The Panaflo is quiet, but...

[beverage]

will it really stand up to the heat of the Athlon 2100+

I'm going to buy an alpha 8045 HS, and I'm trying to decide what fan to get with it.

I've found two Panaflo's, both 80mm. The first is the 24 CFM @ 21 dBA, the second is 40 CFM @ 32dBA.

Sure the Slower one is quite a bit quieter, but is it really going to move enough air to effectivly cool my CPU?

I would like my couputer to be fairly quiet, but I don't want to sacrafice cooling ability just to have my computer a few dBA's quiter.

So in your honest opinion...

which statistic outweighs the other...

Is the Temperature going to be almost as low with the quiter fan?

Or will the temperature really drop A LOT with the louder fan?

thanks for your opinions, they're greatly appreciated!

 

[Leo V]

There will definitely be a difference in temperatures. However, you might compensate that difference by reducing your CPU's Vcore. (So long as it doesn't affect stability.) This is sort of the reverse of overclocking.

I was able to run an XP 1.4ghz @1.60VCore with PAL6035 and a 7-volted Panaflo (the 21dBA model), my max CPU temps were ~67C using Asus sensor (which tends to add 10-15C to the socket readings). Based on that I think you should be fine with Panaflo @12V.

 

[Yamyam]

Here's another data point for you.

My setup:
SLK-800 with 80mm Silencer fan at 12v (similar to low-noise Panaflo model)
XP1800 at 1700 MHz, 1.825v
Case temp: 40-43
CPU (idle): 47-50
CPU (SETI): 51-53
Noise: whisper-quiet

 

[jarsoffart]

Just to let you konw, 32 dBa and 21 dBa is quite different. Decibels are not linear. I'm not sure on these numbers but I think that every 6 decibels is a doubling of sound.

 

[beverage]

oh...i did not realize that...hmmm

 

[keyeye]

10 dB = 2x difference in loudness.
Buy the faster fan and get a fan mate 1 or other variable speed controller or get manually controlled fan (like the YS Tech). Then you can set your speed depending on the temps. You won't regret it. Or, buy the L1A (21db) and try it. If it is too hot- well, if it were me, I could always find a use for an L1A elsewhere.

 

[BigFatCow]

i had a panaflo L1a on my alpha 8045 with my xp2000+ and it was fine, the temps were a little high but it still ran stable...the only reason i dont have the panaflo on there now is beacsue when i was doing stuff to my computer i took the fan off the hs and i guess i misplaced it somewhere...

 

[mechBgon]

Look at it this way: the stock retail AMD heatsink has a 21cfm fan, and AMD guarantees it'll get the job done. An Alpha is far, far better as a heatsink, and the 24cfm fan moves more air too. Personally, I use a 24cfm Panaflo L1A with an 8045 on a 1700+, and the 2100+ puts out only 12% more wattage(assuming the higher-wattage Palomino core).

 

[beverage]

Well, I think my question was just answered for me.

The place i was going to buy the HS w/ Slower Fan from, is currenlty out of stock. So I think I'm going to get the faster fan...and I do already own a fan speed controler, so I can keep it low, and quiet if I need to i guess..

Thanks everyone for your input, it made the decision a bit easier.

 

[Leo V]

"10 dB = 2x difference in loudness"

:disgust:

Why post such misinformation? If you don't know then don't confuse others.

Each bel (10 dB) is a TENFOLD difference in sound intensity. Due to the logarithmic scale, every 3dB correspond to a TWOFOLD difference. (10 ^ (3/10) = 1.995). Roughly stated, the formula is:

dB = 10*decimal_log(intensity) - threshold_of_hearing

The difference in amplitude between 32dbA and 21dbA is a factor of 10^( (32-21)/10 ) = 12.6 times the amplitude

However, the ear also doesn't quite perceive sound volume linearly, hence it doesn't really sound "13 times louder". It just sounds roughly as loud as 13 of the quieter fans. And only to the extent that these measurements are applicable to a your configuration.

 

[Buz2b]

I think the simple answer is just to get the YS Tech Variable Speed 80mm fan, as seen on SVC and other sites. I have now installed two of them on AX-7 HS's and it is truely wonderful. You can dial in as much or as little cooling and/or noise that you want. And, in contrast to other variable speed fans I have tried (Enermax is one), this one truely has a significantly different level of cooling to go along with the rpm's. The only drawback is that your fan speed monitoring software, whether by bios or MBM5, will be useless. They can't handle these variable speed fans. Maxed out they read pretty close but as soon as you lower the rpm's, the readings go to heck in a hurry. Talked with (exchanged posts) Alex of MBM fame and he confirmed that the BIOS's simply cannot handle this and since they can't, MBM can't as well. To me it is a small trade off though. The fan comes with a "real" adjustment knob that can easily mount on the back of the case in a professional manner. Gee, maybe I should invest in some YS Tech stock.....................! J/K! :Q

 

[keyeye]

Leo, thanks for correcting me. BTW, have you ever made a mistake on a test that you were sure of the answer (at the time).
My main point was to get a varialbe speed fan.... mea culpa.

