYankee]

Sunon Low speed fans are very quiet but the catch with the quiet fans is that they do not move alotta air.

--NY

[Farabomb]

I have an Antec sx1035b I got at Compusa for around $120 US and I'm thinking you might want to go for a cheap full tower so you will have the room. With everything in my comp it's a little tight.

[blitz]

you seriously dont have much room in the case? and your aircooling?

darn, the case looks pretty big to me.

[Farabomb]

You can fit a water rig if you try. I would start with more room. I can fit all I need for air cooling but h2o is a different story. I just think it'll be easier with more room.

[lechumbl]

Hi Guys,

Again I say look at my pics for what my server looks like.
The dimensions are 19.25 X 8.75 X 19.75 (L x W x H). I took off my wheels to make it 2" shorter.
There is more than enough room to put water inside and still have room for much cooling area.

Here is a link to look at the $69.99 server (CodeGen 9001 Server):
http://www.computerstop.com

It is shorter than most, and will fit just about anywhere.

I am certainly not trying to convince you to go with my server, but a full tower is not needed for more room.

You need a wide low footprint server to meet all of the needs for water, room and cooling area.

Take care.........

[blitz]

lechumbl I already have your server case, heh. Good case... but the power supply doesn't even seem to have air coming out of it!.. can't find the case with out a PS neither :(

But more importantly, the thing I don't like is the darn HD tray, such a bummer to get out.

It's definately a possibility that I will get it again though.

[blitz]

oh, and the price of it.. if I'm goign to be replacing the PSU anyway, the antec might actually be cheaper!

[lechumbl]

Hi Blitz,

After buying the case, I pulled out the PSU and put in the 400 Watt Antec Variable and it purrs along very quiet and running high 20's for cooling under SETI at 24/7, so it must be cooling OK.

What ya talking about on the hard drive tray? I haven't a clue??

Take care......

[Farabomb]

Lee, I like your rig. In that case you have the room on the bottom under the CD drives that I don't have in my Antec. I was just trying to steer blitz away from that case because with the bottom hard drive cage in you have little or no room. It can fit but it's close. This is just what I'm thinking. I have no idea about the innerworkings of a water setup. I'll be asking a arse load of questions about water rigs because I'm gonna put my backup on a water diet soon so thanks in advance.

P.S. Lee, I live the little pop gun you have in the spitoon next to your server. I have one too it scares the he77 out of the dog. :xshotgun:

[lechumbl]

Hi Fara,

Actually, there are like 8 5 1/2 drive bays in my box.
I took my hack saw and took out 4 of the bays. Now, I have room for the H2O system. I purposely bought this case with that in mind

Since I have all of my CD drives in my JBOD, I can get away with it.

My dog sees me take out the popgun and she is in the other room in a flash. Ya, it sure does scare 'em.

Antec is a good case, but it does not meet my needs. I want a low wide case, and this one fits under my shelf and fits my specific needs.

Take care and don't pop the dog too many times.........

[Farabomb]

I hope the pop the dog comment won't be taken out of context. We allready have baptizer and his cat fetish we don't need me "poping" dogs
:D :rolleyes: :D

[lechumbl]

Hi Fara,

No sweat........If Bap reads the email, he will see the context.

Cats, huh?