Suggestions to reduce system noise without increasing temp

[qIat]

It's probably not as noisy as some of your systems, however, the dB output is still significant, and considering I have a plexiglass window installed, it's not helping to contain the noise.

So, here are the specs:

Antec SX1030
Abit KR7A-RAID (for clearance issues, KT266A chipset)
Stock PSU w/temp controlled 80mm
2x 32.5CFM, 2670RPM, 28dB front
2x 32.5CFM, 2670RPM, 28dB back

Athlon XP 1800+
Thermalright AX-7
4100RPM 80x25mm fan on AX-7 mounted with rubber grommets

My CPU temp loads around 15*C higher than system at 50*C

Obviously, the main source of noise of that 4100RPM fan on my AX-7. Is there anything I can replace/do with it do reduce the noise? I haven't kept up with cooling the past year.

I was thinking a HUGE FSCKING heatsink would be nice, like for the P4s. However, there's obviously the issue of clearance.

I'm on a budget (poor college studnet), so cheap solutions please i.e. no watercooling

A maximum output from any source should be no more than 35dB

Solution 1
I will replace my current 32.5CFM case fans with these which are 36CFM

That's a 12% increase in case airflow

The big question, however, is in regards to my CPU fan I currently have a 52CFM fan. I am not certain but I will guess it is at least 40dB

I am thinking of replacing it with the Smart Case Fan or Smart Case Fan II

Solution 2
I have a 120mm Panaflo High output that I could rig to my baybus. I could then run it at 7v and rig it to sit over my AX-7. Somehow I imagine there will be duct tape involved However, the fan will be sucking air from what appears to be small area. The back case fans and the Panaflo will be fighting for air which would not be good. Still, since I will be rigging, I could rotate the 120mm slightly to pull air from more in the front of the case. Once again, the downside is that the air will not be directed at the AX-7.

 

[mechBgon]

What's wrong with 50C CPU temperature, particularly on an Abit board? (hint: "nothing," that's a nice temperature for an Abit-calibrated reading )

At work, I have a system in a similar case, an Antec Plus880. I ventilate it with five 18dB NMB 80mm fans in the stock positions (an 800-series case has three 80's in front, unlike the 1000-series). Case temperature is pretty low, about 30C I believe (room temp about 25C). If you want some of these fans, you can get five fans for $10. Ignore the "22-40dB" there, the fan depicted is precisely the one I've got. Mine came from SVC.com, who is now out of them.

At home, I've got precisely the same case you have, although it has an Enermax PSU in it now. I use the same NMB 18dB fans, and a Radio Shack digital thermometer is saying the case's interior temperature is 29C in a 27C room. Your real case temperature should be lower than that, given your higher-flow fans.

If you get some of these NMB's, my advice is to not use them on a CPU cooler. They don't have a lot of oomph. I run a Panaflo L1A on my heatsinks instead, slightly louder at 21dB but quite a bit more focused.

You can also improve airflow by tidying up your cables to permit free airflow, and/or by nipping out the metal grillework over the fans so they can breathe easily (I didn't bother).

 

[VisableAssassin]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
What's wrong with 50C CPU temperature, particularly on an Abit board?

if it was an Intel board then the readings are a bit off but hes useing an AMD setup so his temps are gonna be pretty damn close. those NMB fans are nice and would quiet things up ALOT. but as for quiet but not hurting temps thats gonna be real hard to do short of water........but make do with what you got right?
get as many cables as you can out of the way of any fans and around any hot components to allow breathing room for your stuff.
also the panaflo you mentioned the H1a why not just get an M1a which is 86cfm at like 32 db i believe it is runs pretty quiet stock and even more so on a rheobus. hell with all my fans turned to about 75% power my hard drives are louder than the fans.
other than fans i spent 10 bucks on some akasa paxmate and that worked out nicely and didnt raise my system temps at all.
now i just wish abit would have put the friggen case temp sensor in a better place on the KD7-RAID ! they stuck it near the damn power regulating mosfets and crap so it always shows high case temps no matter what its funny to look at my BIOs or anything else and see 107f case and 86f cpu

 

[GAZZA]

If you wanted to replace the hsf with something alot quieter then I would suggest something like the Cooler Master Aero 7+ Socket A/370/462 CPU Cooler which is around 23db according to the data and upto 29cfm.