Opus 320?

**grimmy311** · 09-17-2007, 10:49 AM

This is the setup I would like to run. I know the P4 sucks alot of juice but I these are all the parts I have laying around doing nothing so I want to use what I have so I can keep the cost down.

Would the Opus 320 work for me? (I'm sorry if I have ask the same question that millions of others have asked) (On a positive note I have searched, read all the FAQ's and done tons of research I just want opinion from the pros

)

System Type: Single Processor
Motherboard: Regular - Desktop
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 531 3000 MHz Prescott
CPU Utilization (TDP): 85% TDP
RAM: 2 Sticks DDR SDRAM
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600
Video Type: Single Card
SATA HDD: 1 HDD
DVD-RW/DVD+RW Drive: 1 Drive
Sound Blaster - All Models: Yes
Keyboard and mouse: Yes
System Load: 100 %

Recommended Wattage: 227 Watts

**DarquePervert** · 09-17-2007, 11:52 AM

Does the motherboard have onboard video? If so, use that and save some power draw there.

the Opus 320 will probably suit you, but if you can cut downt he power draw, you could also go with a lesser (and cheaper) PSU.

**Phatsacks** · 09-17-2007, 12:12 PM

If it doesn't, I'd get the Nvidia 7300GS, or LE.

Those are by far the lowest power consuming cards. GS is 16w, and the LE is 24w

Most others are 3-4x that amount.

**grimmy311** · 09-17-2007, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Does the motherboard have onboard video? If so, use that and save some power draw there.

the Opus 320 will probably suit you, but if you can cut downt he power draw, you could also go with a lesser (and cheaper) PSU.

Yes the motherboard has onboard video. Would this save me about 30 watts or so? I then will just have to get a screen with VGA, I'm assuming they pretty much all have this ability.

**grimmy311** · 09-17-2007, 06:02 PM

Actually I just looked it up it will save me 47W! Which would take me down to 180W are there any other things you could recommend to get rid of some extra wattage? I know the processor is a hog but it's laying around and I don't think I could justify buying a new processor and board.

**RedGTiVR6** · 09-17-2007, 06:25 PM

Where are you going to mount this PC? Are you going to use a case? how are you going to cool that processor? Where do you live? What kind of climate?

**grimmy311** · 09-17-2007, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

Where are you going to mount this PC? Are you going to use a case? how are you going to cool that processor? Where do you live? What kind of climate?

I am going to mount the PC in my trunk in a hidden boot or behind my glove box or possibly under the passenger side seat. I am building a custom case out of aluminium to help dispate heat.

The processor is being cooled by a stock cpu fan and the box I am building will have two fans bringing cold air in and two exhaust fans.

I may possibly go liquid cooled since I have the parts for a liquid cooled system. I live in Florida where its always hot and humid so I think I may opt for the liquid cooled system.

**RedGTiVR6** · 09-17-2007, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by grimmy311

The processor is being cooled by a stock cpu fan and the box I am building will have two fans bringing cold air in and two exhaust fans.

In the middle of the summer, where are you going to get this 'cold' air? And if you say the AC, in the colder parts of the year, when you have to run your heater, what then?

I may possibly go liquid cooled since I have the parts for a liquid cooled system. I live in Florida where its always hot and humid so I think I may opt for the liquid cooled system.

Liquid cooling in the car is...well.....I guess if you really want that much headahce of installing that and finding somewhere to put all of the components, etc....however, I would seriously reconsider that thought if I were you.

Mounting hardware in the trunk like a P4 is concerning, especially when the truck isn't climate controlled. Mounting it in a space where air flow is restricted to begin with will cause another problem in and of its self...like a glove box, etc.

I would really encourage you to think this through a bit more before you go too much deeper. I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm just saying you should spend a bit more time thinking it through. Based on my experience here in Texas (where summers get to be 117 + heat index at times), running a higher powered processor in a case in a place where there is very little air flow is going to cause problems.

After making the switch from a MII12000 to a Core Duo set-up I fully realized this and have since removed the case I was once using.

You will want to pay VERY close attention to cooling that P4, otherwise you're going to wonder why everyone thinks CarPCs are really neat.

**nst6563** · 09-17-2007, 08:21 PM

In case it helps any, here's what I'm running all off an Opus150.

MITX-845GVD P4 motherboard
Using onboard video
P4 3.06Ghz (533Mhz bus)
1Gb DDR333
2x 5400rpm 2.5" drives (1x60gb, 1x30gb)
MSI dualnet card (WiFi 802.11G and Bluetooth) w/external antenna.
USB GPS reciever.
Lilliput 7" touchscreen
30w Altec Lansing stereo speakers (long story short...dual audio option for GPS)

All that junk runs off that little Opus150. At first I had overheating problems as it is in the trunk. I was using a cheap low-profile heatsink in a Travla C158 case. took the cover off and switched to an XP-90 w/90mm fan and that cured the overheating problems. I'm experimenting with running the chip at 2.3Ghz instead of 3.06 and using the lowprofile heatsink and putting the case cover back on and so far so good (been running it like that for about 4 days now).