Ongoing Question to Antec NSK2400 and Asus M2NPV-VM users! (1 Viewer)

[RaabW]

Hi,

I want to replace my current HTPC with a new one because it's too loud in my opinion.

After reading many of the posts in the forum I think I will build the following system:

Antec New Solution NSK2400 Desktop 380W ATX 2.0
Asus M2NPV-VM (NVIDIA GeForce 6150)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ EE (tray version)
Kingston HyperX DIMM 1024MB (DDR2-800)
Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB
LG H22L and Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150 I will take from my current system.
Any suggestions for a quiet and nevertheless cheap Cpu cooler? Would the Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 be a good choice?

Now to my other questions:

- Does the board have a video or an s-video out and how is the quality of the signal? At the moment I just have a CRT so I want to use s-video for best quality.

- Will I have black borders on the screen or is there a similar function to “Overscan” as at my current ATI graphic card? Without enabling overscan I always had black borders?

- Anyone already installed Vista on a M2NPV-VM? Will the system (specially the onboard graphic) be full compatible?

- How noisy is the 380W power supply? Is it a standard ATX format and is it necessary (or ever possible) to replace it? With a “be quiet! Straight Power BQT E5-400W” for example?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Wolfgang

 

[elconejito]

for CPU cooler, I highly recommend the Zalman CPU coolers. I have a CNPS7000B-ALCU installed on my HTPC and a CNPS7700-ALCU installed on my desktop.

When running in "silent" mode, it is absolutely inaudible. No kidding.

I have mine turned up about 1/5th of the way in my HTPC to match the loudness of the power supply fan and hard drive. They make a little bit of noise, but from the sofa you can't hear it, and definitely can't hear it when the TV or music is playing. I have an AMD Athlon XP 3200+ in this HTPC that sits at about 33 degrees celsius during normal operation, and about 45 degrees celsius at full load. It is usually only at full load for maybe a few hours each day when it compresses my recordings. The rest of the time its very cool.

My desktop has a Core2Duo (E6300) that runs about 31 degrees celsius at idle, and 40 degrees celsius during full load. I have this one turned a little higher (maybe 1/3) since I don't really care how much noise this machine makes and it is easily drowned out by the other 5 case fans and power supply fan.

To get really silent, you can probably under-clock the CPU just a little and maybe try the all copper version (mine are mix aluminum/copper) for a little bit more money. They push air downwards, so the airflow also cools memory and northbridge. Maybe even GPU and southbridge depending on the layout of your mobo.

The only real disadvantage I see is the size. Make sure you check the dimensions before you purchase. Mine completely blocked one memory slot, and partially blocked another. For me it was no big deal as I just used the other set of slots for dual-channel, but check just to make sure.

This is a micro-ATX board, just for reference.

 

[Spragleknas]

Hi,

I want to replace my current HTPC with a new one because it's too loud in my opinion.

After reading many of the posts in the forum I think I will build the following system:

Antec New Solution NSK2400 Desktop 380W ATX 2.0
Asus M2NPV-VM (NVIDIA GeForce 6150)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ EE (tray version)
Kingston HyperX DIMM 1024MB (DDR2-800)
Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB
LG H22L and Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 150 I will take from my current system.
Any suggestions for a quiet and nevertheless cheap Cpu cooler? Would the Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 be a good choice?

Now to my other questions:

- Does the board have a video or an s-video out and how is the quality of the signal? At the moment I just have a CRT so I want to use s-video for best quality.

- Will I have black borders on the screen or is there a similar function to “Overscan” as at my current ATI graphic card? Without enabling overscan I always had black borders?

- Anyone already installed Vista on a M2NPV-VM? Will the system (specially the onboard graphic) be full compatible?

- How noisy is the 380W power supply? Is it a standard ATX format and is it necessary (or ever possible) to replace it? With a “be quiet! Straight Power BQT E5-400W” for example?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Wolfgang

I've buildt a very simular HTPC to a friend (weaker CPU, though), so:
Video-out: Can't remember - check Asus HP (Sorry)
Overscan: nVidia has this feature in controll panel - I have borders myself - but havent tried to overscan more than I do right now... I can check it out later if you want me to (I have a 6200-card)
PSU: Low noise - read http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html
- a dedicated test of PSU: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article592-page1.html
It is a standard ATX PSU - 80 mm fan, but very quiet.

