Bringing down the noise

[imported_ceefka]

Quite a lot of facts to start with, hope you stick around .

My system: 3 HDDs, 1 DVD-RW, Gigabyte nF4 Ultra mobo (passive chipset cooling), Gigabyte NVIDIA 6200 graphics also passive cooling in an Antec P150 w/ Antec Neo HE 430W has 5 fans.

1 x CPU fan on the stock AMD cooler (s939), not even that loud.
1 x 120 mm system fan that came with the case, on slow, relatively quiet.
1 x 80 mm PSU fan, on by default of course, this is the quietest fan, I think.
2 x Nexus Real Silent Case Fan 92 mm at full speed

I disconnected the optional Nexus fans to compare a bit and it seems they are the loudest of them all. With 3 HDDs I figured a little extra cooling wouldn't hurt. No way to control these fans from the BIOS or that I know of. I do not yet have a fan controller.

Options, too much to choose from without guidance:
1. Replace the Nexus fans with something better.
2. Just throw the Nexus fans out the door, period.
3. Get a fan controller to lower the rpm on case fans, especially on those Nexus fans.
4. Get a better/quieter CPU fan.
5. Anything you guys suggest.
6. Get passive HDD cooling.
7. Combo of the above.

What would you do?

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: ceefka

Options, too much to choose from without guidance:
1. Replace the Nexus fans with something better.

There's nothing out there with as good of a noise-to-airflow ratio as the 92mm Nexus. You can easily get more than enough cooling airflow out of them by running them at 5-7 volts.

Originally posted by: ceefka
2. Just throw the Nexus fans out the door, period.

Bad idea.

Originally posted by: ceefka
3. Get a fan controller to lower the rpm on case fans, especially on those Nexus fans.

Yes. Easy and cheap to do with a $4 Zalman Fanmate.

Originally posted by: ceefka
4. Get a better/quieter CPU fan.

This would be my #1 priority. I can't believe that this isn't the loudest fan in your system.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: ceefka
4. Get a better/quieter CPU fan.

Work on the loudest fan first. Even if you reduce the noise of your CPU fan, it will still be drowned in the noise of your Nexus fan by your own description.

 

[Bobthelost]

Undervolt those 92mm fans. You probably don't need them, i've got a P150 with 3 HDs and no extra fans (rear on low), it's hitting 44*C on the hottest of the three. I'd prefer to have some direct airflow over them but an 80mm fan @ 5v is sufficent for that.

 

[imported_ceefka]

OK, thank you all.

I'll be:
Slowing down the Nexus fans.
Looking for a better CPU cooler. Thinking about the XP-120.

 

[Tiamat]

Here is what I did:

2x Yateloon D12Sl-12 @ 5 Volts for rear and GPU
GPU is cooled by Zalman ZM-80d (blue passive heatpipe)
CPU is cooled by Thermalright 947U w/ 92mm Nexus at 8V
2x Nexus 92mm front fans at 5V
Stock Antec PSU
Raptor 74
Samsung 160gb drive.
Northbridge is passively cooled by blue zalman heatsink

In the middle of the night, the psu and CPU fan are the culprits for noise, followed by the raptor. If there is harddrive activity, the raptor is very loud compared to everything else.

 

[imported_ceefka]

OK,

The 92mm Nexus fans are on 5v and running silent.

I believe the stock CPU fan is the loudest now. I was thinking of replacing it with a Thermalright XP-120 with a 120mm fan. On silientpcreview they recommend the panaflo so and so, but where I live (Netherlands) I see now panaflo fans anywhere. Another Nexus is easy.

Any additional recommendations here? I hear good things about the Arctic Freezer 64 Pro too. What's that compared to the XP-120 or the stock cooler?

 

[Rommel44]

Originally posted by: ceefka
OK,

The 92mm Nexus fans are on 5v and running silent.

I believe the stock CPU fan is the loudest now. I was thinking of replacing it with a Thermalright XP-120 with a 120mm fan. On silientpcreview they recommend the panaflo so and so, but where I live (Netherlands) I see now panaflo fans anywhere. Another Nexus is easy.

Any additional recommendations here? I hear good things about the Arctic Freezer 64 Pro too. What's that compared to the XP-120 or the stock cooler?

If you can get them try 120mm fans from Noctua - they are very quiet.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: ceefka

Any additional recommendations here? I hear good things about the Arctic Freezer 64 Pro too. What's that compared to the XP-120 or the stock cooler?

The short answer is that it's good. As is the XP 120. There may well be better options around but you won't go far wrong with either.

I like the SI 120 myself. With a nexus on it you're paying a fair bit, but it'll be damned quiet.

 

[Ayah]

Try the Thermalright Ultra-120.