Looking for a quiet, stable, and cool PC

[Revmann]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within the week.

BUDGET RANGE: Under $1k

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Use as a TV with a tuner (viewing TV wth a USB tuner is my primary TV, and possibly looking for another tuner), WoW, Movies, Internet Surfing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: 28" Widecreen LCD Monitor, speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg or any other reputable online dealer

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Doubt it

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Doubt it

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Uncertain, but its a large monitor

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: My current computer is a gateway with AMD x2 (speed unknown) and a 512mb Nvidia 8000 series video card. I use this in a bedroom. I have had problems with my computer heating up my room 10-15 degrees hotter than the rest of the house. I don't need wicked graphics or be able to play WoW on maxed out video settings. I would be comfortable with onboard video if it could do the things I am looking for. I want something that runs cool, is stable, and will do the things I listed in the system usage. I also desire to dual boot this machine with some version of windows and linux.

 

[Outlander_04]

Suggestions

Antec P182 , or sonata case . Both quiet and good quality .
e7400
motherboard based on a P45 chipset .
4 gig of Ram [ 2gig ] if you use XP ]

Your usage isnt demanding for todays PC . Its not worth adding cost and heat by using a more powerful processor and making more noise cooling it down .

You will need a basic gfx card , but thats a good thing IMO and you should be able to find something m that more than does the job and has a passive heatsink so it makes no noise

 

[dirtmountain]

Still some things up in the air such as budget, but here's a reasonable build for what you're looking for.

CPU - E7400 $120 Has reasonable power, if more is desired go E8500 or Q9550. Either would work with the rest of the components.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206

Motherboard - Gigabyte EP45-UD3L $99 No crossfire, stable.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128372

RAM - 2x2 GB DDR2 800 1.8v $50 with a $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

Case/power supply - Antec NSK4408B $70 with a 380w Earthwatts power supply included. Quiet, decent room, 80% efficiency.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129032

GPU - Sapphire HD4670 passive cooled $84 with a $10 rebate Linux drivers available, but not on the CD.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102816

HD - WD 640 GB SATA $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

Burner - Liteon SATA $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106287

$520 and $11 in shipping to me (lots of free shipping items) not counting rebates. Higher performing CPUs would of course run you higher.

 

[dougie_boy]

+ Big hard drive for storing TV, with a brand new TV card w MCE compatable remote.
+ Silent Ati 4670 graphics card for WOW.
+ Blue ray disk drive for watching hidef movies.
+ media center case so it fits in where ever you place the system.
+ quiet PSU so you dont notice the system.



SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$99.99

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 1800 MCE Kit 1128 PCI-Express x1 Interface
$99.99

SAPPHIRE 100255U Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
$83.99

SeaSonic OB-S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Open Box
$69.99

Microsoft 4GC-00002 Silver/Black Wireless Ergonomics Laser Desktop 4000
$31.99

OCZ 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2G10664GK
$40.99

ASUS P5Q SE/R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
$55.29

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 2.5GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q8300
$189.99

Pioneer Black Blu-Ray Reader and 12X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model BDC-2202B
$89.99

Antec Black Aluminum / Steel Fusion Remote Max ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
$209.95

total of $972.16 ex shipping.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152 $69.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022 $69.99 ($49.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380 $79.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206 $119.99 Free Shipping*
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $44.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $79.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $24.99 Free Shipping*
LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133256 $349.99 ($329.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
PNY VCGGTX285XPB GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

Total: 946.90 *(not including shipping and rebates)

 

[Zenthar]

Would be useful to know the model/resolution of the LCD as it would make a huge difference if it's "only" a 1080p LCD TV compared to one of those 2560x1600 LCD monitor ...

At 2560x1600 even WoW will require a decent graphic card probably with 1GB memory.

 

[Revmann]

I believe the resolution of my monitor is 1900 x 1200. It is a Hanns G HG281D. Not a real pricey monitor. It wil do 1080p.

 

[Zenthar]

I believe the resolution of my monitor is 1900 x 1200. It is a Hanns G HG281D. Not a real pricey monitor. It wil do 1080p.

Yup, the HG281D is 1920x1200. For that resolution and knowing the latest WoW expansion upped the GFX requirements, I would go with at least a 1GB 4870 or a GTX260. If you want extra "eye-candy" (grater AA/AF), then take a look at cards like the 4850x2, 4870x2 and GTX285 (1GB/GPU).

 

[MykC]

I would consider the following...

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket 45W CPU $62
This will tackle WoW fine and your other needs as well. Although it might not be much faster than what you have now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103298
ASUS M3A78-T AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX ATI 3300 Onboard GFX $140
In world of onboad desktop video, this is as good as it gets.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131331
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $20 after MIR
Why spend more?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail $26 after MIR
This will allow you run your CPU passively cooled (no fan) or with the fan at min speed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

I like the Antec/Earthwats combo point out by dirtmoutain for $70.

The thing you have to keep in my is that the more power you want the hotter and louder things will run. So, if you want a powerful GPU its going to get hot and loud. It doesn't matter what the cooling inside. Your case is like your issue is the ambient temperate of the room and sound the computer makes in operation. With that in mind, that is why I recommend the choices I picked out, least heat generated and sound produced.

You won't be able to play WoW at 1920x1200 with max settings, but you will be able to play at 1280x800 with decent settings.

 

[Outlander_04]

The athlon is a good chip but the intel is faster and draws less power .

Toms built an e7200/ G31 combo and it drew a TOTAL of about 72 watts . The intel cpu might be rated as 65 watt max , but it actually draws about 30 watts

The intel onboard gfx solutions are awful , and adding a discrete gfx card adds power consumption so it might work out very close on total power drain .