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The most frequently discussed topic in our letters sack is PC noise. Generally speaking, the faster components go, the hotter they get, requiring better cooling.
This doesn't necessarily have to lead to increased noise, but in our experience it usually does. Manufacturers tend to divert every penny into increasing performance, without spending on quieter fans - some of the PCs we've reviewed sound like rockets taking off. But specialist PC manufacturer Armari reckons there are many customers who would love a quiet PC, with plenty of speed, and we'd have to agree. The result is one of the most ingenious PCs we've seen.
The Q22 isn't totally silent - you can definitely tell when it is switched on, but it's easily the quietest PC we've used in a long time. It is possible to make a completely silent PC, but the cost would be prohibitive, so what we have here is an excellent compromise.
It is powerful - a 2.2GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of PC2100 DDR memory, an Asus Geforce4 TI V8460 Ultra graphics card, Creative Soundblaster Audigy, modem and 10/100 Ethernet are mounted onto the Intel D845BG motherboard.
But what has Armari done that's so different? There's an unusual heatsink on the processor for starters - an aluminium and copper 'flower' from Zalman (www.zalmantech.com). This highly efficient heatsink reduces the need for a powerful CPU fan, but not entirely.
By opting for a large fan, Armari can slow down the rotation speed while maintaining sufficient air flow to keep the 2.2GHz worth of processor cool. Direct contact with the heatsink has been avoided - the fan has been mounted using a special bracket, so it literally floats in front of the processor. The fan is connected to a regulator: should you wish to overclock your CPU, simply turn a switch on the regulator to increase speed.
One thing that helps is the latest generation Pentium 4 processor, produced using an up-to-date 0.13micron process, which reduces the amount of heat generated.
Next in the list of improvements is the power supply. This is a highly specified, 300w model that's much quieter than the average units we see.
Case fans are another common cause of noise. There are two of these inside the case, but they are also very quiet. Armari has achieved this by fitting a set of diodes to drop the speed by around 1,000rpm. The hard drive can be another source of racket, but Armari's choice is impressively silent.
The Seagate Barracuda ATA IV is a fast performer, with a 7,200rpm spindle speed and a 2MB buffer, but the effort Seagate has put into developing its Softsonic motor has clearly paid off.
The icing on the cake is the acoustic mats placed on the inside of the case. These slices of foam help cut noise reverberating inside the chassis.
Add to that a good-looking Coolermaster case, and you've got a very impressive system indeed.
The next stage in the process should be low-noise optical drives - the Pioneer DVD drive and Plextor CD-RW make a bit of a din. If you're constantly using optical discs, this could ruin the aural experience. Most people won't be bothered though: after the software you need has been installed there's little use for the optical drives.
The rest of the system is similarly high end. There's a 19in Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 920 monitor, plus CSW Digital, a three-piece set of speakers from Cambridge Soundworks. A Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro and optical mouse are also thrown in, and a copy of Windows XP Home edition.
Performance-wise this is one of the fastest machines we've seen, particularly in games, thanks to Nvidia's latest Geforce4 TI4600 chip. Of course, there's a premium to pay, but it's not prohibitive. Most of the cost comes from the processor and graphics card.
If you're in the market for a new PC, but don't want a load of noisy fans whirring in the corner, then the Armari is the only choice.
Contact
Armari: 020 8993 4111 www.armari.co.uk
See also:
Overclocked to nearly 3GHz, the R833 still keeps a cool head. 16 Jul 2002
While we're still hoping for a G4 iMac, this latest machine is no slouch and, at £1199, it's reasonable value when everything is considered. 15 Feb 2002
A blisteringly fast Athlon XP processor beats at the heart of this PC. 10 Dec 2001All Desktops
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