Quieting computer

[dBTelos]

Right now I have the following making noise in my computer

120mm standard Fan
80mm LED fan
AC Freezer Pro w/ AS5
6600GT Stock cooling (AGP version)

I figure if I replace the 80mm and 120mm fans, add a fan controller I will be fine. But my GPU fan is small and probably load, so I'd like to take care of that also. If you guys could recommend a setup to replace the fans, get a fan controller, and silence my GPU for about $50 all at one e-tailer I would be very happy (free shipping or tax is a major plus). Keep in mind that I don't really play games at all, ever. But I use my 6600 for dual monitors, so I need to keep it in there.

TIA.

 

[BlueWeasel]

From SVC:
AC NV Silencer 6 Rev 2 VGA Cooler $25
Yate Loon 120mm Low Speed $6
Panaflo or Cooler Master 80mm fan $7

Do you need a 3.5/5.5-inch front panel connector or just a simple Fanmate for a single fan? If you don't need a front panel, you could pick up a single Fanmate from SVC and the order, including shipping, would probably be just over $50.

 

[dBTelos]

Thanks for the responce. I'll check all that out. BTW, is their some kind of guide to setting up the GPU cooler?

 

[dBTelos]

AGP: NVIDIA FX 5700
PCIe: NVIDIA Geforce 6200, NVIDIA Geforce 6600 (GT)

I have the AGP 6600GT, not the PCI-E version.

After a google search it seems that the 6600GT veries so much that it is almost impossible to get a cooler for it. I have the eVGA version which stirrs it up even more. I think that the fan is connectecd to the GPU via a 2 pin connector. Could I just plug the 2 pin connector into the 3pin male connector on the fan controller to lower the speed? Would that work?

 

[acegazda]

Perhaps a zalman vf700 alcu? ~$20 shipped. Panaflos are generally loud, but there really isn't a better 80mm option. A really good analog fan controller is the mitron 3.5" fan controller from mnpctech.com. I havn't found it anywhere else though. Jab-tech usually has great prices on fans, but they don't stock the zalman vf700...

 

[dBTelos]

The Zalman VF700, I have seen it already. Their are so many to many chances to take with it though. They have changed the PCB with every revision nVidia makes to it. Let alone eVGA. I would feel much safer if I could just lower its speed with a fan controller, is this possible?

 

[acegazda]

Since the vga fan isn't molded onto thte pcb, you should be able to plug it into a controller, but I have no firsthand experience.

 

[dBTelos]

Originally posted by: acegazda
Since the vga fan isn't molded onto thte pcb, you should be able to plug it into a controller, but I have no firsthand experience.

Alright, thanks. If anyone can second this statement it would be much appreciated.

 

[dBTelos]

Link: http://www.zalman.co.kr/product/cooler/VF700_6600GT_eng.html

 

[PChang11]

Originally posted by: dBTelos
Thanks for the responce. I'll check all that out. BTW, is their some kind of guide to setting up the GPU cooler?

Almost all coolers comes with installation instructions if that's what you mean. Installation is fairly simple, just double check the spec sheets on Arctic Cooling's website (http://www.arctic-cooling.com/) to make sure it clears all the capacitors and regulators on the board.

 

[natethegreat]

Originally posted by: dBTelos
The Zalman VF700, I have seen it already. Their are so many to many chances to take with it though. They have changed the PCB with every revision nVidia makes to it. Let alone eVGA. I would feel much safer if I could just lower its speed with a fan controller, is this possible?

I have the VF-900 and I just extended its tail to my fan controller, wich controls its speed just fine. If you check my rig pic you can see that I have the fan tail going straight from hte VF-900 to my fan controller.

 

[dBTelos]

Actually, I found out that the VF700 will work just fine for me. Because I have the 6600GT that has a seperate HSI, so the VF700 can install fine. I just need to take a look inside my computer to make sure that Zalman will fit I'll post all the parts I gathered up when I get to my main comp.

 

[xbassman]

Looks like you researched it a bit.

Yes the V700 is the best cooling option for a 6600GT AGP card.
I have 2 of the Leadtech 6600GT's and they have the best "stock" cooler, but they can still run hot. (>70C in my HTPC)

That said...make sure to monitor your GPU temps especially if you are lowering fan speed.

You should also look at soft mounting your fans to help quiet things down.
Nexus has a kit with a variety of soft mounts for cheap.

link

Actually I was kinda surprised when I replaced a dead fan in a Dell a couple of weeks ago and it was soft mounted.

 

[dBTelos]

Would you consider these anti-vibration mounts good?
http://svc.com/a2382.html
http://svc.com/a2385.html

one for each fan.

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: dBTelos
Would you consider these anti-vibration mounts good?
http://svc.com/a2382.html
http://svc.com/a2385.html

one for each fan.

I haven't tried those specifically, but I used to use foam tape to achieve the same result.
Since you are still using screws to physically mount the fans, they aren't truely isolated.

This type of isolator makes the only contact between the case and the fan soft rubber.

It's cheaper as well.

 

[Shadowknight]

Get any type of anti-vibration fan mounts or "rubber screws". Those fan gaskets that the OP listed are useless.

 

[dBTelos]

Would these work well?
http://svc.com/rs.html

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: dBTelos
Would these work well?
http://svc.com/rs.html

In my experience, the Sunbeam rubber mounts are CRAP. I bought a bag a few months ago, and couldn't get them to work at all.

 

[dBTelos]

Well, I'm buying everything at SVC. So I need some rubber mounts from them, some one help me out

 

[Bobthelost]

Rubber mounts? Get some rubber washers and tie the fans inplace with elastic. Quick, simple and far, far easier than trying to use rubber fan screws.

 

[dBTelos]

For about $50 before shipping/tax:

http://svc.com/af8025.html
Arctic Cooling AF8025 80x25mm Quiet Case Fan 28 CFM 20 dBA

http://svc.com/acf12.html
Arctic Cooling 120x38mm Arctic Fan 12 56.3 CFM 23.5 dBA

http://svcompucycle.stores.yahoo.net/vf700-alcu-led.html
Zalman VF700-AlCu Aluminum/Copper LED Fan VGA Cooler

http://jab-tech.com/4-Pack-Anti-Vibration-Fan-Mounts-Open-Corners-pr-3270.html
Fan Mounts x2

http://jab-tech.com/Sunbeam-5-1-4-Rheobus-Kit-BLACK-pr-2530.html
Sunbeam Rheobus

Decided to order from two places so I can get the sunbeam and fan mounts cheaper. What do you think?

 

[dBTelos]

Bump.

 

[xbassman]

Well,

I can't speak to the quality of the Arctic Cooling fans since I have never used one.
I don't really believe the specs they are claiming though.

The Sunbeam controller works very well. It can handle hooking up Tornado fans if you so desired. My only gripe with it is that the led's are too bright. I once read a review where the reviewer pulled the led's slightly back and dimmed them a bit.

The fan mounts should be good. (pull through the fan hole...pull through the case hole)

The exhaust fan I liked but can't find anymore is a Globe.
I bought an Evercool to go in my next case. link
I have had good luck with a few Evercools in the past so it seemed worth a go.

A Yate Loon D12SM-12 would probably be a good bet for a fan that has a little power but can be quiet controlled.

For 80mm fans I still use Panaflo L1A's. (I have a supply of L, H, and U1A's that I bought a few years ago) I haven't used better 80mm's than those. (Definately used worse ones though! )

 

[dBTelos]

Anyone mind finding me better fans for the same amount of money on either Jab Tech or SVC?

 

[dBTelos]

Bump.