Need Help Quieting my system

[Overkiller]

I have my system housed in an Antec Sonata case but as the saying goes..put noisy components in a quiet case and you will still have a noisy pc!

I do not have the probe or the limiter for the SMART Fan II so mine is running >4500RPM and it is quite loud. It keeps my 2.8 @ 3.2 ghz P4C frigid [Thermaltake SLK-947U heatsink] but it is like being next to a jet engine..and as the pc is on the opposite side of my room this is quite aggravating. is there any way i can reduce the speed of this fan? If not what would be a good replacement to put on top of my 947U to keep this OC/d proc. cool.


My other Noisy Components:

2x 80 MM fans on my ENermax 460W PSU
North-bridge Fan on my Abit IC7-max 3.
Fan above the power capacitators on my IC7-Max3
9700 pro fan
2x120 MM Antec-Clear case fans (not noisy)
Raptor HD


ANy ideas???

Right now when I turn on the system it really sounds like a jet was just turned on. I live in a qiuet neighborhood no-less so the noise is especially apparent. The main step at first is the CPU fan but I am open for other suggestions to tame this beast.

Thanks!

 

[Operandi]

First ditch the crap Thermaltake fan for your 947U; I'm going to recommend this Panaflow M1A

Second remove the fan on your northbridge and replace it with this Zalman passive heatsink.

For the 9700 pro get the Zalman ZM80D-HP.

 

[Overkiller]

48 dB at 4800 rpm VS 30 dB for the fan.
75.7 CFM VS 48cfm

It shouldn't increase the temperature of the processor that much should it? (my proc runs full load 100% of the time).


Weary of touching my radeon card. And will the passive heatsink keep that northbridge cool enough? I've heard it gets quite hot in 475P systems.

Thanks!

 

[Jhhnn]

It's imperative to identify the noisiest component, work on that first. Otherwise, you're just pounding sand.

Proceedurally, try this. Set the bios to boot from the floppy, put one in the drive. This lets you start/stop quickly and easily. Next, open up the sidepanel, disconnect all the fans except the psu. Boot, let it run briefly as you listen. This is your baseline noise level, psu and drives only. Shut down, hook up the processor fan, hold it to keep it from spinning up as you boot- listen, then let the fan run to compare the before and after. Shut down, do the same with the other fans. This harms nothing, provided the periods of fanless operation are relatively brief....

The recommended panaflo is an excellent choice, very high quality fan. You may have to back off on your overclock a little, not likely. But, hey, you can't have everything...

Once you have that under control, you'll probably discover that some other fan is driving you nuts, so remember that the zalman nb coolers work just fine, and that the arctic cooling vidcoolers are also excellent... the front case fan probably isn't worth the noise, either...

 

[Operandi]

The Panaflow should be fine. And yes that Zalman will be enough to cool your northbridge.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: Overkiller
48 dB at 4800 rpm VS 30 dB for the fan.
75.7 CFM VS 48cfm

It shouldn't increase the temperature of the processor that much should it? (my proc runs full load 100% of the time).


Weary of touching my radeon card. And will the passive heatsink keep that northbridge cool enough? I've heard it gets quite hot in 475P systems.

Thanks!

I wouldn't think it would increase the temps too much to make a difference. 48cfm from the panaflo. a slightly louder panaflo fan that still has monitoring

The Zalmon vga cooler is great, if installed properly your temps will be fine considering your case ventilation. I wouldn't install it on anything faster, you can also opt for an ati silencer, they have very quiet fans.

the north bridge cooler is a very good product, however keep in mind the mounting method, I don't know much about your mobo, but be sure it can be installed, it's also possible you're board needs an active cooler (the one in the picture is pretty large), you could go with this and swap the included fan for something quieter (don't know if it will accept any other size fans, it comes with a 45mm fan{hard to find} if will take a 50mm fan you could go with one of these

 

[Overkiller]

Well My cpu fan is the loudest apparatus in this case. it is running at full bore which puts it at about 48 decibals. This is equivalent to rainfall and not too far off from "normal conversation" just on its own [checking a decibal rating chart]. Add in the other components and the noise begins to add up fast.
The second loudest would have to be the North-bridge/ PSU fans.

The enermax 460W is a solid psu but if necessar I might opt for one of the more silent psu's.

Here are some high quality images of my motherboard showing the North-bridge fan and the OTES cooling apparatus. Just click the links for larger pictures. My only worry about the north-bridge cooler is to go fanless after looking at the monster that abit put on there themselves...

http://www.extremeoverclocking...s/ABIT_IC7_MAX3_4.html

 

[Operandi]

I highly doubt that 48 dBA ratting is accurate, its most likely in the high to mid 50's. The Zalman cooler will be fine, Intel uses passive coolers on all of their boards. I would change those components first, then look into the PSU if noise is still a problem.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

That chipset cooler should stay put, it uses the flimsy metal clip (think dell) instead of the 2 hole mounting method, if the fan isn't making too much noise I'd leave it alone.

