Need peace and quiet... help?

DCMega1DCMega1
edited October 2004 in Hardware
Greetings...
My wife has been on my case about the noise level of my comp. The old comp wasn't all that silent either, but she seems to believe this newer one is worse. Though it doesn't bother me, she's begging me to find a way to quiet the thing down. Does anyone know what the quietest, good-quality fans are? Right now I'm just going with the stock heatsink/fan and a side case fan. It's the cpu fan that's so noisy. I'm using a Athlon XP 3000+ cpu. Advice would be appreciated.
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Comments

  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    There are plenty of options for a quiter CPU heatsink. First, though, you should check out this great article about efficient PC cooling.

    My recommendation for a good, quiet CPU cooling is a Thermalright SLK-series heatsink with a good quality adjustable 80MM or 92MM fan.
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    are you overclocking?
    what fan are you using now?
    thermaltake smartfan2 is a good option. It can be quiet or loud or anything in between depending on how you set it up.
    It can be controoled manually or by thermister.
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    Not overclocking right now. Just running at 166 FSB, putting me in the 2 Ghz range for the Athlon XP 3000+ Barton CPU. The temp is showing around 37-42 C (100-109 F) range when idle, which I'm told is good.

    The fan/heatsink on there right now was what came with it... called a Ultra Fire Athlon XP CPU Cooler. Stats are:
    Fan speed: 4500 RPM
    Airlfow: 21.5 cfm
    Ball Bearing
    Aluminum Fins, Copper core

    It seems to cool just fine. If I can get the same cooling power with a lot less noise, please let me know. Also... can I just replace the fan and leave the heatsink attached?
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    Your best bet is to buy something that uses an 80 or 92 mm fan. If you combine a Thermalright SLK-900A (for example) with the fan that csimon recommended, your system will run as cool (or cooler) and be quieter, so long as the fan is operating at low RPMs.
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    yes as GHoss said ...the SLK's will be more efficient than what you have and you won't need as much wind (ie noise). Maybe even the slk 947u
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    The SLK-900A looks beefy... but if it's better than what I have, maybe it's worth the effort of swapping it out. I guess I only have a couple other questions:
    1) Where is a good place to pick up the SLK-9x series heatsinks, at a good price?
    2) Same question for the fan
    3) What would a fan speed recommendation be if I did change to the heatsink/fan combo listed in your posts? Or is that just a thing you have to tweak?
  • JustinJustin Atlanta
    edited October 2004
    www.newegg.com is the place. You shoudl be able to adjust fan speed in you BIOS or through a program like Motherboard Monitor.
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/soccpucool.html ...all you really need is the alx-800 which uses an 80mm fan. The ALX-800 has been discontinued by Thermalright.
    And the fan is here ...http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/ther80smarfa1.html
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    What case are you using now?
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    Case is just a basic one... Chieftec Mini Dragon Case. Comes standard with side mounted fan, and front/back spare spots for more if I want them.

    I'll check out newegg ...

    I don't think anyone mentioned what a good fan speed might be... is that just something you mess with and watch the temp?
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    DCMega1 wrote:
    Case is just a basic one... Chieftec Mini Dragon Case. Comes standard with side mounted fan, and front/back spare spots for more if I want them.

    I'll check out newegg ...

    I don't think anyone mentioned what a good fan speed might be... is that just something you mess with and watch the temp?

    You can use the thermistor which will raise and lower fan speeds as needed. Or you can set the speed manually at a comfortable rate yourself and leave it there. Even at 50% throttle you would have a very efficiently cooled system ...or even 25% throttle. You always have the option handy in the future for better throtling.
    In your case I would try the thermister first. I set up a system just a few weeks ago that way and it was heavily overclocked (mobile 35w 2400+@2.4 200fsb) and the system is very very quiet and folds proteins 24/7 at 100% cpu usage and overclocked gpu.

    Also ...if you are using an nforce2 motherboard there is a cooling patch you can apply which will cool your system 5-10 degrees.
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    Put me in the dumb category... what's thermistor?

    Oh, and I spotted this in the BIOS: CPU Thermal-Throttling 50% , so it looks like I'm already set on that, unless I want to try 25% like you mentioned. I'd like to go with your suggestion of thermistor... once I know what it is. I'll go google now, but please post again when you have a min. thnx.
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    DCMega1 wrote:
    Put me in the dumb category... what's thermistor?

    Oh, and I spotted this in the BIOS: CPU Thermal-Throttling 50% , so it looks like I'm already set on that, unless I want to try 25% like you mentioned. I'd like to go with your suggestion of thermistor... once I know what it is. I'll go google now, but please post again when you have a min. thnx.
    The bios throttling has nothing to do with it actually. That bios setting relies on another setting to even work and I keep mine disabled.

    Here is the thermistor I mention:

    ...Potentiometer dial for manual adjustment, ultra-thin Thermistor with thermal tape, custom Thermaltake fan guard, a special 3+4 pin power adapter and 4 screws/bolts. The adapter allows the user to monitor the rpm while powering the fan safely from the power supply.

