Air or water for quiet GPU cooling?

[paperfist]

I have a pretty quiet system till my 1070 starts breathing fire then it sounds like a volcano about to erupt.

I guess I should have used the old leaf blower joke instead...

Anyway, if I wanted quiet should I invest in a water cooler or better fans?

In either case what would you guys recommend for GPU only water cooling or better fans?

Thanks for the help

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I toyed with the idea of water-cooling for years. My latest system is a Skylake (sig) in a CM Stacker 830. I modded the case to prepare for a radiator in front -- perhaps 280x140mm. Then at the last moment, after reading some comparison reviews, I chose to use a TR LG Macho instead.

The GTX 1070 is a "Mini OC" by Gigabyte with a single fan, but the air is ducted underneath the card and exhausted from the right case-panel through the CM Stacker's "crossflow" barrel fan. Even overclocked, the GTX 1070 doesn't heat up beyond 70C. The fan doesn't make enough noise for me to hear it. I'm not deaf!.

Which model of the nividia card do you have? I don't have any trouble with noise in my system. There are four 140mm intake fans, and besides the Crossflow, only the exhaust 120mm at rear of the Macho and a 140mm pusher in front of it.

I would guess you could get a single-fan AIO with a square radiator to mount on your card, but of course I'd get an AIO that was made to fit.

AigoMorla might have some good ideas.

 

[paperfist]

I toyed with the idea of water-cooling for years. My latest system is a Skylake (sig) in a CM Stacker 830. I modded the case to prepare for a radiator in front -- perhaps 280x140mm. Then at the last moment, after reading some comparison reviews, I chose to use a TR LG Macho instead.

The GTX 1070 is a "Mini OC" by Gigabyte with a single fan, but the air is ducted underneath the card and exhausted from the right case-panel through the CM Stacker's "crossflow" barrel fan. Even overclocked, the GTX 1070 doesn't heat up beyond 70C. The fan doesn't make enough noise for me to hear it. I'm not deaf!.

Which model of the nividia card do you have? I don't have any trouble with noise in my system. There are four 140mm intake fans, and besides the Crossflow, only the exhaust 120mm at rear of the Macho and a 140mm pusher in front of it.

I would guess you could get a single-fan AIO with a square radiator to mount on your card, but of course I'd get an AIO that was made to fit.

AigoMorla might have some good ideas.

What made you decide to stick with air?

I'm running an ASUS ROG Strix GTX 1070.

 

[Campy]

If you're having trouble with the Asus Strix 1070 my first instinct is that you have bad case ventilation, because that card has one of the really good coolers. What's your case setup/fans? What are your ambient temps?

 

[paperfist]

If you're having trouble with the Asus Strix 1070 my first instinct is that you have bad case ventilation, because that card has one of the really good coolers. What's your case setup/fans? What are your ambient temps?

No having any 'trouble' but want more quiet. The side of my tower case almost always has the side off.

 

[XavierMace]

The first question is why is the side of your tower always off?

 

[paperfist]

The first question is why is the side of your tower always off?

I'm a lazy tinkerer

 

[XavierMace]

Well, that's not helping your noise levels. You could go the AIO+Bracket route. That was both far quieter than the reference cooler on my 290X and it kept the GPU far cooler. However, it was insufficient cooling for the VRM's. So, a full block would be far preferable. Which mean's a drastically higher cost.

What case are you running and what's your fan setup currently?

 

[paperfist]

Well, that's not helping your noise levels. You could go the AIO+Bracket route. That was both far quieter than the reference cooler on my 290X and it kept the GPU far cooler. However, it was insufficient cooling for the VRM's. So, a full block would be far preferable. Which mean's a drastically higher cost.

What case are you running and what's your fan setup currently?

The case is right at my feet so it's loud with the side on or not. I'm using this case: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811553007

I'm using 2 120mm fans, top and rear.

Yeah I noticed most of the AIO I've looked at don't cool the VRMs. I was looking at the EK A240G kit,but you need another block to get full front and back cooling on the 1070 Strix card.

 

[XavierMace]

Just 2 fans? Which one is intake which one is exhaust?

 

[paperfist]

Just 2 fans? Which one is intake which one is exhaust?

Well there's 3 on the GPU,1 on the CPU and 1 on the PSU
Top is intake, rear is exhaust.

 

[UsandThem]

Well there's 3 on the GPU,1 on the CPU and 1 on the PSU
Top is intake, rear is exhaust.

You just have a fan on the top of the case pulling in, and one one the rear exhausting? If so, that would be why your computer, and your GPU, run so hot.

You want fans in the front of your PC pulling in cool air, and the fans at the back and top pushing the hot air out.