 

[lockmac]

You could always invest in some SilenX Fans. They basically come in all sizes, and if you wanted to replace all your fans with them, you could probably guarantee a very silent system. However they do come at a price as they are probably the most expensive fans

 

[stevennoland]

You could use a fan controller to controll the CPU fan.

Does you gpu have a fan controller switch? If so, set it low.

I have the Abit IC7-MAX3 mobo and you cannot hear the capacitor cooling 40mm fan (at least not over the whine of any other fan).

The 'Raptor' HD's are not noisy.

My only suggestion is to H2O cool.

 

[Overkiller]

^^ I have given serious thought to this but my Antec Sonata is quite cramped already

So basically I am going to get that Panaflow fan first. [to note after looking at a decibal chart the high 50s sounds about right for the smart fan ]

Then look at the PSU as it has 2 80 MM fans that make a decent amount of noise. ( i really do not want to touch my north-bridge or my radeon).
Can anyone vouch for some good (450+) power supplies that run essentially silent (would like to stick to name-brands such as enermax/pc power and cooling

Lastly I wil look at perhaps removing the front 120 MM fan (unlikely as it provides a tremendous flow from the front to the back 120 MM fan)
Thanks!

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Forton has good psu's that have 120mm fans on them, you could also try undervolting your current case fans instead of removing them altogether. (i.e. 7V mod, or rheostat)

 

[miketheidiot]

my forton with the 120mm is loud as hell unless I turn the fan almost al the way down. My antec treublue 480 is MUCH quieter.

 

[stevennoland]

Originally posted by: stevennoland
You could use a fan controller to controll the CPU fan.

Does you gpu have a fan controller switch? If so, set it low.

I have the Abit IC7-MAX3 mobo and you cannot hear the capacitor cooling 40mm fan (at least not over the whine of any other fan).

The 'Raptor' HD's are not noisy.

My only suggestion is to H2O cool.

Or you could just turn it off!

 

[Overkiller]

^^

I run distributed computing so my pc is running 100% cpu usage 24/7

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Operandi hates those ThermalTake fans, and we are at least in agreement on the matter of the Smart Fan II. I was using one on a heatsink similar to yours, and I was plotting how to get rid of it the first day I ran the computer with that fan.

Generally, you will compromise cooling and CFMs for quiet. If you can, move up to a 92mm fan, and if possible, a 120mm fan with an adapter that fits on your heatsink. If you are going to get a Panaflo and want to maintain the same level or near-same level of cooling, go for the H1 models. Personally, I have two 92mm Panaflo H1's sitting here, but I am not going to replace my ThermalTake 92mm BLue LED exhaust fans with them: at 2,600 to 3,000 rpm, they are almost noiseless, and I can push them up to 3,600 rpm and 78 CFM-each if I need to.

I've found that it is not as critical to keep your idle temperatures at absolute minimum as it is to keep the load temperatures down, and you're probably better off with a narrower range of variation, anyway. For that reason, take a look at this web-site:

Almico's SpeedFan

If you can't download the program there, MajorGeeks and other sites offer it. The current version is 4.19.

You could use somewhat lower CFM fans or run your fans at lower rpms by spending an evening with a plastic ruler, a razor-knife, some E6000 industrial-strength craft adhesive, and a 2'x3' piece of foam art board:

Cinnamon's Ducting Mod

Plexi-Glass or Lexan also works, but the work of cutting and glueing it will take longer (see the third page in the ducting link).

Another thing to take a look at -- especially if you are not using a "windowed" case side-panel, but there are other places to put it which will still cut down on the noise a bit:

Akasa PaxMate

Spire's less cushy version

 

[BonzaiDuck]

By the way -- one more. I've been through enough power supplies, and I know that silicone-rubber grommets help in cutting the vibration from them. They also help wherever possible where fans mate up with case or chassis panels.

I just got one of these, and I have to say -- this sucker is QUI-ET!!

PowerStream

 

[Overkiller]

I have been told that the XP-90 or the XP-120 [ if it fits on an Abit-IC7 Max3] would be the best best for my system. I have also seen 120MM fans that push as much[if not more] air than my smart fan @ 25 less decibals!!!

That is positively astounding. Any suggestions on what to retrofit the Xp-90 or XP-120 with? [should i go panaflo]. Price is no object as i've dealt with a jet engine for a year & cooling is a concerng because i do run ~40C full load 24/7...which is hardly "hot" and I would like to keep it in the same area [which should be easy with a 120 MM fan!]

Thanks!