    The thermistor is an optional thermal diode which will attach to the fan. It comes with the kit. It attaches to one of the leads shown in the lower right hand corner of the fan and the diode itself is attached to the wire at the other end. It is attached by double stick tape which you can adhere to the lowest area of the heatsink to get good temperature readings.

    It works like this basically ...if your cpu temp goes up then the fan speeds up ...when your cpu temp gets lower then your fan speed slows down. Works very well.

    While you're at it get some arctic silver 5 thermal paste. This will ensure proper contact between the sink and the cpu. Make sure before you power up that your fans are connected properly and your heatsink has good contact ...this essential so that you don't fry the cpu.
    http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/arcticsilver5.html
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    Concerning "CPU Thermal-Throttling":
    This BIOS feature determines the clock speed of the processor when it is in the Suspend To RAM (STR) power saving mode. It has no effect when the processor is in normal active mode.

    You can find a good bios guide here excellent for tweaking hints.
    http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=1
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    The part of me that loves challenges is begging me to try the above... but it does sound like a little bit of work/money is involved. I love the idea though, and I can see how useful it is. Now I just wish I had someone with experience to do it for me (for free of course haha).

    I used a similar thermal grease substance when I installed the CPU/heatsink just yesterday. It's probably not as high quality... I think I got a small injector of it for a buck or two. I very carefully applied it, as per instructions I've found on this forum and others. I think I did a pretty good job... so if need be I could do it again. I guess I'd have to clean off the old stuff with degreaser or something in order to reapply?

    So, to all who read this string... what's the best/easiest/cheapest option? Go with the new heatsink/fan as the earlier messages provided? Or perhaps with the more recent idea of thermistor/fan combo, with variable speed based upon temp?
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    well does your current heatsink use an 80mm fan?
    If so just get the fan and let it thermally control the speed itself.
    If that's not quiet enough then proceed with a more efficient heatsink w/ grease.

    Also ...try this patch if you have the nforce2 it should lower your temps therefore requiring less speed/noise.
    http://www.tcmagazine.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewdownloaddetails&lid=89
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    Vantec AeroFlow and some quiter 80mm fans for ur case should do the trick
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    Cooler Dimensions: 62 x 80 x 65mm
    Heat Sink Dimensions: 62 x 80 40mm
    Fan Dimensions: 60 x 60 x 25mm
    Rated Voltage: 12V/0.20A
    Power Consumption: 2.4W
    Fan Speed: 4500RPM
    Airflow: 21.5CFM
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-110-007&depa=0
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    The Aeroflow is pretty damn noisy.

    Can you do me a favor and link me to your case on newegg? I can't seem to find it. Once I've had a chance to look at the case, I can tell you what you'll need to get to quiet it down without cooking anything. :)
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited October 2004
    I have an aeroflow right next to me right now cooling my AXP 3000+ It's dead silent
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    Then you're deaf. I've used Aeroflows on multiple (like 7) PCs. It's not silent by any stretch of the imagination.
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    Hah... maybe it's just turned down really low...

    Still haven't decided what to go with, but I have options now, so I'm all set I think. If anyone else has more advice, please give a shout out... otherwise I'll pick from the options already presented. Thanks!
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    Installed motherboard monitor... works great. Right now it says my case is at 47 C and the CPU is at 39 C ... so I'm running nice and cool. Ran a few higher-end games, and not much of a heat increase, which is good. I wonder if I can turn down the fan...
  • DCMega1DCMega1
    edited October 2004
    Here's an interesting question: I read elsewhere that having the fans run off the motherboard is worse than having it run off the power supply directly. From what I read, the fans plugged into the motherboard, especially if tweaked in anyway, can screw up the motherboard? Is that true? My CPU fan is motherboard connected, and the case fans are not.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    DCMega1 wrote:
    Installed motherboard monitor... works great. Right now it says my case is at 47 C and the CPU is at 39 C ... so I'm running nice and cool. Ran a few higher-end games, and not much of a heat increase, which is good. I wonder if I can turn down the fan...

    MBM has your sensors bass ackwards. The CPU is 47*C, the case is 39*C.

    A sufficiently powerful fan can burn the fan power traces on a motherboard, yes.
  • JChretienJChretien Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited October 2004
    hmmm yes the vantec aeroflow ^^ i really like mine, but its not quiet by any stretch of the imagination... but it just looks really cool ^^ if i were to ever get an athlonMP dualie i'd have two of them on there =D
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    Regardless of the fact that besides being noisy, they cool like crap? :p
  • mcwcmcwc Vancouver, BC Member
    edited October 2004
    The Aeroflow cools alright. Had one on the XP-M 2500 @ 2.4, can I say OUCH! Sold that to JChretien's cousin within a week of ownership and replaced it with a Thermaltake Volcano 12. Running it at about 40% power and it's slightly louder than the Aeroflow, though the case fans and PSU fan together is just about as loud. Not as bad compared to the fans in my case. Would have gotten a Thermalright if NCIX.com had them instock.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2004
    Our definitions of what qualifies as "alright" are different apparently ;)

    I've got an aeroflow on Habitat For Humanity's server. On a stock 1800+ TBred, it runs 116*F under full load. That's... sad.
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