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absolute quietest cooler for 3770K

G

g1981c

Member
i'm not even overclocking, instead i am recording audio with the computer in the same room so it has to be as quiet as possible. the CPU fan will be the only moving part in the whole computer because i will be using a fanless power supply, integrated graphics and SSD.

i am thinking Noctua 14 but i have some questions:

1 - will the noctua work with PWM ?

2 - what is the decibels or the RPMs on the stock cooler at idle ? is the Noctua actually going to be quieter than stock cooler AT IDLE ?

i can't seem to find any data on the stock cooler.

thanks for any input !
 
so i ran openhardwaremonitor in attempt to figure out what is the RPM of the CPU fan but it keeps showing 2080 or so RPM, even as CPU temp varied from about 25 to 45 degrees when i tried loading the CPU with CPU mark. but no matter whether CPU load was 0% or 100% the fan RPM remained around 2080 - this is odd no ?

can anybody tell me what RPM does the stock cpu cooler run at idle ? is 2080 right ?
 
Absolute quietest? Thermalright HR-02 passively.

the CPU fan will be the only moving part in the whole computer because i will be using a fanless power supply, integrated graphics and SSD
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You don't have any case fans? I would recommend at least one exhaust fan, preferably one exhaust and one intake.
 
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FYI, the best prices for Thermalrights is at Nan's. And yeah, a fanless Macho would suit you well....with a case fan or two, even if only spinning at 500-800rpm.
 
The NH-D14 SE2011 edition comes with pwm fans, but pwm is not the holy grail many think it is. You can control regular 3-pin fans just as well, although much depends on the motherboard you're using as well.

And although you could obviously use the NH-D14 passively as well the HR-02 macho has a much better price. You will need a long screwdriver to install though, 5.9" iirc.

As for the stock cooler running at fixed rpm, that's not normal. Did you connect it to the cpu fan header? Did you check the bios for control options?

And I would recommend at least 1 case fan as well, it will be very hard to notice it especially if you use a case with sound dampening like Fractal Design R4. But your psu and motherboard will like it a lot.
 
@ coffeejunkee

A long neck screwdriver is included with Macho Rev. A (BW) which is $40 at Nan's Gaming Gear, and it also seems to be included with the original Rev. A sold for $50 on Amazon, though it is not normally included with Rev. A.
 
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I trust you but I still ask: are you sure? It doesn't show one on the Thermalright site for either model...it was included with the original HR-02 but that one is discontinued.
 
Oh sorry missed that, was reading the small print but sometimes the info you need is actually in the title.

Then again, from the bittech comments: "Mine did not come with a screwdriver. It was supplied with a completely useless 3" pressed steel "spanner". I managed to rig a long enough screwdriver by daisychaining several hex bit-holders together." but that was probably the old rev.

Anyway, it's an excellent cooler and even if you have to buy a separate screwdriver it's still good value.
 
I had to buy a screwdriver set @ Micro Center. Came with some flat heads and Phillips head for $7. I tried to magnetize the screw head and it didn't work. Even with a 6" screwdriver it was a PITA. I ended up using tiny amount of DAP Reusable Adhesive Putty on the screw tip. It reminds me of Play Dough. I experimented using the smallest amount possible that would hold the screw to it while I lowered it down to the screw hole. I would try doing it before mounting it just to get the hang of it. It sounds easier than it is.

Edit: I have the $54 (at the time) original one.
 
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Agree on the case fan, perhaps two of them - one in, one out, located in such a way to provide some flow through the case (ie opposing corners).

Might look at a Zalman Fan Mate or two or three, one per fan, even the CPU fan if needed. You'll be able to lower the fan RPM's to a speed just below audible. There are plenty of other methods for combatting noise but these are very simple, very effective and reasonably cheap.
 
I can verify that the D14 does work very well with minimal airflow. I have one set up with two Nexus 120mm fans which are undervolted to 7v. With three additional Nexus case fans at 7v and an Asus DCII 670, my computer is nearly silent and keeps my 2500K at 4.5GHz to ~70 degrees under Intel Burn Test load. With no OC and integrated graphics, I'm sure you could even run the fans at 5v and keep everything cool.
 
i read all the responses, a few notes:

1 - i am running a Mountainmods U2-UFO case OPEN, so i don't need any case fans. once i got in the habit of running my cases open there is just no going back. i have a whole box of 120mm panaflo fans that i no longer have use for since i started running cases open.