 

[XavierMace]

Yeah, you need to change your fan setup and ideally add more. At the least swap the top fan to an exhaust, and move the rear fan to the upper front fan spot as an intake. Better fans may help too (as you haven't specified what you have) but lower temps mean lower fan speeds which means less noise regardless what fans you use.

 

[paperfist]

Guys I appreciate the help but I don't have any heat issues my temps are fine.

I was just looking to reduce noise...

 

[UsandThem]

I have a pretty quiet system till my 1070 starts breathing fire then it sounds like a volcano about to erupt.

Guys I appreciate the help but I don't have any heat issues my temps are fine.

I was just looking to reduce noise...

Generally cards only get that loud if they are running too hot. For example, I run my EVGA 1080ti 24/7 doing folding, and the fans stay around 35% - 45%. What card do you have in your system?

If you get good airflow through your case, you can run quiet fans at low RPMs so it isn't noisy. I have 3 x 140mm Noctua fans as intakes, and 2 more 140mm Noctua as exhaust fans. I don't have to run them over 700 RPM so they are pretty much inaudible. Plus, your case will not be very quiet to begin with because it has two openings on the top, and two on the side, so that noise will escape becuase that case doesn't come with any sound-deadening material on the inside.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

What made you decide to stick with air?

I'm running an ASUS ROG Strix GTX 1070.

The "Customize-able AIO" -- EKWB Predator -- outperformed the TR LG Macho heatpipe cooler by 5C in controlled test-comparisons. The Macho outperformed an NH-D15 by ~ 1 to 2C.

With the de-lidding and CLU-re-lidding of the Skylake processor, I got a temperature improvement under stress of 12C.

So for the $50 CLU-relid and the $80 tag on the LG Macho, I come out 7C better off in stress-tests, and save maybe $70 on parts against the EKWB. I don't need to worry about pump-failure or leaks even if those things are unlikely. [But more likely after so many years.]

It's the most quiet system I've ever had, and I can see how a water-cooled system might be louder. Obviously, I could get a cooler even better than the EKWB -- a Kraken X62, for instance -- and cooling would be insane -- with the 12C advantage the modded processor has.

I see you have three fans on that ASUS puppy. I've only got one with the Mini-OC. I use the Afterburner software to set a fan curve so that it's always running at 40% below 35 C.

I just don't have any noise problems. Even when I give the system a "shakedown" with LinX maximum memory and maximum problem size, the noise is muffled. Most of it comes from the Noctua iPPC 3,000 RPM exhaust fan and "puller" from the cooler.

All the fans are isolated from case-metal. If necessary, I used nylon screws wrapped in self-adhesive rubber hose bandage where they come in contact with the fan.

 

[paperfist]

Generally cards only get that loud if they are running too hot. For example, I run my EVGA 1080ti 24/7 doing folding, and the fans stay around 35% - 45%. What card do you have in your system?

If you get good airflow through your case, you can run quiet fans at low RPMs so it isn't noisy. I have 3 x 140mm Noctua fans as intakes, and 2 more 140mm Noctua as exhaust fans. I don't have to run them over 700 RPM so they are pretty much inaudible. Plus, your case will not be very quiet to begin with because it has two openings on the top, and two on the side, so that noise will escape becuase that case doesn't come with any sound-deadening material on the inside.

Sorry maybe I haven't been clear, my GPU (Asus 1070 GTX Strix) isn't loud through the entire gaming process. It's really loud when you first fire up games and intermittently through out. In contrast to my CPU (I know it's not the same) I cam never hear the Noctua fan run.
My ambient temps in the room is 60 degrees.

Maybe you're right there's a ton of protrusions on this case.

 

[paperfist]

The "Customize-able AIO" -- EKWB Predator -- outperformed the TR LG Macho heatpipe cooler by 5C in controlled test-comparisons. The Macho outperformed an NH-D15 by ~ 1 to 2C.

With the de-lidding and CLU-re-lidding of the Skylake processor, I got a temperature improvement under stress of 12C.

So for the $50 CLU-relid and the $80 tag on the LG Macho, I come out 7C better off in stress-tests, and save maybe $70 on parts against the EKWB. I don't need to worry about pump-failure or leaks even if those things are unlikely. [But more likely after so many years.]

It's the most quiet system I've ever had, and I can see how a water-cooled system might be louder. Obviously, I could get a cooler even better than the EKWB -- a Kraken X62, for instance -- and cooling would be insane -- with the 12C advantage the modded processor has.

I see you have three fans on that ASUS puppy. I've only got one with the Mini-OC. I use the Afterburner software to set a fan curve so that it's always running at 40% below 35 C.

I just don't have any noise problems. Even when I give the system a "shakedown" with LinX maximum memory and maximum problem size, the noise is muffled. Most of it comes from the Noctua iPPC 3,000 RPM exhaust fan and "puller" from the cooler.

All the fans are isolated from case-metal. If necessary, I used nylon screws wrapped in self-adhesive rubber hose bandage where they come in contact with the fan.

