Is 21db pretty close to silent?

[powerMarkymark]

Originally posted by: Operandi
ditch the piece of crap thermaltake and get either the Zalman as other have suggested or an Alpha or thermalright with a panaflow or similar fan.

Back up your statements with facts!
:roll:

 

[0roo0roo]

eh, the resorator beats any fan solution for silence these days🙂
silentpcreview.com has a review of it up now

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Frozen7
but still moving air creates some noise; so no matter how silent your fans/cpu cooler/etc. is you're going to hear some noise.

It does create some noise.... but it might not be enough for you to hear it. That's the goal, to get your PC below the audible threshold.

 

[Thaer]

You guys recommend the Zalman 7000ALCU, but why don't you recommend the 7000ACU (copper version)?
Isn't it better?

 

[0roo0roo]

if it hasn't been mention, the 21db rating is when the fan is not mounted. its free air rating. which is not that meaningful.

 

[PinchyCM]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
SilentBoost is not 21dBa like advertised. If you're lucky and get the version with a Panaflo, you'll get the "M' which is 28dBA and spins at 2450RPM. If you're not lucky you'll get the non-Panaflo version which is louder. The non-Panaflo version has a -01 suffix to the model number.

The Panaflo L1A is rated 21dBa and their rating would hold true if they did use the L1A, but they don't and is misleading.

And yes, you can hear 21dBa. Only when I undervolt my Panaflo L1A do I consider it quiet 🙂

I ditched my SilentBoost because thought it was too loud. I bought a Zalman CNPS-7000A and it's noticably quieter while also being a better cooler.

how can u tell if it has the palfano?

 

[Childs]

I have two Silent Boost K8s and they are relatively quiet. I put my finger on the fan to see how loud it is and I cannot really hear any difference when its spinning and when it isnt. Other things in the system are noisier, like the supposed Vantec Stealth 120MM case fans. That and the stock cooling on the 9800Pro are the loudest things in my systems.

 

[wampa]

This past weekened I switched the loud fan in my PSU to a L1A (made in Japan). The noise did decrease a little but not that much, because I could still hear the sound of air being moved. So what I did was cut out the stamped grill on the PSU and wired the L1A to 7v. What a difference it made. No more sound of air moving, which made my computer near silent.

 

[WhiteKnight]

I also have 4 Silencers from PC Power and Cooling. I think they are rated at 21 dB, 28 CFM. The only sounds I hear from the 4 of them inside my sx1080 are the slight sound of air, but not motor or whining sounds.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: PinchyCM

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
SilentBoost is not 21dBa like advertised. If you're lucky and get the version with a Panaflo, you'll get the "M' which is 28dBA and spins at 2450RPM. If you're not lucky you'll get the non-Panaflo version which is louder. The non-Panaflo version has a -01 suffix to the model number.

The Panaflo L1A is rated 21dBa and their rating would hold true if they did use the L1A, but they don't and is misleading.

And yes, you can hear 21dBa. Only when I undervolt my Panaflo L1A do I consider it quiet 🙂

I ditched my SilentBoost because thought it was too loud. I bought a Zalman CNPS-7000A and it's noticably quieter while also being a better cooler.

how can u tell if it has the palfano?

Look at the model number

Panaflo = A18x9
Non-Panaflo = A18x9-01

You look for the -01 part. The x is a variable depending if you're looking at the K7 or K8 silent boost.