HERE IS THE PICTURE: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8321263198_587ec2de98_b.jpg

2 - i am really liking Thermalright Macho suggestion ! i was thinking - i should probably get Macho 120 since i want less noise, rather than more cooling ?

3 - i tried researching just now the difference between PWM and voltage control and didn't really understand anything even though i have electrical engineering degree LOL. i mean i know what pulse width modulation is, i just don't understand what difference it makes for the fan, compared to voltage regulation which is probably accomplished by pulse width modulation anyway, just in the motherboard ...

4 - if i went with lets say Macho 120 could i buy an even quieter fan to use with it ? what's the absolute quietest fan i could use there ? i don't really want to go passive as i will also be doing video editing on that computer working with files as big as 10 gigabytes.

5 - maybe i could simply unplug the fan while recording and then plug it back in when editing videos ? i still think 120mm fan would be enough as i would not overclock ?

i also have to upgrade my power supply to a silent one, but i will make a separate thread in power supply subforum for that.

PS: regarding the stock fan cooler - i certainly plugged it into the right socket - it says CPUFAN where it's plugged in. on the other hand i did not go into any BIOS settings for fan.

PS2: i have "ripjaws" ram that looks like this: http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn...rmat/PCF 252/PCF252.wired_flow.ram-380-75.jpg so i don't know whether this might affect mounting with some coolers.
 
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The default NH-D14 comes with 2 resistors that allows you to lower RPM. So you have 3 possible levels. I personally use a device from Nanoxia that converts a PWM signal to a according different voltage. However I must admit it is not really worth it.

The NH-D14 is not quiet at all. I don't here the fans but the "air noise" however the proper term for that is. It's not loud but clearly audible in a quiet room ("no" ambient noise like traffic, other people and so on).
 
2 - How would Macho 120 be less noise than HR-02 Macho in passive mode? I can't guarantee the Macho 120 heatsink is good enough for running passively, and the bigger brother is only $3 more

4 - if you want to use a fan rather than running passively, then yes you could do that, but do it on the HR-02 Macho, not the Macho 120. Scythe 500RPM $10+shipping

5 - unnecessary, I would just run HR-02 passively. The above fan is also most likely going to be inaudible
 
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beginner99 said:
The NH-D14 is not quiet at all. I don't here the fans but the "air noise" however the proper term for that is. It's not loud but clearly audible in a quiet room ("no" ambient noise like traffic, other people and so on).
Click to expand...

is this even at idle with the resistor inline ?
 
g1981c said:
PS2: i have "ripjaws" ram that looks like this: http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn...rmat/PCF 252/PCF252.wired_flow.ram-380-75.jpg so i don't know whether this might affect mounting with some coolers.
Click to expand...

The HR-02 Macho is offset towards the back (follow the pipes) so RAM clearance isn't an issue.

Notice the stock cooler/fan is on the right. It looks so tiny! 😉 All 4 DIMM slots are full. The fan is not attached. But if you look at the wire to mount the fan, you can see it still doesn't stick out far.

[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/696/stockandmachosizes.jpg/] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/URL]
 
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g1981c said:
absolute quietest cooler for 3770K

i'm not even overclocking, instead i am recording audio with the computer in the same room so it has to be as quiet as possible. the CPU fan will be the only moving part in the whole computer because i will be using a fanless power supply, integrated graphics and SSD.

thanks for any input !
Click to expand...
:colbert: NoFan CR-100A
 
g1981c said:
i read all the responses, a few notes:

1 - i am running a Mountainmods U2-UFO case OPEN, so i don't need any case fans. once i got in the habit of running my cases open there is just no going back. i have a whole box of 120mm panaflo fans that i no longer have use for since i started running cases open.

HERE IS THE PICTURE: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8321263198_587ec2de98_b.jpg

2 - i am really liking Thermalright Macho suggestion ! i was thinking - i should probably get Macho 120 since i want less noise, rather than more cooling ?

