couple questions

[dirty elf]

1. im looking into SSDs, particularly the intel X25-M.. does anyone have any experience with this drive or with other SSD drives? this will be for my boot/applications drive.

2. im also looking into a fan controller. my antec three hundred case came with 2 fans installed but they have the simple HML switches on them, when gaming and such i like to have them a tad higher than when just simple websurfing where i dont want to hear them. are there any products that can allow me to plug those into the mobo and control them software wise? that would be ideal, or next what would a good 5.25" bay fan controller be? Also, what fans are a good brand to add to the case? i might just add the other fans to the case and leave them at low speeds if it solves the problem.

3. when i get my SSD what is the best way to move my applications and OS from my spinner to the SSD?

Thanks guys

[glc]

3. If you don't want to or can't clone the whole drive, reinstall.

[Preston]

Originally Posted by dirty elf 1. im looking into SSDs, particularly the intel X25-M.. does anyone have any experience with this drive or with other SSD drives? this will be for my boot/applications drive.

I am a big fan of SSDs. I have two 40 gig Intel SSDs, and I love them. I use one as a boot drive on my HTPC (Vista) and one on my Desktop (XP). Mine have been fast (very fast) and reliable.

All my future builds will have an SSD.

[mikeymm]

Also, what fans are a good brand to add to the case?

I'd like to know the answer to this question too!
We all need a thorough hardware review and hierarchy chart about case fans already!
FWIW, I've used Logisys and Enermax magama and had positive experience with both. Though the Enermax magama works great, it had some drawbacks concerning the hardware. You can read the reviews newegg.

[pally01]

I have two SSD's in use personally and have installed a third on a family member's pc.

The first SSD I bought was an Intel X25-V 40GB and it's been in use as a boot drive for maybe 6 months or so. I couldn't be happier with it thus far. Boot times are quick and it's been rock-solid for performance. I cloned my old C drive onto this one without a hiccup whatsoever.

The 2nd SSD is a Patriot Inferno 60GB that was installed as a boot drive maybe 8 weeks ago. This baby really boogies and has also been absolutely solid so far. Boot times after POST are appx 15 seconds or so. This one was a clean install of Windows 7 and went without a hitch either.

I am with Preston: all my future builds will have an SSD. The performance boost when an SSD is set up properly is absolutley ridiculous

[jdeb]

1. I have had positive experience with the Intel's because of their controller. They have proven their controller is ahead of everyone else and that is the most important. Any company can manufacture an SSD but the controller is what separates the men from the boys. I personally do not see the value in them at the current pricing unless someone is building a professional workstation. That has been my experience. The faster boot time is very noticeable but not at the price. I think with a couple new technology advances coming down the pike, may drop their pricing...will see

[Nuclear Krusader]

Originally Posted by mikeymm We all need a thorough hardware review and hierarchy chart about case fans already!

Hardly. Case fans are no longer a "must have the best" kind of commodity because processors no longer run as hot as they used to and most cases have already adequate ventilation. The days of the 7-case-fans PC that sounded like an aeroplane in the middle of a turbulence are over.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Hardly. Case fans are no longer a "must have the best" kind of commodity because processors no longer run as hot as they used to and most cases have already adequate ventilation. The days of the 7-case-fans PC that sounded like an aeroplane in the middle of a turbulence are over.

well how about one that lists the quiet ones? I hate to buy fans, when ever I do, they are horrible. I am looking right now for two 60mm x 60mm x 10mm . I bought a couple that were supposed to be silent and came highly recommended... total garbage but they were pretty. They were for a small custom case and when installed, the tiny case became louder than a desktop.

[Nikon]

if i needed more fans in my antec 1200, i would get more antec fans. they move a hell of alot of air (even at 50% speed) and are damn near silent when at that 50%. sure crank them up and it sounds like a wind tunnel (which is amusing to me lol) but it will sure cool off your hardware in a hurry. at 100% you dont hear the fans themselves either, you just hear the whispered 'ohhhhhhhhhhh' sound of the air moving.

[Nuclear Krusader]

On my old Thermaltake Xaser I had seven fans, 80mm all. They were Thermaltake fans and were very silent, even with all of them running, plus the HSF (Intel stock, btw) and the VC's fan, the computer was very quiet.

The Gigabyte case that I've had for two years now uses only three 120mm, all of them extremely silent.

Panaflo fans used to be highly rated here, I remember Cricket recommending them all the time, but I know not if they're still as good.