AM3 Heatsink for passive cooling

[veri745]

I have a box I'm using for an unRAID server, and I'm trying to make it as quiet as possible.

I already replaced the 120mm exhaust fan with a Gentle Typhoon, and I replaced the 80mm HDD cage fan with a low rpm, quieter version.

The noisiest remaining fan in the case is the 70mm fan from the stock HSF.

The CPU in the box is a 45W Athlon II x4 that I have underclocked to it's Pmin frequency and voltage (800MHz, 0.875V). I think its cool enough that I can passively cool it (even the stock HSF doesn't get warm), but I'm wondering what my best options are for coolers.

Of key importance to me:
1) easy to install/remove - I hate screw-on/through-hole type coolers, I want one that easily attaches to the stock AM3 mounting bracket
2) cheap - no more than $40, preferably under $30
3) Good enough cooling - I don't care if the CPU gets a little warm, but I'll probably want one of the rifle-style coolers so the 120mm exhaust fan moves some air through it.

Recommendations?

 

[dma0991]

You should try the Cooler Master Hyper TX3. It mounts using the original plastic bracket, cheapest cooler around and will perform better than the stock cooling.

As for passively cooling with the CM Hyper TX3 I am not too sure but definitely doable without the 92mm fan given with the CM Hyper TX3.

 

[jchu14]

Scythe Yasya

The mounting mechanism is ridiculously easy and secure. No back plate needed. The price may be slightly over your budget though.

 

[sandorski]

Passive could only work if you Underclock/Undervolt a lot and use a big Heatsink and even then I'm not sure if it could be done. Best to get a big HS with plenty of Heatpipes and a low RPM 120mm fan. The post above links to a setup that should work nicely, but there are many others available these days for cheap. There are also the Coolit and Corsair sealed water systems that not only cool very well, but moves the bulk of the setup to the edge of the Case allowing much more space for airflow above key components and ease of working inside you Case.

 

[veri745]

Passive could only work if you Underclock/Undervolt a lot and use a big Heatsink and even then I'm not sure if it could be done.

Is 800MHz @ 0.875V not a lot?

Thanks for the tips guys,

I think I might just pick up the TX3 that was suggested. I was re-thinking the whole passive thing and it probably wouldn't be worth it since I have have the 80mm HDD fan in the system anyway.

 

[frostedflakes]

Yeah at that clock and voltage it shouldn't hard at all, you're probably looking at like 5-10W TDP, something ridiculous like that. With decent case airflow you probably wouldn't even need a large passive cooler, something pretty modest should do the trick. Or just get a regular cooler and put a very, very low speed fan on it. Should be silent and won't have to worry about temps then.

 

[Zap]

The classic is the Scythe SCNJ-2000 (AKA Ninja 2). It uses stock AMD retension and is suitable for passive cooling due to widely spaced fins. Supposedly this place has it in stock for $29. I've never bought from them before so YMMV.

If you don't need absolutely passive operation, then pretty much any fan is quiet once it is undervolted enough, which means any cooler with heatpipes and 80mm or larger fan that supports PWM 4-pin connection would probably work. Just enable Smart Fan at the quietest profile in BIOS.

Alternately, have you considered undervolting the stock fan?

 

[Joseph F]

Like Zap said you could just use the stock fan and put a potentiometer on it and run it at however many RPMs you want it to be. (Technically not Passive or silent but I doubt that you'd notice the noise at very low RPMs)

 

[veri745]

The classic is the Scythe SCNJ-2000 (AKA Ninja 2). It uses stock AMD retension and is suitable for passive cooling due to widely spaced fins. Supposedly this place has it in stock for $29.

I was tempted until I saw the $14 shipping charge (yikes!). Those Ninja 2's are pretty awesome coolers from what I've heard, but tough to find anymore.

I just ordered the TX3, so I'll give that a go. I think the main thing will be getting the current CPU fan out of the system; it's quite old, and there's an annoying whine to the sound it makes

I'll post back when I am able to try it out.

 

[Joseph F]

BTW I'm currently using a TX3 and trust me, It's awesome!

 

[sandorski]

Is 800MHz @ 0.875V not a lot?

Thanks for the tips guys,

I think I might just pick up the TX3 that was suggested. I was re-thinking the whole passive thing and it probably wouldn't be worth it since I have have the 80mm HDD fan in the system anyway.

That's quite a bit alright. With that clock, you can probably just buy any tower cooler and run without a Fan. The Retail HS is probably close to managing it.

 

[Zap]

I just ordered the TX3, so I'll give that a go.

Just remember that you still need to enable Smart Fan or else the TX3 will still be noisy (albeit without the high pitch sound).

With that clock, you can probably just buy any tower cooler and run without a Fan.

You may be right, with the CPU clocked so low and volted so low.

I do want to warn against running "any tower cooler" passively, however, because "passive" operation doesn't mean "no air flow" and air doesn't really want to flow when fins are really close to each other. That's what makes the Ninja so great for passive or really low air flow operation, and what makes it pretty mediocre with a fan compared to other tower coolers. Basically better heatsinks start out at lower temperatures than the Ninja when using fast fans, but as you decrease the air flow the Ninja eventually overtakes the other heatsinks in performance.