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Most quiet HSF that doesn't require four holes on the sides of the socket

HeroOfPellinor

HeroOfPellinor

Lifer
Got the Shuttle AN35N Ultra and had to send it back because of a high pitch tone coming from it. Got a DFI NF II Ultra-AL for $10 more, but it doesn't have holes by the socket. I never imagined a modern MB would come without these.

In any case, I already have the Zalman CNP7000A-CU which is fantastically quiet and efficient, so I need to decide if I'm going to send the DFI back and get a MB to suit the Zalman HSF or if I should just return the Zalman and get a different HSF. I'm not happy with any of my MB choices because to get an NFII MB with passive cooling on the north bridge and four holes by the socket means getting a super cheap Chaintech or going up to a card that costs at least $20 more than the DFI.

I've heard mixed things about the Thermaltake Silent Boost. Any opinions on it or any others that use the standard clip?
 
Thermaltake Silent Boost. It's whisper quiet and offers performance that'll match an SLK-800. I have one and I'm very impressed at how well it cools, I'm running an AMD Barton 2500+ at 37C.
 
I can honestly say the Silent Boost is the loudest "quiet" HSF I've ever used. I think a stock retail HSF might even be quieter. I'm taking the POS back and will be looking for a different MB to go with the Zalman CNP7000A-CU which is inaudible.
 
I've had ridiculous luck with the Speeze Whisper Rock II heatsink fan. Previously I was using a Zalman CNPS 3100/6000 and had a 2800+ doing 2.2GHz (11x200). It was running pretty hot at around 49c idle. After switching to the cheap Speeze, it was just as quiet but dropped my temps down to 43c using the ol' AC3. Needless to say, it's a GREAT and cheap quiet HSF. $10 last I saw at the Egg.
 
Check out the very similar (but better!) Spire whisperockIV from KDComputers- copper core, triple tab clip, super quiet fan- can't touch it for $13 + shipping...

Recently got an appreciative PM from LordJezo for the same recommendation...
 
Originally posted by: Jhhnn
Check out the very similar (but better!) Spire whisperockIV from KDComputers- copper core, triple tab clip, super quiet fan- can't touch it for $13 + shipping...

Recently got an appreciative PM from LordJezo for the same recommendation...
Click to expand...

Did some hefty research on this and the Whisperrock IV is referenced everywhere from quietpcreview to tomshardware as super quiet.

It's also known as the Speeze VultureSpin. 😕:disgust:

Ordered it and will post my impressions after installing it in case anyone else is interested.
 
I'd keep the Zalman and get a different mobo. Zalman has the necessary connectors to use that HS with any current processor, from P3s/P4s to SocketA/A64s.
 
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'd keep the Zalman and get a different mobo. Zalman has the necessary connectors to use that HS with any current processor, from P3s/P4s to SocketA/A64s.
Click to expand...

The Zalman needs the four mounting holes. Only a little over half of the NF2 400U boards have the holes. I also don't need, so don't want to pay for firewire or SATA. When you narrow the field to boards with four mounting holes, no active cooling on the northbridge, and no firewire/SATA you've only got a couple boards there from quality manufacturers and the board layout might not be what you need for silent build with unobstructed airflow.

In any case, the Zalman is already on the way back. The Whisperrock will have to do, provided it's quiet, until we have BTX and I can skip a CPU HSF all together.
 
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'd keep the Zalman and get a different mobo. Zalman has the necessary connectors to use that HS with any current processor, from P3s/P4s to SocketA/A64s.
Click to expand...

The Zalman needs the four mounting holes. Only a little over half of the NF2 400U boards have the holes. I also don't need, so don't want to pay for firewire or SATA. When you narrow the field to boards with four mounting holes, no active cooling on the northbridge, and no firewire/SATA you've only got a couple boards there from quality manufacturers and the board layout might not be what you need for silent build with unobstructed airflow.

In any case, the Zalman is already on the way back. The Whisperrock will have to do, provided it's quiet, until we have BTX and I can skip a CPU HSF all together.
Click to expand...

In that case it doesn't matter, but I know Zalman has extra clips and such for their Al version. I'd think they could be ordered(and work) with the Cu hs as well.
 
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'd keep the Zalman and get a different mobo. Zalman has the necessary connectors to use that HS with any current processor, from P3s/P4s to SocketA/A64s.
Click to expand...

The Zalman needs the four mounting holes. Only a little over half of the NF2 400U boards have the holes. I also don't need, so don't want to pay for firewire or SATA. When you narrow the field to boards with four mounting holes, no active cooling on the northbridge, and no firewire/SATA you've only got a couple boards there from quality manufacturers and the board layout might not be what you need for silent build with unobstructed airflow.

In any case, the Zalman is already on the way back. The Whisperrock will have to do, provided it's quiet, until we have BTX and I can skip a CPU HSF all together.
Click to expand...

In that case it doesn't matter, but I know Zalman has extra clips and such for their Al version. I'd think they could be ordered(and work) with the Cu hs as well.
Click to expand...

The only kind of board it won't fit on is a Socket A with no mounting holes. It'll fit anything else. It's a totally silent HSF too when set to low. Ah well.
 
:frown: Much louder than I was hoping for. There's a distinct whine from the fan on low and bearing noise on high. Granted my case is open on all sides at the moment and out from under my desk, but it was also this way when I had the Zalman and that thing was silent.

Also slightly louder than my SLK800 + Pabst, but at 1/3 the price it's still something to be considered.

I'm going to live with it as it's definitly liveable. The promise of a fanless CPU cooler with the BTX form factor has me entranced so I'm planning to save a little and wait.
 
Yeah, my silent boost is a little bit loud for my liking.

So I volt-modded it to 10v.....its pretty silent now 😀
 
The Whisperrock is too loud. I tried the Silent Boost as well, but without volt modding it...at full blast it was louder than the Whisperrock at full. The Zalman CNP7000A-CU, at 1500 rpm, is the quietest HSF I've ever used and it still cooled decently.
 
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor


I already have a slightly older SLK and I hate the way it connects the fan with those flimsy wires...it's just asking for vibration.
Click to expand...


I have the thermalright 947U and i love the wires that hold the fan. It is make better then screws.

It does not vibrate at all

go to
silentpcreview
and ralf, one of the main reviewers there have a thermalright and he loves it.

~RaNDoM
 
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