Passive cooling/silent cooling
 

What kind of stuff would I need to passively cool a modern cpu and gpu?

OR

What kind of stuff would I need to make the cooling REALLY REALLY silent.

Ahhhh, now you're talkin my language Cowboy :thumb:

What Cpu/system are you thinking of cooling passively/silently? There are a number of options, depending on the size of your case and what components you want to cool passively.

Phenom 2 x2 550 with unlocked cores, mild OC,
Any modern gpu from like a 9800gt and up.

and I want to cram it into my acrylic matx case.

CPU: Either a CM 212+ for non-passive, or a Scythe Orochi for pure passive.
VGA: Either a TRad/Arctic-cooling twin turbo for non-passive, HR-03 series for pure passive (non-highend graphics though)
Fans: Nexus, Gelid, Arctic-cooling and Noctua all make super-silent fans.

I personally had an old system that was:
939 4000+ - passive w/ orochi
3850 - passive w/ HR-03
2x Nexus 120mm case fans Only.

:thumb:

how high end, exactly, is "HIGH END"

For cooling a completely passive videocard, it depends on airflow. That being said, I wouldn't go above a 4770/4850 passive Ati or GTS250/9800GTX+ passive Nvidia. With a fan though, even a low-rpm 92mm, you can go a good deal higher.

I might as well water cool since I've already got the parts...

Thanks CM

Anytime :biggrin:. I do-so-love my aircooling, lol.
Water just doesn't like me (my excuse anyways).

CPU: CM Z600 or Scythe Ninja2 both fanless
VGA: AC Accelero S1 rev.2. Fanless of course (depends on GPU thought).

But you need at least an 120 mm exhaust fan and (optional) an 120 mm intake fan, both @7-800 RPM's.
Some time ago I've had an X2 3800+ with Ninja rev.B fanless and an 8800GT with AC S1 fanless but in my P182 I've had one exhaust and one middle intake @800 RPM's. No problems with temps or stability.

For CPU either Prolimatech Megalehems or Thermalright HR-01 plus (Direct Canada sells it). GPU HR-03 for sure.