Edit: I did like your article in silent pc review.

 

[Leo V]

Originally posted by: keyeye
Leo, thanks for correcting me. BTW, have you ever made a mistake on a test that you were sure of the answer (at the time).
My main point was to get a varialbe speed fan.... mea culpa.

Have I made mistakes? Never! Sorry if I was being overly harsh. My reason was, already two people in this thread posted wrong information about decibels. jarsoffart admitted that he wasn't sure about it. But altogether this reduces the credibility of our forums, and it's not hard to search Google for "decibel". I didn't mean to personally attack you! And you're right, I screw up occasionally and hope that others correct me then.

 

[Hellblast]

I would say you're both right Leo and Keyeye.
Decibels are the units used for sound measurement. The Decibel (dB) is one tenth of a Bel, the unit originally named after Alexander Graham Bell. Same as a decimeter, a tenth of a meter.
A Decibel is about the least perceptible change in sound level.
Doubling the sound POWER is an increase of 3dB, but due to the non-linear way in which the ear PERCEIVES sound, an increase of 10dB seems to us to be a doubling of sound power.
DB(A) is a scale which is adjusted to allow for the fact that we are more sensitive to some frequencies than others.

Theory is all fine and dandy, but noise is unwanted sound and sound is what's perceived. I don't want to start a discussion here, but I'll stick with the "+10dB=twice as loud" theory but I have to admit the 3dB post taught me something.

Hellblast

 

[randomboy]

T'is true that 3db is a doubling of percieved noise. Trust me Find a friend or something with a decent subwoofer setup in the car, and get a meter. Using the same tones, go from 120db to 123, it will be a noticeable change in volume. Go from 120 to 130 and whoa momma, not even in the same ball park, the 130 is going to sound MUCH louder.

Whether it be speakers, fans, whatever, an 11 db jump is gonna be very noticeable.

In fact, I just a few minutes ago was delivered a FBA081AH Panaflo fan, and it will be going on my HS in just a short while I have a 12db Papst on there now, but I dont think that will be a huge issue as the loudest part of my PC is this damned "quiet" Enermax Whisper. But I'm not worried, I just ordered 3 80mm L1A's as well, so I'll be able to at least swap out the (louder) exhaust fan.

Anyways, I was in the exact same boat as you when ordering, and I felt that the relative loudness of the 32db fan was well worth the doubling of air moved over my heatsink.

Jeff

 

[GnomeCop]

that foot... will haunt my dreams for the rest of my days...

 

[randomboy]

My conclusion: 32db's is too loud!! I've got 3 L1A's coming in the mail next week, and that H1A is most certainly coming out, or going somewhere else where I can try and quiet it down.

Jeff

 

[WTT0001]

Yep, big difference between the 21 dBA Panaflow and a 32 dBA fan, I killed the 32 by doing the 5 volt trick on it. My advice is to pick up an adjustable fan and use that.

 

[beverage]

what's the "5 volt trick" ?

 

[randomboy]

Yeah, I'm thinking I might pull the 7 volt trick on the H1A

5 volt trick = hook fan up to 5v connectors (change the placement of the pins in the molex connector)
7 volt trick = same thing, different pin placement

Not sure which pins are which, so dont ask me

 

[beverage]

oh, i get it now

 

[Salvador]

Does anyone have a cheap source for Panaflo L1a's right now? Preferrably not from BG Micro because the fans that they sell come with a two pin lead and I would like a 3 pin if possible. I used to see deals quite a bit and now I can't find them for less than $5 - $6 each.

TIA,

Sal

 

[WangButter]

I'm thinking about picking up a Thermaltake Smart Fan II:

http://www.thermaltake.com/products/dcfan/a1357.htm

The speed can be controlled by a thermal probe, manually or just be set to run at full blast all the time, and it varies from 20.55 CFM @ 17 dba to 75.7CFM @ 48 dba.

 

[Buz2b]

beverage,
Look, in all honesty, why don't you just get a YS Tech Variable Speed Fan for under $9? I know you said earlier that you already had a controller of some sort, but this fan is simple, quick, efficient and very, very good. I have now installed three, (not two) of them in systems for family and friends. Hell, I'm mad because I haven't had time to do the same for myself. The installation of the controller know is nothing more than drilling a hole and applying a lock-down nut. It has plenty of wire to deal with installations in large cases also. The damned thing can also put out an incredible amount of air if turned all the way up and the output to dBA level is wonderful. You can leave it at a very low output level, which is almost totally silent, or you can "crank it up" to a more respectable level. don't know what else you could need? Get it from these guys or get it from someone else. But GET IT!