Use Zalman FB123 on regular heatsink?!?!?

[salman327]

I currently have a dynatron Heatsink w/ a 60mm Delta screamer fan sitting on it. In my attempt to quite down my computer, i'm wondering if I could buy the Zalman FB123 (The fan and bracket portion of the Zalman cooloers) that allows me to use an 80 or 92mm fan on the heatsink. I'm not sure if it'll be effective, since Zalman uses it with their flower heatsinks (which have the fins spread apart pretty far in order for airflow to be effective). I guess the only way to find out is to try it, just wondering if anyone has tried this?

 

[aSnipingPenguin]

I attempted to do something like this once with my SLK-800 and a Enermax 120mm adjustable fan, plus a 120->80mm adapter to serve as a makeshift duct. It worked okay, but not as well as I'd hoped, so I didn't keep the setup. I had to keep the fan near full blast (~90cfm) for it to cool better than a 30cfm 80mm fan attached directly to the heatsink, which kept it at around 42C load in a 22C ambient (on an Athlon 2100+ @ ~2700+, default voltage). When I turned the fan down (~60cfm) temps went up a couple of degrees.

The results might be acceptable for you. I didn't keep it because my main goal was to up the airflow without increasing the noise too much, but it didn't turn out so well.

Also, I should note that I had some problems with fan placement. Because the huge 120mm got interference from other things, like my video card and mounted case fans, I couldn't get the duct very well-centered. By using an 80 or 92mm, you'd probably be able to get better centering, and thus better cooling.

Summary (or if you didn't wanna read that whole thing): Viable solution, but not a very good one if you're very concerned about optimal cooling or noise.

G'luck!

 

[beatle]

If the heatsink has its fins/pins spaced sufficiently far apart (like an Alpha) then I'd say you'll do ok, but I doubt it will perform as well as your delta. If I were you, I'd save a bit more money and get a good quality heatsink that accepts 80-92mm fans. I think you'd be disappointed with the bracket.