I have posted/replied here a few times over the past week or so about my Volcano 6Cu+ and the Screaming Banshee 60mm fan that came on the thing. The dang computer sounded like a hair dryer.
Now, I know the purists here will scoff if they even bother to read this, but I got my 60 to 80 adaptor plus new fans today and here's how it turned out.
First off, here's the adaptor:
http://www.directron.com/fanadapter.html
And here's the fan:
http://www.directron.com/uc8fab.html
My case is an Inwin 506 with two cheap 80mm fans preinstalled. Today I took 'em out.
The CPU is a 1700+, on an Epox 8KHA+. I know this mobo gets CPU temp from a thermistor below the core and not from the CPU itself. Cest la vie.
I didn't expect an improvement in temps, but I desperately needed something closer to quiet. I've done some searching on this and learned before I even ordered that the 60 to 80 adaptor is not a perfect solution to my problem. Not at all. But, I had to get rid of the noise, and I didn't want to pull the motherboard if I didn't have to.
I actually got three of the Enermax fans and used the other two for the case in and out. I got blue, and they look very nice ... clear fins, gold grill. Anyway, what's awesome is the manual speed adjustment, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it is "infinitely" adjustable, not just lo-mid-hi as the reviews and specs kind of indicate. I set the fan on the heat sink to max and the case fans to about 60%.
First off ... the noise factor is GREATLY reduced. No need to explain any further. The computer is quiet.
Second, temps. First, I'll tell you that I am staying at a friend's house right now. If you remember "The Odd Couple" then imagine that I am Felix. 'Nuff said. Anyway, it's a little hot in this place. He doesn't run the AC much, and I'm in no position to complain about it. Temps in the room while doing the comparison this afternoon were about 79 to 81, a little warm for me (and for doing this test). So, take this in consideration.
With the 7000rpm 60mm screamer and the old case fans (which ran full tilt and also made noise), idle temp was a steady 43C. Load temps ran 48-49. One week ago, when it wasn't so hot outside, I was an average four degrees below this.
Anyway, with the 60 to 80 adaptor, 80mm fan on the HS set to full, and the "detuned" case fans, idle temp was 48C, and the highest I got under load was 54.
BTW, I am basing "load" temps on what I get to running RTCW and some N64 emulation, as this is the best stuff I've got to "push it." I'm sure there are applications which tax the CPU more intensively, but I don't use them so hey! why should I care?
So, I'm looking at about 5 to 6 degrees hotter than I was before. Warmer than I'd like it to be I guess, but I'm probably still running cooler than lots of folks who bought retail AMD systems, and I finally have some peace and quiet.
Now, the 60mm made 38cfm according to specs, and the Enermax 80mm is supposed to make 40cfm. I am assuming the cooling loss is a result of lower pressure, since the bigger fan is only doing 3300rpm while the 60mm did 7200rpm. Also the height of the adaptor may play a role, although I've read some speculation that the really thin adaptors suffer even more from the lower pressure made by the 80mm fans than the taller ones do. Whatever.
If you have a really loud 60mm, you can start from scratch with a new HSF that uses an 80mm and tear down and rebuild, or you can compromise and get the job done in ten minutes and live with it (and save a few bucks too). Your ears will love you either way.
Now, I know the purists here will scoff if they even bother to read this, but I got my 60 to 80 adaptor plus new fans today and here's how it turned out.
First off, here's the adaptor:
http://www.directron.com/fanadapter.html
And here's the fan:
http://www.directron.com/uc8fab.html
My case is an Inwin 506 with two cheap 80mm fans preinstalled. Today I took 'em out.
The CPU is a 1700+, on an Epox 8KHA+. I know this mobo gets CPU temp from a thermistor below the core and not from the CPU itself. Cest la vie.
I didn't expect an improvement in temps, but I desperately needed something closer to quiet. I've done some searching on this and learned before I even ordered that the 60 to 80 adaptor is not a perfect solution to my problem. Not at all. But, I had to get rid of the noise, and I didn't want to pull the motherboard if I didn't have to.
I actually got three of the Enermax fans and used the other two for the case in and out. I got blue, and they look very nice ... clear fins, gold grill. Anyway, what's awesome is the manual speed adjustment, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it is "infinitely" adjustable, not just lo-mid-hi as the reviews and specs kind of indicate. I set the fan on the heat sink to max and the case fans to about 60%.
First off ... the noise factor is GREATLY reduced. No need to explain any further. The computer is quiet.
Second, temps. First, I'll tell you that I am staying at a friend's house right now. If you remember "The Odd Couple" then imagine that I am Felix. 'Nuff said. Anyway, it's a little hot in this place. He doesn't run the AC much, and I'm in no position to complain about it. Temps in the room while doing the comparison this afternoon were about 79 to 81, a little warm for me (and for doing this test). So, take this in consideration.
With the 7000rpm 60mm screamer and the old case fans (which ran full tilt and also made noise), idle temp was a steady 43C. Load temps ran 48-49. One week ago, when it wasn't so hot outside, I was an average four degrees below this.
Anyway, with the 60 to 80 adaptor, 80mm fan on the HS set to full, and the "detuned" case fans, idle temp was 48C, and the highest I got under load was 54.
BTW, I am basing "load" temps on what I get to running RTCW and some N64 emulation, as this is the best stuff I've got to "push it." I'm sure there are applications which tax the CPU more intensively, but I don't use them so hey! why should I care?
So, I'm looking at about 5 to 6 degrees hotter than I was before. Warmer than I'd like it to be I guess, but I'm probably still running cooler than lots of folks who bought retail AMD systems, and I finally have some peace and quiet.
Now, the 60mm made 38cfm according to specs, and the Enermax 80mm is supposed to make 40cfm. I am assuming the cooling loss is a result of lower pressure, since the bigger fan is only doing 3300rpm while the 60mm did 7200rpm. Also the height of the adaptor may play a role, although I've read some speculation that the really thin adaptors suffer even more from the lower pressure made by the 80mm fans than the taller ones do. Whatever.
If you have a really loud 60mm, you can start from scratch with a new HSF that uses an 80mm and tear down and rebuild, or you can compromise and get the job done in ten minutes and live with it (and save a few bucks too). Your ears will love you either way.