Man that's impressive especially since I'm not over clocking anything!

What case do you have?

 

[UsandThem]

Sorry maybe I haven't been clear, my GPU (Asus 1070 GTX Strix) isn't loud through the entire gaming process. It's really loud when you first fire up games and intermittently through out. In contrast to my CPU (I know it's not the same) I cam never hear the Noctua fan run.
My ambient temps in the room is 60 degrees.

Maybe you're right there's a ton of protrusions on this case.

You can buy some sound deadening material, and install some in your case. Otherwise you could watch for a good sale on a case like the Fractal Design R5, Define C, or Define C. Those cases are a balance of airflow and quietness.

Another thing you can do with your video card (Asus cards have good cooling) is to use MSI Afterburner, and instead of letting the fans turn off when when the card is under 60c, is to create a fan profile, and them run all the time at say 30%, and start to increase after the card hits a certain temperature. That way they won't have to spin up so fast to try and get rid of all the built up heat.

 

[Campy]

Since your GPU already has a good cooler that tends to be quiet, I suggest getting a different case and/or changing your fan setup. You mentioned having a top intake and rear exhaust, that should provide sufficient cooling for your CPU but the GPU is probably recirculating some of its own hot air around the bottom of the case, leading to the GPU fans having to spin up intermittently during gaming sessions. Having an intake fan either in the front of the case or perhaps even better, on the side panel right on the GPU should help.
If you're still not satisfied you'll probably need to get a case with less perforations and more sound dampening materials.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Man that's impressive especially since I'm not over clocking anything!

What case do you have?

It was a CoolerMaster Stacker 830 midtower I had in storage for three years until I built the system in 2016.

The pictures aren't very good, I know . . .

"Modding" the case is subtle: there were no sheet metal modifications. The Crossflow barrel fan on the right side of the case is an exhaust fan, as opposed to what must be the usual function for it. It draws air across and from under the motherboard, restricted by a Lexan duct plate. There are two 140mm Akasa Viper fans in front, two [green LED] Bitfenix Spectre Pro 140mm fans on the case left side. A pusher 140mm Viper on the LG Macho cooler, and a Noctua iPPC 3000 exhaust fan with the accessory accordion duct to the rear of the cooler.

Choosing the Gigabyte GTX 1070 OC Mini was a choice that was partly driven by the Crossflow fan! I'd have to remove the fan to make any other graphics card fit. But it's a great GTX 1070.

All the unused fan vents of the case have been blocked off with foam art-board. There is a 10x40mm Noctua intake at the I/O plate, blowing air across the VRMs -- which then gets sucked up by the Crossflow.

All the fans are isolated from case-metal -- you could say some have "shock absorbers."

Well, I'm sorry -- you get me talking about this rig and I can't stop.

Back to your concerns: If you choose to leave the case side-panel off, you'll hear more noise!

Also, someone mentioned acoustic foam rubber. I suggest finding the sources of noise, and applying the foam rubber material as close as possible to that source without restricting airflow. You can build layers of Spire pads and glue together pieces that might be "collars" for fans.

The last thing I'd recommend -- and urge to avoid -- is spreading Spire pads all over the case interior. The stuff doesn't come off easily. If you're going to use it that way, get a piece of black foam art-board and attach it with small dollops of PitCrew adhesive, or use wire ties. Then paste the Spire to the art-board.

I'd have to listen firsthand to judge whether the Strix 3-fan assembly is really a noise problem.

With some level of directed airflow, you might facilitate cooling of the ASUS Strix enough to require less in RPMs from its own fans. But I can't see how a card like that is a noise problem. The noisier cards are those that would use a barrel fan. At least -- that was once the likely case.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Sorry maybe I haven't been clear, my GPU (Asus 1070 GTX Strix) isn't loud through the entire gaming process. It's really loud when you first fire up games and intermittently through out. In contrast to my CPU (I know it's not the same) I cam never hear the Noctua fan run.
My ambient temps in the room is 60 degrees.

Maybe you're right there's a ton of protrusions on this case.

Oh, that.

Most games tell the GPU, "work hard enough to do this". But some (I've noticed it mostly with older games, cut scenes, loading screens, and some menus) seem to tell the GPU "work as hard as possible, no matter what." It's stupid - your GPU will sound like it's launching into orbit, FRAPS will tell you that you're getting 2000 fps, but you're just sitting there setting your music volume.

Simple answer is to use MSI Afterburner or a similar program to monitor your GPU while you're gaming. See what the typical load/temps/fan speed is, and use that as a guideline to set a new maximum value, "downclocking" the GPU. Most of the time it'll run normally, as before, but when it's being told to run in "power virus" mode, it'll more aggressively throttle itself to keep from generating heat, instead of spinning up the fans to compensate.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Oh, that.

