I have a desktop PC which is my web server but its pretty noisy, being a 3 yr old machine with a cheap power unit in with a fairly loud fan....

can anyone recommend a really good SILENT power unit so I can turn this desktop into something as silent as a laptop......I dont 'even want to know its switched on' sort of silence I mean.....or as close as I can get to it anyway

most of the Silent (Cooler Master, Thermaltake, OCZ)

My 1st silent one was a zalman about 100 quid or so- it was nice but went pop after a year or two, I replaced it with one in a red box from maplin for about 20 quid - - the maplin one was quieter !

You can get completely silent power supplies if you look hard enough. I've got the previous model to this one (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/500W-NorthQ-Pacific-II-Fanless-PSU-ATX-22-plus80efficiency-0Db-Noise!!). It does have a fan, but it's only there for emergencies if things get too hot - mine has never come on.

You can get completely silent power supplies if you look hard enough. I've got the previous model to this one (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/500W-NorthQ-Pacific-II-Fanless-PSU-ATX-22-plus80efficiency-0Db-Noise!!). It does have a fan, but it's only there for emergencies if things get too hot - mine has never come on.

odd, as the name says "fanless" :)

(yes, I did read it ;) -- 70mm smart FAN that gives protection under extreme heat conditions.)