3 - i tried researching just now the difference between PWM and voltage control and didn't really understand anything even though i have electrical engineering degree LOL. i mean i know what pulse width modulation is, i just don't understand what difference it makes for the fan, compared to voltage regulation which is probably accomplished by pulse width modulation anyway, just in the motherboard ...

4 - if i went with lets say Macho 120 could i buy an even quieter fan to use with it ? what's the absolute quietest fan i could use there ? i don't really want to go passive as i will also be doing video editing on that computer working with files as big as 10 gigabytes.

5 - maybe i could simply unplug the fan while recording and then plug it back in when editing videos ? i still think 120mm fan would be enough as i would not overclock ?

i also have to upgrade my power supply to a silent one, but i will make a separate thread in power supply subforum for that.

PS: regarding the stock fan cooler - i certainly plugged it into the right socket - it says CPUFAN where it's plugged in. on the other hand i did not go into any BIOS settings for fan.

PS2: i have "ripjaws" ram that looks like this: http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20252/PCF252.wired_flow.ram-380-75.jpg so i don't know whether this might affect mounting with some coolers.
Click to expand...

3. Well, it's not that complicated: voltage control does just that, control voltage by means of a variable resistor. All fans have a rated speed at standard 12V supply, for example 1000rpm. If you supply 6V the fan will spin at 500rpm. PWM can accomplish the same but it does so by rapidly alternating between 12V and 0V, which in effect gives 500rpm as well. Drawback of voltage control is some efficiency loss, but since fans use so little power this is basically negligable.

What's important is which option(s) you motherboard offers. Not every mobo lets you adjust fanspeeds on (all) 3-pin headers and not every 4-pin header on a mobo is by definition pwm controlled. For example, my mobo (Asus) offers pwm control only on the cpu fan header and uses voltage control for the casefanheaders, even though they are all 4-pin connectors.

Another thing to consider is PWM fans have a certain rpm range, which might not allow the lowest speed possible. Fex. I'm using a TY-140 fan and when I connect it to the cpu header it can only go down to iirc 500rpm, but when I connect it to a casefanheader it can go down to 300rpm.

PS: well normally you shouldn't, afaik every mobo controls the stock cooler automatically but I'm not really familiar with MSI mobo's. Otherwise try if Speedfan can control it.

PS2: I have the same ram and HR-02 fits easily as long a you use the ram slots furthest away from the cpu (like you do). If you use the slots closest to the cpu it still fits but the fan has to be moved up slightly and rest on the ram.

As for the other points, personally I would use a sound dampened case with 1 or 2 very low rpm casefans, say 300rpm, then use HR-02 140mm model passively. But in your case (and case) the HR-02 120mm model might actually be better. I'm pretty sure it can be used passively as well but a 120mm fan at minimal rpm will be quieter than a 140mm fan at minimal rpm. On the other hand, you can put a 120mm fan on the HR-02 140mm model as well.

Even so, in an open case no fan will be completely quiet, not even at 300rpm (but it will be hard to hear it). Easier than plugging in and out would be to use Speedfan and just set speed to 0%.

Blain said:
:colbert: NoFan CR-100A
Click to expand...

I know that one and it looks impressive but I doubt if it's actually better than HR-02. It also blocks pretty much all your expansion slots.
 
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lehtv said:
So is HR-02...



He already has RAM.
Click to expand...

i have to say, you convinced me with the HR-02. i believe i once had a Thermalright back in pentium D days or so, and i was very impressed with it - it was more or less in a class by itself back then ... i have no idea where i have that heatsink, but is there any chance it would fit on an LGA 1155 socket ? perhaps with a new bracket ? it was a design for a 120mm fan, and i would guess it is probably 70% as good as HR-02 and 5X better than stock cooler.

i like HR-02 more than Noctua because it is smaller, cheaper and still has comparable fin surface area - sacrificing only the 2nd fan which i would not be using anyway.

i may hold off on purchasing it though, because i still haven't figured out how much noise the stock cooler is actually making - i can hear the noise from the PC but i can't tell where it is coming from. i might have to upgrade the power supply first, and then listen to the stock cooler again to see what potential for improvement is there.

the "Nofan" thing i'm going to pass on - doesn't seem like a very good design - the HR-02 seems more clever.

if anybody has any ideas not mentioned yet please share them - i am still open to suggestions. i will let you know if / when i actually place the order.
 
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