Silent moderate performance gaming pc

BigHairyBloke

BigHairyBloke

BigHairyBloke

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Hi, I built my young son a silent micro pc with a ASUS H81M-A a few years back, now he's 10 and although not in anyway into fast action games (he's more into strategy, mapping kinda stuff) his pc wont handle even simple games like 'Raft' on Steam. There's no graphics card in his pc.
So, it looks like I need to build him a new pc. It doesn't need to be anything amazing but it must be silent or nearly silent. Can someone recommend a few suitable components? I want it to last him a few years though! £700 tops?
Ta
Steve
 
Autistic huh? I can certainly relate. Compared to a few years ago, most pc parts that made any noise are much improved.

In general terms, you want a AMD motherboard (probably b550), AMD ryzen APU (CPU with built in graphics, but separate can be added later and/or cpu/apu easily swapped), 2 x 8 GB ram for 16gb total , SSD for silent storage, good quality power supply, case depends on if he likes rgb lights or not.

That will be well within budget. Someone will be along with a proper basket I'm sure.

For a separate CPU and GPU, I'd go with a ryzen 3600 cpu and a £100ish 2nd hand GPU but these are easy upgrades that he and you can source together when he needs them. That would bring you up towards max budget. You can expect 50-75% back on the parts you sell on next year.
 
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Grafter67 said:
Autistic huh? I can certainly relate. Compared to a few years ago, most pc parts that made any noise are much improved.

.....r.
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Yep, not Diagnosed yet but it's very clear he is high up on the spectrum.
So, doesn't like noise unless he's making it! The suggested components above, what cpu gpu cooler could I use to keep the pc silent or virtually so?
Ta peeps
Steve
 
Have you considered just buying a graphics card?

The addition of a 1050 ti (doesn't require any additional PSU power) to your existing PC would be a massive performance increase from onboard graphics. Being a relatively power efficient card will also give low noise.

And if you haven't already - a SSD.
 
Bug One said:
Have you considered just buying a graphics card?

The addition of a 1050 ti (doesn't require any additional PSU power) to your existing PC would be a massive performance increase from onboard graphics. Being a relatively power efficient card will also give low noise.

And if you haven't already - a SSD.
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Yes, but the case and current heatsink (a passive large Nofan copper flower) mean I can't mount anything in the slots one would use for a graphics card. I could upgrade it but I'd need a bigger MB and new cooler etc etc. I think I am better building new and keeping this one as an office pc or selling it on. It has a ssd and is absolutely fine in all other respects.
If I could mount a gpu externaly somehow that maybe an option.
 
Bug One said:
Have you considered just buying a graphics card?

The addition of a 1050 ti (doesn't require any additional PSU power) to your existing PC would be a massive performance increase from onboard graphics. Being a relatively power efficient card will also give low noise.

And if you haven't already - a SSD.
Click to expand...

actualy, thinking about it, if I swapped the cooler for a compact one, that would free up space... will take a look see how much space it will free up. What card specifically are you proposing?
 
 
BigHairyBloke said:
large Nofan copper flower
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BigHairyBloke said:
if I swapped the cooler for a compact one, that would free up space...
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You would be moving from a passive cooler to a compact cooler which will generate noise, and if compact (relative to your present cooler) a lot more noise if not a premium sink or if airflow of case is poor. (ideally you would have 120mm tower - but there are some squat designs which may still fit your case with GPU installed.)

Does your son have a pitch preference that he can tolerate more? (e.g. a low hum/whoosh)

What case are you using?

*Actually, what is your full spec?
 
Plec said:
You would be moving from a passive cooler to a compact cooler which will generate noise, and if compact (relative to your present cooler) a lot more noise if not a premium sink or if airflow of case is poor. (ideally you would have 120mm tower - but there are some squat designs which may still fit your case with GPU installed.)

Does your son have a pitch preference that he can tolerate more? (e.g. a low hum/whoosh)

What case are you using?

*Actually, what is your full spec?
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Any noise that is constant will bother him.

The MB is ASUS H81M-A 4gb Ram, 1tb SSD, Intel Core i3-4130 3.40GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150, nofan CR80 cooler. EVGA 500W 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply, BitFenix Colossus M Micro ATX Case.

I was wondering if I could keep the current system and add in some more ram and extend the pcie with an extension cable... they are not cheap but could mean I could mount a card somewhere in the case?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BQLZR-Expr...qid=1599550015&sprefix=Pcie+ex,aps,272&sr=8-4
 
Not normally what i would suggets but considering games your son plays and requirements:

If you're after a cheap upgrade one possible solution would be to swap out the CPU for a second hand i5 4690/i7 4770 (~£50), second hand 16Gb memory (~£35), and add a discrete card - the ASUS 1050Ti (£150) would be fine for your son's needs and will be semi passive.

I wouldn't bother with a riser - i would buy a Scythe Mugen 5. More than capable of keeping any of the CPUs listed above cool and quiet. Your total upgrade would be under £300 - even less if you were to get a second hand card too. Shame you haven't got enough posts for the MM forum as parts go cheaper than on the bay. But. if you look locally, you should see parts appear - apparently Facebook is good method too.

My basket at Overclockers UK:
​

This is a cheap option and if you bumped up the card to a second hand Nvidia 1660Ti ~£180 (cooler/quieter than AMD cards) - it should last your son a few more years and possible game progression.

EDIT: You would need to check that the Mugen 5 would fit your case - height.

Or you could do a silent Ryzen 3600 build - reusing your case and ssd. I would get a decent PSU that's semi passive and again use a Mugen for cooling and GPU within budget. Possible for £700.
 
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BigHairyBloke said:
It doesn't need to be anything amazing but it must be silent or nearly silent.
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I am very like your son in that noise is a big issue for me and I have spent heavily on reducing it. I ended up buying fibre-optic video cables and putting the PC in a cupboard.

For a fanless GPU, take a look at the Palit KalmX fanless GTX 1650.

As for the CPU cooler, modern CPUs calculate TDP in a different way to when the Nofan CR-95 - which I used to use - was produced and as a result it doesn't work so well any more. I switched to the Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro cooler. You might also consider the Noctua DH-14 or DH-15.

A great source of info on fanless PCs is www.fanlesstech.com.

Something that will almost certainly help is if you build the PC with him.
 
Quartz said:
Something that will almost certainly help is if you build the PC with him.
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If your son is open to this - this is a good idea.

If he can see why and where the noise is coming from and can reason through why it can be justified - it may help him accept a slight noise increase (if discernible).
 
Try as I might, there is no way I can interest him in anything that is not in his current specialist subject... at the moment he is flipping through games at quite a rate. But he has no interest in anything anyone else does lol
 
BigHairyBloke said:
Try as I might, there is no way I can interest him in anything that is not in his current specialist subject... at the moment he is flipping through games at quite a rate. But he has no interest in anything anyone else does lol
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No worries - you will understand his tolerances better than anyone.

Perhaps he'll show a bit of interest if and when you start to take it apart or build a new system as you'll essentially be dismantling one of his main sources of pre-occupation. Hopefully, in a good way...
 
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