Is airflow overrated?

[sindows]

I have a total of 3 fans(psu,heatsink, videocard) and everything seems to run fine and not overheat. My processor(sempron 939@2Ghz) idles around 30C+/-(with 80mm fan @ ~2k rpms) but I don't know how to measure the load temp. I got the idle number from the bios.

I use Rivatuner to decrease my 6600Gt's fan speed to 42% which makes it idle at 68C(loads at 85-ish which is average for stock cooling with no overclock). Its at this point where I believe the loudest fan is on my Antec Smartpower PSU. If I decrease the graphics card fan speed, I hear no difference in the amount of sound my system is pushing out. Same thing goes with my heatsink fan, if I unplug it, I hear no difference.

 

[ElFenix]

there is some diminishing return, of course. with no airflow heat would build up, of course. adding one fan drops the temp by X degrees, the next drops it by somewhat lower than X, etc.

now, could be that your 6600 is blowing the same hot air around in the case all the time.

 

[RallyMaster]

Airflow is never overrated. Your 6600GT is way too hot. My 6800GS on the stock sink idled at 44C and loaded at 67C. Your temperatures are way too hot and it would be wise to get a Silencer for that 6600GT. As for CPU, 30C is fine. Do you have a Northbridge fan?

 

[Mrvile]

Can an HP computer run perfectly with only one 80mm exhaust fan?

Yes.

Airflow is only important if you overclock, but when you do overclock, it becomes crucial. Even a change of fans can result in a 5 degree drop. But like ElFenix said, it will eventually amount to diminishing returns.

 

[0roo0roo]

thats why you need a good case that dampens noise like the higher end antecs to decouple harddrives and fans from cases with rubber mounts to reduce vibration noise, and have tight fitting dampening outer panels and as few direct paths of noise to the outside as possible. size of fan also matters, larger fans run slower and have a lower pitch which is less annoying. smart power psu is not really quiet ever maybe on start up but after that it just speeds upits fan. for real silence you need something like a seasonic. airflow ratings generally aren't cheated to my knowledge. noise ratings are. they can cheat how they measure so many fans or psu's that claim quiet are just lying

 

[Madwand1]

A little bit of airflow over a HD can make a big difference to its temperature, and perhaps it's performance / life.