Quiet cooling for i7 & new GPU's

[Mellman]

I'm looking to upgrade my 'old' C2D Conroe, to an i7 and whatever the new GPU's are (been out of this for a while)

I currently use a scythe ninja to cool my c2d, i'm going to assume the i7's use a new mounting system so I'll have to find something new. I will be overclocking, not going for records though...But I also want to maintain some quietness.

I run an Antec P180B right now, and if i won't have any issues I'd like to keep it unless there is something better out there. My system is pretty quiet, and I'd like to retain that through the upgrade process.


What are the top passive/low noise coolers for the i7 and graphics cards these days? has a new case replaced the P180B as a quiet case?

Thanks AT!

 

[masteryoda34]

For Nvidia GTX 200 series and ATI 4800 series GFX cards I don't think there are many options except a) stock cooling (which is pretty quiet) or b) watercooling.

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: Mellman
...a scythe ninja to cool my c2d, i'm going to assume the i7's use a new mounting system so I'll have to find something new. I will be overclocking...

Not with that Ninja...you might be able to get 3.2 out of that before the thermals start running away...

 

[Mellman]

Originally posted by: Tweakin

Originally posted by: Mellman
...a scythe ninja to cool my c2d, i'm going to assume the i7's use a new mounting system so I'll have to find something new. I will be overclocking...

Not with that Ninja...you might be able to get 3.2 out of that before the thermals start running away...

The ninja will mount on the i7? Thta'd be fantastic if so...I got 3.2 out of my 2.4Ghz C2D no problems...

unfortunate about graphics coolers...the stock graphics cards always have a high pitched whine to me, bugs the hell out of me.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

spend $300 and get a WCing setup for GPU + CPU

 

[Mellman]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
spend $300 and get a WCing setup for GPU + CPU

I've done water...its fun, its nice, but not worth the money when i can get the same results on air. I just don't hvae the time to deal with it like I used to. Full time job + house + other hobbies just dont' leave time to deal with watercooling/crazy overclocks anymore.

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: Mellman

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
spend $300 and get a WCing setup for GPU + CPU

I've done water...its fun, its nice, but not worth the money when i can get the same results on air. I just don't hvae the time to deal with it like I used to. Full time job + house + other hobbies just dont' leave time to deal with watercooling/crazy overclocks anymore.

With an i7 you won't get the same results. If you are going to leave your system at near stock speeds, then a Noctua or TRUE xTreme is the only way to go...

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Mellman
The ninja will mount on the i7? Thta'd be fantastic if so...I got 3.2 out of my 2.4Ghz C2D no problems...

unfortunate about graphics coolers...the stock graphics cards always have a high pitched whine to me, bugs the hell out of me.

There are a handful of Core i7 boards that support socket 775 coolers. I think the Asus P6T (nor Deluxe or anything, just the cheapie) is one of them. There might be others but that's the only one I've used in person which had that feature.

With the fan layout of your Antec P180B, I think you'll be okay for the low to mid 3GHz range under normal usage patterns if you don't have to raise voltage and don't obsess over temperatures or running Prime/Folding all the time. Just allow EIST to lower clocks when idle, and be happy with your passive cooler.

For video cards I've actually found the fan under idle conditions to be rather quiet on the GTX 260/285 cards. Until they automatically switch to 3D mode (when you start a game) they run at 300MHz core and the fan runs around 600-700RPM.

The BIGGER concern would be the coil whine of those cards, not the fan noise. Usually it is fine idling, but under 3D loads there can be a high pitched noise from the GTX cards which is unrelated to the fan. Also, my own at home makes that noise when I first turn on my computer, but it goes away after a few seconds.