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"Nehemiah Via C3 CPUs"

Has anyone had any experience of these Via CPUs?

I've decided that when I upgrade my system I'll get two boxes - one for everyday use and one for gaming and any other heavy duty stuff I need to throw at it. It looks like it's possible to cool a Via system completely passively, which would mean virtual silence. I realise that the performance isn't going to win any prizes but I just want to be able to browse the net, email, write, do a little bit of programming (no huge compiles, and I'm happy making a cup of tea should I need to do one), and maybe some web design if I ever get my butt in gear.

I'm very tempted by the Hush PCs: http://www.hushtechnologies.com/

Other options are the Tranquil PC ( www.mini-itx.com/store/tranquilpc.asp ) or something I read about in PC Format called Bacata Blu Jour. Not much concrete info on the web about that one, mainly because it's French and the company website is high on waffle, low on prices/distributors etc.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience/opinions/rumours to share about these things.

Building your new computer when you're drunk is rad, I would recommend it to anyone.

Just don't barf on it.

Thank you for risking death. You watercoolers are a courageous breed.

I can't hear it. And even with my ear right up to the fan, risking death, the whirr of the sound is so calm you won't be annoyed by it at all.

But even Zalman PSUs have a fan, right?

I have an Enermax with an adjustable speed fan, and on 'silent' it is supposed to run at 24dB. Zalmans are supposed to run quieter, but they overestimate how quiet their fans are so I'm pretty sceptical about their other claims. How noiseless is noiseless?

Ultra Quiet Zalman 400W PSU - Power and absolute silence.

That's what I figured. But then I thought: PSU + fan can't possibly equal no noise. Which means that watercooling is a big lie.

But I am ready to stand corrected.

Ha, it is a stupid question really, but that question did briefly enter my head when I decided to watercool. The answer's no by the way - I think the heat generated by the PSU can't exactly be shaped using a waterblock (if it did, it would need to be specially carved for each PSU design.

Secondly, power origin + any contact with conductor + added risk element of water = definite disaster.

This might be a very stupid question, but is the PSU water cooled as well?

I use a Ehiem 1048 and have put some foam underneath it, there is hardly any sound at all.

Colin

I've spent most of my life savings on booze this past couple of weeks, so this plan is going on hold for a while. At the moment I have two options:

1. Say 'screw it', up my overdraft and get a really lovely looking PC that gets on with its work slowly, without answering back.

2. Buy a big noisy beast and then stick the git in a cupboard.

Or I could get drunk enough that watercooling sounds not scary at all.