 

[RaabW]

Thank you for the answers!

elconejito: I know that the Zalman coolers would be the best solution. But in Austria I just get models like the CNPS9500 for AM2 sockets and I don’t think that those will fit into the case! The CNPS7500 would fit but is not sold in Austria?!

Spragleknas: Good to know that nVidia also (as Ati) has integrated over scan in his drivers. After reading the review of the power supply I think I will give it a chance because at the low power consumption I hope to have it seems to be relatively quiet!

 

[elconejito]

can you maybe order from a nearby country and have it shipped?

I hear thermaltake and coolermaster are good choices, but i dont have any personal experience with them...

 

[lomste]

I have built a similar system and that asus board ships with additional tv out module this has composite, s video, and svhs connections.

The only problem I can see for you is that this module takes up a slot in the case and there are only four on this case. Add the 2 tv cards and this leaves you with only one slot left If you want to add better sound or graphics you will start to struggle unless you get a grahics card with tv out.

I have used the slot that faces the pcie X16 connector on mobo because I have no need for extra graphics card. But I intend to add a spdif module or maybe a soundcard with SPDIF out and then all slots are full, plus a soundcard with PCIx1 connection will be needed, not sure anybody makes these?

The case is very very quiet with the standard PSU (which is std atx12v version 2.01)

Good luck with the Build

 

[Spragleknas]

You can meke the SPDIF-cable yourself, then there is no need to use a "slot".

 

[DQ]

Hi, I've built a similar system to yourself.

Motherboard:
I have the same board but without the TV-out module.
The graphics card manages alright, although I think it runs a bit warm (after a couple of hours the "spaces" in text on the tv guide get glitches above them.

Make sure you have at least 1gb ram and flash the latest bios to the motherboard.
You can then set the frame buffer for the graphics card to use 256mb of system memory.


Cooling:
As for cooling, my previous system used only an old zalman flower and the two case fans on their lowest setting.
Currently I have an am2 sempron 2800 running stock speed (1.6ghz) with the amd heatsink/fan. I can't hear it as it only speeds up when needed.
I've overclocked it to 2.2ghz (just to see ) it ran just as cool and i couldn't hear any difference in the fan speed.
I plan to install a zalman CNPS9500 - AM2 as it should fit in the case. I think the tallest cooler you can fit in is 140mm. People have put taller coolers in the case by bending/cutting the top fins of the heatsinks to fit!


If the side fans bother you, you could try a noctua or similar fan and rubber fan mounts (check silentpcreview.com)


PSU:
The PSU is quiet in my opinion, not bothering me when i watch tv at night with a very low volume.


SPDIF:
The motherboard has an SPDIF header with +5v, signal and gnd.

If you're not all that bright (like me) you'll use an old cd drive audio cable, hook it up to the header and connect the other end to a phono? plug.
Connect it to your creative GD580 amp and wonder why you smell something burning.

If you are bright you'll double check your connections and realise that you plugged to +5v and gnd into your amp and, after a quick repair job (electronic engineer) you'll have lovely digital connection!

My cable just goes out of one of the cutout sections at the back!

Overall I like my setup (apart from the aforementioned graphics problem which bugs me slightly)
27" mirai screen on top helps too



I forgot to add that if you need to ask anything or see a photo of the internals just let me know!

 

[Spragleknas]

More info here:

"Phono-plug" = RCA - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA_connector
Orange = SPDIF-signal

About SPDIF: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF

 

[RaabW]

If the Zalman CNPS9500 - AM2 really fits, I think I will also install it! I hope I will get all required parts during the next two weeks so I can build the system !

Spragleknas: If I connect the signal and ground from the SPDIF header of the motherboard to a CINCH connector I will get a digital coaxial out. Is that right?

Thanks for your help,
Wolfgang