> To: suse-amd64(a)suse.com
> Subject: RE: [suse-amd64] motherboard recommendation -
> slightly off topic :-)
>
> Jonathan Brooks wrote on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 8:57
PM::
>
> > Hi!
> >
> > Thanks for all the feedback - it's only going to be a
> regular PC, not
> > a server/workstation so I think I'll go with my initial
> thought which
> > was to go with Asus (A8N-SLI Deluxe). I may end up
running Linux
> > through VMware anyway, so the hardware is sort of
irrelevant....
> >
>
> The only thing I would add to others' comments is that I
used
> to have an A8N-SLI Deluxe and was really happy with it,
but
> the chipset heatsink/fan dislodged (without any help from
> me!), frying the chipset.
> Subsequent examination showed that the clamps were really
> flimsy. I upgraded it to the A8N-SLI Premium which
replaces
> the HSF with a heatpipe & haven't had any problems.
>
> Over the years, most of my hardware problems have been due
to
> dying fans, so the elimination of the fan can only help
> reliability (and makes for a slightly quieter PC too).
>
> I think it was well worth the tiny (~5%) additional outlay
> for the extra reliability.
>
> Just looking at the Asus website, you might also consider
the
> newer A8N32-SLI Deluxe which is also fanless (the 32
refers
> to the 2x16 bit PCI-E bus - double the width of the A8N).
It
> also appears to have a few other improvements (e.g. faster
> memory bus, more efficient power use leading to lower
> temperatures) It appears to carry about a 20% price
premium
> (which is still tiny compared to the combined cost of
> mobo+cpu+ram).
>
> Phil
> --
>
I too have the ASUS Premium (A8N-SLI), the heat pipe is
neat-o, and quiet and no chipset fans to die on you.
Also I really like my Antec NEO 550 He (High Efficiency)
Power supply. It is COOL to the touch, even after running
torture work for 8 hours. The fan inside this PSU has yet
to turn on. Totally silent, makes almost no heat. Very
nice PSU for server or workstation.
I had an nvidia card in my server and the GPU fan went all
melty after a few years. Didn't know it until I looked
inside case. Now I have an ATI AGP with a large heat sync on
the video chip....