Quiet Cooling

[Iroquois]

I've got quite a loud CPU fan. Sounds more like a hair dryer. Anyone have any recomendations on a good fan for Socket A CPUs. Must be  quiet but very efficient.

[Gixer]

What is your current CPU cooler. I got one of those turbine AERO7 thingys by coolmaster, its quite noisy on full speed but I saw a nice little mod for it the other day that I am gonna try out.

[Iroquois]

It's a Thermaltake. The Volcano 7. It's currently running at just under 4000rpm. According to the little chart on their website, that's about 33db-36db. At the full 5000rpm it runs at 39db.

I want something that's efficient as well. I currently have 4 other fans than the CPU. Two generic case regular size, one expansion slot which acts as a VGA cooler, and the PS fan. The case is currently at 32C but goes up to 34C sometimes. The room temperature is 24C with the computer off. According to SiS Sandra, the CPU is running at   53C (127F).

[congo]

I've come to the conclusion that fan noise has a lot to do with it's RPM speed. My new CPU fan runs 1000 RPM less (3000 now) than my old one and is a lot quieter. The new heatsink is a lot larger and my CPU is running cooler than the last one.

I'm going shopping  this morning for an extra, extra large, low rpm case fan to mod my case with a single fan in a further attempt at noise reduction.


Proposed fan mod

[Iroquois]

Ok, I've decided what I'm going to get. The Thermaltake Volcano Silent Boost. It's got an all copper heatsink and an ultra quiet fan that runs at only 21db. http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/volc ... a1889b.htm

Last questions is about thermal compounds. Anyone know of a good low cost one? I've head good things about Arctic Silver 5 but the smallest tube is way to big for what I need it for. I'm not covering 25 CPUs with it. Any suggestions?

[Gixer]

AS5 is meant to be the best.  I got a tube of AS3 I use, I have had it a while now and it still seems ok to use.

[bm]

I bought an Akasa fan controller Jr on ebay (first go!) a month or two ago. Very cheap (even from a proper shop), 2 extra USB2 ports & Works great at reducing the noise of up to 3 fans.

I have recently discovered after six months or so (!!!) that my PC can be transformed from a roaring beast into a quietish (something - just can't think of anything quiet at the mo!) with the touch of a red button on the PSU ...... :-/   :'(  ::)  :P

Needless to say I feel a little gutted after all this time wondering how to reduce the noise! all I needed to do was press a button :-[ :-X :-/ :-* :'( :P ::) :( >:( >:(

[Meyekul]

Last questions is about thermal compounds. Anyone know of a good low cost one? I've head good things about Arctic Silver 5 but the smallest tube is way to big for what I need it for. I'm not covering 25 CPUs with it. Any suggestions?

I have a whole 12g tube of AS5 here at work, I could mail you a squirt or two if you want (you only need a little dot for 1 CPU).  I'm not sure how I'd package it, so I'm open to suggestions there.

[chomp_rock]

You'd need to ship AS5 in a small plastic bag with as close to no air in it as possible.

[HeavyMetal]

I have a Thermaltake Volcano 12.  It is very loud, but is adjustable. BTW 53C is well within reason for a CPU.  Mine runs at 41-45 with fan on high, and around 50-55 with fan on low.

Speedbird_1961