New buildup of Asus M2NPV-VM system

[soccerdad]

Here is a shot of it installed in the entertainment center. It fits fine, but it is a little deep so I have to keep it in the center. You can also see that the scratches from the 2nd quality case are really invisible unless you look at it under bright light. The flash in the earlier picture made it look much worse than it really is. (my wife has not noticed yet )
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You can also see the 150's IR sensor under the speaker. I am going to drill a small hole in the extra drive cover and mount it inside the case so you don't see the big sensor (only the small hole.)

[soccerdad]

As an update, I finally got the cool n quiet working. It turns out that I was setting it incorrectly. I needed to use the "minimal power management" power setting and I had it set to something else. I have turned both case fans down to low so I can't hear them, and also activated ASUS Q Fan (fan speed control for the CPU) and it now idles at 42C and is nearly silent. You can really tell there is less heat coming off of it. It had been idling at around 50C and sometime I would find it up almost to 53C. Now the MB temp has dropped as well down to about 39. Things are getting better everyday!

[rowle1jt]

Awesome! Glad you got C 'n Q working... it was worth the work to get it going!

In the last pic, it appears that the box is blocking one of the fans. Did you end up pulling one of them?

[mcpaul]

Nice job, soccerdad. By chance I ran across this thread looking for some info on a GB-PVR issue. I had just recently purchased the ASUS M2NPV-VM and I'm in the process of finding compatible memory. I'm finding the ASUS qualified vendor list too limiting (expensive), given that I'm looking to put 2 x 1 GB sticks on the board. The manual states the motherboard does not support memory modules made up of 128mb chips or double sided x16 memory modules and I'm finding the results return by some memory configurators (e.g. Crucial's) return results that would appear to be inconsistent with this - in other words they use 128mb chips. Now, if I understand correctly you're using 2 x 512mb to get to 1 GB. Not quite what I wanted to do, but I just may have to readjust in the interest of getting something I know will work. Could you post the exact part number of the memory you are using?

[soccerdad]

In the last pic, it appears that the box is blocking one of the fans. Did you end up pulling one of them?

No, the "box" is just a piece of cardboard I was using to duct the heat out a hole in the back of the entertainment center. It did not really help much and now with cool n quiet enabled, I don't need it anyway.

[soccerdad]

Now, if I understand correctly you're using 2 x 512mb to get to 1 GB. Not quite what I wanted to do, but I just may have to readjust in the interest of getting something I know will work. Could you post the exact part number of the memory you are using?

I am using 2 x 512. It is a Corsair value select kit from ZipZoomFly if I remember correctly. ~$80. I will get you all the info tonight when I am at home.

You may also want to contact another member named Grimkill. I just noticed his sig and it shows the following:
XP SP2 AM2 5200+
150MCE with 2005 MCE Remote and Bean Bag
ASUS M2NPV-VM
CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (4 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800

Looks like he is using 1 gig strips.

[soccerdad]

OK the RAM is Corsair VS1GBKIT667D2 from zipzoomfly.com Here is a link. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDet...16-44Today it is going for $59.90.

[mcpaul]

Thanks for the info. I have 2 x 1 GB sticks that should arrive today (CORSAIR TWIN2X2048-5400c4); if these don't work I'll try the part number you provided.

[elbryyan]

I don't know if this has been commented on before but how is the noise factor for the power supply and fans that come with the case?

[blizard]

As an update, I finally got the cool n quiet working. It turns out that I was setting it incorrectly. I needed to use the "minimal power management" power setting and I had it set to something else. I have turned both case fans down to low so I can't hear them, and also activated ASUS Q Fan (fan speed control for the CPU) and it now idles at 42C and is nearly silent. You can really tell there is less heat coming off of it. It had been idling at around 50C and sometime I would find it up almost to 53C. Now the MB temp has dropped as well down to about 39. Things are getting better everyday!

My Athlon64 X2 4200+@2200Mhz (stock speed) idle at 30C, so I think you could be able to get much lower temperature when you have a Athlon64 X2 3600+@1900Mhz. The only difference are that I use a standard ATX cabinet that are standing and you use a horizontal laying HTPC. Did you add some low noise fan except for that on your HSF? I think that is what you need to get lower temperature and to keep both TV-tuner card, harddisk and the rest of your hardware with a steady airflow. Don't forget to add enough space behind your HTPC for warm air to escape and keep cold air to enter into your HTPC.

Congratulation to your new HTPC!