Cold and quiet

[izards]

I'm currently in the market for a new Heat sink and I'm of the opinion that a Swiftech MCX462 is about the best way to go... Opinions? (I use an un-overclocked Athlon XP 1800+ on the Abit KR7A133-RAID... It's fast enough with out overclocking it ). I want something that will keep my chip COLD (current ambient case temp is 34c, CPU is 50... At load the case jumps to 36c and the CPU to 58-60... Too hot). My computer is located in a spacious but closed closet due to noise factors. I've currently got an retail HSF but due to where I dumped my case, it's still getting pretty warm.

I'm also interested in new 8 cm case fans, I've heard that PAPST are good (quiet and cool) but I can't find any that do speed sensing (I want to look at the pretty number in MBM )

And I would like to make the over all case as quiet as I can get it (since I've also got 7 hard drives in this sucker). I think my best bet for that would be Dynamat Extreme Sound Isolation Liner. I could be wrong...

I believe it would cost me about $125 for all of this stuff, before shipping ($60=Heat Sink, $15x2=Case Fans, $35=Sound pad... thingy)

Has anyone else done this? Did it work? Is it worth the money? Do you know where I can get better deals on it than I mentiond?

 

[custoswashere]

you could start with the AX-7 heatsink, and get the panaflo H or U model fan. Either of those will push a lot of air, ht eu model pushes more, and still be faily quiet. On the rest I would get Panaflo L models, supper quiet but still move nearly 21 CFM. Or get the enermax adjustable fans. They are pretty cheap at Newegg, move a lot of air, and are adjustable. Acutally if you look at the specs, they are really close to Panaflo's but have the adjustable RPM on them. Good luck.

 

[CSaddict]

I suggest you look into the glaciators. They run very cool and are very quiet.

 

[Arcane]

hmmm...i may be the only one...but if you aren't going to overclock it then i wouldn't worry about it...sure it's running hotter than most people would like it too run, but hey...it's not like it's in any real danger of overheating...i'd say just save yourself some money and worry about it when you start overclockng...

 

[izards]

Noise

The temperature isnt' the big issue, but I'd love to kill two birds with one stone.

My real problem is the noise... It's currently fairly quiet, but thats because it's behind a door. I'd like to make it very quiet and was wondering about a cheeper replacement HSF would work (my current is the retail AthlonXP fan). And the noise pad stuff, I've never talked to anyone who actualy used those in a computer and was wondering how well they worked (I've got one of those extra thin endermax cases)

 

[Ugmore Baggage]

It's worth investigating how much of your noise is drive related. Hard drives are noisy, especially if not mounted on some sort of damping material (be sure to use metal screws to ground).

Also be sure your CPU is getting fresh air... through a blow hole for example. No CPU should have to breath case air. What do you think will cool more effectively, 24degree air or 34degree air? If you plan to keep it in your closet, running a frakin duct from your cpu to some source of cool air will be more effective than ventilating the whole frakin closet.

Basically if you have a 3-400 watt lightbulb on in your closet, the air in the closet will get unbearably hot The walls are insulating the heat inward.

 

[RangerJoe]

i suggest the alpha pal 8045, with a panaflow fan on it (found at http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/ ) excellent performance, but nearly inaudible. less than the swifty also....get the high speed panaflows from newegg, very nice fans, and quiet

 

[Starfoxer]

i too would go with a GLACIATOR
very cheap and very quiet and very awesome cooler

 

[nihili]

Of course someone should mention water cooling. With the prices you're mentioning you could probably get a watercooling setup that cut out most of the cooling relatied noise and should do a better nob of keeping your temps down.

nihili

 

[izards]

Noise?

I'll set up a duct and add an extra fan someplace to pump air to the CPU. I'll see if that helps with the temp and will hopefully tell you how it worked.

But I'm hoping for a praticly silent computer...If a good portion of my noise is from hard drives, how would you suggest I solve it?.. There isnt' enough space between the drives and mounting brackets to put a rubber washer (but.. I'll see if I can). ...Would Dynamat be helpfull? Has anyone tried it on this type of noise problem?

I don't think water cooling is my way to go, .. I don't need my cpu to be low enough to cool a drink.... I just want it to be cool. And the cut down in noise wouldn't be worth the time and money of watercooling.... But water cooling just so cool.

 

[Kosmic]

Dynamat does help cut down on noise from vibrations, but it won't actually block or absorb any sound. Try this place for some SORB, which is thin and absorbs a lot of sound: http://www.soundsuckers.com/#rubber

You'll have to scroll down a bit to find the SORB. It's pricy, but thin and effective. There are other sites that sell standard acoustic foam cheaper, too. If you set up an intake duct, a good and fairly quiet HSF and decent exhaust, you should have a pretty quiet computer, even without any dynamat, SORB, acoustic foam, etc.

K1

 

[izards]

I'll look into the other stuff. And I'll see how much I can drop the temp down by installing a little duct to the HSF.

When all is said and done, I'll post how this worked out for me .