[Note: this is an updated version of an older post]
Hey all -
I'm spec'ing out a new SFF P55 machine, to replace my aging (but awesomely reliable) Athlon 64 X2 machine. I'd be using the machine for general productivity, some light media encoding, medium/heavy photo editing and some very light gaming (basically, Half Life 2 Episode 3 when it comes out). My priorities in this build are:
1. Stability
2. Longevity (ie, hardware that supports latest standards, has performance enough to be useful in a few years)
3. Low noise/low power consumption
4. Low cost
The current equipment list looks like this (everything is new unless noted):
1. CPU: Core i5-750
2. Motherboard: Gigabyte P55M-UD2
3. Memory: 2 x 2GB (4GB total) Crucial DDR3 1333, 1.5V, CAS9
4. Video: Sapphire Vapor-X HD 5770
5. System Drive: Intel X25-M G2 80GB GB SSD
6. Storage Drives (freebie, nearly new, pulled from an existing machine): 2 x 750GB WD Caviar Black HDDs
7. Case: Antec mini P180
8. PSU: Seasonic X-650
9. ODD: Sony Optiarc AD-7240S-0B SATA DVD burner
10: OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (freebie)
11. Audio (freebie, pulled from an existing machine): X-Fi Elite Pro, PCI
12. CPU Cooling: Thermalright MUX-120 w/Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120mm fan
13. Case cooling: 2xSFF21E, 1x200M Antec Fan (set to low)
All in all, and excluding combo deals, it should be right where I want to be budget-wise. I'd love to hear any general thoughts/feed back on this combination - any potential issues, bottlenecks or areas in which I could either improve performance or shave costs without losing performance.
I generally like to overbuild the cooling system, as I feel that contributes heavily to system longevity and stability. I will not be doing any overclocking (in fact, I'll be pulling the Vapor-X back to the stock voltages.)
Specifically, I'm wondering:
1. Will the Thermalright MUX-120 fit in that case, height-wise? It's 160mm tall - the same height as the Ultra-120 Extreme.
2. Will the Thermalright + 120mm Fan assembly block the first RAM slot on the Gigabyte MB? (In case I want to upgrade down the line).
3. Anyone have experience with the Gigabyte P55M-UD2 - specifically, is the barebones cooling system for the VRMs adequate for a stock 750? I've always thought those elaborate heatpipe cooling systems on VRMs were utterly unnecessary unless you're running a really hot/demanding/overclocked system.
4. Do you think I could get away with fewer fans? Or slower fans?
5. How do you all like working in the Antec mini P180 case? My current machine is in a first-gen Antec P180, and while I love the silence and cooling performance, it was a massive pain to build in.
Thanks!
Hey all -
I'm spec'ing out a new SFF P55 machine, to replace my aging (but awesomely reliable) Athlon 64 X2 machine. I'd be using the machine for general productivity, some light media encoding, medium/heavy photo editing and some very light gaming (basically, Half Life 2 Episode 3 when it comes out). My priorities in this build are:
1. Stability
2. Longevity (ie, hardware that supports latest standards, has performance enough to be useful in a few years)
3. Low noise/low power consumption
4. Low cost
The current equipment list looks like this (everything is new unless noted):
1. CPU: Core i5-750
2. Motherboard: Gigabyte P55M-UD2
3. Memory: 2 x 2GB (4GB total) Crucial DDR3 1333, 1.5V, CAS9
4. Video: Sapphire Vapor-X HD 5770
5. System Drive: Intel X25-M G2 80GB GB SSD
6. Storage Drives (freebie, nearly new, pulled from an existing machine): 2 x 750GB WD Caviar Black HDDs
7. Case: Antec mini P180
8. PSU: Seasonic X-650
9. ODD: Sony Optiarc AD-7240S-0B SATA DVD burner
10: OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (freebie)
11. Audio (freebie, pulled from an existing machine): X-Fi Elite Pro, PCI
12. CPU Cooling: Thermalright MUX-120 w/Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120mm fan
13. Case cooling: 2xSFF21E, 1x200M Antec Fan (set to low)
All in all, and excluding combo deals, it should be right where I want to be budget-wise. I'd love to hear any general thoughts/feed back on this combination - any potential issues, bottlenecks or areas in which I could either improve performance or shave costs without losing performance.
I generally like to overbuild the cooling system, as I feel that contributes heavily to system longevity and stability. I will not be doing any overclocking (in fact, I'll be pulling the Vapor-X back to the stock voltages.)
Specifically, I'm wondering:
1. Will the Thermalright MUX-120 fit in that case, height-wise? It's 160mm tall - the same height as the Ultra-120 Extreme.
2. Will the Thermalright + 120mm Fan assembly block the first RAM slot on the Gigabyte MB? (In case I want to upgrade down the line).
3. Anyone have experience with the Gigabyte P55M-UD2 - specifically, is the barebones cooling system for the VRMs adequate for a stock 750? I've always thought those elaborate heatpipe cooling systems on VRMs were utterly unnecessary unless you're running a really hot/demanding/overclocked system.
4. Do you think I could get away with fewer fans? Or slower fans?
5. How do you all like working in the Antec mini P180 case? My current machine is in a first-gen Antec P180, and while I love the silence and cooling performance, it was a massive pain to build in.
Thanks!