Most games tell the GPU, "work hard enough to do this". But some (I've noticed it mostly with older games, cut scenes, loading screens, and some menus) seem to tell the GPU "work as hard as possible, no matter what." It's stupid - your GPU will sound like it's launching into orbit, FRAPS will tell you that you're getting 2000 fps, but you're just sitting there setting your music volume.

Simple answer is to use MSI Afterburner or a similar program to monitor your GPU while you're gaming. See what the typical load/temps/fan speed is, and use that as a guideline to set a new maximum value, "downclocking" the GPU. Most of the time it'll run normally, as before, but when it's being told to run in "power virus" mode, it'll more aggressively throttle itself to keep from generating heat, instead of spinning up the fans to compensate.

That may just well be the answer to his problem. My card would run warm, because the default fan-curve would drop the RPMs to 0 when the temperature was in the high 30s or low 40s C. The default was set that way to avoid noise, but with a single fan on the Mini OC cooler, 40% didn't seem to add anything.

So . . . sure . . . Afterburner, "Gear-shaped icon/button," "Fan" tab -- click the checkboxes and create the fan-curve appropriately.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Well, as has been said to death, you need to close that case up. If even after closing the side panel, you need to consider a different case entirely. A Fractal Design R5 or similar case with a front panel door and case dampening, and possibly exhaust baffling is what you need if you are still having noise issues. The other option is a passive cooled video card but that means stepping it down quite a bit in performance.

I have had a HD 5970 in a Fractal Design R4 for a bit, but it was even able to tame that beast (for reference that card was as loud as a SLI 680 GTX setup... and a single 680 GTX being aprox 6 db louder than a 1080 Ti, it would put it around 14-16 db louder than your 1070). A good case is able to dampen the noise levels. I havn't seen a better case for relatively cheap cost as a R5 do a better job at cutting the noise.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Well, as has been said to death, you need to close that case up. If even after closing the side panel, you need to consider a different case entirely. A Fractal Design R5 or similar case with a front panel door and case dampening, and possibly exhaust baffling is what you need if you are still having noise issues. The other option is a passive cooled video card but that means stepping it down quite a bit in performance.

I have had a HD 5970 in a Fractal Design R4 for a bit, but it was even able to tame that beast (for reference that card was as loud as a SLI 680 GTX setup... and a single 680 GTX being aprox 6 db louder than a 1080 Ti, it would put it around 14-16 db louder than your 1070). A good case is able to dampen the noise levels. I havn't seen a better case for relatively cheap cost as a R5 do a better job at cutting the noise.

Just as a footnote, I've been able to more effectively muffle fans by building two or three layers of Spire foam-rubber circles with diameter of the fan hub, and sticking them on the fixed part of the hub. On the ubiquitous 120mm or 140mm rear case exhaust port, you can simply stick a "barrel-nose" of this type over the case in line with the fan hub.

But that trick won't help with the graphics card's proprietary fans. Off the top of my head, I can imagine building some layers of Spire foam to stick on the plastic shroud of the graphics card to surround the fan, but you then have the problem of removing the Spire as you might wish. The depth of the Spire layers would only be limited by the proximity of any other PCIE cards next to the graphics card. Of course, the Spire foam-rubber is non-conductive for any such considerations of adjacent PCIE cards.

Also -- this. I've now taken a closer look at the Cougar case. There are vents on the case side-panel for fans there. You could perhaps ADD a 140mm fan -- mounted to the side-panel to isolate contact with it, and with a quick-disconnect of the wiring to the motherboard. If that fan would clear the graphics card, it would provide more ventilation to it.

I would also pressurize the case by using the front-panel AND top-panel fan vents for INTAKE fans. Block off unused vents: foam art-board from Michael's Arts & Crafts is good for this, and you can get the art-board in charcoal-black. Otherwise, for case-sidepanel vents that are unused, get a piece of Lexan from Home Depot and secure it to the unused vent through the holes and mounted on the inside of the case panel.

For 120 and 140mm fans, someone could offer more alternatives, but I'll submit these: Akasa Viper (either the "round" model or the square design), Bitfenix Spectre Pro LED, Noctua (iPPC is my usual choice). It would be very helpful if all the case fans, exhaust and CPU fans are PWM and controlled from a splitter (Swiftech 8W-PWM for instance), or multiple splitters as determined by the available mobo fan ports. Then you would have motherboard thermal fan control by groups of fans. ASUS boards provide fan-ports that allow for either voltage 3-pin thermal control or PWM thermal control.

If you can, provide intake fan filtering with parts from DEMCiFlex . If you need to use it with the DEMCiFlex filters, get a $4 roll of magnetic tape from Home Depot. But the Cougar is steel, and the only place you'd need magnetic tape seems to be the ventilated side-panel window.