Help me quiet my screaming lunatic!

[RedDog75]

Here's what I have so far:

Intel P4 800Mhz FSB 2.6Ghz @3.26GHz

EDIT: I had to drop my original O/C from 3.26 to 3.13Ghz 'cause I wasn't getting the onboard audio to work correctly

ABIT IS7
3x - ThermalTake Smart Fans (Case, 2 intake front, 1 exhaust rear)
StarTech System Blower 32cfm (exhaust rear)
Stock Intel HS and Fan 2500rpm approx.

Current temps idle 42C CPU, 33C PWM, 32C System

I'm not too worried about the temps, cause it goes up to 58C on CPU load (Sandra@10 reps), but I want to make this beast a little quieter (I'm probably exaggerating, since it is definitely liveable)

SpeedFan's ability to kill my CPU Fan and Chipset Fan speeds showed that my stock HSF was the cause of most of my higher pitched noise - I'm getting the rest of my noise through my case's design for airflow (unfortuately my two intakes run right into two metal plates perpendicular to the fans, but nonetheless causing turbulence).

I want to maintain my temps (maybe drop a little more!) but don't want this thing to be a screaming lunatic. I've been looking through reviews and see a few on Newegg - but I'd like to hear what you guys have for suggestions. Thanks!

 

[DerwenArtos12]

well iwould star by removing those two bars near your intakes and that i think will help witht he lower noise. then i wuld replace your hsf with a slk-800U or 900U with another Tt smart fan 2 and as you said that will help withthe higher pitched noise. also you would be surprised by how much noise those smart fans will make all the way up at 4800 so i would definaly consider taking them down to about 3800. and replace that startech with another smart fan if you can. those things, as you know, are very quite once you get them turned down and still move alot of air.

 

[lchyi]

Buy a rheobus and hook all your smartfans to it. That way you can control the noise with ease.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: lchyi
Buy a rheobus and hook all your smartfans to it. That way you can control the noise with ease.

yeah they come with rpm controllers but if you have like 5 of them then there really isn't enought room for all the ones that come with them.

 

[RedDog75]

My TT Smart fans are hanging around 3100 rpm naturally (probably because of the heat sensor on them). I'll have to look at modifying my case more (don't know if I can cut those metal plates out w/o sacrificing stability of the unit). These plates hold up the bay drives (CD-ROM and HDD). They may be able to hang from the top of the case, or maybe I can cut them shorter and jerry-rig them to the front of the case.

Other than that, I'm surprised no one else has recommended more types of HSF units! I was looking at Newegg and thought this one was interesting. Kinda spendy, especially if I add another $12 for another Smart Fan on top.

Anyone used this before? Does it seem worth it?

 

[RedDog75]

:bump:

 

[Davegod]

Someone already said SLK-900U. Nobody was ignoring that part of the Q, its just that everyone agree's completely.

OK so there is an alternative, the SLK-947U, same thing just a bit more motherboard friendly.

Personally I'm really not a fan of the TT SF2. I would rather have quality fans running at the speed they were designed for, I reckon Panaflo or Papst models around the same airflow will be quieter. Unfortunately you would lose what the SF2 is good for though, flexibility. But then you could have normal fans on the case and a variable on the cpu?

 

[Davegod]

ok next thread i read there may be a new choice, whoa, but I'd still go with the 900U as it's the proven king, including proven to beat the MCX462+ you linked to.

and there's no farking way i'd want to clip that monster onto lugs.

 

[RedDog75]

Originally posted by: Davegod
Someone already said SLK-900U. Nobody was ignoring that part of the Q, its just that everyone agree's completely.

OK so there is an alternative, the SLK-947U, same thing just a bit more motherboard friendly.

Personally I'm really not a fan of the TT SF2. I would rather have quality fans running at the speed they were designed for, I reckon Panaflo or Papst models around the same airflow will be quieter. Unfortunately you would lose what the SF2 is good for though, flexibility. But then you could have normal fans on the case and a variable on the cpu?

Seriously! I guess I'm at a loss - I really figured someone would swear by Vantec or CoolerMaster or something. I guess I'll start looking at Thermalright. They appear to be the best. Since I already have the TT Smart Fans would you suggest going with that Panaflo and then using SpeedFan if I need to change speed (i.e. make it more variable)? Where do you suggest I get both the HS and fan from (best prices)?

Oh, and thanks for your response!

 

[RedDog75]

:bump:

 

[0roo0roo]

case fan speed controllers for manual control. slice bit 92 or 120mm holes anywhere you can on your case and run fans low rpm as possible.